Empowering Teens: Inside Out Club's New Teen Program Manager

Gina Curtis, a seasoned educator and entrepreneur, has a new gig. She's the new Teen Program Manager for the Inside Out Club. The club is in Naperville, Illinois. Her job? To connect more schools with the club's workshops and camps. The goal? To help teens build confidence for the real world. Curtis's journey with the Inside Out Club started years ago. Her daughter, now 10, joined the club's weekend workshops. Curtis wanted her daughter to learn about service and community. This was back when her daughter was just 4 or 5 years old. Curtis, a former social studies teacher, has worked closely with the club. She even founded Arrow Academy, a private school. This school offered students Montessori-inspired education as well as service projects. Curtis's new role is all about keeping the fire for service burning in older kids. She believes that teens need to learn about social-emotional skills. These skills are just as important as those learned in elementary school. The club's programs, like Business Designers for Good (BD4G) and Skills Box 10, offer teens a chance to explore business and fundraising. The programs help students develop soft skills and technical skills. These skills are crucial for the real world. BD4G is offered at Jefferson Junior High School. It's a workshop where students get to pitch their business ideas in a Shark Tank-inspired event. The Skills Box 10 workshop helps high schoolers organize and run a fundraiser. Students learn about networking, communication, and more. The club also offers shorter programs for high school students. Curtis and the Inside Out Club want to make it easy for schools to offer these workshops. They can do it with a club mentor or a trained school staff member. The club provides all the needed materials. The club provides all the needed materials. "We make it really easy, " Curtis said. Why is this important? Because teens need more than just academic skills. They need to learn about service, community, and real-world skills. These skills will help them succeed in life. The Inside Out Club is stepping up to the plate. They are offering programs that empower teens to make a difference.