Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc.

History

Young Entrepreneurs Society (YES) was founded in Orange, Massachusetts in 1998 by Tim Cohen-Mitchell, a community organizer at the Orange Revitalization Partnership (ORP). Our first program was an advertising service for teens called the Odd Jobs Squad. This was followed by BizVenture!, our 70-hour entrepreneurial training program. Jerry Whaland -- who ignited the idea for YES in 1997 -- joined YES' teaching staff after completing the first BizVenture! program, later joined by YES alumni, Dan Richards.

In 2000, YES moved out from under ORP's umbrella by incorporating, receiving our tax-exempt 501(c)3 status, and moving into a storefront donated by local entrepreneur, Donn Deane. Three years of major support from the Community Fondation of Western Massachusetts enabled YES to train more teachers and offer our programs to youth in other communities, such as Athol, Greenfield, Turners Falls, Cummington and Shelburne.

In 2002, major funding from the Public Service Endowment at UMass, Amherst enabled us to pilot our 140-hour social enterprise planning pilot program, the Co-op BizTeam. The BizTeam, comprised of BizVenture! alumni, developed a plan to create a cyber cafe and copy shop. Their plan edged out 25 others to win the National 4H Council/USDA Cooperative Business Plan Competition. The plan also enabled YES to acquire a mortgage to purchase two adjoining buildings in downtown Orange in 2003 and launch the YES BizCenter and Teen Cyber Cafe in 2004. These ventures continue to prepare youth for the workplace and business ownership and to generate funds to support YES' programs.

Over the years YES has broadened its catalog to include other programs to help youth succeed. These include MoneySmarts (financial literacy); TechVenture! (computer technology); and Learn-2-Earn (job-readiness). These and all our programs are supplemented by a range of project-based learning activities that enable members to apply their skills while meeting community needs. Among these are BLINQ.info (a 'Better Living in North Quabbin' web portal); North Quabbin TechACCESS (helping those with disabilities expand their livelihood horizons); Tapestry Teens (a reproductive health infomercial and website for teens and their families); and North Quabbin Young Leaders' Council (training teens to help shape or region's youth programs and policies).