YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A MISSION THAT HAS MET ITS TIME!

 To recharge, I often reflect on the words, “My dream is not to die in poverty, but to have poverty die in me.” Those are the words of Michelle Araujo, then a teen entrepreneur who I met 19 years ago on my first week volunteering for a nonprofit called NFTE. Michelle is one of thousands of students who have learned that they don’t have to simply take a job, they can make a job!  Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (www.nfte.com) continues to be widely viewed as a world leader in promoting entrepreneurial and financial literacy among youth.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said : “Not every young person wants to work for a big business so we need a systemic approach to teach them entrepreneurship. NFTE has the best program in the country.” As you know, entrepreneurship education, if done right, impacts students’ basic academic and life skills through a hands-on program and curriculum (think Mini MBA) that enlivens math, reading and writing, and develops skills in critical thinking, teamwork, communication and decision-making. 

 I have been thinking a lot about the DC job market, where pockets of our city have upwards of 30% unemployment and 91% of our local students don’t graduate from college! 72% of jobs according to Georgetown University, require a college education so we recruit from outside the ‘best and brightest’.

But what about our own local kids? Entrepreneurship education can truly transform how we approach talent development. It is based on the premise of meeting needs in the neighborhood and local community, which makes it an effective response to regional economic shocks we are experiencing.

Entrepreneurship training prepares youth to create jobs and become superior employee candidates with a winning entrepreneurial mindset. We need to prepare the youth of our nation’s capital to become economically self-sufficient by giving them options and training to take charge of their lives and their futures. Youth entrepreneurship keeps them engaged in high school and often inspires them to pursue a college degree.

Since 1995, we have served over 24,000 students in DC, Maryland and Virginia public and charter schools, and this year we will work with an additional 1,000 students at 25 area schools. We also have created nationally a community college curriculum (Pearsons Publishing) to expand our mission to another underserved population. This field needs to scale so that every low-income child in our region has the tools to build their own exit strategy from poverty!

Career readiness has often been marginalized at best, if we can tie this work more to academic outcomes, perhaps its the time to make it front and center!

Julie Silard Kantor Executive Director Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, DC Region (juliek@nfte.com)

I SAID YES- Youth Entrepreneurship in America’s Schools by Julie Silard Kantor (Gazelles Publishing) is now available on Amazon KINDLE and as a paperback edition at http://amzn.to/zecvjr

NEWS UPDATE – NFTE 11th Edition Textbook Wins Prestigous AEP Award for Best Math Curriculum

Dear Friends of Youth Entrepreneurship America!

I am so proud to share with you that Entrepreneurship: Owing Your Future, the 11^th edition of NFTE’s curriculum, was recently chosen by the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) as the best math curriculum for high school students!

 The Distinguished Achievement Award is given to handful of curricula each year that exemplify the strict academic standards of the AEP. This is the second award that NFTE’s curriculum has won – our  ninth edition was chosen to receive the Golden Lamp Award by the AEP in 2003. You can read more about the award on our website.

The NFTE curriculum focuses on critical basic business skills that reinforce the fundamentals of mathematics, including how to calculate the economics of one unit, return on investment, the creation of income statements and balance sheets, and how to manage cash flow. These concepts are rounded out with essential business concepts such as opportunity recognition, creating a marketing plan, negotiation, time management and goal setting.

To view a sample chapter and the front matter for Entrepreneurship: Owning Your Future, go to http://www.nfte.com/news/entrepreneurship.asp.

We are now gearing up for NFTE University Teacher Training the last week of July in collaboration with George Washington University’s Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence.  Over 16 new DC,MD & VA teachers will certified and launching programs this Fall.  For more details on the training contact verice.white@nfte.com

Have a safe, happy and healthy summer!

Warm Regards,

Julie Silard Kantor

Executive Director

NFTE DC Region

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION LINKS… Keeping You in the Know — Updated

KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW… ,

I now receive weekly requests now from media and educational leaders to understand the field of youth entrepreneurship education. I am not surprised, there is a lot happening and with unemployment hovering at 10% and a growing epidemic of high school dropouts (1:2 minority youth), we really need programs to engage youth with RELEVANT AND REAL LIFE SKILLS in our schools.

From a recent White House Report (not yet released), to the World Economic Forum paper, to an Aspen Institute Publication and NFTE research– I hope these links on page 2 will help you in your journey to better understand our field and to help youth find their PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY.

