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Biz Kidz Academy
2025 Programs, Events, and Activities
Le'Chic - Biz Kidz Academy 10 Year Anniversary
Scholarship Fundraiser Brunch
(Where Are They Now?)
About Biz Kidz Academy
Founded by Dr. Marlene Jackson and daughter, Ashley Cole, Biz Kidz Academy is a non-profit 501 (c) organization developed to creatively empower students (Ages 8-18). Biz Kidz Academy engages elementary, middle, and high school students in real-world business experiences, events and activities. Our mission is to inspire students to creatively embrace their entrepreneurial spirit, lead confidently, think critically, and be financially responsible. Our goal is to empower students with the creative guidance, resources, and tools required to be confident and self-assured decision makers. Biz Kidz is extremely excited about our successful 2024 program and the impact we are having on kids and teens throughout Howard County. We are equally excited about the program we have planned for 2025.
Biz Kidz Academy – 2025 Grant Recipient
Biz Kidz Academy is excited to announce that the Academy was recently awarded Howard County’s FY25 Youth Engagement Programming (YEP) Grant. The goal of YEP Grant is to promote youth activities and engagement in Howard County and provide community organizations with the resources to develop programs for young people in Howard County that are offered outside of traditional school hours.
Biz Kidz is particularly thrilled that, based on the positive impact and design of our program, our grant proposal stood out. During the 2025 YEP period, the Academy will sponsor a Shark Tank Competition and award educational scholarships, laptops, awards, and other prizes to our top winners. In partnership with Howard County Public Schools, libraries, businesses, and organizations, our program will also sponsor a special awards ceremony, workshops, mentorships, vendor day events, and much more.
For more information about our 2025 program, please see below:
Howard County Library Workshop Series
In partnership with the Howard County Public Library System. Biz Kidz is conducting two workshop series at the Ellicott City and Glenwood Library Branches. See below for our 2025 Spring and Summer list of workshop topics, dates, and locations.
Biz Kidz Activity Guide
In the continuing effort to provide Howard County students with business startup resources, Biz Kidz Activity Academy’s Activity Guides were distributed to students throughout the county. The guide provides students with educational fun activities, games, exercises, and mini lessons developed to encourage students to turn their creative ideas into a money-making business.
Fun Social Skills for Success Mentorship Program
Biz Kidz will be launching a “Fun Social Skills for Success Mentorship Program” to elementary age students throughout Howard County.
The purpose of the program is to encourage student’s self-awareness, social skills, and leadership abilities. More details will be provided. Biz Kidz Academy look forward to partnering with Howard County organizations to sponsor our 2025 essay competition, scholarships, and other events.
Biz Kidz Newsletter – 2024 Winter Edition
Would you like to learn more about our upcoming programs, events, activities? Biz Kidz News You Can Use is a new newsletter developed to help build partnerships with local Howard County organizations, businesses, institutions, groups, etc. The goal of the newsletter is to strengthen partnerships that will aid Biz Kidz in equipping county students with the knowledge, skills, resources, tools, and opportunities required to establish their very own small businesses and become confident community leaders. Contact us today to subscribe!
For the Winter edition of the newsletter, contact Dr. Marlene Jackson at bizkidz2017@gmail.com.
Congratulations
Biz Kidz Academy Scholarship Winners
In partnership with Columbia Baptist Fellowship Youth Ministries, the Academy sponsored our annual Scholarship Award Dinner on April 2, 2025.The purpose of the dinner was to celebrate teens who participated in this year’s essay competition to creatively express
themselves in an essay on a topic that inspires them.
Thanks to the YEP (Youth Engagement Programming) Grant provided by the Office of Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, the college-bound winners were awarded the Academy’s 2025 scholarship. The scholarship helps fund a tour to The University of
Connecticut, St. John’s University, Penn State University, Delaware State University, Maryland Eastern Shore University, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University.
A special thank you to
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball
for delivering the keynote speech during the Academy’s Scholarship Award Dinner.
Thank you to our Special Guest Speaker, Daniel F. Rosewag, Coordinator of Career and Technical Education at Howard County Public School System. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our Emcee, Megan Knight, WMAR-TV Anchor/Reporter.
Thank you to also to our Judge Panel:
Tracy Lewis (Coordinator)
Biz Kidz Academy Marketing/Public Relations Director
TrayLou “Positive Vibes” Vision Radio
Nima Farshchi
Lecturer
University of Maryland
Thelma Holliday
Retired Howard County Public School System Teacher
Howard High School
Marcus Nicks
Assistant Director of Silas Craft Collegians Program/instructor,
Howard County Community College
Lola Oduyoye
Administrative Aide, Office of the County Executive
10 Year Anniversary Fundraising Brunch
LeChic – Biz Kidz Academy is thrilled to announce that the Academy is celebrating 10 years of success in inspiring and strengthening over 1000 kids and teens, throughout Maryland, District of Columbia, Atlanta, and Canada, a milestone we are proud to mark at the Holiday Inn, Jessup, MD., on September 13, 2025.
Come out for an afternoon of delicious cuisine, dynamic youth vendors, great speakers, positive testimonials, distinct acknowledgements, special program sentiments, engaging networking, and free laptop opportunities, and memorable moments.
