It is a laugh that speaks for itself: joyous, booming, and infectious. Nan Jeffers's energy is unparalleled. The force of her spirit can change the energy in a room, and may very well change the direction of the lives of the youths she works with. She could be called a jack-of-all-trades and has started a series of businesses over her life. Nan has done it all, anything from grant writing to printing marketing materials. Now she has found her true calling in her non-profit work and her Special Populations Enrichment, Education & Employment Department (SPEEED). From an early age, 'Ms. Nan' caught the entrepreneurial bug while growing up and working in rural North Carolina. "Driving a tractor allowed me to learn how to drive, which led to other work." The lessons of hard-work, transferable skills, and independent spirit stayed with her throughout her life. SPEEED was born two years ago when Nan recognized a need that she was more than qualified to fill. She felt that she could! instill a spirit of entrepreneurship in the youth of Roxboro, NC aged from 8 to 21 years old. Her entrepreneurs-in-training insist on being called 'youths' rather than 'kids'. It is a testament to the confidence she inspires in them that these youths insist on such a name. They see their own potential rather than being held back by any barriers that would impede a 'kid'. SPEEED's first major project was to plant a garden, grown and tended to by the youths in the program. Nan wanted to show her mentees ...
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