Springfield nonprofit partners with UMass Amherst to teach youth about entrepreneurship

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Springfield nonprofit that empowers underserved youth across greater Springfield joined together with the University of Massachusetts Amherst to teach young students about entrepreneurship. 

“It is extremely exciting for us to see the youth come into the space because we want to be a true partner to our youth and to our community in general,” said Lidya Rivera-Early of UMass Amherst.

Follow My Steps Foundation has been working to provide the youth in Greater Springfield with mentorship, career skills, and financial resources. To ensure that these young students can continue to learn and reach their full potential, the nonprofit partnered with UMass Amherst to launch the By Youth, For Youth entrepreneurship initiative.

This program provides students with a comprehensive 100-hour course in entrepreneurship and professional development, helping to enhance their academic journey. Kwame Wilson, a student taking part in this initiative, told 22news that Follow My Steps and UMass gave him a chance to learn the skills that are not always taught in school. 

“When there is a community like this and a program showing kids how to speak, look at finance, develop an idea and not just conversate but more applying the action behind the idea, it can really grow them to be this wonderful person,” Wilson said.

These sessions will continue through March 15 at the UMass center in Tower Square. To wrap up the classroom portion of the program, students will get to participate in a pitch contest and compete for funding to launch their business.  They also will complete a 10-week internship.

“Our goal from this is to create a system where youth can get mentored by local business owners in their community,” said Kashawn Sanders, President and co-founder of Follow My Steps.

Sanders said the foundation will continue to get youth involved in their communities so they can pick up on new skills. 

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