A Partnership with RRISD brings entrepreneurship opportunities for students

The Round Rock Chamber today announced a partnership with Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) and Junior Achievement of Central Texas (JACT) to bring select entrepreneurship curriculum to four comprehensive high schools in the district. In order to prepare its next generation of business leaders, the entrepreneurship program is designed to equip youth with the positive traits associated with successful entrepreneurs, such as independence, resilience, business acumen, and more.

“RRISD has offered some level of entrepreneurship coursework in the past, but this addition to our curriculum will increase the depth and breadth of entrepreneurship education within the district,” RRISD Director of Career and Technical Education-Sherri Bonds 

The courses are being offered this school year through the RRISD Academy programs. The entrepreneurship capstone course in the marketing tract will now go from one semester to an entire year-long class during the student’s senior year.

“As the chamber continues its work to develop a rich entrepreneurial ecosystem in our community, ensuring that youth have access to this critical curriculum is a major win,”

“Junior Achievement programs have been changing lives for almost one hundred years. Their curriculum is excellent and continues to evolve to remain relevant in today’s society, and we appreciate RRISD’s willingness to embrace it.” Amy Mizcles, the chamber’s vice president of community enhancement.

Last year, the chamber launched its REV UP Round Rock community entrepreneurship strategy. One of the nine recommendations from the white paper includes cultivating K-12 partnerships to foster entrepreneurship opportunities for students. To help fill this need, JACT will bring twenty-five new volunteers to mentor students in the RRISD entrepreneurial programs. 

Local Austin Women Learn Entrepreneurial Skills

Fact: Did you know research shows that women are half as likely as men to start businesses, yet women make great entrepreneurs?

Well, the women at Dress for Success (DFS) are making strides to beat this statistic. These amazing women, who are part of the Going Places Network at DFS, recently went through the  JA Be Entrepreneurial program.  After the participants learned how to identify a market need, understand their customer base and comprehend competitive advantage, they finished up by learning how to develop a business plan for their small business!

The JA Be Entrepreneurial program was a perfect complement to DFS’s financial literacy and career readiness curriculum. And if starting a business isn’t in the immediate future for the participants, the entrepreneurship skills they learned will help them become more marketable job candidates. More and more employers are placing a high value on employees with an entrepreneurial mindset because these employees tend to be more attentive to the needs of an organization and understand both customer perceptions and ethical dilemmas more fully. 

JA and DFS have similar goals, to empower people to own their economic success. JA is looking forward to continued collaboration with DFS to help more of their clients develop entrepreneurship skills. 

Leading Austin Women Empower the Next Generation of Women at the Capital Factory

Austin area middle and high school young women took a field trip to Capital Factory Downtown on Tuesday, May 16th to learn career skills and the basics of starting a business at JACT's inaugural E2 Summit: Entrepreneurship and Empowerment for Young Women. The young ladies completed the JA It’s My Business! program by creating a product or service, designing a prototype and presenting their idea to a panel of professional judges in a pitch competition. The young women had a blast coming up with their ideas and creating a product out of a mystery box of materials!

The JA E2 Summit would not have been as successful as it was without JA’s wonderful volunteers. Over 35 professional women from the Austin community came out to lead the young participants throughout the day during the various activities.

The young women at the E2 Summit learned about resume building and job search skills from Indeed Job Squad, and interview tips from Amy Wolfgang, founder of Wolfgang Career Coaching. Ken Downing, Senior Vice President and Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus, Skyped in to talk to the young ladies about being confident and dressing for the workplace . Downing, a JA Alumni himself, closed his fascinating speech with the following words of wisdom, "be impressive, be confident, and be strong powerful women."

The E2 Summit concluded with a product pitch competition. The young women presented their well thought out products to the panel of judges. The judges asked the ladies challenging questions about their products or services. In the end, the judges deliberated and chose their first, second, and third place winners. All pitches were fantastic and truly displayed the hard work the young ladies put into the day. 