The best Powerpoint presentation that I have ever seen is ‘Shift Happens,’ (on slideshare– over a million viewers) because it tells a story, its fascinating, and the graphics by my new friend Jeff Brenman are stunning… Most importantly, my ADD brain took it all in and I really learned something and wanted to share it with everyone I knew/know… so being my entrepreneurial self I begged Jeff to help me create a visual slideshow to share the importance of youth entrepreneurship education in America and explain NFTE in a fun and entertaining style (see Tanya’s Story… its a true story of one of our DC youth… and her story, to me represents thousands of youth … see link below).

If you have suggestions or other links I should really add — let me know. Write me anytime. Connect on Facebook or follow me and ‘Retweet’ on Twitter. I plan to update this document monthly and send related information out on NFTE and our field… weekly!

In Entrepreneurial Spirit,

Julie

Julie Kantor, National Vice President

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Washington Office (DC Programs and Government Affairs)

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YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

JULIE’S FAVORITE NINE LINKS TO UNDERSTAND NFTE, OUR FIELD AND MORE…
(updated 1-10)

 State of Entrepreneurship Conference – National Press Club, January 2010 http://www.kauffman.org/newsroom/entrepreneurs-expect-to-limit-hiring-in-2010-according-to-new-kauffman-foundation-poll.aspx

” — in this time of great economic difficulty — is concerned above all else with creating more jobs for Americans…and there is simply no better vehicle for job creation than fostering entrepreneurship.,” Secretary of Commerce, Locke, January 2010. Entrepreneurs create approximately three million jobs a year.”

1] Ten9EIGHT- Shoot for the Moon – POWERFUL Movie in AMC Theatres this past Fall and will air upcoming on BET February 7th at 12:00pm featuring 25 NFTE Students by famous producer Mary Mazzio of 50 Eggs Productions: http://www.ten9eight.com/ – Movie premiered at Aspen Ideas Festival- July 1, 2009 and is profiled on the front page of the Aspen site http://www.aifestival.org/ . The movie will be introduced by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. JOIN Facebook ‘fan’ site for movie- http://www.facebook.com/pages/TEN9EIGHT/70261978797?ref=ts

2] Tanya’s Story — Powerful New Presentation- Youth Entrepreneurship in America

http://www.slideshare.net/Juliek/tanyas-story-youth-entrepreneurship-in-america-nfte-presentation-4-20-09 Site becoming an internet sensation with over 8,000 Slideshare viewers and through viral marketing to explore impact of youth entrepreneurship education with Obama and Duncan quotes (Four students– each receiving $50 and how they invested their money…)

3] USA TODAY ARTICLE – http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2009-05-18-teen-entrepreneurs-start-businesses_N.htm Cover story in Money section on youth creating their own jobs in this tight labor market

4] NFTE IMPACT – http://www.nfte.com/impact/ Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has engaged in extensive research efforts with more underway to study ourselves and assess impact.

5] MAJOR REPORT – released in May by the World Economic Forum “Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs” http://www.weforum.org/en/index.htm or http://www.weforum.org/pdf/GEI/2009/Entrepreneurship_Education_Report.pdf – NFTE wrote the youth chapter.

The World Economic Forum’s Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs report issues a call to action to catalyse entrepreneurship globally through education
Issued by the Forum’s Global Education Initiative, • the report aims to raise awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship education in unlocking entrepreneurial capabilities to meet the global challenges of the 21st century

“Entrepreneurship education is crucial in restarting the economy in this time of economic crisis”-

Alex Wong, Head of Global Education Initiative, World Economic Forum .

6] NFTE Greater Washington & Government Affairs Social Media Links

Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/41989/10828793?m=9483ecc8 . www.daretodreamdc.org for information on the April 28th Dare to Dream Gala in Washington DC.

7] Aspen Institute’s Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy Group (YES Group)

http://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/youth-entrepreneurship-strategy-group – links to key publications and membership “Youth Entrepreneurship in America – Policymakers Action Guide” (if trouble finding after 1-2010 — contact juliek@nfte.com). The group has now become the Youth Entrepreneurship Alliance… details can now be found at www.entre-ed.org under the Consortium of Entrepreneurship Education.

