Rebecca Matlock Hutchinson knows that it has “become quite common for young people to create businesses.” She also knows many need help.
On Saturday (November 19), the SCORE CDC will offer such help during the Youth Entrepreneur Workshop at their office, which is located at 571 Vance Ave. in need-heavy ZIP code 38126.
SCORE stands for South City, a Community of Opportunity, Revitalization, and Empowerment. Hutchinson, SCORE’s executive director, founded the CDC in 2017. She decided to host the workshop after meeting several young people who expressed an interest in making their own money.
“We want to make sure that they, along with their guardians, have a good foundation and the knowledge to be successful,” said Hutchinson.
“It’s open to youth who are thinking about starting a business and those who already have one. We want them to know that it’s OK to dream big and their age shouldn’t deter them.”
Set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the free event is open to ages 10 to 17 and their guardians. Experts will speak on topics such as how to start a business, goal setting, e-commerce, marketing, and how to guide a youth entrepreneur.
The event will also contain a youth vendor fair, where those who have products to sell can do so and receive feedback/suggestions from experts on how to best market themselves in that setting.
“We want to try to keep track of the youth to determine if any start a business,” said Hutchinson, “and (if any) join one of the entrepreneur programs that will be recruiting at the workshop.”
SCORE is designed to “intentionally and strategically implement civic engagement activities in the South City community at the grassroots level and connect residents to opportunities that help provide them with the tools, information, and skill sets needed to empower themselves.”
The mission of SCORE is to “build community capacity and promote economic equity while restoring a sense of community ownership, pride, identity, and empowerment.”
The Youth Entrepreneur Workshop is funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
(For more information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3UY89Fc. Or, call 901-504-5392.)
