Student entrepreneurs apply real-life business skills to sell their products
More than 30 booths and 75 entrepreneurs in our CORAL program sold their handmade wares as part of the Startup Squad community market.
Young women in our CORAL after-school/ extending learning program are embracing the Silicon Valley spirit of entrepreneurship with a curriculum on how to start and operate their own businesses.
At the culmination of “The Startup Squad Get Down to Business” program in late May, 75 young business entrepreneurs put their learnings into action. The courtyard at Educare was transformed into an outdoor marketplace for these students in the Franklin-McKinley School District to sell their wares. More than 30 booths were selling hand-made creations including: jewelry, stickers, hair accessories, friendship bracelets, crocheted items, fruit juices, cupcakes, and chocolate-covered strawberries.
“You could feel the excitement and enthusiasm at the market,” said Sona Grover, Catholic Charities Program Manager, Franklin-McKinley Children’s Initiative. “This program really aligns with our mission of guiding youth as they find their passion for learning and helping them see a brighter future for themselves and their families.” The collaborative model of the program was a real asset to help these students learn to work and produce in a team environment as they will do in their real life future careers, Grover added.
Catholic Charities CORAL and Franklin McKinley Children’s Initiative are grateful to our sponsors who made this learning experience possible: The Startup Squad, Sares Regis Group, Macy’s, and the National Association of Women Business Owners Silicon Valley.
