The Trust Your Crazy Ideas Challenge was launched four years ago as a partnership between the Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans (JA), the Brees Dream Foundation and The Idea Village. The competition teaches entrepreneurial thinking to students and fine tunes their business pitches before a final pitch in the spring.
Twenty students, some individuals and some teams, from around New Orleans have been selected to participating in the JA Be Entrepreneurial curriculum, a hands-on, experiential learning program that results with student business plans. They will compete for over $30,000 in awards.
“The Challenge is about more than creating a business plan,” said Drew Brees, co-founder of the Brees Dream Foundation. “It is designed to educate, motivate and inspire students by giving them valuable communication and presentation skills that will help them in every aspect of life. It’s all about inspiring the kids!”
The New Orleans area teams represent eight schools, including Archbishop Shaw High School, Cabrini High School, Holy Cross School, Lusher Charter School, Mount Carmel Academy, Isidore Newman School, Archbishop Rummel High School, and St. Augustine High School.
Unlike years past, the Challenge is now statewide. Organizers will be holding state finals at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week with students representing New Orleans along with Shreveport and Baton Rouge.