Connecticut Entrepreneur Seeks to Empower Success of Inner-City Youth in Norwalk

By teaching and equipping underprivileged youth with the skills and education necessary to create an entrepreneurial future of their own, the Youth Business Initiative is on a mission to keep youth in the city of Norwalk on a path to success.

Founder and CEO Dajuan Wiggins launched the Youth Business Initiative (YBI) in 2020 with the objective of teaching local youth the fundamentals of business in order to equip them with the skills to be successful entrepreneurs and obtain financial security, while also providing them with social and emotional resources in their community.

Wiggins moved from Los Angeles to Norwalk, Connecticut as a child. During his teenage years, he soon became another example of the school to prison pipeline trend.

Incarcerated for the first time at the age of 16, Wiggins realized the lack of systems in place to protect and rehabilitate urban youth. During a subsequent incarceration, he began turning his efforts towards finding ways to better his community and becoming a reliable leader and role model for urban youth, explains Wiggins.

His time in prison led to a determination to strengthen the urban community in Norwalk by providing the education and resources that, in his experience, inner-city youth are not adequately provided with at school, or in many instances, at home. In an effort to lower the dropout rates in the city of Norwalk, and protect opportunities for the youth in his community, Wiggins transitioned from what he describes as a leader on the streets to a leader for the youth in his community. 

Wiggins understands first-hand the challenges and lack of guidance that many youth in his community face. To provide urban youth with opportunities, resources and knowledge to foster their success, Wiggins launched the Youth Business Initiative in an effort to empower the next generation of students coming from underprivileged areas.

In order to grow the business and reach urban youth beyond the city of Norwalk, the Youth Business Initiative participated in reSET’s Impact Accelerator Program this year; the Hartford-based program is designed for social entrepreneurs with business ideas that often tackle tough challenges in society.

Wiggins, joined by his staff, Amanda Feurtado, Ahshilah Atkins, Cilhema Lminggio and Ricka Williams, natives of Stamford, got to work creating a program that would provide business education resources to urban youth. The team at YBI developed a curriculum that is designed to ensure that students enrolled will graduate the program with a comprehensive understanding of how to utilize economics to cultivate success.

The YBI Entrepreneur Program in Norwalk is offered to students ages 15-19. The economic training program runs using a three-phase approach, maximizing the amount of information covered in a short period of time.

Phase one of the economic training program begins with an 8-week workshop focused on dissecting business and providing an overview of the curriculum. The students watch a series of Under Cover Billionaire episodes, followed by meaningful discussion from the staff at YBI. Phase two consists of the 10-week Entrepreneurship Program, during which the students learn business development, funding, financial literacy through credit, business etiquette and business communication.   

Upon completion of the 10-week Entrepreneurship Program, students can then apply into phase three, the Business Apprenticeship Program. Accepted applicants to the program have the opportunity to run their own business under the leadership of the staff at YBI. Students accepted into the program will be able to conduct interviews, run payroll and manage all the finances through leading business software.

While the ultimate goal is to provide an economic education program, the staff at YBI understand that life outside of their program can be difficult for their students. In an effort to engage the program’s students with other facets of the community, YBI partners with local organizations that teach social emotion principles.

These community partnerships allow students in the program the chance to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, establish supportive relationships and achieve both personal and collective goals, according to YBI leaders.

The 14 students currently enrolled in the Entrepreneur Program are the first cohort to go through the curriculum. The staff at YBI are actively recruiting more youth from Norwalk and surrounding communities, and organizers are optimistic that the accomplishments of YBI have only just begun. The next group of students accepted into the program will begin in November of 2021.

Looking ahead, Wiggins anticipates that 50% of his students will either partner or run their own business, but the overarching goal of YBI goes beyond the students he directly works with.

“The students that learn from my program, can then help their families to understand economics, which over time will lead to an educated community that can be built up,” says Wiggins.

The Youth Business Initiative aims to decrease dropout rates, keep youth in the local community on a path of success, empower and educate inner city youth and build a city of educated individuals, but these efforts cannot reach their full potential without the help of the community, Wiggins explains.

As a way to both engage the community and raise money for their programs, the Youth Business Initiative is hosting their second annual 3v3 basketball tournament. The fundraising event will take place on July 24 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at 11 Ingalls Ave, Norwalk.

Registration is open to players age ten and up, with a $20 registration fee per player. Players can register by filling out this form. Those who do not wish to play but are interested in supporting the initiative, can be sponsors or make donations for this event; information is available at www.youthbusinessinitative.com.

“It’s so important that we bring the community together for these events. It isn’t just a tournament or a game. Its people of all different races and areas of life coming together as one and truly showing a sense of community,” says Wiggins, emphasizing why it’s significant that the events engage the community.

The Youth Business Initiative is always looking for school supplies, devices and monetary donations. Donations can be made in person, by mail or through a secure online system using https://youthbusinessinitiative.wpcomstaging.com/donate/ .

As a participant in reSET’s Impact Accelerator program, YBI’s team was provided with access to knowledge, networks and resources needed to grow their business and expand their impact. reSET was founded in 2007, with a mission is to advance the social enterprise sector. YBI was one of 14 entrepreneurial businesses participating in this year’s class. reSET assists more than 205 entrepreneurs each year through a variety of programs, events and mentoring opportunities. More information about reSET and the Accelerator Program is at www.resetco.org.

This article was reported and written by Lauren Malenchini, a CT by the Numbers intern who attends Quinnipiac University. More of her work can be seen at https://malenchinilauren.wixsite.com/my-site