We have been identified as a new model for business support and community engagement and continue to add great new leaders to the organization. Jacksonville Job Corps, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Knots4Kids, Inc., Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Aetna, Duval County Public Schools, Edward Waters College, YMCA of Central MD, CSX Transportation and numerous civic, community, and advocacy organizations have partnered with E3 to make a difference. We encourage you to peruse the site, see the good works, watch the community video clips and list your business in our associates directory. For those who see the connection and want to know more please contact our national Membership Director or send an email to info@e3businessgroup.us.

E3 continues expand its reach and impact. We are excited to partner with the Duval County Health Department (Florida) in creating a resource for family planning and HIV/STD awareness. Learn 2 Live 2 Love Together is a community initiative designed to educate, encourage, and empower young girls, teenagers and women between the ages of 11 - 44 on all aspects of preparing to have healthy families and preventing HIV/STDs from impacting their quality of life. Visit today and share with others.

Another great community program E3 is involved in is the surveying of young men between the ages of 13 - 23 on their views and perceptions when it comes to interacting and engaging in sexual activities or relationships with women. We encourage you to have all the young men you know to take this thought provoking That's What He Said survey and talk with them about it. E3 member AMT Productions, Inc. is partnering with E3 to create a community forum to help encourage dialogue and promote positive action.

The 2011 summer YAT program held in Jacksonville, Florida was an unqualified success. The pilot program brought together 10 young people and over 15 entrepreneurs and local leaders. Participants were a diverse group of public and private students coming from as far away as Valdosta, Georgia. The curriculum was unique and the participants have spent a weeks discovering their own talents and the many types of careers they had an aptitude for.

 

The YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY program is a community oriented initiative of E3 which targets youth between the ages of 11 - 16; providing a unique opportunity to discover jobs and careers which match their personalities and aptitude. Traditional careers offered to youth (doctor, lawyer, teacher, preacher) and many blue collar positions are presented as the only option and rarely are suggested because of an observed aptitude. The YAT program specifically seeks to motivate young people to share their likes and gives activities and projects which helpidentify aptitudes and areas of interest. We then have educators, professionals, and entrepreneurs which help expose the campers to possible career fields and jobs which benefit from these skills.

Participants learn the basics of boxing from Coach Majiid Yaseen during "Health & Wealth Wednesdays"

Technology is used to virtually explore careers and help educate and encourage the youth on income potential, benefits and options for developing their natural skills.

YAT provides a wealth of additional opportunities. Located within the DEEN Wellness Center the youth will have opportunities to experience exercise demos, learn about healthy nutrition and even explore different types of physical fitness like boxing. Special visits by entrepreneurs and local athletes will provide inspiration around academic achievement and motivation to succeed. Partner organizations like the Duval County Health Department will deliver education and outreach around HIV/STD/AIDS prevention. E3 entrepreneurs will provide workshops on bullying, sexting, and responsible social networking. Round this out with free before and aftercare, movies and games and this is a camp unlike any other in NE Florida.


E3 is uniquely qualified, as a collective of community focused entrepreneurs, to make a difference in the lives of our youth. We are putting into action what others speak about. Florida Statutes Chapter 402.56 in establishing the Children's Cabinet states:

"The Legislature finds that all state agencies and programs that touch the lives of children and youth must work in a coordinated and comprehensive fashion, with an emphasis on providing a continuum of services that benefit children from prenatal care through programs supporting successful transition to self-sufficient adulthood."

We believe this program is aligned to the vision of the Children's Cabinet and believe it can become a successful education and intervention tool for Duval County youth. For more information email yat@e3northflorida.org or call the Florida chapter at 904-683-0143.