2017 CLASSES IN VIDEO

SPP Curriculum

The Sweet Potato Project (SPP) provides a unique, disciplined, and cultural approach to educating urban youth on the benefits of entrepreneurship in low-income, disadvantaged communities. The project is based on the theory that poverty, unemployment, and lack of economic opportunities fuel illegal, destructive activities, disproportionate minority high school dropout rates and incarceration in juvenile and/or adult correctional facilities.

RECLAIMING COMMUNITIES: The Sweet Potato Project reconnects youth with a cultural legacy of people who believed that doing-for-self was and is the only way to provide jobs, businesses, and security any American needs to succeed. We work to show our youth that they have a responsibility to reclaim their communities and end generational poverty. We also stress responsibility by having students volunteer for neighborhood beautification and community projects.

Additionally, our students learn the value of generating money in their own communities. To reclaim communities, young people must be empowered to take “ownership” of their own lives and neighborhoods. SPP land-ownership initiative allows our students to collaborate with residents, churches, and organizations that grow sweet potatoes that SPP purchases in the fall.

SPP encourages students to become innovative, self-sufficient players in today’s ever-expanding global economy. We want to help young people develop entrepreneurial and personal skills and provide exposure and motivation to become engaged, productive community citizens.

KNOWING YOU:

In life, it’s important to present one’s self in a way that will garner positive attention and ongoing support. Although some of our youth have no problem expressing themselves in groups or in other demonstrative ways, we find that many have trouble articulating their own feelings, desires, aspirations, and dreams. The first two weeks of our program focuses on self-awareness, communication and discovering individual strengths.

Activities, Classes & Exercises Include:

·        *  Self-discovery / Targeting and reinforcing unique, individual strengths

·        *  Personal Improvement / Self-worth

·        * Verbal & Nonverbal Communication

·        * Group Communication

·        * Leadership/Teamwork

KNOWING YOUR COMMUNITY

Our youth are inundated with negative images, messages, and not-so-subtle reminders that they and their communities are sub-par and destined for ruin. They navigate neighborhoods filled with lottery, liquor, payday loan and rent-to-own stores without understanding the economics that sustain these entities. SPP works to “flip-the-script” by focusing on the positive history and current opportunities in low-income neighborhoods. We stress “community ownership” and their personal responsibility in reversing negative trends. We want to inspire future urban entrepreneurs to bring jobs, businesses, and security back to economically-challenged neighborhoods.

Activities, Classes & Exercises Include:

·         * Neighborhood Walks

·         * Agricultural, Urban Gardening

·         * Visits to neighborhood businesses

·         * Socio/economic community dynamics; Community Responsibility

·         * Explanation/Presentation of the North City Food Hub

·         * Small and institutional business presentations

·        * Land Lease/Ownership

.    * Political opportunities/responsibilities/challenges 

KNOWING YOUR MONEY

Financial literacy is an important component of SPP’s curricula. We want to help our students better understand the importance of using checking and savings accounts as opposed to relying on quick-cash and/or pay-day lending establishments. We teach students “urban economics” so they can have a better understanding of “supply & demand,” sustainable demographics and how money is earned and spent in their neighborhoods. 

Activities, Classes & Exercises Include:

·        * Financial literacy Classes

·        * Career & College Prep

·        * The Business of Entrepreneurship

·        *  Business Plan Development

·        * Sales, Marketing, Distribution, Branding lessons and/or presentations

KNOWING YOUR MARKET:

Students engage in a series of activities designed to show them the power of product development, marketing, branding, distribution, sales, and the economic bottom-line. Students also focus on culinary, food production & safety, product sales & distribution, individual business plan development, governmental opportunities. 

         Activities, Classes & Exercises Include:

.     * Culinary classes

·     * Visits to local entrepreneurs

* Food manufacturing

KNOWING OPPORTUNITIES:

The last two weeks of the summer program focuses on turning lessons into action. Students will submit a business plan for a small enterprise. If funding allows, one or two students will be awarded seed money towards a viable small business enterprise.  Students will be charged with creating a new sweet potato-based recipe to add to our current food line.