Youth Business Week California (YBW) is a hands-on learning experience in advanced business concepts, corporate citizenship and financial literacy that educates high school students in the elements of teamwork, leadership and the real-life business world during a week-long program. Students are immersed in discussions, decision-making exercises, field trips, presentations, computer simulations, and "companies" led by local business leaders that are developed from the ground up.
What's New with Youth Business Week - It's Official
Christine Castillo, who has served as YBW’s Executive Director for the past two years, is moving on to become Executive Director for United Against Sexual Assault of Sonoma County. Chris has more than enjoyed working for YBW and developing the relationships and partnerships that have enabled YBW to grow and provide not only our weeklong intensive program in the summer each year, but to have the opportunity to develop the yearlong Student Leadership Team component which enhances the overall work of YBW. This is an exciting time for YBW and we have hired our new Executive Director, Suzanne Stone who bring with her many talents and assets to continue to enhance the work of YBW. Suzanne will begin with YBW January 22, 2008 and will be contacting many of you over the next month. We know you will make her feel welcome and provide her the benefit of your knowledge and resources as she moves ahead.
Suzanne Stone brings over 20 years of experience to the position of Executive Director. Most recently, she has been the Executive Director of large independent and assisted living senior communities in the Bay Area. Her most extensive experience has been as the Executive Director of a non- profit residential and foster care agency that provided homes, education, therapy and vocational training for children and teens who were abused, neglected and homeless. Suzanne has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and did graduate work in marriage and family counseling at the University of San Francisco. Her hobby is studying cultural anthropology which led her to do two field studies in a tribal village in Ghana, West Africa. Her last trip to Ghana resulted in the adoption of a young girl from the village where she was doing her research. She and her 12 year old daughter reside in Santa Rosa.
Please feel free to contact Suzanne at sstone@ybw-ca.com or 707.544.4700.
YBW 2008 Dates Confirmed
YBW 2008 will be held on the campus of Empire College in Santa Rosa, California. Dates are June 28 through July 2, 2008. Students will be able to sign up for one of three career pathways this year, another new feature for the YBW program. Those pathways are: Traditional YBW; Construction/Trades/Utilities; and Health and Technology. Students are asked to sign up for the pathway that most reflects the field they are most interested in learning about. Field trips will be taken to work sites during the YBW program week to witness firsthand the particular details of each field of interest. YBW 2008 promises to be a most exciting year so sign up now! Daily transportation will be provided to and from Youth Business Week. Central locations in each area of Sonoma County will be selected pick up and drop off sites to make YBW more accessible for everyone! Continental breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served daily.
Each student, when submitting application, must send along with registration form, registration fee (the only fee you will pay), demographics form, and three paragraph essay stating why you wish to attend YBW 2008. Students will be interviewed, as in the real world of work, and notified of acceptance to the YBW program. Once a pathway is filled students will be placed on the Waiting List. Those students requesting financial aid must submit parent(s) previous year tax information. A limited number of scholarships are available.
2008 Student application available.
Youth Business Week 2007 A Rousing Success!
YBW 2007 was held on the campus of Sonoma State University as a residential program June 17 - 22. With over 118 student participants, 250 volunteers and staff the YBW journey once again exceeded our expectations. Please visit our Gallery page, and read our Annual Report to learn more about YBW 2007, our funders and our program year.
To all, thank you for your unending support for the youth of Sonoma County and the Youth Business Week program.
Christine Castillo, Executive Director, YBW
Cindy Dittman and Kenya Todd-Sorabi, Co-Chairs, YBW Board of Directors
Student Leadership Team and YBW 2008
The next YBW Student Leadership Team meeting will be held November 7 from 6:45 to 8:15PM at the Sonoma County Office of Education, 5340 Skylane Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Mr. Armando Coronel of Taqueria Coronel in Sebastopol will be our featured speaker for the evening. The YBW Student Leadership Team will be taking our first outing November 17 and 18….a camping trip experience and learn about the outdoors. Pomo Canyon or Salt Point State Park will be our destination. Join in for the fun. For more information please call the YBW office at 544.4700 or e mail our Executive Director, Suzanne Stone at sstone@ybw-ca.com. We look forward to your participation with the YBW Student Leadership Team!
YBW 2008
The dates are set. Youth Business Week 2008 will be held June 28 – July 2, 2008 on the campus of Empire College in Santa Rosa, California. YBW 2008 will present three pathways that reflect student interest and need. Please join us for this great program. A limited number of spaces are available again this year - 130 - so sign up now! Registration fee is $195, however if paid by April 25 fee will be $175. Send in registration form, fee, demographics form, and a three paragraph essay stating reasons why you wish to attend the YBW program. Once all the materials are received and reviewed an interview will be arranged. Please call the YBW office at 544.4700 or write our Executive Director, Suzanne Stone, if you have questions at Suzannesstone@ybw-ca.com.