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Community-based adult education programs provide adults with opportunities to gain new skills, start businesses, and achieve personal goals. Organizing a pitch competition for adult learners is an effective way to foster confidence, goal-setting, and communication skills. This article outlines pitch competitions tailored to three popular community education focus areas—Basic Education, Entrepreneurship/Business Startup, and Health & Wellness. The competitions can be adapted to an online, hybrid, or in-person format, making it accessible to diverse participants with varied schedules and commitments.
Literacy Education: Empower adults to apply fundamental skills (e.g., literacy, numeracy) by developing a personal goal or project pitch.
Entrepreneurship/Business Startup: Encourage adults to present a business or nonprofit idea, offering practical experience in planning and presenting.
Health & Wellness: Support adults in creating pitches focused on personal or community health initiatives, promoting wellness and self-care practices.
Literacy Education - “Pitching a Personal Goal or Community Project”
Objective: Adult learners develop a pitch for a personal goal or community project, using literacy, numeracy, and goal-setting skills.
Activity Description: Participants select a goal or community project (e.g., organizing a book club, pursuing a GED, starting a neighborhood cleanup). They create a presentation that outlines their goal, action steps, and the positive impact it will have on their lives or community. Visual aids, simple charts, or timelines can enhance their pitch.
Skills Developed: Goal-setting, literacy, communication, budgeting (numeracy), and community engagement.
Format with NextPitch:
Video and Written Submissions: Participants record a video pitch and submit supporting written materials on NextPitch.
Feedback and Voting: Instructors and peers review and provide feedback through comments. Community members can also be invited to vote on pitches for added engagement and recognition.
Entrepreneurship/Business Startup - “Launching a Small Business or Nonprofit”
Objective: Adult learners develop a pitch for a small business or nonprofit, showcasing business planning and presentation skills.
Activity Description: Participants create a business or nonprofit idea that addresses a community need. Their pitch includes a brief business plan covering product or service, target audience, startup costs, and potential revenue. They explain how their business will address a gap in the market or benefit the community.
Skills Developed: Business planning, market analysis, budgeting, and persuasive communication.
Format with NextPitch:
Video and Written Submissions: Participants submit their pitch as a recorded video along with a written business summary on NextPitch.
Feedback and Voting: Local business mentors, instructors, and peers can leave feedback and vote on submissions. Judges provide specific insights on business feasibility and community impact.
Health & Wellness - “Personal or Community Health Initiative”
Objective: Adult learners design a personal health or wellness goal or a community health initiative, promoting wellness planning and health awareness.
Activity Description: Participants identify a personal health goal or design a community health project (e.g., creating a walking group or a healthy eating workshop). Their pitch outlines the health benefits, resources needed, and impact on their lives or community. Visuals such as charts, meal plans, or flyers can enhance their presentation.
Skills Developed: Health awareness, wellness planning, community engagement, and presentation skills.
Format with NextPitch:
Video and Written Submissions: Participants submit a recorded video and written overview of their project on NextPitch.
Feedback and Voting: Health professionals, instructors, and peers provide feedback and vote on submissions, adding community visibility and encouraging participants in their health goals.
Structuring the Community-Based Pitch Competition
Option 1: Fully Online with NextPitch
Description: The entire competition is hosted on NextPitch, where participants submit their video and written pitches and receive feedback virtually.
Execution: Each focus area has its dedicated space on NextPitch, where participants upload their video submissions and written materials. Instructors, peers, and invited community members can leave feedback and vote, allowing participants to benefit from a wide range of insights.
Benefits: Ideal for participants with limited schedules or transportation, this fully online setup allows flexibility in viewing presentations and receiving feedback, while NextPitch’s digital platform encourages a sense of community.
Option 2: Hybrid – Initial Rounds Online, Finalists Showcased In-Person
Description: Participants submit initial pitches online via NextPitch, with top projects showcased at an in-person event for final recognition.
Execution: Participants submit their pitches on NextPitch for initial feedback and voting. Finalists are selected from each focus area and invited to a community event where their projects are highlighted in a live setting. Judges or community members can interact with finalists and provide additional feedback in person.
Benefits: This hybrid model offers the flexibility of online participation with the excitement of a live event, allowing participants to gain both digital and live presentation experience and community recognition.
Option 3: Entirely In-Person Showcase with NextPitch for Submissions
Description: Participants pitch their projects in person at a community center or education facility, with NextPitch used to collect and organize video and written submissions before the event.
Execution: Each focus area hosts an in-person session where participants share their recorded pitches on NextPitch or present live. Community members and local professionals serve as judges, providing feedback and networking opportunities. This format can be structured as a “pitch fair” where participants present at stations for informal interaction.
Benefits: This format builds confidence in public speaking, provides networking opportunities, and uses NextPitch to enhance event organization, making it easy for participants and judges to access pitch materials and feedback.
Assessment and Reflection with NextPitch
After each pitch, participants reflect on their experiences, new skills gained, and goals for improvement. Instructors assess based on creativity, relevance, presentation clarity, and engagement. NextPitch’s platform allows for continuous feedback, helping participants understand their strengths and areas for growth.
Community-based pitch competitions with NextPitch give adult learners the chance to apply their skills in real-world contexts, foster confidence, and connect with community resources. NextPitch’s flexible submission and feedback options make it easy for programs to accommodate adult learners’ schedules, creating an inclusive and empowering experience across focus areas.