By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
The Wells Fargo Foundation awarded a $200,000 grant to Junior Achievement (JA) of Greater Washington on April 19 to expand the organization’s 3DE program, a four-year educational model designed to connect core classroom subjects to real-world experiences.
The grant presentation took place at Potomac High School during Market Day, in which 3DE eleventh-graders showcase businesses they’ve created as part of their curriculum.
“3DE has been seeded by philanthropy, and it’s gifts like Wells Fargo’s that give us the ability to grow. We’re getting to a point where we’re going to be looking for public funding as well because the demand and interest in the area is huge,” said Ed Grenier, CEO Emeritus of JA of Greater Washington. “Wells Fargo’s gift is perfect timing. They’re not just doing it to do it, they’re doing it because they genuinely believe in what we’re doing.”
3DE was first piloted in Atlanta in 2015. Since then, a number of high schools across the country have adopted it. Maryland and D.C. maintain four 3DE schools. The program employs case methodology, an approach that places students in real-life scenarios to exercise decision-making, collaboration, communication and critical thinking skills.
Student teams collaborate with the business community to generate solutions for case challenges. In their junior year, students design and launch start-up companies. During their senior year, students are matched with a local business partner to participate in an immersive consultancy project.
“3DE makes school real— something that can be of tremendous value to students because they can see a pathway into careers and adulthood,” said Lynne Ford, interim CEO of JA Greater Washington. “It makes school feel worthwhile and like an investment that makes sense to students.”
During Market Day, Potomac High School juniors featured jewelry, apparel, candle, beauty and bakery businesses. Student Autumn Miller’s Infinite Pastries sold homemade baked goods.
The business is more than supplying customers with a delicious treat. Miller created it to advocate for mental health issues. It encourages patrons to bake as a means to relieve stress and anxiety, and 20 percent of its proceeds are donated to organizations that support mental health.
“Mental health is very important to me because I know a lot of my friends and myself have a lot of mental health issues,” said Miller. “The main thing I want to do is give back to the community, and that’s what we strive to do here.”
Cedric Wilkerson presented his custom-clothing business, Tailors, which prints personalized T-shirts, sweatshirts and mugs for customers. Wilkerson intends to pursue a business degree to help him grow Tailors. He hopes one day to transform it into an online shop before moving into brick-and-mortar stores.
Wilkerson said 3DE has taught him how to write resumes and reinvest money back into his business.
“3DE is something that can teach you about business in a very intelligent way,” said Wilkerson. “It’s something that schools in any county should have. I know a lot of people have business dreams, and it can teach them something very important.”
Megan Sayles is a Report for America corps member.
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