This week, Howard University's Institute for Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Innovation (ELI) will partner with the National Foundation for the Teaching of Entrepreneurship as a co-leader representing Washington, D.C. to celebrate the second annual National Entrepreneurship Week.
The celebration will promote entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurs in all the networking, publicity, events, policy and support that will be offered during the week. It is in response to the U.S. House of Representatives Resolution 699, made in 2006, advocating an annual week in support of American entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education.
"The ELI Institute and Howard are excited to be a part of Entrepreneurship Week and partnering with so many educators, institutes and organizations everywhere as we celebrate the spirit of National Entrepreneurship Week," ELI Executive Director Johnetta Boseman Hardy said.
Some of ELI's partners for the week will consist of the National Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education, the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science and G.E. Peters Middle School. Student organizations that will be participating in entrepreneurship week include the Howard University Entrepreneurial Society (HUES); the California Student Club; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Alpha chapter; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha chapter and the African Students Association. In addition, black marketplace students will partner with area high school students to discuss business development.
Hardy said, "During this week, we are hoping to motivate and inspire students in the spirit of entrepreneurship. We want our students to learn how they can make a difference and add value to what they are doing and plan to do."
She added, "We hope that everyone will come out and join us in this phenomenal celebration."
The celebration will kick off today at 10 a.m. with the first event hosted by the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour Bus - the first ever national collegiate entrepreneur tour - at the School of Business auditorium.
Sheena Lindahl, co-founder of Extreme Entrepreneurship Education and one of Business Week's top 25 entrepreneurs under 25, said, "We are really excited about visiting Howard on the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour. Our goal is to really inspire students with the stories of what people have accomplished at a young age."
Founded in the fall of 2006, the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour Bus travels to college campuses across the country to bring top young entrepreneurs to inspire students about learning how to start and run their own businesses.
Lindahl said, "We're trying to get the message out that students should start taking action on their dreams now while they're in college, even though it seems they may have a lot going on. [College] is one of the best times you can take risks in life."
Senior television production major and HUES President Andrea Talley expressed her excitement about participating in National Entrepreneurship Week.
"I think it's a brilliant idea, and I think it's really important to educate college students and high school students about business ownership," she said.
On Wednesday in the School of Business lobby, HUES will give a presentation highlighting various student entrepreneurs.
"The goal for Entrepreneurship Week is to reach out to all students on campus," Talley said. "There are a lot of students who have a hustle on the side, so for them to get a sense of how to tailor their hobby into an actual business idea is something I think our students can, are and will continue to benefit from."
More information about this week's events can be found on the ELI Web site, theeliinstitute.org.
Students who are currently in business or would like to become entrepreneurs can call or visit the ELI office.
