Entrepreneur Workshop Graduation

In December, we celebrated the graduation of 12 youth from the Fall 2019 semester of our Entrepreneur Workshop!

A little over a year ago, Austin Angels began collaborating with High 5 Inspirations, a company that provides entrepreneurial education and support to children in foster care, with a goal to empower kids to be the creators of their own destinies. From this shared goal, Austin Angels and High 5 collectively launched the Entrepreneur Workshop - a semester-long course for youth between 12 and 18 years old, that teaches them important skills around entrepreneurism, problem-solving, business knowledge, financial literacy.

​Students are asked to come up with their own business idea, and at the end of the semester, present their idea to the class. One student presented about a coffee shop that employs people who have had trouble with the law to give them a second chance at rehabilitation, and another student dreamed up a podcast that takes everyday news stories and retells them in a way that is more easily understandable for kids their age.

Each of them works so hard to develop their businesses over the course of the semester, and we want to ensure that they feel confident and excited going into their final presentation. We were so grateful to partner with Capital One Café Domain NORTHSIDE once again to offer a clean, modern workspace and refreshments for the duration of the program, as well as swag bags full of goodies for graduation day. Our friends at Ticket to Dream donated laptops for each student, May Designs provided gorgeous, personalized notebooks, and Melody Ross offered gifts for each student to receive on graduation day as well!

The heart of our Dare to Dream Program is to walk alongside youth as they navigate life's challenges and prepare to age out of foster care. We believe that community, empowerment and hope are the keys to youth reaching their fullest potential and thriving in adulthood. Thanks to our incredible partners and donors, we are able to provide our youth with extracurricular programs, like our Entrepreneur Workshop, that increase their self-confidence, create opportunity and encourage them to reach for the stars.

Click the video below to watch a quick recap of Graduation Day: