Back to School? More Like Back to Business: Teen-Led Nonprofit Pioneers a Path for Young Entrepreneurs

Santa Monica's Youth Entrepreneurship Association Teams Up with YMCA for Groundbreaking Program

The Youth Entrepreneurship Association (YEA) is delighted to announce its upcoming Back-to-School Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Program, aptly named "Teenpreneurship." Following the success of their 7-week entrepreneurship program targeted at teens from low-income families, YEA is partnering with the YMCA to reach even more budding entrepreneurs.

Founded by high-schoolers Mason Arditi, Olivia Pirrone, and Justin Green, YEA aspires to empower young individuals from diverse backgrounds to tap into their entrepreneurial potential. The ultimate mission? Breaking the cycle of generational poverty.

Transformative Curriculum

Kicking off this fall, the Teenpreneurship program will offer an enriching curriculum featuring interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and one-on-one mentoring sessions. Participants will learn from an impressive lineup of seasoned entrepreneurs, financial experts, and business professionals.

The program aims to impart essential skills and knowledge in personal finance, including budgeting and investing, alongside practical business know-how, ranging from business plan development to marketing strategies.

A Vision Realized

Mason Arditi, Executive Director of YEA, couldn't hide his enthusiasm for this collaboration. "When we started YEA as high school students, our dream was to inspire our peers to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit. Partnering with the YMCA brings us a step closer to making a transformative impact on young lives."

Olivia Pirrone, Director of Education and CMO, added, "Witnessing the growth of over 200 teens from 12+ high schools and seeing over fifteen student businesses sprout from our initiatives, we are more convinced than ever of the need to arm our youth with entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy."

How to Join

YEA's doors are wide open to any teen between the ages of 13 and 18 who has a business or even just a business idea. Through their YEAccelerator program, teens can access thousands of dollars in funding, personalized mentorship, and an ever-expanding network of startup founders, venture capitalists, and industry professionals. To apply, visit www.yeatoday.org/accelerator.

Stay Connected

For the latest updates and success stories, follow YEA on Instagram @yea_org

Media Coverage and Inquiries

Publications about YEA's programs can be found in the Santa Monica Daily Press and the Santa Monica High School Newspaper. For photo credits, special thanks go to Isaac Fienberg. The press is cordially invited to the program launch to witness first-hand the transformative power of the Teenpreneurship initiative.

For more information about YEA and their programs, please visit their website or their Instagram page.