31 May Pierce, CPA & Advisors Encourages Woodlawn High School Future Business Leaders of America
Pierce, CPA & Advisors was on-hand (5/27/2022) to assist students during HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Spring Coming Innovation Lab. The facilitators’ and students’ assignments were to solve a City of Birmingham problem.
The City of Birmingham team (Parks & Recreation and Keep Birmingham Beautiful) was present to describe two of their challenges.
Our challenge was to provide solutions for Parks & Recreations gaps with access to the internet and computer equipment. Also, we were to compile suggestions on how to elevate the scheduling experience of patrons.
Joey Womack’s, Founder of Amplify 4 Good, brainstorming sessions are known as External Innovation Labs. His toolbox included identifying the user, problem and solution. One thought process of the lab involved building upon each other’s suggestions using the phrase “Yes, and then we can.”
The Woodlawn High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students served as co-Project Managers. We wanted the students to serve as leaders and decision-makers for our challenge.
The students welcomed the mentoring, partnered on the content and delivered solutions during their presentations. Well done!
My closing comments were, “all of you can be decision-makers. The process that we experienced today plays out often in many board rooms. In your notes, write down two things you did well today. Also, write down two things you would like to improve. Continue to build on these skills.”
Pierce, CPA & Advisors thanks the City of Birmingham Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity, HBCU Spring Coming, Amplify 4 Good, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and teachers/students of Woodlawn High School for the opportunity to build community.