The Catskill Chronicle

MONTICELLO, NY – A newly formed Youth Economic Group will utilize an experiential educational model to help isolated rural teenagers to create their own cooperative business. The program will take place in Sullivan County, one of New York’s poorest and most diverse counties.

Through collaboration with experts in the field of business and alternative economics from around New York State, as well as regional planners, philanthropic and business planners, the Economic Youth Group (YEG) will engage diverse youth (culturally, racially, socioeconomically).

While it is hoped that the business will be successful, the primary goal will be the educational process that takes place through active engagement and collaboration. These activities will be supplemented by supportive workshops, presentations and trips.

The program is geared primarily to students from low-income families who are in grades 10, 11 and 12, as well as youth in their late teens/early twenties. The group is open to all regardless of background; however, the primary target group will be low-income youth, especially geographically isolated children of color.

In the first year the program will be offered to 10 – 20 participants. This will enable the group to create a strong foundation as well as to offer an intense one-on-one experience. It is expected that participants will commit ten to twenty hours per week.

Target goals are to serve 100 or more participants in the next five years.

The Youth Economic Group will begin with an intensive  51-hour workshop known as "Entrepreneurial Boot Camp" where students will study the skills needed to develop their own businesses.

That will be followed with a three-day trip to Massachusetts to study worker cooperatives and fair trade with equal exchange. This will give group members the opportunity to develop a broad overview of alternative economics and business strategies.

During this initial  four-to-six-month period the group will also be developing their own working agreements, through group activities and seminars, interviews and personal development. (e.g., time management skills, financial literacy and public speaking).

From there the group will begin the process of developing their own business and business plan. During this period the group will interact with other mentors, community leaders, and the advisory committee to gain insight and feedback to their emerging business plan.

The first meeting to introduce the program is on Friday, September 24 at 6:00 p.m. at 15 St. John Street, Monticello (next door to the church). Dinner will be served.

For more information, please contact coordinator Jillian Rahm, Economic Education Coordinator for the Rural & Migrant Ministry of Sullivan County, at jillian.rahm@yahoo.com or 798-8275.