The need for more relevant classroom education is apparent across America. The challenge of implementing real-world financial programs in our schools, however, remains especially difficult. As an educator, I consider the education of our youth in personal finance and entrepreneurship to be vital to our economic future. Promoting financial literacy and entrepreneurship should be a high priority for our schools.
Currently, there is lack of structured financial and economic classes available and/or required in Oregon high schools. The National Council on Economic Education's 2007 survey of the states found that, "...states have not made enough progress on their commitment to offer or require financial/economic education in school. Consequently, the majority of students are not receiving the essential real-life economic skills they need to become knowledgeable consumers, prudent savers and investors, and productive members of the workforce.” In addition, educators do not receive adequate training to incorporate financial literacy and entrepreneurship education, making it increasingly difficult to integrate relevance to real-life application in the classroom.
Our mission is to provide a forum where students, parents and teachers collaborate to promote entrepreneurship and financial literacy for our youth. By delivering a progressive balanced, value-centered educational experience essential to success, Young Entrepreneurs Business Week fills the gap between traditional education and real-world application, preparing and inspiring students for life beyond high school.
Our graduates come away from YEBW with a vastly improved understanding of our private enterprise system and of the challenges facing them. Crystal Lenard of Cleveland High School wrote,
“This program helped me in so many ways. Not only did I learn about business but I learned how to live my life in a successful way. I take the things, from this camp that only went on for one week, and I apply the things I learned to everyday life and will continue throughout my life time. This experience has changed my life for the better. Thank you so much.” What a gratifying testimonial and affirmation that we are indeed achieving our mission statement of providing inspirational economic education to our youth.
In order to further our mission of providing progressive programs and after receiving incredible feedback from the participants of YEBW 2006, we decided to launch an investing track summer of 2007. Responses from this experience yet again exceeded our expectations. Students walked away with a vast understanding of how to analyze the investment potential of numerous investments and the varying investment strategies that exist.
For more information about programs available to alumni, please click here.
Recognizing the immediate need that exists to provide support for our youth, our organization is focusing its efforts on high school students, however we will continue to look for potential collaborations and partnerships with organizations to create new programs. Currently in our plans is to expand to a second campus site summer of 2009, in order to offer greater access to students outside the Portland-metro area and in rural locations.
Additionally, we have plans to offer week-long summer immersion program specifically for Oregon educators (simultaneously with YEBW). This program will give participants the opportunity to enhance their professional skills and learn more about incorporating entrepreneurship education, financial literacy and “real life” into the classroom. Teachers will be introduced to NFTE’s (National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship) award-winning, hands-on curriculum, which specializes in teaching entrepreneurship education to low-income students. Teachers will also participate in group discussions, workshops, lectures, and meet with business volunteers that will give them the inside look at current workplace practices and trends, and meet fellow peers to share curriculum ideas. Our plan calls for this program to become approved for continuing education credits to offer credit hours through the Office of the Superintendent of Oregon Education. Several teachers have already expressed interest in participating.
If you would like to be involved in spreading our mission,
please contact us.