Junior Achievement Cultivating Business Ownership Spirit During Global Entrepreneurship Week
Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast is asking entrepreneurs and business owners to commit one hour of their time during Global Entrepreneurship Week, November 11-18, 2016, to share their stories and open the eyes of high school students to the opportunities of creating their own companies.
Understanding entrepreneurs’ demanding schedules, Junior Achievement has designed the JA Launch Lesson one-hour program to be simple for volunteers to implement, while delivering the greatest impact to the students. Entrepreneurs and business owners will be paired with a school that works best for their schedules andprovided discussion guidelines for shaping their talk and engaging with students. The experience offers volunteers the opportunity to connect with students, provide relevant information about their company and entrepreneurial journey, and share advice and next steps for students who are interested in starting their own businesses.
“For the busy entrepreneur or business owner who might not otherwise have time to volunteer or mentor, we’re providing the perfect opportunity to engage with young people during Global Entrepreneurship Week,” said Claudia Kirk Barto, president of Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast. “In just one hour, it’s possible to make a lifelong impact on a student that could set the course of his or her career and life.”
With young entrepreneurs on the decline, JA knows that now, more than ever, students need to learn what it takes to be successful in the business world so they can launch businesses and contribute to our global economy. According to the 2016 Kauffman Index Startup Activity National Trends Report, new entrepreneurs who are Millennials—those in the 20–34 age range—decreased from 34.4 percent in 1996 to 25 percent in 2015.
“There is no one better to stir the imagination of high school students thinking about their futures than an inspiring entrepreneur,” said Kirk Barto. “Grasping the excitement of how an idea comes to market and understanding what it takes to make it successful are invaluable lessons. Global Entrepreneurship Week gives students the opportunity for a high impact learning experience.” For more information about volunteering for Junior Achievement, please contact Claudia Kirk Barto at cbarto@juniorachievement.com or 561-242-9468.
Global Entrepreneurship Week is a celebration of the innovations, startups, and entrepreneurs that are shaping the future of thePalm Beaches. It joins thousands of events and competitions in 160 countries to inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors with a week-long series of events. Events will take place across Palm Beach County, including:
Friday, November 11th - Sunday, November 13th
Start-Up Weekend in West Palm Beach by Techstars Startup Programs. In just 54 hours, attendees will experience the highs, lows, fun, and pressure that make up life at a startup.
Monday, November 14th, 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
FAU Business Plan Competition hosted by FAU’s Adams Center for Entrepreneurship, Boca Raton.
Monday, November 14th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Startup Grind, powered by Google for Entrepreneurs, FAU Tech Runway, Boca Raton. Event featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Rachel Zietz, Gladiator Lacrosse, is guest speaker.
Tuesday, November 15th,6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Palm Beach Tech Meet Up: Women in Technology, Old School Square, Delray Beach. A monthly meetup of technology professionals, enthusiasts, and stakeholders hosted by the Palm Beach Tech Association.
Wednesday, November 16th, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Crowdfunding and Cocktails, West Palm Beach Lake Pavilion, hosted by Startup Palm Beach. Ten startups will be selected to pitch for cash during this in-person live crowdfunding event.
Thursday, November 17th, 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
State of Entrepreneurship, West Palm Beach Lake Pavilion.Hosted in partnership with the City of West Palm Beach the State of Entrepreneurship is the only event of the year that brings together the public and private sectors to discuss economic development.
Friday, November 18th, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Helped Hope Social Enterprise Lunch and Learn, Keiser University Flagship Campus, West Palm Beach. Junior Achievement will join with Helped Hope and Keiser University for Florida's first social enterprise lunch and learn.
Friday, November 18th, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Palm Beach Tech Crawl, Downton West Palm Beach. In an effort to spread awareness of the local technology industry by the Palm Beach Tech Association.
To learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week, go to www.entrepreneurweekpb.com.
About Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast (JA):
Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast (JA) is a nonprofit organization that focuses on preparing young people to succeed in a global economy through programs that center on work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. JA programs are taught by volunteers in the classroom and after school in over 120 schools and organizations throughout Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Hendry counties. Junior Achievement builds partnership between the business and education communities to provide the curriculum and the volunteers who serve as role models to students to help prepare them for their future. Junior Achievement programs are funded through contributions from businesses, individuals, foundations, and special event fundraisers. For more information please visit www.JuniorAchievement.com.