Help us celebrate the successful achievements of the kids and teens who have benefitted from the Academy’s scholarships, college tours, mentoring programs, shark tank competitions, workshops, online courses, free laptop giveaways, vendor exhibits, award ceremonies, and more.
Your support in raising $50,000 will provide the Academy with the resources required to continue to offer scholarships and contribute to the success of our youth’s future.
For more information, call 410-530-4876 or email bizkidz2017@gmail.com.
Biz Kidz Newsletter – 2025 Spring Edition
Would you like to learn more about our upcoming programs, events, activities? Biz Kidz News You Can Use is a new newsletter developed to help build partnerships with local Howard County organizations, businesses, institutions, groups, etc. The goal of the newsletter is to strengthen partnerships that will aid Biz Kidz in equipping county students with the knowledge, skills, resources, tools, and opportunities required to establish their very own small businesses and become confident community leaders.
Contact us today to subscribe!
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Spring 2025
Biz Kidz Academy – Howard County Library System Partnership
FREE Workshops
Biz Kidz is excited to partner with Howard County libraries to offer FREE workshops for
students (Ages 8 -13).
Workshops Offered:
April 12th
Elkridge Library
Past, Present, Future
April 19th
Elkridge Library
Drawing: Building Creativity & Confidence Through Art
May 3rd
Elkridge Library
Computer Games & Mentoring
May 10th
Elkridge Library
Mentoring, Team Building,
and Leadership
May 31st
Elkridge Library
Drawing: Building Creativity & Confidence Through Art
********
Contact Howard County library branches for more details.
Biz Kidz Online Workshop Series
Biz Kidz Activity Guide
The Biz Kidz Activity Academy’ Gide is full of educational fun activities, games, exercises, and mini- lessons developed to encourage students to turn their creative ideas into a money-making business. With an emphasis on self-awareness, problem-solving, critical thinking, goal setting, and leadership, young entrepreneurs will develop such skills as creative writing, business planning, money management, marketing, business pitching (public speaking), portfolio building, web design, copyrighting, book self-publishing, and much more. This self-paced guide also provides a section for parents and teachers to engage in lessons with young entrepreneurs. The guide offers tips and FREE resources to aid adults in supporting young entrepreneurs as they to complete their business-growth activities. By the end of the guide, students have all the skills needed required to start or grow a business, pitch their business idea, and publish a book. Available on Amazon.
2025 Registration Now Open
Kids and teens are encouraged to submit an original 500-word paper or 5 -10-minute engaging video presentation.
The winners will be selected by a panel of judges. Competitors are judged on their ability to articulate and display clearly their written and oral communications skills. Participants may chose a familiar topic that inspires them. They are also required to explain why they deserve to be selected as a competition winner. CREATIVITY COUNTED!
Young competitors may choose to submit one of the following:
Other Biz Kidz Academy Programs
High School – College Transition Program
Biz Kidz Academy High School – College Transition Program is a business-building platform created to build partnerships with higher learning institutions. The objective of the program is to provide college-level entrepreneurs with an additional resource tool to utilize with existing college business resources. College students will participate in individual and team building entrepreneurial projects as they gain valuable real-world lifelong learning skills including, goal setting, problem solving. Visit our website for more information.
Biz Kidz In-Flight Initiative
Biz Kidz Academy is excited to announce our expansion into Atlanta and Canada. We offer aspiring young entrepreneurs and innovative students an opportunity to launch and grow their business and creative ideas. We look forwarded to expanding into other regions around the world.
Atlanta Chapter
A special thank you to Tracy Lewis and Dena Patrice for coordinating the Biz Kidz Atlanta Chapter. In partnership with Atlanta’s Recreation and Parks and Futon Library Systems, a workshop series was offered to kidpreneurs throughout Atlanta. A special thank you to Tracy Lewis and Dena Patrice for coordinating the Biz Kidz Atlanta Chapter.
Canada Chapter
In conjunction with The Niagara Falls Public Library, Biz Kidz Academy launched our workshop series on Saturday, May 18, 2019. During the series, kids and teens developed vision boards, business plans, marketing brands, websites, and business budgets. A special award ceremony was celebrated as Niagara Falls Mayor Diodati presented Canada’s Biz Kidz with a Workshop Certificate of Completion.
Call For 2025 Sponsors
Biz Kidz Academy provides Howard County kids and youth with a comprehensive entrepreneurship program that aims to equip them with the professional knowledge, skills, resources, tools, and opportunities required to establish their very own small business.
Our goal is to implement an all-inclusive business start-up program that provides Howard County students with the experience required to address their self-confidence and contribute to their financial independence.
By connecting young entrepreneurs with educators, local business owners, community leaders, partnering networks, mentors, and money-making prospects, our program makes a significant impact on thier income, entrepreneurial success, and ability to contribute to a stronger economic economy.
We Need Your Help!
Our dream is to raise enough capital to provide students financial support, scholarships, grants, laptops, etc. year-round. We’re reaching out to sponsors to help us to raise enough capital to continue to provide financial support to students.
Please contact Dr. Marlene Jackson at bizkidz2017@gmail.com to discover how you can become a partner and help us raise donations to empower our creative students nationwide.