By: David J. Detweiler, Writer / Follow South Jersey Child Welfare Intern
BRIDGETON, N.J. — The United Advocacy Group partnered with Project Inspiration to kick off its Youth Entrepreneurship course for the third year on Monday, November 2.
The Youth Entrepreneurship program ensures teaching key skills, not only used in the business world, but everyday life as well. The program focuses on helping teens and young adults. Business traits such as budgeting, creating a business plan, predicting net loss or gain, and creating price points are all examples of what students learn to help maximize their potential in a business setting. Meanwhile, life skills including integrity, confidence, and professionalism are just a few of the things students can apply throughout their daily lives.
Students are provided with lessons and one-on-one coaching that teach all the needed information prior to allowing kids to start their own business. Participants in the past have started up small, including self-run programs such as a pet-sitting business and a make-up business. The program has even networked its students to further opportunities, like when they linked one of their former students (who ran a small photography business) with a professional photographer.
United Advocacy Group Executive Director Rich Nichols provided some insight with regard to his motivation in starting the program.
“We believe that our students are, and will be, the movers and shakers of the future.” Nichols said.
Nichols emphasized how important it is that the Youth Entrepreneurship program teaches its students to establish financial stability at a young age. The United Advocacy Group normally sees the result of failing to do so, as it normally assists adults who have trouble with financial stability. Since Nichols has seen the product of people who did not establish that stability while they were young, that serves as a motivator for him, as well, to assist the youth.
Nichols calls all aspiring entrepreneurs to action with his closing remarks.
“For kids and parents, here is an opportunity to get expert advice and consultation, to really take your Shark Tank dream and turn it into reality,” Nichols said.
The program officially made the transition to Zoom meetings for this year’s set of courses to maneuver past the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions it provides. Anyone interested in taking advantage of this opportunity can sign up here.
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This article was produced by a Follow South Jersey news intern thanks to a grant provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the New Jersey Health Initiatives program to create hyper-local news to meet the informational and health needs of the City of Bridgeton, N.J.
