SAN DIEGO - The social media apps many millenials are addicted to are actually helping them hone skills that some local businesses are clamoring for.
Many small businesses in San Diego do not know the best ways to market themselves online. They could use some lessons from people like Sammy Duong, a 16-year-old who is on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter.
"I feel like social media's a great tool that's been developed for many business people to use," Duong said.
All of his social media knowledge means all sorts of untapped talent in marketing. Now, he's going to learn to put it all together to help small businesses grow.
Duong is one of more than a dozen 16-24 year olds from underserved areas who will turn a room at the National City Care Community Center into a bustling marketing agency. The event is hosted by the nonprofit organization Youth Campaigns.
Shawn McClondon, who has spent a career in communications and marketing, will be teaching them to create interesting content to market on the web and via email.
"This is the future," he said. "It's now, but it's also the future, so we're trying to make sure that they know what they're going to be doing later on."
The young social media wizards will also be paid now in the form of a $200 stipend over a 90-day probation period, and then minimum wage beyond.
It'll be Duong's first paycheck, but he's already thinking much, much bigger.
"It's not really about the paycheck," he said. "It's really about the skills you gain and what you accomplish in life."
There are still a few seats open in the program. For more information, visit youthcampaigns.org.
