Six-week summer entrepreneurship program by Enterprise Zone Commission; Office of the Territorial Public Defender; Youth Arise, Inc. wraps up on St. Thomas
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - August 2, 2017 - The U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (USVIEDA) announces that five students will graduate this week from a six-week summer program designed to encourage the Territory's youth to think about becoming entrepreneurs as they prepare for their personal and professional lives after high school. The graduation ceremony for this summer program, EntrepreNow, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 4, 2017 at E's Garden Teahouse and Things on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. E's Garden Teahouse and Things is located at 2A Commandant Gade (Garden Street) in the purple and green building across from Ideal Restauranand next to the Midtown Guesthouse.
EntrepreNow, the brainchild of the Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC), was designed this year to assist the Territory’s young men ages 14-19 years old in learning how to set personal and career goals, build self-confidence, resolve conflict, prepare a resume` and conduct a job search, create and implement a business plan, and other life skills. EntrepreNow is also being held this year on St. Croix from July 17 to August 25, 2017.
Established in July 2016, EntrepreNow is being held for a second year in partnership with the Office of the Territorial Public Defender of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the local non-profit organization Youth Arise, Inc. The EZC is an entity of the USVIEDA that is responsible for the revitalization of distressed neighborhoods that were once vibrant centers of economic activity in the Territory.
Selected through the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services and the Office of the Territorial Public Defender of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the students of EntrepreNow participated in a variety sessions for their chosen career tracks during this summer program. These career tracks included, but were not limited to, game testing, civil engineering, carpentry, K-9 law enforcement and diesel mechanic jobs. The students also participated in the work shadowing of local entrepreneurs.
To learn more, contact Nadine Marchena Kean, director of EZC, at 340-714-1700, ext. 256.
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