Couldn’t volunteer on May 16th but still want to be involved? Opportunities are available to join the E-2 Mentor Group or to sponsor a young woman to participate in future JA programs. Contact Lauren Weronick, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at lauren@jacentex.org or 512-710-5437.

E2 Summit: Entrepreneurship & Empowerment Summit for Young Women is just 3 weeks away!

Entrepreneurship & Empowerment will be in full force on May 16th at  Capital Factory! Experienced women role models will work with young women in high school, grades 9-11, to help them develop the skills they will need for career success including networking, resume preparation and interviewing prowess. In addition, these young women will be given an introduction to starting a business through the JA It's My Business! program, with each session building toward a product-pitch competition at the end of the day. 

After the E2 Summit, participants will have a range of opportunities to build upon their Summit experience. Options for mentoring, business workshops, and even running a start-up company through the JA Company Program will be made available to all young women who wish to continue learning and growing throughout the year. 

With the generous support of Ernst & Young, the E2 Summit will be an incredible opportunity for dozens of local young women to have the Austin entrepreneur experience while meeting and networking with inspiring professional female role models outside of school. 

Are you interested in helping young women own their economic future?  Women volunteers are needed on May 16th to help with a wide range of activities including set up, logistics, pitch coaching and judging, as well as teaching the JA It's My Business! program curriculum. Sign up here to volunteer.

Can't volunteer on May 16th but still want to be involved? Opportunities are available to  join the E-2 Mentor Group or to sponsor a young woman to participate in future JA programs. Contact Lauren Weronick, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at lauren@jacentex.org or 512-710-5437.

The E2 Summit Chairs are Maren Miller of Ernst & Young and Liz Hocker, a JA of Central Texas Board Member.

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services with an unwavered commitment to building a better working world.

JA Teen Entrepreneurs Steal The Show at JA Launch Lessons Breakfast!

“I was bullied when I was in middle school and I was always sad when I went home. Our product helps to spread kindness and love."

“Phones need friends, too. Our product helps kids keep track of their phones."

"If my sister had an expandable phone grip...she could manage to hold onto her phone which would have resulted in a not so shattered screen."

It was clear each group of teen entrepreneurs knew their products inside and out. They could easily state the benefits to help compel us to buy their product and invest in their business. An excellent start on the entrepreneurial journey…

But today, these kids took a huge step forward because they learned even more about what being an entrepreneur is about – community. Entrepreneurs give each other advice, ask the hard questions and provide support. And, thanks to the incredibly engaged audience of local entrepreneurs and business leaders, the teens got a big dose of that today.  Each teen group left Industrious this morning with an offer of a mentoring relationship or follow-on support and several thought provoking questions to consider.

And the adults? Well, I think many of us left thinking about the questions posed this morning by Lauren Weronick, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs for JA of Central Texas. “Who inspired you? How can YOU be that person for the next generation of Austin entrepreneurs?”

 Interested? Contact Lauren here.

Now, a bit about each of the teen companies pitched this morning...

No Bullying Worldwide sells bracelets to help raise awareness about bullying and to help teens and bystanders speak out and feel safe in their environment. 10% of their profits go to Austin YMCA to support anti-bullying education.

SnapTurtle is a magnetic holder for your phone.  For each SnapTurtle sold, the company gives one dollar to the Turtle Island Restoration Network in Galveston Texas,  a top ocean conservation and marine protection organization that works to save sea turtles and other endangered marine life.

HOT SOCKET is a trendsetting Online Smartphone Accessories Store, offering our first-rate products and exceptional customer service to shoppers from the comfort of their own homes. They offer customization of the product for a small upcharge.

Volunteers from Charles Schwab teach Financial Literacy at Burnet Middle School

Alison Welch and Omar Richardson both work at Charles Schwab.  Their passion for teaching financial literacy to teens shines bright. This spring, they are teaching JA Economics for Success at Burnet Middle School in Austin. Here’s what they have to say about volunteering for JA.

Tell us about the experience overall.  What did you like most about teaching JA Economics for Success? 

Allison: My experience was great. The thing I like the most is knowing the long-term impact I’ll have on those kids and the support I offer the teacher.  Financial literacy is something that should be shared with everyone of all ages!!

