Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs teach at-risk teens to flourish

The Oct. 4 Bee editorial addressed a growing problem in the development of our next generation of community members. The emergence of a larger and larger group of high school students, whose disregard for discipline and respect for one another represents a community cancer that must be addressed.

The Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce feels it is vital that civic, educational and religious organizations step into this void and assist in any method they can. To that end, three years ago, we adopted a program inspired by Leadership Fresno Class 29 that took at-risk high school students who have been expelled from their home schools and placed in continuing educations as their last chance.

The Young Entrepreneurs program has expanded to three schools with approximately 30 students city-wide creating their own businesses, competing for cash awards and revisiting the respect and disciplines necessary to flourish as productive citizens.

While this program, along with other chamber youth programs, is a drop in an ocean of need, it is a small step on a complicated journey. If each organization made just a small contribution, things might change and our community would benefit.

This story was originally published October 6, 2015 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs teach at-risk teens to flourish."