Intro:
We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer, and we urge you to soak up these last months of relaxation! Our names are Brennan, John, Evan, Carter, and Evan, and we are a part of the 2023 Fellowship Program here at 100K Ideas. Our summer has been filled with a multitude of amazing experiences where we have learned so much about entrepreneurship, our community, and the people who contribute to making the city of Flint a special place. We have engaged in several discussions with different people around the community, and they have given us insight on how to be a successful leader in our world today. Along with the discussions, we have volunteered to work with young children at the Flint Freedom School. During our time at the Freedom School, we brought STEM kits to the kids and helped them build some neat gadgets! Finally, our main project throughout the entire 8 week program was to create a piece of 100K merchandise that we could source and produce, and the goal of this project was to make a quality product that could be sold to the public. Overall, our experience at 100K Ideas was a very special one, and we could not be more appreciative of the people who guided us through the Fellowship. Here is a little more about what we encountered over our 8 weeks and what it all entailed:
Guest Speakers:
One of the key experiences of the 100K Ideas Summer Fellowship is connecting and networking with entrepreneurs, and leaders of the Flint and Genesee county area. This has not only opened the minds of the fellows but also a great resource, as most of the guest speakers are already established in their careers and passions. The fellows conversed with many individuals and companies such as Factory Two, Bau-House, Drinks of Essence, Jessica Hatter (JHatter), Mark Simon (UM-Flint). These conversations were not only valuable but a great opportunity to work on networking as well as communication skills, especially at the professional level. If there’s one thing that the students can take away from this fellowship is the importance of networking and building strong relationships.
Flint Freedom School:
Throughout our eight-week fellowship, the Flint Freedom School Collaboration added an extra element to our journey. Every Tuesday, for four weeks, we had the incredible privilege of connecting with bright young minds in the third, fourth, and fifth grades, engaging them through ice breakers, captivating STEM kits, and amusing games. The session always commenced with ice breakers tailored to their interests, whether discussing superpowers or sports, effortlessly establishing a playful and welcoming atmosphere. Once the ice was broken, we embarked on a fascinating discovery by challenging their young intellects while enjoying ourselves with fun chemistry and engineering STEM kits. From creating robots to witnessing inspiring chemical explosions, each moment was filled with wonder and excitement. Yet, the beauty of the collaboration was not confined to one-sided teaching; these kids became our teachers too, imparting their unique games and filling the air with laughter. The Flint Freedom School Collaboration forged bonds that will remain etched in our hearts, an experience that we will cherish forever.
Merchandise Product:
As a group, we decided on a tote bag as our product. This was a new experience for all of us and we all learned new skills and tools when it comes to product development, sourcing, and marketing. To make our process go smoother we divided our group into 5 roles, one for each fellow. Project Leader, Marketing and Sales Coordinator, Financial Coordinator, Market research data analysis, and product and design engineer. By splitting our team up into these 5 roles it gave us the ability to get things done at a very fast pace and work well together as a group. After working hard and searching we finally found the product that fit exactly what we wanted. Once we were able to do this, we found a third party to put our design on the tote bags for us however we would like. We finally got the tote bags in the mail and we are excited to see how the finished product turns out.
Conclusion:
Consequently, participating in the 2023 Fellowship program for 100K Ideas has been filled with valuable experiences and learning opportunities. Throughout the program we have engaged in areas of entrepreneurship, community engagement, and leadership, gaining valuable insights from the business owners of Flint who contribute to its uniqueness. Engaging in conversation with various community members has given us knowledge to help us grow into successful leaders in today’s world. However, our engagement extended beyond discussions, as we volunteered at the Flint Freedom School, sharing STEM knowledge with students. Moreover, our primary focus on creating a 100K Ideas merchandise product was testament to our dedication to quality products that can serve the public. Overall, we are very grateful for those who have guided us on this journey, and we will continue to apply these lessons we have learned in the future.
