This website was created as the community service project of an After School Matters (ASM) (www.afterschoolmatters.org) Techno Biz apprenticeship program at Carver Military Academy (http://www.carvermilitary.org/) in Chicago, IL.

Thanks to ASM for funding this technology apprenticeship. Appreciation is also extended to Carver Military Academy, and the Techno Biz instructors (Aina Holmes of www.ecombiz.net and Eric Williams).

Techno Biz is a hands-on technical training program where youth explore entrepreneurship while learning a specific technical skill (web design) and engaging in community service (creating a website, logo or animation for an existing small business).

During the fall of 2007 and spring of 2008 the youth learned how to create web pages, unique graphics and animation. They spent time thinking about their own personal entrepreneurial goals while learning aspects of a web design business. Their final work products were two distinctive websites. Both projects will also be displayed at http://www.ecombiz.net/training.htm. Use the “Techno Biz” link on the Training page to access the tutorials and links to the 2007-2008 websites.

The web template, a logo and some graphics were created for BERA during the fall. The spring session allowed the teens to enhance the template design, create animations for the site and insert the content BERA provided. This website served as a business client for their web design business as well as a community service project.

In addition to this site, the apprentices created another website (20 Initials, www.20initials.com) that expressed some of their interests as teens (movies, books, fashions, video games, hobbies, etc). The 20 Initials website displays unique graphics and animations and original poetry created during the two sessions. The overall website was designed during the fall, along with most of the graphics. The spring session was devoted to creating animations while enhancing the site design.