Businesses United In Investing Lending And Development

BUILD'S MISSION IS TO USE ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO EXCITE AND PROPEL LOW-INCOME, DISENGAGED YOUTH THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE SUCCESS. BUILD IS COMMITTED TO HELPING DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN AMERICA'S MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO PERSEVERE IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. WHILE ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY IS NECESSARY, IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND THEIR CAREERS. THE MISSING PIECE IS FOR OUR YOUTH TO ACQUIRE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS - CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING, SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING AND COLLABORATION - ALL OF WHICH ARE BEST LEARNED THROUGH A HANDS-ON, REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE LIKE STARTING A BUSINESS.

ENTREPRENEURS 1 (E1) FRESHMAN YEAR PLANNING A BUSINESS. FRESHMEN ENROLL IN A RIGOROUS, CREDIT BEARING CLASS FOR THE ENTIRE ACADEMIC YEAR. STUDENTS LEARN THE TENETS OF TIME MANAGEMENT, GOAL SETTING AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION ETIQUETTE. IN TEAMS OF 3-5 MEMBERS, STUDENTS DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE 20-30 PAGE BUSINESS PLANS BASED ON IDEAS THEY CREATE. THE YEAR CULMINATES WITH PARTICIPATION IN BUILD'S YOUTH BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION HELD AT UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS IN BUILD'S FOUR REGIONS.

PROGRAM #2: ENTREPRENEURS 2 (E2) SOPHOMORE YEAR RUNNING A BUSINESS. SOPHOMORES MEET AFTER SCHOOL FOR UP TO 6 HOURS PER WEEK FOR THE ENTIRE ACADEMIC YEAR. IN BUILD'S YOUTH BUSINESS AND ACADEMIC INCUBATOR, THEY BEGIN TO OPERATE A SMALL BUSINESS WHILE LEARNING NEGOTIATION, BUSINESS ETHICS, VENTURE CAPITAL AND MORE. TEAMS ARE ASSIGNED VENTURE CAPITAL ADVISORS, WHO ACT ON BUILD'S BEHALF TO FINANCE A STUDENT BUSINESS WITH FUNDING FROM BUILD. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SOPHOMORES RECEIVE ACADEMIC COACHING, ADVISING AND TUTORING TO ENSURE THEY GET ON TRACK TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL ELIGIBLE FOR COLLEGE.

ENTREPRENEURS 3 (E3) JUNIOR YEAR PREPARING FOR COLLEGE. JUNIORS MEET AFTER SCHOOL AND ARE TRAINED ON ADVANCED TOPICS RELATING TO COLLEGE SELECTION. STUDENTS CONTINUE TO OPERATE THEIR BUSINESSES BUT NOW FOCUS MORE ON DEVELOPING COLLEGE READINESS SKILLS SO THEY WILL BE PREPARED TO ATTEND THE COLLEGE OF THEIR CHOICE. IN PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE, STUDENTS ARE TRAINED ON ESSAY WRITING, INTERVIEWING, FINANCIAL AID AND STANDARDIZED TESTING. TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS, BUILD STAFF MEMBERS ACCOMPANY STUDENTS ON COLLEGE TOURS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

ENTREPRENEURS 4 (E4) SENIOR YEAR SELECTING AND APPLYING FOR COLLEGE. SENIORS WORK WITH BUILD MENTORS AND STAFF TO IDENTIFY THEIR SCHOOLS, WRITE AND PREPARE COLLEGE ADMISSION ESSAYS AND APPLICATIONS AND PACKAGE THEIR BUILD EXPERIENCE INTO A PORTFOLIO. STUDENTS CONTINUE TO HONE THEIR INTERVIEWING AND PRESENTATION SKILLS IN PREPARATION FOR COMMUNICATING WITH COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICERS. WHEN POSSIBLE, BUILD ASSISTS IN ARRANGING FOR COMMUNICATING WITH LOCAL BUILD ALUMNI. BUILD STAFF PROVIDES STUDENTS' PARENTS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS.