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Leaders Of The Youth Pack At YEC

It’s not so easy to enter the workforce in today’s market. Youth employment has been pegged at a nearly 60-year low. Student loan debt has surpassed $1 trillion. At times it can seem as though nothing is on youth’s side, helping to put America’s kids to work.

 

Innovation has always been youth’s great asset though, and there are a number of young, aspiring entrepreneurs determined to prove that they will not be content to wait for the job market to welcome them. Instead, they’ve set out to create the market by whatever means necessary. Let’s drop into the trenches and catch the beat on youth employment straight from the entrepreneurs’ mouths.

 

 

YEC

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is a nonprofit organization comprised of many the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. The YEC also has a partnership with Gen Y Capital Partners – and early stage venture firm.

From thinkers to startup founders, investors, even media personalities, these future leaders are partnering with successful companies and venture firms to promote entrepreneurship.

 

Empowerment = Employment

It doesn’t matter how bright you are, finding work freshly out of college is a daunting task. Nearly half of all recent graduates are underemployed or unemployed. The YEC provides mentorship, tools and resources to support one another during the different stages of business development and growth.

 

 

One of the YEC’s most inspiring initiatives is the #FixYoungAmerica, program. This is a movement that “aims to end youth unemployment and put young Americans back to work.” These aspiring industry leaders are creating new businesses that will provide much needed jobs. They’ve published a book #Fix Young America: How to Rebuild Our Economy and Put Young Americans Back to Work (For Good), proposing policy ideas and programs to boost youth employment. Also in the pages are firsthand accounts of solutions to the employment shortfall in action.

 

Yo Congress, Help!

The YEC has also created The Young Entrepreneur Act, petitioning the government to make it easier for young people to start businesses. Included in the legislation is a call for student loan forgiveness programs, improved access to micro-loans, and additional investment in entrepreneurial education programs.

 

 

Well, it seems slightly silly to tell you second hand what these young innovators would love to tell you themselves.

 

Meet 10 members of the Young Entrepreneur Council. Follow their Twitter feeds and read what they’re up to now.

 

  1. Ryan Paugh, YEC Chief of Staff
  2. Ben Lang, EpicLaunch
  3. Matt Cheuvront, Founder of Proof Branding
  4. Doreen Bloch, CEO/ Founder of Poshly Inc.
  5. Erin Blaskie, CEO at BSETC
  6. Matt Mickiewicz, Co-founder of Flippa and 99designs
  7. Tracy Foster, President of ONA
  8. Aaron Schwartz, Founder and CEO of Modify Watchers
  9. Matt Wilson, Co-fonder of Under30CEO
  10. Thursday Bram, Consultant at Hyper Modern Consulting

 

Photo Credits

TheYec.org

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