Finance Minister Paperwork in International Towne Photo

Sponsor Spotlight: Eide Bailly helps students stay on track at Young Americans Center

Janet Redwine International Towne, Programs, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Every good business person knows that keeping track of money is important.  Thanks to Eide Bailly, students learn this lesson at an early age in Young AmeriTowne and International Towne, and they do it in a hands-on way! In Young AmeriTowne, Accountants manage the money in each shop.  In addition to ensuring each of their citizens receives a physical paycheck, …

YouthBiz Workshops focus on the skills young entrepreneurs need to develop their businesses. We offer classes throughout the school year, September through April, on topics such as drafting a business plan, advertising your business, and creating market-ready products to inspire your next business idea. Plus, many workshops are free!

Sponsor Spotlight: Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation empowers youth

Janet Redwine Get Involved, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

YouthBiz is expanding, bringing hands-on entrepreneurial programs to youth throughout the Denver metro area. Fueling this expansion is support from the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation, which focuses on transforming lives in profoundly positive ways through grants focused on health, youth and family, and animal welfare. Before 2015, YouthBiz’s powerful, hands-on entrepreneurial education was available only to students in Denver’s …

Young Americans Center for Financial Education welcomes four Daniels Scholar interns to our team this summer! Madison Turner, Sasha Shadrina, Miguel Gonzalez, and Imad Rashed, current college students, have all stepped into roles as Counselors in Young AmeriTowne and Junior Money Matters summer camps. I caught up with three of these exceptional individuals between camps to see how their experiences have been so far. Madison Turner, aka Madi, just finished her freshman year at Texas Christian University. She is working on a communications major there, and knows that she will start her own nonprofit someday. For Madi, this summer has been a “huge learning experience.” Although she has worked with children in the past, seeing them take on new, “adult” roles in Young AmeriTowne demonstrates to her how important financial education is. And, the campers are also fun to watch. “I thought it was a good life lesson when one of my students had to pay a co-pay in the AmeriTowne Medical Center,” said Madi. “He didn’t realize that he would need to put some money aside for emergencies, so this was a good example of why you shouldn’t spend all of your money.” Another accomplished intern, Imad Rashed will begin his sophomore year at Cal Poly this fall where he’s studying business. He was excited about the Young Americans Center opportunity because he thought teaching young people about business would be something different and interesting. Plus, even though he grew up in Denver, he didn’t have an opportunity to do Young AmeriTowne as a kid. In addition to facilitating learning for campers, Imad is excited that he has learned a few lessons himself this summer. “When it seems like nothing is going according to plan, I have to improvise and make sure they have a good experience regardless,” said Imad. He added, “It’s been so great having the opportunity to teach students about the world we live in and to see these lessons really stick with them.” Sasha Shadrina is just as excited about her summer so far. She is a finance major at the University of Denver, and she is also beginning her sophomore year this fall. Passionate about financial education, what she has found most interesting about her experience this summer is infection between her many interests–kids, business, education–that Young Americans Center has provided. Sasha was particularly impacted by her experience at Moorhead Recreation Center two weeks ago where she enjoyed helping kids see a different future for themselves. “It was so meaningful for me to see how much these students learned in just one week,” she said. “Kids who started the week shy ended up running for an election.” The addition of these four interns serves two purposes. Madi, Sasha, Miguel and Imad have all helped our staff deliver quality programs. But even more importantly, these four are serving as such great examples to the students they work with. Thank you to our interns for your time and dedication!

Daniels Scholars Teach and Learn in Young Americans Center Camps

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, General, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Young Americans Center for Financial Education welcomes four Daniels Scholar interns to our team this summer! Madison Turner, Sasha Shadrina, Miguel Gonzalez, and Imad Rashed, current college students, have all stepped into roles as Counselors in Young AmeriTowne and Junior Money Matters summer camps.  I caught up with three of these exceptional individuals between camps to see how their experiences have been so …

Campers in Running Your Own Business camp enjoyed an extra treat on their final day of camp last Friday: a visit from 106.7 The Bull’s Chelsea Thomas! Running Your Own Business summer camp teaches the basics of business to third and fourth grade students. Campers learn about marketing and pricing, they learn how to create a business budget, they manufacture products, and they develop a business name and slogan. At the end of the week, campers sell their products in a Mini-Marketplace that’s open to family, friends, and special guests like DJ Chelsea. Owning your own business, even if it’s just for a week, teaches a lot. Cadence, Grace, and Zoe teamed up for “Me, Myself, and I Designs”, and because they didn’t know each other before camp began, they had to learn to work as a team. “That was one of the hardest parts,” said Grace. Cadence chimed in, “But when we finally learned how to work together, it worked really well!” Across the room at a business called “MIP,” co-owner Carson attributed their business success to using product labels. Each product had a description and price, which Carson thought helped customers know what they could buy. “I think it was a really good idea,” he said. CHELSEA PURCHASED PRODUCTS FROM SUMMER CAMP BUSINESSES. DJ Chelsea stopped by the Mini-Marketplace to shop and to see the campers in action. She was impressed with their business savvy, particularly their marketing skills which definitely have a real-world application. “You can tell these kids have learned a lot,” said Chelsea. “I ended up buying two friendship bracelets instead of one because they convinced me that it was such a good deal!” iHeart Media is the parent company behind 106.7 The Bull, which joined Young Americans Center for Financial Education as a proud partner in 2018. This partnership aligns with iHeart’s broader goal to “inform, inspire and support neighborhoods across the U.S.” By supporting hands-on financial education programs like Running Your Own Business summer camp and Young AmeriTowne, where students can have a career for a day in the iHeart Media Radio Station, iHeart Media is helping to educate a generation of young people about how to successfully navigate their finances. And in the words of camper Claire, “You can learn about finance in a really fun way!”

