Verizon Invests in Babson College to Create an Entrepreneurship Program for Urban Boston Public School Youth

Pictured left to right: Alexandra Oliver-Davila, Executive Director of Sociedad Latina; Cheryl Kiser, Executive Director of The Lewis Institute at Babson College; Nayelie Acevedo, student; Kerry Healey, President of Babson College; Victor Rivera, student; Rose Stuckey Kirk, President of the Verizon Foundation.

This week, Verizon Innovative Learning kicks off in Boston. Rising Boston Public school sophomores were welcomed by leaders from Verizon, Babson College, Sociedad Latina and esteemed members of the Boston community as they begin a five-week entrepreneurship program to learn skills like coding, social innovation and communications using Babson’s world-renowned Entrepreneurial Thought & Action methodology.

Students will work in teams to identify and solve for real community issues and develop prototypes for technology-based venture ideas. The program will culminate in a pitch presentation where students will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions to a panel of expert judges. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a credit in coding from Boston Public Schools, a Digital Badge in Critical Thinking from Boston Afterschool and Beyond. Students will also be able take home the tablets and laptops they use during the camp for continued learning.