BRICKS: Business Rich Interaction, Communication, Knowledge and Support.

Program:
BCOC members and current BRIDGES scholars serve as coaches and mentors to middle and high school students while introducing students to consumer economics and basic business development practices.

Goals:
• BCEF supports entrepreneurial enterprises and other venture related activities targeted at middle and high school students in Orange County.
• The BRICKS program is designed to provide African-American role models and academic supporters to young students of all backgrounds but especially targets African-American students.

Program activities include, but are not limited to:
- Introduce participants to basic business philosophies, planning and development strategies using current and retired business professionals.
- Provide access to stimulating business environments and business development opportunities.
- Provide for review of BRICKS participants’ current academic records or patterns by qualified college guidance personnel and direct mentoring by BRIDGES participants for academically “struggling” program participants.
- Stimulate and support increased community involvement among African-American middle and high school students mentored by Orange County college students.

Program Rewards:

• An important byproduct of BRICKS, will be increased numbers of African-American students interested in, and academically prepared to pursue business-related degrees after completion of college preparatory subjects during high school.
• The interaction with BCOC mentors and BRIDGES participants is also designed to motivate program participants to return to Orange County after completion of appropriate college degrees to practice their acquired arts, crafts, skills and professions.
• The growth of this program will result in a well-forged network designed to identify, cultivate, motivate, inform and support future African-American business, civic and religious leaders within Orange County middle and high schools.
• BRICKS participants will be solicited by website and open to any students attending Orange County middle and high schools who elects to first become a “financially current member of the Black Chamber of Commerce and completes the online BRICKS application process.