Davina Ware
davina@entrepreneursacademy.net
February 15, 2022
ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY RECEIVES ICJIA GRANT FOR PREMIERE TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAMMING
Chicago, IL – Entrepreneurs Academy was recently awarded grant funding by Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to support new programming, for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners, that weaves trauma-informed practices into the curriculum. The organization’s mission is to provide pathways to entrepreneurship, workforce modernization, and innovation for under-resourced communities of color to create a safer, healthier, and more economically- inclusive world. The grant will help the Entrepreneurs Academy expand its reach in providing skills-based training to the south and westsides of Chicago.
"Entrepreneurs Academy is pleased to receive the ICJIA grant award which will allow us strengthen the community’s economic base through the development of 21st century workforce skills to compete in the rapidly changing economic environment. However, the heart and soul of a community is measured by the mental health of its residents. Without a steady diet of health and wellness in combination with opportunity and support, we believe no community can truly be transformed” said Philip Fairweather, President and CEO of Entrepreneurs Academy. “Weaving in the trauma informed training prepares our entrepreneurs to run successful businesses by equipping them with coping skills to overcome situations that would otherwise affect their progress.”
Entrepreneurs Academy experiences firsthand the urgent need for entrepreneurs and business owners to address the trauma that affects their decision making, business strategies, and chance for success - both professionally and personally. The Dream Again Workshops and Industry-Specific Entrepreneurial Training (ISET) will have significant impact on violence intervention and prevention by creating opportunities for wealth and wellness.
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About Entrepreneurs Academy
Launched in 1996 in Chicago as a Welfare to Work initiative for the Chicago Housing Authority, Entrepreneurs Academy is a program-based business development center designed to reduce concentrated poverty through entrepreneurship, invention, and workforce modernization. We integrate entrepreneurship with mental health services to ensure our students have support and a greater opportunity to succeed. Learn more at www.entrepreneursacademy.net