Young Entrepreneurs Recognized in Special Program
Photo special to the Outlook
Young entrepreneurs were recently recognized at the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. From left to right: Rev. Dr. R. B. Holmes, Jr., Anthony Holley, Arenesha Simmons, Joycelyn Price, India McCary and attorney Benjamin Crump.
Special to the Outlook
Four youths dared to participate in an extensive business development venture this spring that sparked their passion and dreams in the spirit of entrepreneurship.
The students took part in the first Entrepreneurship Program held at the Goodwill Prosperity Center. The program, developed in January, aims to provide students ages 12-17 with the tools to establish new businesses.
Although the students were young, Dr. Claudette Harrell recognized that these four adolescents were provided the parental support and guardianship to not only become successful, but to also incubate businesses within the community.
India McCrary has a natural drive for serial entrepreneurship. She aspires to become a well-recognized attorney with her own law firm while simultaneously grooming her “natural lip balm” product. Jocelyn Price has a knack for music. Her compassion for music production allowed her to connect with musicians in the Big Bend Area.
Arenesha Simmons radiates when talking about her life-long dream of becoming an artist. She has already painted several art pieces and is currently collaborating with a local business owner to packet greeting cards that will be submitted to the Hallmark Business Connection. If you ask Anthony Holley what he would like to do in his entrepreneur venture, he would simply smile and say, “Start a cleaning business.”
What age did you start your entrepreneur venture? These students are only adolescents, yet their efforts made the program a success. These students received support from local businesses such as First Commerce Credit Union, Debt Management Credit Counseling, Franklin Academy, Florida A&M University School of Business, AmeriCorps, Palmer Munroe Restorative Justice Program, Kennon Septic Service and Ash Gallery.
Students were immersed in topics such as management of time and personal finances; budgeting; tracking their money and expenses; credit reports and their significance; how to determine their sparks, interests and passion; professional development; steps required to establish a business; preparation in starting a business; and classroom and out-of-class experiences with other local business owners.
The students developed business ideas, applied knowledge learned from workshops over a three-week period toward creating business narratives, and participated in a business competition in March. Students exhibited oral presentations to a panel of judges composed of local business owners that awarded three prizes: first ($125), second ($75) and third ($50). The awards and presentations were announced at the graduation ceremony held March 30 at the Goodwill Prosperity Center.
For further information on the program, contact Dr. Claudette Harrell at (850) 877-9981.