Omar: I had a great experience teaching Economics for Success with Junior Achievement this year. The kids were very engaged and I feel like the real-life application of the exercises really facilitates that.

Were there any Ah-Ha moments you observed the students, perhaps when they made a connection or new discovery through JA?

Allison: The biggest Ah-Ha moment was when we were playing the game where the students have to figure out what they can afford versus what they want with a salary they are given.  What I thought the students would pick (mansions and expensive cars) was not the case for most of the students.  I learned that these kids are aware of the resources available to them and what it takes to achieve, or obtain the things, they want.  This is not just about financial literacy- but overall success in work and life.

Omar:  I was pretty surprised with how much familiarity the kids already had with some of the concepts (e.g. credit/debit, credit scores, insurance) which made it a lot easier to take a deeper dive into more practical applications/scenarios. I was also able to have some small group interactions with some of the students where I was able to answer questions concerning my college experience as well as my career progression.

Anything else you want to say?

Allison: My teacher was very hands on and was genuinely interested in the program, the kids, and me! 

Omar: Overall, I had a wonderful time with JA at Burnet this year and I’m looking forward to doing it again next year.

JA and TeXchange Launch Lessons Breakfast planned for April 20th at Industrious

Learn Lessons from Local Entrepreneurs

TeXchange Entrepreneurs will share stories about their professional journey: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Be inspired and get valuable takeaways for your own journey.

Hear Emerging Teen Entrepreneurs Pitch their Business

JA Students pitch to Austin business professionals

The JA Company Program is a 13 session volunteer-taught program in Austin area schools that allows a class of students to take their business concept from ideation to a REAL business. A select few of these JA Company Program student business teams will pitch their current start-ups to the audience. It's your opportunity to ask about their business model and hear what they've learned about themselves during their start-up journeys.

Pay it Forward: Give Your Own Launch Lesson

Learn how YOU can give a 1 hour JA Launch Lesson on your own entrepreneurial journey to an Austin area middle or high school classroom this spring. Join the ranks of successful entrepreneurs who've inspired the next generation by delivering a JA Launch Lesson such as Mark McClain, CEO of Sailpoint, Jason Ford, founder of FeedMagnet and Kristen Heaney, founder of YardBar. Information on how you can inspire the next generation of Austin entrepreneurs will be available at the event.

We look forward to introducing you to Austin entrepreneurs of all stages and ages!

Join Us!

 JA volunteers and donors receive complimentary tickets with coupon code 'JA'.  Register here to attend and get more details.  Refreshments and a light breakfast will be served. Seating is limited. 

This event is hosted by Jesse Weber of NGKF - Board Member for JA of Central Texas.

Newmark is one of the world's leading commercial real estate advisory firms. We provide a fully integrated platform of services to prominent multinational corporations and institutional investors across the globe, as well as to occupiers, owners and developers of real estate on a local, regional and national level. Together with London-based partner Knight Frank and independently-owned offices, NGKF's 14,100 professionals operate from more than 400 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents.

A special thanks go to our sponsors for their generous support of this event.

Stunning offices, inviting hospitality, and an inspiring community. 

TeXchange connects Austin’s technology community; bringing together founders, business leaders, investors, and technology executives at every stage of their careers, for knowledge-sharing, development, and networking.

JA Summer Camp 2017

JA CaMP START UP

JA Camp Start Up is a hands-on, two-week business entrepreneurship camp for rising 8th – 12th grade high school students. Teens will start up, launch and run an actual business through the JA Company Program. Participants learn from local business leaders who deliver hands-on, creative and interactive curriculum and provide real-world perspective. The camp includes a friendly pitch competition and culminates with a celebration. The JA Camp Start Up provides a much-needed learning opportunity for young people who are close to being in a world full of financial responsibility and opportunity. Participants are encouraged to bring a snack or brown bag lunch. 

