The Learning About Business Project
Teaching financial fluency and entrepreneurship as a career choice
+1.917.719.3755
About Us
The Learning About Business Project (The LAB Project) was founded in 2016. Our mission is to create a pathway to entrepreneurship for youth living in urban communities. We encourage youth to think and to see the world as visionaries, leaders, and innovators by equipping them with professional and social-emotional proficiencies that facilitate the entrepreneurial mindset. To date, we have engaged over 150 young people in The LAB Project experience.
Key program areas include: leadership development, career development, financial fitness, social networking and community focus.
Our programs are built on the following principles:
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Entrepreneurship is a part of the career readiness continuum
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Financial literacy and entrepreneurship are inextricably linked
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Money is a science; Entrepreneurship is a science
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Personal values impact the leadership process
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Entrepreneurs are not born; they are made
Who we serve
Services are tailored towards middle school and high school students. We serve NYC Department of Education Schools, Charter Schools, After School Programs, and other youth serving organizations. Workshops are provided in co-educational and single-gender environments.
We are an approved NYC Department of Education Vendor.
The approach
We offer a list of interactive, participant-centered program clubs that teach young people key financial and entrepreneurial concepts. Our clubs encourage youth to assess their financial perceptions; explore the benefits of delayed gratification; develop a sense of perseverance; adopt collaborative leadership strategies; and commit to ambassadorship. Programs emphasize participant voice and choice and offer disguised learning opportunities while supporting the development of 21st Century skills including literacy, STEAM, critical thinking, and problem solving.
Program Clubs Menu
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: This club blends science and popular culture to promote the development of a positive personal philosophy towards money. The Money Lab inquiry-based curriculum teaches participants key financial literacy concepts. Workshop topics include budgeting, banking, the stock market, and credit.
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Mind Your Business: This club introduces young people to “the science of entrepreneurship”. Through inquiry and participation, young people execute business concepts rooted in best practice techniques and learn that entrepreneurship is a viable career option.
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Leading Ladies: This single-gender club empowers young women to make a difference in their own lives, their communities, and the world by enhancing their leadership skills and by fostering an environment that promotes healthy self-esteem and positive development. The goal is to develop principled and socially conscious young women leaders.
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Boys 2 Men: This single-gender club focuses on fostering the positive maturation of young men by building character, mindfulness, personal and professional development, and by promoting the importance of wellness and personal branding.
Target Population: YLP targets middle school and high school students within a school, after-school, summer camp, and youth group environment.
Contact information: Call us at +1.917.719.3755 or email us at cblackman@youthlabproject.com
Courses Offered
THE MONEY LAB™©
This club blends science and popular culture to promote the development of a positive personal philosophy towards money. The inquiry based curriculum teaches participants key financial literacy concepts. Workshop topics include budgeting, banking, the stock market, and credit.
Value Proposition: Each program club offers disguised learning opportunities and supports the development of 21st Century skills including literacy, STEAM, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The LAB Project also partners with financial industry experts, banks, and a diverse cadre of entrepreneurs to present a fully hands-on learning experience.
Target Population: YLP targets middle school and high school students within a school, after-school, summer camp, and youth group environment.
MIND YOUR BUSINESS™©
This club introduces young people to “the science of entrepreneurship”. Through inquiry and participation, young people execute business concepts rooted in best practice techniques and learn that entrepreneurship is a viable career option.
Value Proposition: Each program club offers disguised learning opportunities and supports the development of 21st Century skills including literacy, STEAM, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The LAB Project also partners with financial industry experts, banks, and a diverse cadre of entrepreneurs to present a fully hands-on learning experience.
Target Population: YLP targets middle school and high school students within a school, after-school, summer camp, and youth group environment.
LEADING LADIES
This single-gender club empowers young women to make a difference in their own lives, their communities, and the world by enhancing their leadership skills and by fostering an environment that promotes healthy self-esteem and positive development. The goal is to develop principled and socially conscious young women leaders.
Girls Workshops from The Leading Ladies Series
Girl Talk: This one-hour workshop equips young women with the skills to exercise the power of their individual and collective voices. Through scenarios, girls explore different communication styles, learn how to navigate conflict, and discover the effectiveness of assertive communication.
Outcomes: Participants will be able to identify why their voice is valuable and will develop effective strategies of win-win negotiation and conflict resolution.
: This two-hour workshop provides young women with a fundamental understanding of money matters and teaches participants how to handle money from a position of confidence and knowledge. This high-energy, Make Money Movesmovement based workshop explores basic financial principles including spending, budgeting, and basic investing. We also dispel stereotypes assigned to girls and women when it comes to money.
Outcomes: Participants will be able to identify the differences between needs and wants and will determine their personal financial values statement.
The Girl Empire full-day workshop is structured as a team building exercise and offers a fun look into the business world. Young women work in teams to discover the power of ideas and to outline the steps involved in transforming an idea into a reality. Teams ultimately work out business challenges in the areas of leadership, creative thinking and ideation, budgeting, marketing and problem-solving in order to build a “Girl Empire”.
Outcomes: Girls will learn and practice critical professional and social skills associated with business and entrepreneurship.
BOYS 2 MEN
This single-gender club focuses on fostering the positive maturation of young men by building character, mindfulness, personal and professional development, and by promoting the importance of wellness and personal branding.
Boys Workshops from The Boys 2 Men Series
The Power to Lead: This one-hour workshop provides a foundation for young men to become leaders of tomorrow by exploring the universal characteristics of leadership. Participants examine and practice the fine line between inclusive and exclusive leadership and discover what enables people to become leaders. We explore the intricacies of Vision, Integrity, Responsibility, Character, Commitment, and Empowerment.
Outcomes: Young men will be able to identify leadership traits and self-identify what makes them distinct as a leader.
Make Money Moves: This two-hour long workshop provides young men with a fundamental understanding of money matters and teaches participants how to handle money from a position of confidence and knowledge. This high-energy, movement-based workshop explores basic financial principles including spending, budgeting, and basic investing. We also dispel stereotypes assigned to boys and men when it comes to money.
Outcomes: Participants will be able to identify the differences between needs and wants and will determine their personal financial values statement.
Teen Entrepreneurship Simulation Training (TEST) Workshop: This full-day workshop is structured as a team building exercise and offers a fun look into the world of business. We define entrepreneurship and discuss the steps that are required to bring an idea to market. Young men work in teams to solve business challenges in the areas of leadership, creative thinking and ideation, budgeting, marketing and problem-solving in order to build a “business”.
Outcomes: Participants will learn and practice critical professional and social skills associated with business and entrepreneurship.
Co-Founders
CHAKA BLACKMAN-LEE
CO-FOUNDER
Chaka Blackman is a former high school science teacher who taught in the NYC Department of Education for several years. She also spent 15 years in the non-profit sector having held leadership roles in several prominent youth serving organizations. She currently teaches in the MBA program at a New Hampshire university and runs the business consulting firm she founded. She can be reached by phone at 917.719.3755 or via email at cblackman@youthlabproject.com.
TYRONE TURNER
CO-FOUNDER
Tyrone Turner is a former NYC Department of Education high school teacher. He currently consults with the NYC Department of Education and various non-profit organizations on developing curricula to help urban youth become college and career ready. He also owns and operates a martial arts school where he teaches adults and children Karate and self-defense. He can be reached via phone at 917.543.1749 or via email at tturner@youthlabproject.com.