8] INSPIRING BOOK! I SAID YES! Real Life Stories of Students, Teachers and Leaders Saying YES! to Entrepreneurship in America’s Schools by Julie Kantor – http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Students-Teachers-Entrepreneurship-Americas/dp/0976582368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264091239&sr=8-1

9] Survey of the States 2009: The State of Economic, Financial and Entrepreneurship Education in our Nation’s Schools by the Council for Economic Education http://www.councilforeconed.org/about/survey2009/ADDITIONAL WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED… JOIN THE NFTE CAUSE ON FACEBOOK AND STAY IN THE LOOP WITH EVENTS AND NEWS UPDATES :

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/41989/10828793?m=9483ecc8

NFTE’s official website is www.nfte.com

Julie Kantor’s Blog on Youth Entrepreneurship in America! : https://youthentrepreneurshiplady.wordpress.com/

Twitter: Follow “@NFTEJuliek” to stay in the know… or find me on Facebook for daily/weekly updates.

About  Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is an international nonprofit organization that teaches young people from low-income communities to think like entrepreneurs, so they can take control of their futures. Founded in 1987 by Steve Mariotti, a former New York City public school teacher, it originally began as a dropout prevention and academic performance improvement program for students who were at risk of failing or quitting school. Today, NFTE has grown into a comprehensive business education program in 22 states and 12 countries with more than 280,000 graduates and more than 1,500 NFTE-certified entrepreneurship teachers. (www.nfte.com)

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MOVIE- TEN9EIGHT ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY NATIONAL BROADCAST ON BET AND CENTRIC IN CELEBRATION of BLACK HISTORY MONTH

 

clubs and school-based book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, television networks and the Company’s Internet Site, http://www.scholastic.com. 

 

Mary Mazzio, an award-winning director, is Founder and CEO of 50 Eggs LLC, an independent film production company. Mary wrote, directed and produced the highly acclaimed award-winning films, 

 

 

Lemonade Stories, Apple Pie, A Hero for Daisy and she recently completed we are BlackRock. A Hero for Daisy was hailed by The New York Times as a “landmark film;” “fantastic” by Sports Illustrated; “remarkable” by NPR; aired nationwide on ESPN, Oxygen, and WTSN-Canada; and is in thousands of classrooms across the country. Apple Pie aired nationwide on ESPN to critical acclaim, and was called “illuminating – told with deftness and emotion… priceless” by The New York Times; “heartwarming” by Los Angeles Times; “fantastic”- NPR, and “excellent” – CNN. Lemonade Stories, which aired nationwide on CNNfn (and which aired nationwide in Latin America, the UK, Israel, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Hong Kong), was the subject of cover stories by USA Today (complete with a trailer and photos on USA Today’s splash page), Forbes.com, The Christian Science Monitor, ABC News.com, as well as featured on NPR, Bloomberg Radio, and in Fast Company

.Mazzio, an Olympic athlete (1992-Rowing), is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Georgetown Law School, and was formerly a partner with the law firm of Brown Rudnick in Boston, MA. She has served on a number of Boards of Directors including the Shackleton Schools (which serve high school students in danger of failing in traditional high schools), and Sojourner House (a homeless shelter). She resides in Massachusetts with her husband, Jay Manson, and two children. (www.50eggs.com) 

 

About the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship  

 

(NFTE) is an international nonprofit organization that teaches young people from low-income communities to think like entrepreneurs, so they can take control of their futures. Founded in 1987 by Steve Mariotti, a former New York City public school teacher, it originally began as a dropout prevention and academic performance improvement program for students who were at risk of failing or quitting school. Today, NFTE has grown into a comprehensive business education program in 22 states and 12 countries with more than 280,000 graduates and more than 1,500 NFTE-certified entrepreneurship teachers. (www.nfte.com)

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About 50 Eggs Films 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEVEN HOT LINKS – Keeping You in the Know

A note to my ‘Youth Entrepreneurship in America!’ Blog readers,

I get weekly requests now from media and educational leaders to understand the field of youth entrepreneurship education. I am not surprised, there is a lot happening and with unemployment hovering at 10% and a growing epidemic of high school dropouts (1:2 minority youth), we really need programs to engage youth with RELEVANT AND REAL LIFE SKILLS in our schools.

From a recent White House Report (not yet released), to the World Economic Forum paper, to an Aspen Institute Publication and NFTE research– I hope these links will help you in your journey to better understand our field and to help youth find their PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY.

The best Powerpoint presentation that I have ever seen is ‘Shift Happens,’ (on slideshare– over a million viewers) because it tells a story, its fascinating, and the graphics by my new friend Jeff Brenman are stunning… Most importantly, my ADD brain took it all in and I really learned something and wanted to share it with everyone I knew/know… so being my entrepreneurial self I begged Jeff to help me create a visual slideshow to share the importance of youth entrepreneurship education in America and explain NFTE in a fun and entertaining style (see Tanya’s Story… its a true story of one of our DC youth… and her story, to me represents thousands of youth … see link below).

