by Paula Anderson
Learning about business at a young age can have an impact on the path you take as you pursue a career.
The Jackson Madison African American Chamber of Commerce (JMCAACC) has a program designed to plant the ‘seed’ of entrepreneurship.
The “Follow Me into Business” program offers a summer internship for youth ages 12-18 years-old to learn about business while working at an employer site in Jackson, Tenn.
Don McCorry, finance director of JMCAACC said, "The program teaches principles about starting a business including pitching your ideas to fictional investors."
The students are separated into two age categories: 12 - 15 (mentorship, employer shadowing) and 16-18 years old. According to McCorry, the 16 -18 years old meet civic and business leaders during June and July and work 40 hours with an employer funded by the City of Jackson.
Karen Wise, media professional said, “Participants also learn about saving money, credit card debt, credit history, eye contact, punctuality and handshakes.”
The program is funded in part through the annual fundraiser which is a Celebrity Golf Classic. For 10 years, the fundraiser has focused on offering the game of golf to the minority community and it also provides staff to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
According to McCorry, on Sept. 14, 25 teams will gather at Bent Tree Golf Course to play golf to raise funds for the Youth Entrepreneurship program for next summer (2022).
In 2019, Maya Bridgeman, a 16 year-old student, was awarded a $500 scholarship with a grant funded via LyondellBasell for an essay writing contest on the importance of small business in the neighborhood.
One of the attendees will be Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones, retired NFL player with the Dallas Cowboys and graduate of Tennessee State University.
Other events include a golf putting contest, and silent auction. This year’s sponsors are BancorpSouth and Portfolio Recovery Associates Group (PRA).
To learn more about the event contact JMACC at jacksonmcaacc@gmail.com.
Paula Anderson is a professional journalist.