A Burlington-based business owner is hoping to spin his entrepreneurial success into helping area youth and young adults via their respective outreach programs.
The program, Blackwell Institute, is courtesy of Faiger Blackwell, founder of Blackwell Funeral Home. While Burlington is no stranger to longtime community outreach initiatives, Blackwell Institute formally started Jan. 1.
"It's still in its embryonic stage," Blackwell said about his fledgling program. "It is for the youth, well, I should say it is for anyone who wishes to learn more. We didn't put an [age] cap on it but it is concentrated on the youth."
The Blackwell Institute is geared toward encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs, according to Blackwell, who added that the original concept didn't come from him.
"This is something that came about after meeting with several young guys...who wanted to give young people an alternative to being in the streets," Blackwell said. "It is for males and females."
He hopes that the Blackwell Institute will provide that alternative. Under current plans, the Blackwell Institute is best described as one part lecture series and one part mentorship program. Blackwell hopes his program will attract a number of speakers to lecture on a myriad of topics.
"We want to educate people on finances, business, social, spiritual and political," Blackwell said. "How to create wealth, how to pass on ideas and thoughts on to the next generation. We want to gear them toward productive things, like creating jobs rather than working in a job."
Blackwell said he wants program participants to take what they have learned and use it in the Burlington, Alamance community.
"We don't want to see our community deteriorate," Blackwell said. "If you don't have hope, faith or knowledge, your community will deteriorate. We want to gather knowledge to enlighten people on how to be more socially involved and be faith builder in their community so that legacies can be created, rather than hearing stories about tragedies."
Blackwell explained the program will be split into two semesters per year.
"In order to enroll, you have to have discipline," Blackwell said. "If we are having a lecture or two every month we expect you to graduate. You can't graduate from the program if you don't go through all the material. When you leave we want you to leave with something...to help your dream and vision to come true."
The inaugural semester, however, might be delayed due to concerns surrounding COVID-19. Blackwell said the first lecture might be sometime in April depending on how the pandemic plays out.
Blackwell hopes parents to have their kids take part in the six month lessons. To do so Blackwell encourages parents to call him at 336-229-1939.
Blackwell hopes his program will grow into something that will have the maximum impact. He envisions a program that not only teaches and encourages young people but provides them with grants and scholarships.
"I open the door to anybody who wants to take part," Blackwell said. "We have to start somewhere to create an ideal vision, or to help people with that vision."