Springfield City Youth Mission (SCYM) began in 1998 when a group of concerned ministers and other community leaders recognized a critical need and came together to develop a Christian ministry that would reach out to at-risk children and youth living in Springfield. Since then, SCYM has grown to reach over 600 students in Springfield city schools each year through their many programs.
One of these program is the Biz Ba$ics Entrepreneurship Program which supports the development of 6th-8th grade students in vulnerable Springfield neighborhoods through the development of life and workforce skills, economic opportunity, financial literacy, and support of academic achievement through engaging activities, hands-on experience, opportunity for income and relational support. Biz Ba$ics Entrepreneurship is a 20 week, school-year based after school program hosted at two sites: Schaefer Middle School and Roosevelt Middle School, with up to 20 students at each site. A third site operates independently in partnership with Southgate Baptist Church.
The students put their skills into practice through a fall group sales project in partnership with a local business. In the spring there is a Marketplace event open to the community, where products made by the students are featured and sold. The students get to keep all of the profits they make from their sales. Biz Ba$ics Entrepreneur program partners with local businesses, churches, volunteers and schools to help educate the students on topics such as: introduction to entrepreneurship, basic business plans, marketing, customer service, budgeting, profit and loss, product development, sales and communication, business partnerships, and career development.
Biz Ba$ics' structure and curriculum was developed through research of other successful youth entrepreneurship programs including: Youth Entrepreneurship Toolkit recommendations by Faith and Service Technical Education Network (FASTEN), National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, TREP$ and Junior Achievement.
In Springfield, 14.7% of young adults 18-24 do not have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Not only does this program provide these students the opportunity to learn the structure of the business world, but also gets them involved outside of the school day and connects them with a community of volunteers and other students.
Research shows that students involved in youth entrepreneurship programs may experience improvements in academic performance, increase in school attendance and improved interpersonal relationships.
United Way is proud to fund an agency that is making such an impact in the community of Clark County. If you’re interested to learn more or get involved with the Biz Ba$ics Entrepreneurship program - check out their website
Springfield City Youth Mission
or call them at 937-325-6183 today!
