Craig SchroederSenior Associate

Youth Engagement

Critical Issues: Youth Impact

Generational Wealth Transfer

Historical Youth Out-Migration Trends

Loss of Farms, Industry and Small Businesses

Erosion of Leadership and Civic Capacity

What do we mean by “youth”?

1. Elementary to post-secondary (K-16) age young people that we can engage in civic leadership roles, entrepreneurship and career opportunities in their community.

1. Young adults (19-35 years) that we can encourage to live and work in our communities (potentially with families of their own!).

Gallup Poll Results

Seven out of 10 (69%) high-school students are interested in starting their own business, but 86% rated themselves as very poor to fair on their knowledge of business and entrepreneurship.

85% of these students thought it was important or very important to receive entrepreneurship education in schools.

Gallup Organization, Inc.

New Opportunities– Entrepreneurship– Information Technology– Biotechnology

Youth Perspectives– Family and Community– Quality of Life and Civic Engagement– Entrepreneurship – a preferred career path

We need to rethink our options and learn from history…

Learning From History:

Not that long ago, 9 in 10 Americans were

self-employed.

They knew how to create and sustain entrepreneurial

communities.

Your Entrepreneurial Heritage?

Youth Are Critical to Rural Vitality!

3:1 positive impact upon population Long-term business and career goals Educated workforce for expanding businesses Substantial consumers of goods and services New energy, skills, ideas and resources Support and use public institutions Retention of local generational wealth

Why Target Youth “E” Talent?Youth currently in your community may well

represent your greatest resource for economic growth and community

sustainability. The challenge is to: engage these youth, equip them with the skills and knowledge

to be successful, and then support them and their

enterprising ventures.

How do communities involve youth?

Do to Youth Do for Youth Do with Youth

Skateboard Zoning

Trash Cleanup

Focus on Stars and Ignore Other Youth

Teen Center

College Scholarships

Tell Youth the Right Way to Do Things

Youth Events

Decision Making

Listen and Support Youth Discovery

Getting Educators Involved

Community Support of

Youth & Enterprises

Entrepreneurial Education &

Career Development

Youth Involvement & Leadership in Community

Engage

Equip

Support

Youth Engagement System

EntrepreneurShip Investigation (4-H ESI)

14

Thinking Outside the Box Retreat

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Welcome Back Home Exercise

Norfolk Area Recruiters

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Over 30 Families in 3 Years