When:  June 5 – 15, Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 1 pm
Where: Travis Early College High School, 1211 E Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704.
Who: Rising 8th – 12th grade high school students
Cost: $500 per student. For information on available scholarships, please contact  lauren@jacentex.org

Fogo De Chao Benefit for JA of Central Texas

JA - a perfect fit outside of school

TIffany Dudley and other Austin Links Mentors teach the JA Company Program

Tiffany Dudley,  a JA Alumna and leader at Dell, serves as the Chair for Services to Youth for the Austin (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Passionate about fostering entrepreneurship in kids, Tiffany saw a strong need for the youth served by The Austin Links to learn entrepreneurship skills outside of the traditional school setting. Partnering with JA allowed The Austin Links to leverage the proven curriculum of the JA Company Program to meet their goals of fostering youth entrepreneurship. If you are a community youth leader and would like an opportunity to host a JA program, please contact us here.  

First of all Tiffany, tell us what The Austin Links is and why are you involved with them.  The Austin Links are distinguished women who are decision makers, influencers, achievers, and make a difference in their communities.  Their sisterliness and genuine interest in positively impacting the lives of African American youth is what attracted me most.

You are on the supply chain leadership team at Dell. Tell us more about what you do.  I am the North America Retail Collaborative Planning Forecasting and Replenishment Leader. My team enables improved supply chain efficiency through collaborative transparency with our business partners.

Tell us why The Austin Links is working with JA.  We chose JA as a partner for our I'm A Linkpreneur! High School Program because of its longstanding JA Company Program.

I understand you are not the only Austin Links mentor who is a JA Alumna.   Correct! There are many of our members, including myself, who participated in the JA Company Program as youth and recognize the valuable imprint the program has had on us. When The Austin Links mentors first met the I'm A Linkpreneur! students this year, we shared our personal JA Company experiences. This is evidence of how many people JA and specifically, the JA Company Program, has touched.  

I understand that youth mentoring is key mission for The Austin Links. Tell us how JA fits in.  Since both JA and The Austin Links are focused on positive youth programming, a partnership has enabled us to work together on our aligned goals and to foster a 1x1 mentoring relationship with the students.  Use of JA Company Program curriculum has allowed us to expose students to STEM, finance, entrepreneurship, preparing them for success in our global economy.

Tell us about the company the students have started.  The company is called TeenDigital Pro. It is a photo scanning and imaging business with a focus on preserving family photos.

I understand you'd like the Linkpreneur students to attend the JA National Leadership Conference.  Yes, attending the conference is the stretch goal the students have set to validate success of their business.  It will also afford the students the opportunity to network with other student entrepreneurs and provide them hands-on business experience.  

Any advice you’d give other community leaders who might want to implement JA outside of a school setting?  Be flexible and committed. Most high school students are involved in a lot of extracurricular activities so it takes a balancing act, but it is definitely achievable.

Can you speak to any unique challenges women of color may face when pursuing entrepreneurship?  Women entrepreneurs of color tend to have a greater challenge getting their business financed.  Although obtaining financing is a shared challenge among entrepreneurs, the number of loans awarded to women entrepreneurs of color is significantly less than males and their female counterparts.  As a result, women of color tend to self-fund a significant portion of their business.   

How could JA be a potential solution to any of those challenges?  JA's youth programming provides financial literacy, which will help young ladies of color, as well as all youth, to be more financially astute.  The JA Company Program exposes youth to the possibility of owning their own business, whereas most students look to just get a "good" job.  That is a different mindset!  JA's continued exposure of youth to entrepreneurial and other business concepts is one way JA provides a solution to these challenges.

JA Student of the Month

JA Student of the Month, Anika

Would you please tell us about yourself?    My name is Anika and I'm an 8th grader at Canyon Vista Middle School. I participated in JA’s It’s My Business Program in the fall semester, 2016.

What was your favorite part? My favorite part of JA was the part where we got to make a prototype of our project. I loved this part because it enabled me to use my creativity and be practical at the same time. I got to envision the final product and keep working out the kinks and flaws in our company, EZcon.

