Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc.
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.

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