Business & Tech
Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce Sponsors Entrepreneurial Program
Business Leaders Help Youths in DeKalb
The Berean Community Center in Lithonia was full of excitement on Saturday morning as several youths prepared for graduation from an entrepreneurial program sponsored by the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce.
Anna Henderson, president of the GBCC, is the creator and founder of Instilling Value and Vision in Youth (IVVY), a program which prepares youths for future leadership in business and beyond.
One of the primary goals of the program is to help youth find value and worth, Henderson said.
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“I want kids to know their internal worth," she said. "A lot of them don’t see that.”
The eight week pilot program, which started May 17, is expected to continue with another session in October.
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Students from DeKalb County and Atlanta Public Schools are eligible to apply, according to Henderson, and applicants must explain why they want to be in the program. There were 10 students enrolled this summer.
Henderson said that the emphasis of the program is to help kids develop leadership, customer service, financial, and entrepreneurial skills.
“We had business [representatives] come in and talk with the kids—businesses like Walmart, Publix, and UPS. They talked to the kids about how to prepare for employment, dressing for success, and the importance of good communication skills,” said Henderson. The students took a trip to CH2MHILL, an international engineering corporation that has offices in the metro-Atlanta area.
Keith Coleman, a structural engineer with CH2MHILL, met with the students and walked them through a hands-on activity. “We did an exercise in structural engineering. [Each team] had to create a straw bridge. The team with the bridge that was able to hold the most weight, won,” said Coleman.
“Empowering and impacting the generation for tomorrow is the theme of the program. We want to impact children is a positive way,” Henderson said.
For more information about the Instilling Value and Vision in Youth (IVVY) program, contact the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce at 404-329-4504.
