Page 170 - 1-Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development by Norman Walzer (z-lib.org)

The Difference Makers: Entrepreneurial Young People 159

Girl Talk
During the 2006 Georgia Governors Entrepreneurship Summit held in
Douglas, a panel of three young entrepreneurs captured the audience with
their passion, humor, and energy. One particular young woman, well-
known to teenage girls who read Cosmo Girl, shared her remarkable story.
She is a student at Kennesaw State University in Georgia and an engaging
young person with a heart for helping young girls discover their potential
during their formative years. In 2002, she began a mentoring program in
her high school to help middle school girls better address personal adoles-
cence issues. The idea caught on and now Girl Talk operates in 19 states
9
with the goal of having programs in all 50 states by 2010.

ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE

We have discussed a variety of aspects of youth engagement and how they
are being applied, but work with communities that are engaged in youth
entrepreneurship indicates several common traits of successful programs.
These “leading practices” can help inform other communities about how to
develop an effective youth entrepreneur engagement strategy. Key traits in-
clude the following:

• Quality Entrepreneurship Curriculum
• Supportive Community Environment
• Peer Networking
• Pathways from Education to Opportunity

Each of these leading practices will be examined more closely with sugges-
tions based on field experience.

QUALITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM

Teachers may use a variety of teaching styles and course materials to teach
entrepreneurship. Compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act impacts
elementary and middle schools nationwide and may become a requirement
throughout K–12 education in the future. Curriculum that is already certi-
fied to meet these standards, is content rich, is well-organized, and does not
require extensive background work by teachers to use the materials, is noted
as a priority among teachers.
Teachers also appreciate the inclusion of class exercises adaptable to les-
son plans. Some teachers prefer a hardcover textbook and workbooks that