David A. Broome Summer Business Institute

rship these young people could be future contributors to their communities. Having recognized the need for Black and Latino youths to develop digital literacy and an entrepreneurial mindset and the need to provide technology to address the technology gap, the Broome Family Foundation started the David A. Broome Summer Business Institute in 2011. The Summer Business Institute combines instruction in web development with project based entrepreneurship curriculum to teach Black and Latino youths digital literacy and instill entrepreneurial spirit. In addition, the students who complete the program receive a laptop computer free of charge. Supporting the Summer Business Institute will give young people of color opportunity by:

1. Providing a quality STEM learning experience. Each student will be assigned a laptop computer on the first day of the program that will be used in class for research, web development, and business plan development. The students will be introduced to STEM careers by guest speakers.

2. Exposing them to crucial skills that determine success in today's dynamic workplaces. Using project-based and Common Core Standards-aligned curriculum, we teach our students: to work independently and collaboratively to recognize a problem or opportunity, to develop a plan to solve the problem or take advantage of the opportunity, and business plan implementation. In the process, they improve their writing skills as they create a business plan, math skills as they calculate return on investment, and their technological skills because each plan will include a web development component.

3. Introducing them to a college environment. Our partners, the University of Southern California and University of California at Los Angeles, will provide facilities for classroom instruction on their campuses. Providing classes on college campuses will not only allow the students to experience the college campus environment, but it will also allow them to leave their day-to-day and often negative or unconducive environments.

4. Alleviating summer learning loss. Studies show that the primary cause of the achievement gap between students of color and white students is summer learning loss. On average students of color lose more than 2 months English and math due to a lack of quality summer learning opportunities.