Business Alliances
EDUCATION: GET REAL!!! (EGR) works with Economic Development Committees (EDC) in rural and metropolitan areas to develop programs that capture the interest of educators, students, school administrators, school board members, and community business leaders. Many EDC's have expressed a concern about how they can help arm their local youth with the entrepreneurial skills and leadership opportunities necessary for them to earn a living and experience success in their future careers while remaining in their local community.
The purpose of the EDC program is to unite all facets of the community (students, parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, businesses, etc.) by partnering students with a business person (small or large business operation) in the community where the students have the opportunity to learn about operating a business from the experts in the field. Students learn how to operate a business in a non-threatening, less competitive, lower start-up cost environment while benefitting from the expertise, experience, and guidance of local business owners, civic and business leaders, and mentors (including retirees). This model is important particularly in the rural communities because the communities want these educated young people to stay in the communities as they marry and raise their families.
The mission of this program is to encourage these students to consider
- building new businesses (new entrepreneurial ventures) to keep pace with the changing world
- some day assuming ownership of a business they can restructure and revitalize, making it more profitable and current
Teachers engaged in these programs are visionary, energetic and focused on establishing alliances among businesses and schools that will strengthen students' skills. The teachers help establlish the aliances and conduct the training with an eye on sustainability -- keeping the program going year after year.
EDUCATION: GET REAL!!! works with the schools to establish networks of community "alliance partners." Businesses are active participants in school programs such as advisory committees and mock interview days. They participate as class speakers, panelists in discussion groups, and business consultants for school organizations and to teachers in CTE (Career & Technical Ed) courses. This exposure to business leaders and business practices teaches students how to take responsibility, gives them direction and a sense of self confidence, promotes leadership, expands their knowledge and skill set, teaches them the importance of job performance, and helps them become independent and financially self-sufficient.