ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION FOR AT-RISK YOUTH: A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY

This paper describes an innovative entrepreneurship education program that was first delivered to 32 at-risk youth during summer 1998, and then expanded in the summer of 1999 to include 50 at-risk youth. The majority of these youth came from Latino or Hmong/Vietnamese ethnic backgrounds. Four features make this program unique. First, a team of university students, who are members of a group called Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), taught the lessons. Second, the program integrates business, economic and computer literacy lessons that emphasize entrepreneurship. Third, the SIFE students helped their proteges author business plans and deliver an oral presentation to business leaders. Fourth, the program represents collaboration between California State University, Chico and the county's Private Industry Council. Results indicate that the students increased their knowledge of business and economic concepts, they improved their computer literacy skills, and their attitudes about the program were overwhelmingly positive. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]