Make the Connection: Young Entrepreneurs and the Community

Entrepreneurship Education FORUMColumbus, Ohio

November 15, 2010

Make the Connection – Young Entrepreneurs and the Community

• Diane Vigna, Ph.D.• Associate Professor and Extension Specialist• University of Nebraska—Lincoln

Department of Textiles, Clothing & Design• ESI Content Specialist and Editor• Community Connections Content Specialist and Developer

• Nancy Eberle• Special Projects Consultant• University of Nebraska—Lincoln Extension• ESI Program Consultant• Community Connections Author and Developer

Nebraska Community Foundation RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship Heartland Center for Leadership Development Center for Rural Affairs

Congressional Office of the Honorable Tom Osborne

• Un—L Extension• 4-H Youth Development• UN—L Department of Agricultural Economics• College of Agriculture and Natural Resources• UN—L Department of Textiles, Clothing & Design• College of Education and Human Sciences

Southeast Community College Central Community College McCook Community College

Jim & Penny Krieger Family Foundation

ESI Partners

EntrepreneurShip Investigation (ESI)

ESI Website

http://www.4h.unl/esi

ESI & Community Connections Goals

Youth will think like an entrepreneur at a very young age.

Youth will want to remain in their local community.

Extension Connection Extension has a statewide presence –

supportive infrastructure Local source for 4-H curricula including ESI Extension educators and volunteers can

serve as classroom resources

What Makes the ESI curriculum Unique?

http://www.extension.unl.edu/officesmap

School Connection Each chapter is linked with School

Standards. Experiential Model – activity based learning

• User Friendly• Short planning and preparation time

Middle School Reading Level High School – career education

What Makes the ESI curriculum Unique?

4-H Connection Youth and adults have historically been

involved in 4-H programming 4-H curricula are accessible to all youth no

matter where they live or go to school Variety of delivery modes

• Camps• School Enrichment• Community Programs• After School

Time tested Experiential Learning Model

What Makes the ESI curriculum Unique?

Experiential Learning Model

4-H programming targets

life skills

Community Involvement Based on research Crucial for success Input from experts

RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship UN—L Rural Initiative UN—L Agricultural Economics Dept. UN—L Extension Community Resource

Development Action Team

What Makes this curriculum Unique?

Community Support is Essential

To make Entrepreneurship work for youth

Eight Focused Listening Sessions• Adult Entrepreneurship Educators• Financial• Economic Development• Youth Entrepreneurship Educators• Leadership• The Big Picture• Community Leaders• Young Entrepreneurs

Teach the community about working with youth

Make it accessible to anyone Marketing Community Assessment including History Diverse Delivery Modes/Technology Intergenerational – Family Support Socio-psychological/Attitude Change Models, Case Studies and Templates Outside Resources and Partners

What we heard …Top 10 things a Community Resource Guide should provide:

#1 Thing a program to help communities support youth entrepreneurs should offer:

Mentors, Mavens & Coaches

What is Community Connections?

Website• Curriculum to help youth and adults work

together to create a better community through new enterprises in the community

• Resources offering connections to service providers, resources, books, websites and much more.

Community Connections

http://www.extension.unl.edu/communityconnections

Thayer County Community Connections

Community Connections

http://www.extension.unl.edu/communityconnections

Available Online

Wrap Up – Make a Plan

Can you see the possibilities?

What will you do with ESI and Community Connections?

ContactsDr. Diane Vigna

• Associate Professor and Extension Specialist• University of Nebraska—Lincoln • Department of Textiles, Clothing & Design• dvigna2@unl.edu• 402-472-6318

Mrs. Nancy Eberle• University of Nebraska—Lincoln Extension• neberle@mainstaycomm.net• 402-736-4691

Make the Connection – Young Entrepreneurs and the Community