This just in from our good friends over at Georgia-Pacific:
Each year, continued cuts in education budgets have forced teachers to spend hundreds of their own dollars just to keep their rooms stocked with essential classroom supplies, like notebook paper, pencils, crayons, hand sanitizer and markers. This week, each of the 1,100 Atlanta Public Schools elementary classrooms is receiving a school supply care package from Georgia-Pacific employees.
APS Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall met with some shining examples of young innovators at the Youth Entrepreneurs Atlanta’s’ “Dare to Dream” fall kickoff event held Tuesday at the Georgia-Pacific Center Auditorium. Dr. Hall joined several participating students as well as a host of “Dream Supporters” that included Martin Luther King III in helping support YE-ATL, an educational program sponsored by Georgia-Pacific and hosted in APS.
Hall noted a sea change of events that, while challenging, has provided a huge window of opportunity for today’s youth in the 21st century marketplace. She pointed to the Internet-driven social-media revolution, the increasing number of women in the workplace, and statistics that show soon there will be more English-speaking residents in China than the United States.
“What all of this means is that the top job offer or next big idea doesn’t always go to or come from the smartest individual. Success follows the one who can most adapt, adjust and transition in an environment of change,” Hall said.
Youth Entrepreneurs Atlanta kicked off a new school year Thursday at The New Schools at Carver with video presentations and inspiring remarks from students, teachers, Atlanta Public Schools administrators and business partners. See press release here.
Youth Entrepreneurs Atlanta will stage its fall kickoff for the new school year for the program that teaches high school students free-enterprise fundamentals through hands-on learning activities.Â
The event will be held Thursday, September 17, 2009, beginning at 10 a.m. at The New Schools at Carver. Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall, Georgia-Pacific CEO Jim Hannan, and Elizabeth Koch will participate in the event.
Mrs. Koch, who along with her husband, Charles Koch, chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, founded Youth Entrepreneurs Kansas and Youth Entrepreneurs Atlanta. Mrs. Koch and Youth Entrepreneurs Atlanta recently donated $10,000 to the 21st Century Atlanta Scholars Program to support 21st Century Atlanta Scholars students majoring in science and engineering.
Through the Georgia-Pacific Foundation, Youth Entrepreneurs Atlanta funds teacher training and support, program management and curriculum development for 10th and 11th grade students at all Atlanta Public Schools high schools. Georgia-Pacific has committed more than $1 million in staff and support to the school district for this initiative.
Launched in 2006, the program’s goal is to spark student interest in owning their own businesses and creating value as employees by taking ownership of their careers.
