Young entrepreneurs will be able to show off their businesses at the upcoming Young Leaders Market.
The idea for the event came after Patty Galvan, an organizer for it, said she wanted to give children and young adults an opportunity to showcase their skills. Growing up, Galvan said her parents taught her to work hard for what she wanted and do good in school so she could get a scholarship.
“You have to work hard. They pushed my brothers and I to strive for all these things,” Galvan said. “I did go to college, I got my degree to teach, but then we got the opportunity to open the restaurant, so we got involved in that. I think it’s important to teach the kids, you have dreams and aspirations and it’s okay, it’s great for people to show you early on that they believe in what you think will be a good concept. Because again not everybody is going to be able to go to college and get a career, so if we push them and give them a this is great, keep it up, like work on it and all these things, I feel like it would empower them to strive to work on that.”
From that thinking came the idea for the Young Leaders Market because she wants to give children a chance to show off what they can do.
“Maybe after the market they’ll realize okay this isn’t what I thought, this isn’t it for me or maybe it’ll spark something in them and say ok this is great, I love this, I want to keep going, do better,” Galvan said.
The market is open to ages 5-17, with one of the youngest being eight. Galvan said the 8-year-old is selling wooden toys that he was taught to make by his grandpa, who is a wood maker.
“It’s really exciting to see it’s not just lemonade stand, they’re going above to do a cool concept, it’s nice to see that,” Galvan said.
The market will be held at Evans Towne Center Park and the vendors will set up booths to show off their businesses, Galvan said. There will be a variety of businesses at the market, including doggie treats, hairbows, bracelets, wooden toys and more.
“Kind of like the Evans Market, but for kids,” Galvan said. “They’ll show up, walk around, shop for their stuff. We will also have representatives from Fort Gordon and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department talking about future careers, if that’s something that interest them. Really, I just want to showcase their skills.”
If the market goes well, Galvan said she wants to hold it again next year, but have local businesses involved so older kids could learn about possible apprenticeships over the summer if it’s for a job they are interested in.
The market has at least 20 vendors signed up, but the applications will remain open until a week before the event. The link to the application can be found on the Facebook event page.
“I know the community is very big on like supporting everybody, so I really hope they show up for the kids, so they get excited and want to do it again next year and feel like their hard work paid off.”
The Young Leaders Market will be July 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Evans Towne Center Park.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
