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Young Entrepreneurs Alliance

 

Entrepreneur: Julie Nessen

Address:
194 Cambridge Turnpike
Concord, MA 01742

Telephone: (978) 369-2400
FAX: (978) 517-0192

Email: julie.nessen@yeaworks.org
Web Site: http://www.yeaworks.org

Grant Amount: $35,000

Mission Statement

The Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (YEA) was founded on the belief that teens from all walks of life have innate talents, waiting to be discovered.  YEA helps low-income teens realize their economic potential and take steps toward financial independence by owning and running viable businesses. YEA opens doors to higher education and meaningful employment, enabling teens to envision and create a brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Purpose of Grant

For the general support of creating the YEA "Stairway to Success" curriculum.

Additional Information

YEA was founded in 1996 by the father-daughter team of Robert and Julie Nessen. Robert, an attorney and investment banker, believed that juvenile offenders could mature into successful citizens and business owners and were not destined to become lifetime criminals. Julie, a professional theatre director, had worked extensively with juvenile and adult offenders.

YEA's first project was with a group of teens in the juvenile justice system - teens without the skills, resources, or support systems to find and hold on to legitimate jobs. YEA worked hands-on with these young adults to create a simple handyman business, but with an added component: the teens learned to deliver unskilled labor in a professional manner. This meant providing first-rate service by arriving on time, behaving professionally, and thanking each customer for their business.

Today, YEA's expanded scope includes creating businesses in the Massachusetts Vocational Schools, particularly those serving teens in the Commonwealth's most disadvantaged urban communities.