Middle School students working with mentor Justin Jefferson to extract DNA from strawberries.
Over the past 4 years, the Media Communications Council has been fortunate to have the support of the Texas Diversity Council and more recently the Austin Community Foundation to function as non-profit umbrellas for our social ventures. These organizations have allowed us the flexibility to experiment and hone our approach to social entrepreneurship without the burden of having to maintain our own board and all of the administrative tasks that go with it. So, we are eternally grateful to them and we will continue to look for opportunities to coordinate efforts whenever it is appropriate.
In Austin alone, we serve over 1400 teachers and students through the social learning portal Media Xperiments by providing virtual workspaces, portfolio building, field trips, tours, intern and summer employment opportunities. This platform coupled with teacher training, technical support and now specialized mentors in STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering & Math), Media / Arts and Business provided through a partnership with the University of Texas Intellectual Entrepreneurship (IE) Consortium, make up an eco-system that is poised for exponential growth.
Download the E4 Youth Board Membership Packet
In order to make this ecosystem flourish, it has to be fed and curated. To that end, we are establishing our own board of directors and 501 C-3 non-profit status under the name E4 Youth. E4 Youth, which takes students through the sequence of Engagement, Education, Employment & Entrepreneurship, provides a nexus for business leaders and educators to connect with youth and create double bottom line ventures. By double bottom line, I mean value for both students and local businesses.
The E4 Youth Board will set the agenda and drive the priorities of the organization. There is a limit of 15 members for this inaugural year and a financial requirement as well. We are [proud to say that our first official board member is Max Rutherford of GSD&M Idea City and we are looking for folks to fulfill roles in fundraising/finance, research/measurement, events, education and business development. So, if you or someone you know is qualified for such a role, check out the E4 Youth Board Membership Packet or contact me at carl@e4youth.com.
Case Study: Hoover’s Cooking – A Double Bottom Line Partner
One of the more notable examples of our Double Bottom Line Partnerships is our on-going relationship with Hoover’s Cooking. Over two years ago, we started working with local philanthropist Hoover Alexander through a media boot camp in which our students worked directly with advertising professionals from firms such as GSD&M and Sanders Wingo to develop a media strategy for his restaurant chain Hoover’s Cooking. In addition to a handsome, functional and easy to maintain web site, we have continued to partner by providing among other things, high school students working directly with professionals in mechanical engineering and biology to develop an irrigation system for the Greater Mount Zion Community Garden (See the video above).
Students build portfolios and become pre-qualified for internships and paid summer employment opportunities. Business leaders are able to invest in these students’ learning, strengthen community relationships and leverage this pre-qualified talent pool to accomplish their goals.
It Could Be U Peer Mentor David Frias discusses his evolution from gang banger to mentor and graphic artist.
