Meet Chinika Mickens Miller of Boss Up 101 Inc in Dekalb County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chinika Mickens Miller.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Chinika. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a wife, business professional and a mother of 5. One of my children happens to be a 17-year-old with a speech impediment and a history of foster care. Upon my entering high school, I met with his teachers and was told that although he had great potential he was unable to keep up the class curriculum. At first, I was in denial, and thought all he needed was a little more support, encouragement and some strict guidance. First semester report cards were distributed and he failed all but one class. Now alarmed, I met with the educators again to discuss alternatives.

After weighing all our options, we decided to enroll him in the Special Education Program at his school. This program ensured that he would be able to get the one-on-one support he needed with a modified curriculum. The down side to being in this program is that he will not be receiving a traditional diploma. The type of diploma he would receive will not allow him to enroll in a traditional university or join the military. So why did I agree to this??? Hold on I’m getting there…

While speaking with my son concerning this very important decision, I asked him about his plans after graduation. He very quickly yelled out, “I want to be a Basketball Player!!” What did you expect from a 15-year-old? So, I asked, what will be your plan b…if you can’t be a basketball player, enroll college or join the military? I wasn’t at all prepared for his next response…”I want to start a program and open a home for kids like me. He wants to teach them life skills through sports and mentoring.” Wow…I really wasn’t ready. I quickly regained my composure and thought, we can do this! You don’t have to be an A/B student to be an entrepreneur and you don’t have to have a traditional diploma to live a life of service. I immediately began looking for programs that would give him a real-time/real life look into entrepreneurship and I couldn’t find any that supported his disability….so we decided to start our own.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Boss Up 101 Inc. – what should we know?
Originating in 2017, Boss Up 101’s primary goal is to focus on those youths who may be struggling in school, who may not be headed to college, and do not quite know what direction they want to go. Although academics are an important focus in the program it is not our principal focus. Our primary emphasis is to expose these young adults to the possibility of starting and successfully growing a business.

Community engagement is one of the key components in our program. Our goal is to get the students out of the classroom and interacting with entrepreneurs who are actually out here making it happen. But to do that it cost on average $800-$1000 per trip. Our struggle has been mostly finding the financial support for the engagement piece in the program.

Did you know youth graduating with Special Education Diplomas are not afforded an opportunity to go to a traditional college or join the military? Boss Up 101’s aim is to give these students the tools to create a sustainable life. Boss Up 101 provides support to young adults with an interest in entrepreneurship by partnering with the Career Pathways Program within local high schools. Through programs such as “Preparing for The Pitch”, students learn effective communication skills, strategic planning, economics and more, as they learn to successfully communicate their ideas.

There are several amazing entrepreneurial program in existence in GA, however we are the only program that focuses on students in the special education programs.

Students in our program complete a full semester of mentor-led workshops, educational activities, and community opportunities to refine and develop their products, businesses and culminate their pitches. The top participants develop their ideas with seasoned mentors and present to investor judges and real business owners all in an effort to win prize money to help start their business.

What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
Luck really hasn’t played a role in my or business. I believe in living by faith. I pray and listen and do my best to treat people right. I also believe you reap what you sow. So I am very aware of how I move and what I put out in the universe. I must say I have been very fortunate in the blended family department. We are a big group of misfits.

I tell people all the time, running this program is so fun that I almost feel guilty. lol. I really enjoy exposing the students to opportunities and possibilities that they didn’t even consider. That moment when the light bulb come on and they start self-educating themselves on different avenues for the future gives me so much joy!!

Pricing:

• Program Tees $20.00
• Program Ties $10.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 3836 Micah Ln Ellenwood Ga 30294
• Website: www.BossUp101.org
• Phone: 404-916-4520
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @BossUp101org
• Facebook: @BossUp101org
• Twitter: @BossUp101org

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