5 ways to share your students' entrepreneurial mindsets during Lights On

By Scott Mann, VentureLab, Jessie Jones and Kelly Biggar of Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI), and Liz Nusken, Ohio Afterschool Network (OAN). Photo courtesy of Youth Panel on Entrepreneurship Education.

Afterschool programs play a vital role in helping young people explore and develop their gifts and prepare for success in school, work and life. 

One way they are doing that is through entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is more than starting a business: it’s a way of thinking and doing, a mindset and a set of skills that youth need for success in school right now, in their future careers, and in life.

At the 2022 Hawaii Afterschool Alliance annual conference, a recently graduated senior named Sunshine shared with afterschool professionals, “I wouldn’t be where I am or who I am if it wasn’t for my afterschool program.” Sunshine attended the afterschool program Studio Shaka during her middle and high school years, where she discovered and developed her courage and confidence by writing poetry and using the maker lab to create products. Sunshine now works as an instructor for the program while attending college classes.

It’s our duty to shine a light on afterschool programs so stories like Sunshine’s are not exceptions, but the rule. 

Below are five suggestions for fun activities that build essential skills and create opportunities for meaningful community engagement while shining a light on your afterschool work. 

5 ideas to celebrate entrepreneurship

If you want your community to engage in your program, invite them to participate, not just attend.

1. One-time Lights On Afterschool Event: Include youth entrepreneurship in a single event highlighting your afterschool program as the main attraction or as a session/station participants in activity & interact with community members
   
   SHINE THE LIGHT: Invite community members to actively participate in activities. ?
   
   Use the Entrepreneurial Mindset Cards (5-15 minutes)  to show participants how entrepreneurial they are through the cards’ discussion and activity prompts. Print digital cards or use the online card generator.
   
   Play Wacky Inventions or Pitch Game (15-30 minute activities) where participants use their imagination to create and pitch a product or service. 
   
   In the maker activity Build a Wormhouse (15-45 minute activities), participants apply empathy to build and present a prototype of a home for Worm whose house has recently flooded, using basic craft materials.
    

2. Culminating Event: Youth Entrepreneurship Programming is flexible and can stand alone or be integrated into existing STEM or Arts programs by having students carry out market research, create a business model, and write a pitch (Yes, ALL kids in k12 can do this!)
   
   SHINE THE LIGHT: Invite community members who can serve as judges or panelists in a pitch event or student showcase.
    

3. The Amazing Shake Event: This dynamic and exciting live competition rallies leaders and role models in a school’s community together to teach students about professional skills for success. Create your own local version of this big, successful Atlanta event created by Ron Clark Academy.
   
   RESOURCES: Detailed free guide
    

4. Reverse Pitch Event: Invite local businesses to give an elevator pitch to a panel of students. Students use the pitch rubric to provide feedback, ask questions, and even vote on their favorite!
   
   RESOURCES: YEI Pitch Rubric
    

5. Mindset Recognition: Post on social media using the hashtag #LightsOnAfterschool to share the entrepreneurial thinking that’s already happening as students, staff, and community members apply entrepreneurial mindsets in existing programs or events.
   
   SHINE THE LIGHT: Tag local businesses, chambers, and education organizations, or even give them a mindset shout out! Include: #LightsOnAfterschool @afterschool4all
   
   RESOURCES (poster, stickers, cards)