Sponsor Spotlight: iHeart Media provides hands-on, real world experiences

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, Get Involved Leave a Comment

Campers in Running Your Own Business camp enjoyed an extra treat on their final day of camp last Friday: a visit from 106.7 The Bull’s Chelsea Thomas! Running Your Own Business summer camp teaches the basics of business to third and fourth grade students. Campers learn about marketing and pricing, they learn how to create a business budget, they manufacture products, …

Students stand together in front of Town Hall talking together

Tales from Towne: On the Road at Moorhead

Janet Redwine Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Young AmeriTowne On the Road staff just returned from two fun-filled weeks of summer camp at Moorhead Recreation Center in Aurora.  In total, 46 students participated in two different camps, Young AmeriTowne and Junior Money Matters, experiencing a hands-on lesson in financial education.  And even more important, students gained confidence and education that will carry over into other aspects of …

Students and bus at Young Americans Center

Sponsor Spotlight: Hands-on learning in the heart of Cherry Creek, thanks to Cherry Creek Shopping Center

Janet Redwine Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Hundreds of students gain a hands-on lesson in financial education at Young Americans Center for Financial Education every year.  With its headquarters in Cherry Creek, we shine a spotlight on long-time supporter Cherry Creek Shopping Center which has made this learning possible for the last decade. Students, teachers, and parents appreciate the value of the educational programs at Young Americans …

Young AmeriTowne Ballot Box Photo

Tales from Towne: Real Election Experience

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

“Our vote is our voice.  Our vote is our choice.” –Caroline Bennet, daughter of Senator Michael Bennet There are two elected positions in Young AmeriTowne: Mayor and Judge.  And for campers participating in Young AmeriTowne 2 summer camp last week, the election of these two students provided real-world experience in elections, campaigning, and politics. By Wednesday, students had already participated …

Yaunie Williams is the owner of YAUNIE’S Scrub Sensation, which she created four years ago when she was just eight years old. Yaunie hand makes all her sugar scrubs, bath scrubs, and gift sets, which make perfect birthday and hostess gifts. For Yaunie, owning her own business is a way to spread joy to her customers and her community! Learn more about Yaunie below, and watch her segment on Colorado & Company . Question: Tell me a little bit about you – name, age, how long you’ve been an entrepreneur? Answer: My name is Yaunie Williams and I am 12 years old. I have been an entrepreneur for 4 years. Q: What motivated or inspired you to start a business? A: My dad was my inspiration for the start of my own business and my mother was my motivation. They both helped me get started. Q: Please share an overview of your business. A: I sell sugar scrubs, bath scrubs, and gift sets. Q: Do you have a website or place for people to contact you/buy products? If so, what is it? A: I don’t have a website, but you can place orders through my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/maja.leigh.9 . Q: Tell us about some of the challenges you face being a young business owner. A: Some of the challenges that I face is having the right measurements of everything and creating a product that everyone will love. Q: What’s the best part about having your own business? A: The best part about having my own business is to see people happy with my products and to see people come back to buy my product. I also like spreading joy!!! Q: What is your involvement with Young Americans Bank and YouthBiz? A: I currently have an account at Young Americans Bank and I try to participate in most of the classes that YouthBiz has to offer. Q: Do you think kids should have their own bank account? Why or why not? A: I think that kids should have their own bank account so that they are able to save and have money as adults. I think saving is very important. Q: Has Young Americans Bank helped you learn about money? How? What did you learn? A: Yes, Young Americans Bank has helped me learn about money through the Money Matters classes that they offer. I have learned how to make money, save money and invest back into my business.

Entrepreneur of the Month: YAUNIE’S Scrub Sensation

Janet Redwine YouthBiz 2 Comments

Yaunie Williams is the owner of YAUNIE’S Scrub Sensation, which she created four years ago when she was just eight years old. Yaunie hand makes all her sugar scrubs, bath scrubs, and gift sets, which make perfect birthday and hostess gifts. For Yaunie, owning her own business is a way to spread joy to her customers and her community! Learn more about …

Two students stand together at the Young AmeriTowne Bank

Sponsor Spotlight: Children learn-by-doing thanks to the Madge M. and Joseph T. Mohar Charitable Foundation

Janet Redwine Get Involved, Young AmeriTowne, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

Young AmeriTowne is exciting and memorable for adults and kids alike.  That’s how a partnership began between Young Americans Center for Financial Education and Madge M. and Joseph T. Mohar Charitable Foundation, which has supported hands-on financial education for the last decade. Mr. and Mrs. Mohar both had a strong work ethic and they valued financial education.  The couple worked …

YouthBiz College for Kids Campers

Opportunities Abound at College for Kids

Janet Redwine YouthBiz Leave a Comment

This summer, 200 fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh-graders are going to college by participating in the College for Kids program.  Held at three Aims Community College campuses in Greeley, Loveland, and Fort Lupton, College For Kids provides hands-on educational experiences in sports, art, STEM, and even entrepreneurship through YouthBiz. The first week of camp occurred at the Greeley campus where …