If you have suggestions or other links I should really add — let me know. Write me anytime. Connect on Facebook or follow me and ‘Retweet’ on Twitter. I plan to update this document monthly and send related information out on NFTE and our field… weekly!

In Entrepreneurial Spirit,

Julie Kantor

National Vice President

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship Washington Office (DC Programs and Government Affairs)

———————————————————————————————————————–

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION–

JULIE’S FAVORITE SEVEN LINKS TO UNDERSTAND THE FIELD AND MORE…

Keeping You Connected and in the Know (updated 1-10)

HOT OFF THE PRESS: State of Entrepreneurship Conference – National Press Club, January 2010 http://www.kauffman.org/newsroom/entrepreneurs-expect-to-limit-hiring-in-2010-according-to-new-kauffman-foundation-poll.aspx

” — in this time of great economic difficulty — is concerned above all else with creating more jobs for Americans…and there is simply no better vehicle for job creation than fostering entrepreneurship.,” Secretary of Commerce, Locke, January 2010. Entrepreneurs create approximately three million jobs a year.”

JOIN THE NFTE CAUSE ON FACEBOOK AND STAY IN THE LOOP WITH EVENTS AND NEWS UPDATES :

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/41989/10828793?m=9483ecc8

NFTE’s official website is www.nfte.com

1] Ten9EIGHT- Shoot for the Moon – POWERFUL Movie in AMC Theatres this past Fall and will air upcoming on BET February 7th at 12:00pm featuring 25 NFTE Students by famous producer Mary Mazzio of 50 Eggs Productions: http://www.ten9eight.com/ – Movie premiered at Aspen Ideas Festival- July 1, 2009 and is profiled on the front page of the Aspen site http://www.aifestival.org/ . The movie will be introduced by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. JOIN Facebook ‘fan’ site for movie- http://www.facebook.com/pages/TEN9EIGHT/70261978797?ref=ts

2] Tanya’s Story — Powerful New Presentation- Youth Entrepreneurship in America

http://www.slideshare.net/Juliek/tanyas-story-youth-entrepreneurship-in-america-nfte-presentation-4-20-09 Site becoming an internet sensation with over 8,000 Slideshare viewers and through viral marketing to explore impact of youth entrepreneurship education with Obama and Duncan quotes (Four students– each receiving $50 and how they invested their money…)

3] USA TODAY ARTICLE – http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2009-05-18-teen-entrepreneurs-start-businesses_N.htm Cover story in Money section on youth creating their own jobs in this tight labor market

4] NFTE IMPACT – http://www.nfte.com/impact/ Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has engaged in extensive research efforts with more underway to study ourselves and assess impact.

5] MAJOR REPORT – released in May by the World Economic Forum “Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs” http://www.weforum.org/en/index.htm or http://www.weforum.org/pdf/GEI/2009/Entrepreneurship_Education_Report.pdf – NFTE wrote the youth chapter.

The World Economic Forum’s Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs report issues a call to action to catalyse entrepreneurship globally through education
Issued by the Forum’s Global Education Initiative, • the report aims to raise awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship education in unlocking entrepreneurial capabilities to meet the global challenges of the 21st century

“Entrepreneurship education is crucial in restarting the economy in this time of economic crisis”-

Alex Wong, Head of Global Education Initiative, World Economic Forum .

6] NFTE Greater Washington & Government Affairs Social Media Links

Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/41989/10828793?m=9483ecc8

7] Aspen Institute’s Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy Group (YES Group)

http://www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/youth-entrepreneurship-strategy-group – links to key publications and membership “Youth Entrepreneurship in America – Policymakers Action Guide” (if trouble finding after 1-2010 — contact juliek@nfte.com). The group has now become the Youth Entrepreneurship Alliance… details can now be found at www.entre-ed.org under the Consortium of Entrepreneurship Education.

8] INSPIRING BOOK! I SAID YES! Real Life Stories of Students, Teachers and Leaders Saying YES! to Entrepreneurship in America’s Schools by Julie Kantor – http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Students-Teachers-Entrepreneurship-Americas/dp/0976582368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264091239&sr=8-1

Julie Kantor’s Blog on Youth Entrepreneurship in America! : https://youthentrepreneurshiplady.wordpress.com/

Twitter: Follow “@NFTEJuliek” to stay in the know… or find me on Facebook for daily/weekly updates.