LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Students at a Kentucky elementary school are getting in touch with their entrepreneurial spirit with a business showcase sponsored by Jefferson County Public Schools. The showcase gives the students the opportunity to present their business proposals to community entrepreneurs.

James Miller, a Wellington Elementary student, and his group pitched their idea for a barber shop that gives back to foster care programs.

“I used to be in foster care and I don’t want to see kids unhappy in foster care,” Miller shared on his inspiration for the project.

In February, 12 Black-owned small business owners came to speak to Hannah Jewell’s class and explained how they give back to the community through their business. That inspired students to create a for-profit business plan which would give nonprofits.

“They’re going deep into their hearts, deep into their minds and they’re going to look at real issues that are going on, and I think their critical thinking skills are getting bigger,” Jewell explained.

She says that coming up with these ideas lets students to use their compassion for real issues in our community to shine through.

“Their compassion has grown for issues in the city. You’re seeing they know more about what’s going on in our world. They know what problems we’re facing,” said Jewell.

Through the process of creating the barbershop, which they named JZRM Cuts, Miller has found his voice to speak up.

“I usually don’t speak that much, but now that we’ve started this business, I know that I’m going to be able to speak a lot,” Miller said.

These elementary students are bringing compassion and inspiration to help solve big problems.

Wellington Elementary faculty said because the business showcase launch was such a success, they plan to continue this event in the coming years.