Button Up America, Project PINK

The plan of action includes several concepts to ensure quality after school programs for youth. This comprehensive program provides training in personal and business development, asset building and social responsibility. B.U America teaches students free-enterprise fundamentals through hands-on learning activities, including: S.I.N.G (Students Ideas Navigating Globally) and Project Pink business challenge, where students will compete in starting and operating their very own business and presenting a workable business plan through A whole New Mind. Button Up America seeks to instill strong intellectual, leadership and creative qualities in its members by serving as an educational and developmental resource. Button Up America members learn about different types of businesses, choose their peers as business partners, develop their creative thinking abilities, and are introduced to the many aspects of running a business. Project B.U is designed for teens whose career aspirations include but are not limited to starting, managing, and developing their very own businesses. The distinguishing characteristic of the emphasis is that it focuses on teaching students how to assume total responsibility for a business enterprise. This emphasis is especially appealing to self-motivated individuals who prefer to be their own bosses and who are unafraid of expressing and taking action on their ideas. The goal of the program is to increase students’ interest in owning their own business or creating value as an employee by “thinking like an owner.” B.U America’s role is to reveal avenues of opportunity for all young people who dare to dream. Our mission is to inspire, empower and prepare youth in America to become equal partners in the leadership of their aspirations and the preservation of their communities. Project B.U is a combination of several concepts, this includes but is not limited to project based learning, character development, mentorship, curriculum integration, youth entrepreneurship, and life management skill training, and civic responsibility, social, political and economic literacy. Students will process information using technology, thinking creatively, communicating effectively and working collaboratively. Project B.U after school program provides students with a systematic approach towards maximizing their own personal potential and obtaining financial freedom with the guidance of a mentor.Button Up America, along with the assistance of its volunteers and community supporters, intends to offer more than 1 million students nationwide programs, both during and after school, on economics, running a business, personal finance and international trade, problem-solving, math, job shadowing etc., through various streams of communication. (Broadcast video, audio, etc. material via the Internet or a computer network). There are many long-term goals for Button Up America and the impact that implementing this vision could create in many of of our communities. ritical Need: Georgia's Parents Speak Out About Afterschool analyzes the first survey of 600 of Georgia's voting parents to better understand afterschool needs, challenges, and desires among parents across the state. By providing data on parent opinions regarding the hours beyond a typical school day, this survey complements national research on the effectiveness of out-of-school time programs, which demonstrates that involvement in afterschool yields improved academic achievement, better work habits, and improved social skills and decreased negative behaviors. "Georgia's parents experience firsthand what the research tells us and their message is clear. Kids need a safe, engaging place to be when they are not in school," says Jill Riemer, executive director of GAIC. "High-quality afterschool programs are an important component of our kid's lives. They give children and youth the time and place for learning, exploration, and positive development. We look forward to working with our elected officials to carry out voting parents wishes for making afterschool a public policy issue to be taken seriously." "The days of afterschool programs being babysitting venues are over" said Leslie Cushman, president of the Georgia PTA. Georgia's parents want sustainable, high-quality programming for their children. We encourage public officials to see afterschool the way the voters in this state see it - as a public policy priority that deserves public investment." Additionally, Project B.U has received several letters of support from our local congressman, Mr. John Linder, industry professionals and leaders in the community. Moreover, B.U America after school program will help several hundred working parents in our school district who otherwise would not have access to an extended learning program to enrich their children’s lives during the hours after school. Furthermore, our program intends to provide our community’s citizens with a record breaking history of success – a history that features improved student test scores, improved school attendance and more focused students. Successful after school programs like Project B.U offer an academic environment that is critical in the 3 to 6 p.m. time period before most working parents can get home. B.U America Teen Entrepreneur Center provides an environment where extended academic learning is the norm. Students in our after school program achieve better in math, reading and other atypical subjects; will have fewer behavioral problems; and have better attendance records.