America says “go for it”. Fill out the paperwork, file your taxes, you’re in business. While this may be enough for a few incredibly lucky, out of the gate success style entrepreneurs (see: 1 in 1,000,000), the rest of us might need a little help. This is where USYCC comes in, the U.S. Youth Chamber of Commerce.

A non profit organization specifically for young entrepreneurs, the USYCC picks up where the government left off. USYCC offers a wide range of services to young entrepreneurs including training, workforce development, consulting, even start up capital in the form of volunteer help. USYCC can help you become a better public speaker, a teacher, a better leader.

Of all the services that the U.S. Youth Chamber of Commerce provides, the most important is the opportunity to network with other business owners. Networking is intangible. Though it’s the single most important aspect of business, it’s often overlooked in the face of all the “real”, very tangible problems a company faces in their early stages. USYCC believes that networking should be an integral part of any start up, not something that’s reserved for larger companies who often have entire teams devoted to expanding their business network. USYCC provides a way for young entrepreneurs to discover each other. It’s easy to find others in similar fields, some who are facing the same hardships you’re currently facing, others who have just recently overcome them. By listening and exchanging ideas with individuals from similar schools of thought, better decisions can be made, business and otherwise.

The road is long and many young entrepreneurs make the mistake of walking it alone. Most young entrepreneurs don’t even realize that organizations like the USYCC exist. Now that you do, why not take advantage of their services? If you’ve already graduated from the start up phase, why not help someone else? After all, people helping other people are what make this country great.

It is now January 2012 and is almosr here summer. As student start looking for a Summer job,they soon find out that many places where they once where able to seek employment are no longer hiring.The latest economic indicators do not show good signs for working people in this country, especially not for young people.
Over the next few months, millions of young people will finish college or high school and be thrust into a job market that is stagnant at best.That number for Black youth is 27%. And this is two full years after the recession officially ended. As Business Week wrote a few months ago,
Compliments of Google Images

“Although the recession ended in the summer of 2009, youth unemployment remains near its cyclical peak…What keeps the numbers from being even higher is that many teens have simply given up. Some are sitting on couches. Others are in school, which can be a dead end itself. The percentage of American 16- to 19-year-olds who are employed has fallen to below 26 percent, a record low.”

According to the NY Times only 53% of college graduates from the classes 2006-2010 are employed full-time. Even recent graduates who are working will make 10% less in their first job than graduates from just a few years ago, down to $27,000 a year.

with the sharply falling employment rates among recent college graduates, there is a growing development of these young people taking undstable , low/under-paying jobs that don’t match their skill’s or training. Many of these same young people have tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt which they will find very difficult to pay off. How do you think America will fix this problem leave you comments below.

Source(s):

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_52/b4064058743638.htm

http://www.salon.com/life/education/?story=/news/feature/2011/05/19/graduate_employment_report

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/09/nearly-half-of-americans-fear-depression_n_874406.html?ir=Canada+Business

The Montgomery County Council voted 6-3 to table a proposed curfew law that would have allowed police to arrest anyone younger than 18 for being in public after 11PM. This vote to table the proposal effectively kills it, though it leaves open the possibility that the Council could consider it once again in the future.

The Montgomery County Council debated the curfew bill for months. In the early stages, it looked like this anti-youth measure would pass. Similar laws have passed in nearby districts, and several members of the Council expressed support.

But over the months, youth rights activists spoke up. In July, NYRA Executive Director Alex Koroknay-Palicz and other activists addressed the Council at a public hearing. In late November, as this proposal went into the final stretch, NYRA-members emailed those on the Council.

After hearing the arguments, the Council came to understand that age-based curfews are a bad idea, and that the public is far from unanimous in supporting them.

Council President Roger Berliner, explaining his support for tabling the bill, said a proposal of this nature should only be implemented when there is a consensus in the community. During today’s meeting, he said it was now clear no such consensus exists.

Councilman George Leventhal, explaining his own vote to table the bill, reminded his peers that their job was to serve the community and, “Young people are part of our community.”

A more moderate proposal, that would have empowered police to arrest people of any age for loitering was also tabled by a vote of 5-4.

More: http://colesville.patch.com/articles/montgomery-county-youth-curfew-falls-flat

The Chamber sponsors a Independent student Film “Moving Stone”

The Chamber will be Sponsoring a small independent Student Film called “Moving Stone”
This film will be directed By student Director Chris Dolan of Curry College Milton,MA (put in parenthesis

About this Project
OUR PURPOSE

Moving Stone is a project that will bring together the efforts of educational, professional, and student film enthusiasts to create an atmosphere for learning and great film making.

THE PRODUCT and ITS FUTURE

The result of our combined efforts will be a cohesive film with a strong message. It will first be submitted to local film festivals and then, as additional funding is raised, it will be submitted to larger ones (Cannes, Sun-dance).

THE STORY

Moving Stone is a film about a young woman named Lena who must confront the ways of her bowling team’s dictator, Alana, to restore the order, peace, and individuality of the team. In doing so, she starts to question if she really can make everyone happy. The movie also explores the question “what does it take to be a successful leader?”

THE CREW

The crew for Moving Stone consists of teachers, professionals, and students, all of which have varied experience and bring different perspectives to the table.

Or join our crew page on
face book to follow daily updates on the project:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/212183642184888/

Now the time has come for us to support this thriving youth entrepreneurship movement, and tell Congress to eliminate the barriers that prohibit our young people from starting businesses.

Our organizations have united to support the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, legislation designed to open up opportunities for young people who want to start a business. The Act includes student loan forgiveness programs, expanded access to micro-loans, and increased investment in entrepreneurship education programs.

The voices of aspiring and active young entrepreneurs must be heard, and it starts with you. Tell Congress to take action. Sign this petition to join our coalition and help our young people rebuild America

Visit http://www.youthentrepreneurshipact.com/ for more info