The goal of the Kids Can Youth Entrepreneur Program is to inspire creativity and innovation among youth across Las Cruces and Doña Ana County, through the study of business concepts and development of entrepreneurship skills. The Kids Can program focuses on teaching area youth ages 6-17 important skills for a lifetime of success. These hands-on lessons include leadership training, public speaking and confidence-building exercises, self-reliance and personal empowerment workshops, and financial and business literacy labs.
Youth attend “Super Saturday” workshops, after-school enrichment classes, and week-long camps. Youth showcase and grow their businesses monthly at the Kids Can Jr. Vendor Program at the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market Saturdays. Approximately 20 youth-led businesses rotate there on a monthly basis.
In April and November of each year, business-building workshops are held in advance of a large public fair, to prepare youth to make record breaking sales and display their business ideas in the best possible way. Youth get product feedback and practice making the perfect pitch as well as ask questions of representatives from local business owners and industry experts. Their products and business concepts are evaluated on most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity.
CAA is a 58-year-old New Mexico nonprofit that provides resources and programming to people facing adversity. The goal is to help increase their resiliency and overall family wellbeing. We do this through programs that build on family strengths, self-empowerment, and resilience. Among the many services CAA provides are youth entrepreneurship and development, nutrition programs for children, family financial programs, housing stability, and empowerment and advocacy. Last year, we served over 14,000 families.
Our board-approved mission is to partner with New Mexicans to overcome adversity by connecting communities, encouraging family wellness, empowering families and bridging resources. One of our agency’s strengths is this innovative, unified network of programs that helps people face and rise above the many economic, family, and life challenges they may encounter.
3880 Foothills Road, Suite A