This past year at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, we met with a group of 22 students on Mondays and Fridays in The LeSane Project classroom. At these meetings, students learned key terms and concepts related to business, created vision boards, and practiced speaking in front of both small and large groups of their peers.

During the school year, we welcomed 34 local business owners who graduated from local high schools to return and share their stories of success as entrepreneurs.

Students also participated in field trips where we visited multiple businesses

that are owned by millenials.

At the end of the year, we hosted our 1st Annual Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase, a ‘Shark Tank’ style competition where 14 students presented their businesses and/or business ideas to a panel of judges. The top three winners were awarded cash investments

which were donated by a panel of judges.

Although every participant did not win cash investments, they all walked away with opportunities to advance their business by gaining new networks, investors, and supporters.