Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc.

CONTACT:

YES BizCenter, 26 South Main Street
Orange, MA 01364
978-544-1869
www.yes-inc.org

Tim 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)