MAYOR FRANKLIN KICKS OFF THE NEW COLGATE EMPOWER ENTREPRENEURIAL SUMMER PROGRAM FOR ATLANTA STUDENTS

Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the students of the Mayor’s Youth Program and business and community leaders at a press conference today to officially kick off the 2008 Mayor’s Youth Summer Employment Program and announce a new partnership with Colgate-Palmolive’s EMPOWER youth entrepreneurial program.

Colgate-Palmolive has contributed to youth employment and development programs nationwide for the past 15 years, donating more than $2 million.  This year Colgate-Palmolive has selected Baltimore and Atlanta to participate in a new initiative called EMPOWER, for “Entrepreneurial Mentoring Preparing Our World Through Education.” These workshops will showcase to students the benefits and rewards of entrepreneurialism. The EMPOWER entrepreneurial workshops will be created and managed by the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) and Atlanta Technical College, two local organizations who utilize entrepreneurships as a vehicle for change within the community

“The EMPOWER program has the distinct ability to take young people who are interested in entrepreneurship, provide them with mentors and nurture them as they pursue the education necessary to accomplish their goals,” said Mayor Shirley Franklin who launched the Mayor’s Youth Program in 2005. “This partnership between the Mayor’s Youth Program, Atlanta Technical College, Colgate-Palmolive and Kroger will prove to be invaluable to this group of young people who may not have had the tools necessary to start their own businesses and the confidence to know that they can be successful.”

Teens selected from the “Mayor’s Youth Program” will participate in the entrepreneurial program and will be paid a stipend of $100 per week and a part-time internship which pays $6.00 an hour for 25 hours per week.  The program runs for six weeks and will provide 25 young adults the opportunity to participate in interactive and fun learning experiences which include field trips, games, and guest speakers. 

The EMPOWER entrepreneurial workshops will be created and managed by the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) and Atlanta Technical College, two local organizations who utilize entrepreneurships as a vehicle for change within the community.

(L-R) Deborah Lum, Executive Director of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, Jovan Dias, Music Producer/Entrepreneur, Brian Brooks, Kroger Supermarkets Representative, Mayor Shirley Franklin, Alvetta Thomas, President of Atlanta Technical college, Wanda Young, Colgate-Palmolive Market Development Manager, and Tangie, V-103 On Air Personality.