Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc. CONTACT:YES BizCenter, 26 South Main Street Orange, MA 01364 978-544-1869 www.yes-inc.orgTim Cohen-Mitchell, Executive Director/Founder
DESCRIPTION:In 1998, young people in Orange—one of
Massachusetts’ poorest towns, in the isolated rural
North Quabbin region—identified lack of jobs as their
main problem. In response Timothy Cohen-Mitchell
launched YES as a project of the state-funded Orange
Revitalization Partnership, of which he was Community
Organizer. Originally it had two programs: the
Odd Job Squad—an advertising service for teens—and
BizVenture!—classes in entrepreneurship. Incorporated
in 2000, YES moved in 2001 into a downtown
storefront and began to expand services across a
30-town Franklin County region, partnering with
schools and training 18 teachers. By 2004, YES had
another five programs in its repertoire: MoneySmarts,
TechVenture!, Learn-2-Earn, Teen Cyber Café, and
YES BizCenter. Today YES annually helps unlock the
entrepreneurial potential of 250 youths, from 13-21.
In 2002, YES alumni developed a plan for a cyber
café and copy shop, that won a national competition.
In 2003, YES used the plan to get a mortgage on two
blighted adjoining buildings, which they renovated
with volunteer help to house two facilities unique in
the region: a business center staffed by YES alumni,
serving 3000 area residents, plus the cyber café with
a computer lab for 100 users. You can help YES teach
folks to fish. (2007: HUMAN SERVICES: Children & Youth: Jobs)
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