FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2003

Students ‘Get Down To Business’
At Jumoke Academy
HEDC, JA and area volunteers team to teach kids about business

Hartford, Conn. – Not every Friday at Jumoke Academy begins with a junior choir concert and a drill team performance. But then it’s not every Friday that Jumoke students have the opportunity to play host to a group of Hartford professionals – and the children wanted to make sure the businesspeople received a warm welcome.

The Hartford Economic Development Commission (HEDC) brought the adults and schoolchildren together as part of the city’s “Share Our Civic Pride” campaign, to introduce children from Jumoke Academy to the world of business and economics on a local, regional, national and international level. Through “Share Our Civic Pride,” City of Hartford departments and authorities implement special projects that demonstrate their commitment to the city and help build enthusiasm for civic responsibility among those who live, work and play in Hartford.

For its “Share Our Civic Pride” activity, the HEDC staff chose to partner with Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, Inc., and invite other Hartford-based professionals to join them in teaching Junior Achievement’s grade specific curriculum to each of the first through sixth grade classes at Jumoke. Each volunteer spent half the school day with an assigned class and lead the children through multiple lessons and activities.

“This particular Civic Pride project truly demonstrates a committed partnership between the public and private sectors on behalf of the Hartford School System,” stated Hartford Majority Leader Elizabeth Horton Sheff.

“JA is the successful bridge between education and business. But it only works when dedicated businesspeople — like the folks at HEDC — are willing to take the time to cross that bridge and help kids experience success,” said Roslynn Hooks, program manager for JA of Southwest New England.

For HEDC, this project meant imparting business and economic development expertise to some of the people who are impacted by HEDC’s work in the city. “These kids are Hartford’s future leaders. It’s vital that we share our knowledge with them and introduce them to the fundamentals of business,” said Harry Freeman, HEDC executive director. “Progress in Hartford is visible. By involving all generations, we ensure it is enduring.”

In addition to HEDC staff, the Junior Achievement program at Jumoke Academy Friday involved several Hartford professionals from corporate and civic organizations. The volunteers were Harry Freeman, James Cheek, Denise Whitford, Glenn Geathers and Vanessa Williams, from HEDC; Thomas Blake, Hartford Adult Ed; Toni Dolan, Co-Op Initiatives; Carolyn Brooks-Burton, Lift Every Voice & Sing; Linda Bayer, Hartford 2000; Rhonda Leonard Woods, Coldwell Banker; William Strother, The Strother Group; Robert Hager, SCORE; and Marc Williams and Beverley Dawes, City of Hartford.

“This was a wonderful change of pace for our students,” said Thelma E. Dickerson, Jumoke’s principal. “It was good material, taught by good people and our students will find it valuable in a number of ways. We truly appreciate the time and effort that went into this special program. And most importantly, the kids loved it!”

This Civic Pride project illustrates HEDC’s commitment to building the new Hartford, according to Carmen Sierra, HEDC’s chair. “HEDC brings together the people who make things happen in Hartford. How appropriate that this time it was to share knowledge with Hartford schoolchildren who are our future leaders.”

About Jumoke Academy
Jumoke Academy is the third largest charter school in the state* with an enrollment of approximately 275 students. Serving grade levels K-6, the educational focus of the school is to prepare children to compete in the global marketplace through basic education founded on early intervention, parental involvement and neighborhood cultural identity.

About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives. Since its founding in 1919, JA has contributed to the business and economics education of young people in the United States and throughout the world. JA's mission is to ensure that every child in America has a fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system.

About Hartford Economic Development Commission
HEDC is a public/private partnership created by the City Council in 1999 to serve as the principal economic development agent for the City. The City has entrusted HEDC with its vision for prosperous growth and has charged HEDC to lead the development of the new Hartford. HEDC provides one-on-one services to corporations and small neighborhood businesses throughout the city. HEDC is also an active partner with Hartford 2000 in the Neighborhood Training Institute to train Hartford’s neighborhood leaders to help revitalize their communities. For more information on HEDC, please visit www.hartfordecodev.com.

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*Source: Hartford Business Journal, May 26, 2003