Have you heard...there is a new non-profit organization in New York and it is called the New York Youth Chamber of Commerce (NYYCC) and our mission is to educate, empower and enhance the development of our youth ages 13-25. It is a membership organization dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and leadership in young women and men.
For our first "Youth Empowerment Initiative"-- we are considering a partnership with the Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA!). By partnering with YEA!, we can transform at least 72 young women and men ages 11-18 a year into Young Entrepreneurs in NYC. I know that's a small number, but it is only the beginning.
YEA! students, as a class, visit area businesses, meet successful entrepreneurs, meet with professionals (attorneys, accountants, bankers, graphic designers, web developers, insurance providers, etc.), develop a business or social movement idea and plan, and work with mentors. Students then pitch their ideas "live" to a panel of investors (please see second video further below) made up of local business and community leaders with real dollars at stake to obtain funding-think Shark Tank meets The Apprentice and American Idol--, and take all of the steps necessary to, and then actually do, launch their venture. By the end of the 30-week class, students own and operate fully functioning businesses. That would be 72 new Young Entrepreneurs in NYC!
Students participating in the YEA! program learn important life lessons and at the same time gain an appreciation that the skills they are learning in school have significant value in "real world" applications. YEA! students gain self-esteem, confidence and practical experience in working through novel situations and challenges. This program has been labeled as "THE BEST WAY TO FURTHER ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN AMERICA"
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| UAlbany Biz School Helps Young CEOs who participate in the YEA! Program |
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Young Entrepreneurs Academy 2009 presentations to Investors |
Please note every $300.00 we reach...the closer we get to empowering 72 young women and men into Young Entrepreneurs. It cost $7600.00 to teach this program to 24 students at one site. Our goal is to host the program in three sites in NYC, Urban Assembly New Tech in Harlem (middle school); IN-TECH Academy in the Bronx (middle & high school) and NYYCC organized after-school program open to 24 students in various areas of NYC.
We are not asking each of you to donate $300.00 (unless you want to do that) we are asking for possibly $10.00 - $30.00 per person--that will help bring us to the $300 per child goal.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at 347-796-1971 or via email at NYYouthChamber@nyycc.org.
Thank you in advance for your consideration,
NY Youth Chamber of Commerce
P.S....did you know...
- 100% of YEA! Students graduate high school ON TIME
- 99% of YEA! students enroll in college
- 19% of YEA! Students start second businesses
- 49% of YEA! Students are female
- 56% of YEA! Students are minorities
- YEA! Students have been awarded over half a million dollars in scholarships as a result of their involvement in the Young Entrepreneur Academy
- 1384 students have graduated from YEA! and launched 1,093 enterprises
It's time to teach every young American how to
make a job, not just take a job!
Greetings! 
