Youth Designers Excel By Patricia S. Henderson, Urban Program Educator

"YOUTH CAREERS, IMAGES AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT," a program administered through Extension's Urban and New Nontraditional Programs unit's "Forefronting Youth Initiative," was delivered as a tool to encourage young females enrolled in the Edmonton Heights Community's Family Life Centers Summer Enrichment Program, "EXTENSION CARES."

Participants proudly paraded their original designs at the Grande Finale held at the Business School's multipurpose room on the campus of Alabama A&M University. Their "originals" proved to be quite an array of fanciful creations. Bold smiles, proud steps, and swirls of confidence abound for these young designers.

It all began with participants of the program volunteering to be active in the Youth Careers, Images, and Economic Empowerment segment of the Summer Enrichment Program. Events and activities escalated from this point and as word spread throughout the community, the program's numbers increased from five to fifteen participants. In order to determine the participant's general knowledge and interest relative to the apparel industry, an inventory was administered to gather background data. Results of the inventory revealed that:

• YES! Definitely all of the participants WERE INTERESTED in careers in the apparel industry or a related field as a career opportunity.
• One hundred percent or all fifteen participants indicated that learning to sew fashionable items was an interest.
• Department stores regularly frequented by participants were J C Penny's, K-Mart, Goody's, Simply Fashions, Dillards, Ross, Wal-Mart, LaFashion, and Rave.
• Favorite designers ranged from Fubu, RO, Mudd, to Ralph Lauren.
• Two participants or 13.3 percent indicated that they could hem a skirt or a pair of pants.
• Four or 26.6 percent of the participants had sewn a simple apparel item using a sewing machine.
• All participants were interested in designing and/or sewing a simple garment.

When asked why they had an interest in sewing a simple garment? The specifics are best expressed in the participants' own words:

BEFORE: "Because I think it would be a lot of fun."
AFTER: " I had fun, I plan to keep it up."

BEFORE: "Because I want to know if I can really do it."
AFTER: " I really did it!"

BEFORE: "Because I would like to see how it feels to sew by hand and machine."
AFTER: "It was hard work but now I feel successful."

BEFORE: "Because one day I hope to sit down and know what to do and sew my own fashions."
AFTER: " This has helped me start, I have a lot more to learn but I am on my way!"

These four responses summarized the attitudes and accomplishments as expressed by the participants.

The benefits from programs such as the "Youth Careers, Images and Economic Empowerment Program" are numerous. The experiential approach used encouraged learning experiences with activities that were hands-on. Additionally, this approach assisted participants with developmental skills. Benefits were realized through:

• Exploring career options
• Encouraging group social interactions
• Promoting individual creative expressions
• Following directions
• Sequencing steps
• Developing self confidence
• Comparing career preparation to economic success

Indeed, what started out as the Edmonton Height's Summer youth career request of looking at opportunities in the apparel industry and designing a simple fashionable item, ended up doing a lot more for these TALENTED, ENERGETIC, PROUD young people!!!!!!!