History
of YEScarolina
Jimmy Bailey first read about the National Foundation of
Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in 1998 in a publication of Hillsdale
College called Imprimis.
It was a speech given by Steve Mariotti, a business person
turned teacher, whom made a break through discovery while
attempting to teach low income youth in New York City public
schools. These powerful words motivated Jimmy to begin his
quest to learn more.
I know a secret which, if fully
understood by our government, business, and community
leaders, could have enormous positive implications
for the future of our society.
Simply put, the secret is this: Children
born into poverty have special gifts that prepare them
for business formation and wealth creation. They are
mentally strong, resilient, and full of chutzpah. They
are skeptical of hierarchies and the status quo. They
are long-suffering in the face of adversity. They are
comfortable with risk and uncertainty. They know how
to deal with stress and conflict. These are the attitudes
and abilities that make them ideally suited for breaking
out of the cycle of dependency that so often comes with
poverty and for getting ahead in the marketplace.
In short, poor kids are “street
smart,” or what we at the National Foundation for
Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) call “business
smart.” Precisely because of their poverty–that
is, because of their experience surviving in a challenging
world–they are able to perceive and pursue fleeting
opportunities that others, more content with their lot
in life, tend to miss.
- Mr. Steve Mariotti,
NFTE Founder & President
The November 98Imprimis is the article that Jimmy read
that started him thinking about the possibility of this
project.
November
98Imprimis
Jimmy was inspired by these words and enrolled
himself in the next NFTE class offered. He flew solo to New
York City and was so impressed with what he learned; he vowed
to bring it home to Charleston, SC. He formed the Tri-County
NFTE Coalition, a grassroots effort to train teachers to
infuse this wonderful curriculum into their classroom instruction
and after school programs.
"It took a passionate leader and team-builder in Jimmy Bailey and a group
of committed volunteers to make it possible. Combine the team with an entrepreneur
who knows how to get things done, and the dream quickly became a reality” said
Dr. John Clarkin of the Tate Center for Entrepreneurship at the College of
Charleston.
From the beginning, members of the Tri-County NFTE Coalition
were united in their belief that by offering teachers the
opportunity to take the NFTE course, their students will
be equipped with the tools to be successful in the future.
The social entrepreneurs of the Tri-County
NFTE Coalition included:
Mr. Jimmy Bailey, Bailey & Associates,
Inc.
Mr. Tommy Baker, Baker Motor Company
Mr. Allen Wutzdorf, Education Foundation
Ms. Kelly Carpenter, South Carolina World Trade Center
Mr. John Clarkin, Tate Center for Entrepreneurship, College
of Charleston
Mrs. Joan Anderson, Charleston County School District
Mrs. Janice Jolly, Dorchester County School District 2
Mrs. Elizabeth Grantham, Former Berkeley County Principal
Mr. Chad Vail, Vail Management, Inc.
Members of the business community were also
convinced, as every teacher trained in the first two years
was sponsored by donated funds. Whether in time, talent,
or money, every contributor recognized the importance of
entrepreneurship to our national and regional economy, and
the importance of imparting entrepreneurial skills on students
of all socioeconomic backgrounds to better prepare them for
tomorrow's dynamic environment.
After two years of training a total of 41 teachers and social
workers at the College of Charleston Tate Center for Entrepreneurship
using private funds, Jimmy Bailey wrote a formal request
for state funding. Under the leadership of Rep. Bobby Harrell,
Sen. Glenn McConnell, Sen. Hugh Leatherman, and Rep. Daniel
Cooper the SC General Assembly voted to appropriate funding
to propel the grassroots initiative statewide.
Youth Entrepreneurship South Carolina
or YEScarolina is the name of the now statewide effort
to bring this entrepreneurship education to young people
in every South Carolina school.
What is YesCarolina?
 Mission
Statement
Partner
Schools
NFTE’s
role in the SC economy
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of Directors
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