SHREVEPORT, La. — Local middle and high school students received a hands-on lesson in entrepreneurship Thursday as part of the 26th annual James K. Elrod BizCamp.
Students participating in the program held a marketplace at Mall St. Vincent, where they pitched and sold their original merchandise to the public. For many participants, the event served as the culmination of weeks of lessons on building a business from the ground up.
The two-week program is hosted at the Northwestern State University School of Nursing. It is designed to provide at-risk youth with the tools necessary to succeed in the professional world.
This year’s camp includes a high-profile partnership with the G-Unity Foundation, an organization founded by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. The foundation joined the ICE Institute to assist students in developing leadership skills and improving financial literacy.
Participants said they were excited for the opportunity to interact with the public and put their business plans into action.