Special to the American
YWCA Metro St. Louis is offering girls an introduction to business ownership this summer. The YW-Teens’ new program, the Summer Entrepreneurship Academy, will take place July 7-11, conducted at the YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Heritage Center, 2711 Locust St. in midtown St. Louis.
The academy is an intensive week-long program for high school girls that will teach basic principles of starting and running a business, provide real-world business experience, and strengthen entrepreneurial skills.
“YW-Teens is excited about introducing young women to entrepreneurship because these transferable skills will increase the likelihood of future success in both personal and work life,” says Shalia Ford, director of the YW-Teens program.
The academy is being conducted in partnership with National Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship and will utilize trained staff and curriculum from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
Through the academy, students will learn to develop and present an actual business plan, get the chance to interact with local entrepreneurs, and become part of a network of fellow students and business professionals from the St. Louis region. At the end of the academy, each student or team of students will make a formal presentation of their business plan to a panel of judges.
“We are hopeful that as a result of participating in our program, young women will become the next generation of emerging entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region,” Ford said.
The academy is open to all female high school students from throughout the metropolitan area. The registration fee is $75 per student, and covers the application fee, course materials, meals, fieldtrips and additional supplies. Scholarships are available on a limited basis.
The YWCA YW-Teens program helps girls, ages 11-18, recognize and develop leadership skills, self-awareness, and it promotes positive decision-making habits through a series of developmental initiatives that are conducted throughout the year.
For more information about YW-Teens or to register for the academy, call Ford at 314-531-1115, ext. 277, email sford@ywcastlouis.org or visit www.ywcastlouis.org.