Youth Business Plan Competition Breeds Bright Ideas and Innovators

As far South Florida’s next generation of go-getters are concerned, the era of the Innovation Nation is upon us – and it started right here at home.

Yesterday, young entrepreneurs from 21 area schools put their clever business ideas on display at the NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) South Florida Youth Business Plan Competition semi-finals.

Armed with creative ideas and the business skills they’ve learned through the NFTE curriculum taught at their schools, these ambitious students are ushering in a new period of economic growth and innovative thinking throughout South Florida and the nation.

The NFTE South Florida Business Plan Competition semi-finals featured a batch of fresh and diverse business ideas that range from niche photography services to delectable frozen treats.

Move over, Silicon Valley!
Some of the students have even gone so far as to invent their own products. One tech-savvy Broward teen has invented a retractable headphone cord designed specifically for iPhone and iPad users. Not only does the product remove the hassle of tangled, messy cords; it also comes with a handy belt clip for Apple users on the go.

Other students combined their passion for their favorite hobby with the business savvy they learned through their NFTE entrepreneurship class at school. One student’s idea, a photo graphy business for luxury cars, has already generated a steady flow of business from eBay sellers looking to put their vehicle’s best face forward in online auctions.

The consumer’s sweet spot was also a target at this year’s competition: a student from Miami Central High School concocted a delicious idea for a frozen yogurt business specializing in a line of tropical flavors.

The top six business plans from the semi-finals will be on display at the NFTE South Florida Regional Business Plan Competition on May 12, an annual event that gives young entrepreneurs from low-income communities the opportunity to perfect and pitch a business plan and receive valuable feedback from top business leaders.

The stakes and the excitement are high – join students from Broward and Miami-Dade schools as they rise to the challenge of presenting complex business concepts and demonstrate that they have the gumption –and the goods – to take control of their destinies and embark on their own unique pathways to entrepreneurial success. To learn more about the NFTE South Florida Regional Business Plan Competition on May 12th, 2010, please contact Erin Schmidt at eschmidt@thinkinkpr.com.

Kinloch Kids Paint No to Drugs

Usually when we hear the word “graffiti,” it is associated with something negative: criminal behavior, gang activity, groups of youngsters up to no good. But what if graffiti could be used to do just the opposite – what if graffiti could help inspire kids to be drug- and alcohol-free?


That was the idea behind the graffiti art initiative at Kinloch Park Middle School, where South Florida-based youth drug prevention program DFYIT (Drug Free Youth in Town) teamed up with a local graffiti artist, school administrators and a group of middle school students who were eager to wreak havoc – er, make art – on school property.

The end result truly was a work of art – a massive graffiti art mural encompassing the entire back wall of the school’s cafeteria. Now when Kinloch Park students gather there for lunch hour, they can’t help but notice the colorful scene, which asks a simple question: “What is your natural high?”

Danny Lopez, the DFYIT staffer who conceived the idea for the art initiative, says the project was a great outlet for the students, who wanted to spread the message to their peers that being drug-free is not only fun – it’s cool, too. And, in addition to boosting their “street cred” at school, the students involved in the art initiative spent a whole weekend interacting with positive role models and making a lasting impression on their school community.

And it couldn’t come at a better time. Along with the continued problem of illicit drug use among local youth, South Florida is witnessing unprecedented increases in prescription drug abuse rates among children and teens. Add to that the strong correlation between youth substance abuse and violent activity (one national survey, for example, found that 94% of violent teens reported using alcohol, 85% reported using marijuana and 55% reported using several illegal drugs), and it becomes clear why drug-prevention outreach programs like the Kinloch Park initiative are so needed in our community right now.

The Kinloch Park graffiti art initiative is a great example of what young people can accomplish when they have the right tools. And it certainly makes lunchtime a lot more colorful!

Student YouTube Videos Put New Spin on the Anti-Drinking PSA

DFYIT has launched a YouTube video contest through its SoBe Sober underage drinking prevention campaign, giving teenagers an opportunity to create a 60- to 90-second video conveying the dangers of underage drinking and binge drinking.

The video must address why underage binge drinking is dangerous, provide at least two to three facts to support the claim and offer solutions on how to combat the problem. Read what the Miami Herald is saying about the contest here.

Check out the grand prize entries and vote for your favorite video now!