Did you learn anything about yourself during the program? I learned a lot more than I expected about myself during the program. I learned that I am an overachiever because I wanted to do a marketing video, life sized prototype, along with a well-polished presentation. I also however learned that I follow through on what I start, because my group and I achieved all these things. Lastly, I learned that I want to consider being an entrepreneur as a career choice.

How did your thoughts about Entrepreneurship change as a result of the program? At first I regarded Entrepreneurship as boring and easy. Over the course of the program I learned so much about what it takes to be an Entrepreneur and how the products that come out of entrepreneurship can change lives and open doors for people. Now all I think about is what I can create and how it can help people. For example, when I went to India over winter break, I spent hours perfecting and adding to a notebook with ample ideas on products I could make and sell to better the lives of the poor people living there (I even made a prototype of a type of shoe that is made with affordable materials for the poor). Before JA I would have never thought to do these things, but now I feel compelled to be as much of an entrepreneur as I can be.

What skills do you think JA helped you get better with? I feel that I got better with time management for sure, not over planning what my group and I could do, and being realistic.

Would you recommend that Canyon Vista have JA next year? Why? I would 10,000% for sure recommend the program again because it teaches kids so many life skills and valuable lessons like everything I said above. It also makes us think of the many problems and gets us wondering what a kid like us can do to fix these problems!

Featured Teacher

Debra McClure, Travis High School

How long have you been a teacher?  20 Twenty years in total, 8 at Travis High School.

Why a teacher? What are you committed to?  I am committed to bringing as much value to the classroom as possible. I want the students to walk away having learned something that will help them in their lives. I want to help them break the cycle of defeat that many of them experience. 

What was your experience with JA? This was my first experience with JA and I was so impressed! Through JA, students gain a real learning experience they wouldn’t get anywhere else. Because the program is very hands-on, JA makes business less foreign and more personal, more possible for the students.

Any “Ah Ha” Moments?  It was eye-opening for me to see that entrepreneurship is a career path students are interested in, especially social entrepreneurship. Another "Ah-Ha" was seeing the students realize they could be in charge of their own lives. They gained a respect for business, and what the students thought about their future potential changed as a result of JA.

What do you do in your spare time when you aren’t teaching at Travis High School? I also am an entrepreneur.  Outside of school, I do design for print and web. http://www.dmlogodesign.com/   My colleague, Marie Harpin, and I also sell our Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop tutorials. Teachers from as far away as Australia and Scotland have purchased our tutorials. http://techworkbooks.dmlogodesign.com/.

What would you tell other teachers about JA?  DO IT!  Take the opportunity and bring JA into your school.

E2 - Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Summit for Young Women

JA and EY announce  E2 - Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Summit for Young Women 2017

The E2 Summit will be held on May 16, 2017 at Capital Factory, 701 Brazos in downtown Austin. The day-long event is for young women in grades 9-11. Sessions will be led by a diverse group of role models passionate about empowering young women to be successful. Attendees will learn fundamentals for career success and practice networking and preparing a resume. Participants will also have an opportunity to experience the initial steps of a business startup through JA It's My Business, with each session building toward a product-pitch competition.

After the E2 Summit, young women will have a range of opportunities to build upon their Summit experience. Options for one-to-one mentoring, financial workshops, and even running a start-up through the JA Company Program will be made available to all young women who wish to continue learning and growing throughout the year. Apply to be a mentor here.

Lauren Weronick, JACT Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, created the E2 Summit after a meeting with local women entrepreneurs uncovered common themes each experienced as young women. Lauren decided to connect inspiring female role models with young women who may not have the support they need to reach their full potential.

With the generous support of EY, the E2 Summit will be an incredible opportunity for dozens of local girls, many of whom will have never been in a downtown office or had the opportunity to meet and network with inspiring professional role models outside of school. 

The E2 Summit Chairs are Maren Miller of EY and Liz Hocker of CLS Partners. For more information or to join the E2 steering committee, please contact the JA office at 512.710.5437 or lauren@jacentex.org.

JA Founders Lunch on January 25, 2017

Join host Ben Edgerton, founder of Contigo, as we welcome a new year and 12 new cohorts of JA teen entrepreneurs. With the help of Austin's entrepreneurial community and business and civic leaders, 300 local teens will launch a real business through the JA Company Program in 2017.

At JA Founders Lunch, local entrepreneurs connect with one another and discuss opportunities to engage with others who are passionate about fostering entrepreneurship among local youth. Our January 2017 lunch features opportunities to invest in the JA Entrepreneurship Track - inspiring and preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. Opportunities range from $10/month to sponsor the software license for a cohort of entrepreneurs to $5,000 to support 10 student entrepreneurs.

Thank you to Jesse Weber and Newmark for sponsoring January's JA Founders Lunch.

FAQs

Do I have to be an entrepreneur to attend?

No. Entrepreneurial skills can be used in many types of environments and careers. Empowering young people is a cause we can all rally around, regardless of our current day job.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please call or text us at 512.710.5437. You may email us at rsvp@jacentex.org for any questions about our events or programs.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No. If you are coming in the place of the ticket purchaser, please share with us their name when you arrive.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferrable?

Absolutely. We are building a diverse community of entrepreneurs who are role models for our students. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, aspiring entrepreneurs and passionate advocates for youth entrepreneurship are always welcome.

 

Junior Achievement inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. With the help of Austin's vibrant entrepreneurial community, 300 local students will start their own businesses in 2017 through the JA Company Program. Through a diverse network of trained volunteers, JA teaches the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, financial literacy and career readiness to 5,000 K-12 students in the greater Austin area annually.

JA Founders Lunch #ChooseWomen

On November 30, 2016, please join us on Global #ChooseWOMEN Wednesday at Chez Zee, one of Austin's favorite women-owned businesses. This special JA Founders Lunch gathers an intimate group of local women entrepreneurs and business leaders as we craft the inaugural E2 - Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Summit for Young Women.

Lauren Weronick, chair of the E2 Summit, was inspired at a recent gathering of local women entrepreneurs to connect inspiring female role models to young women who may not have the support they need to reach their full potential. With the generous support of EY, the E2 Summit will be an incredible opportunity for dozens of local girls, many of whom will have never been in a downtown office or had the opportunity to meet and network with inspiring professional role models outside of school. 

The E2 Summit, planned for February 25, 2017 is a day-long event for young women in grades 10-12. Sessions will be led by a diverse group of role models passionate about empowering young women to be successful. The girls will learn fundamentals for career success and practice networking and preparing a resume. Participants will also have an opportunity to experience the initial steps of a business startup through JA It's My Business, with each session building toward a product-pitch competition.

After the E2 Summit, young women will have a range of opportunities to build upon their Summit experience. Options for one-to-one mentoring, financial workshops, and even running a start-up through the JA Company Program will be made available to all young women who wish to continue learning and growing throughout the year. 

Lunch guests are invited to give feedback on program elements, selection process for students and empowering role models who should be approached to join the effort. Guests may choose further involvement as committee members, Summit day session leaders and volunteers or mentors for Summit participants throughout the year if their schedules and interests allow.
What do you wish you knew when you were sixteen about setting and achieving goals? Who inspired and prepared you? Who will you inspire?

Join us for a delicious lunch on #ChooseWOMEN Wednesday to pay it forward by giving local young women the opportunity to empower their future.

At JA Founders Lunch, local entrepreneurs connect with one another and discuss opportunities to engage with others who are passionate about fostering entrepreneurship among local youth. 

FAQs

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Please call or text us at 512.710.5437. You may email us at rsvp@jacentex.org for any questions about our events or programs.

Do I have to be an entrepreneur to attend?
No. Entrepreneurial skills can be used in many types of environments and careers. Empowering women is a cause we can all rally around, regardless of our current day job.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
No. If you are coming in the place of the ticket purchaser, please share with us their name when you arrive.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferable?
Absolutely. We are building a diverse community of entrepreneurs who are role models for our students. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, aspiring entrepreneurs and passionate advocates for youth entrepreneurship are always welcome. Champions for women can be any gender.