Theory of Change
Exposure becomes mobility.
YEI creates access on purpose by helping young people move from inspiration to action, income, confidence, leadership, and long-term opportunity.
Core Belief
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
YEI believes young people already have creativity, intelligence, leadership, and business potential. What too many lack is consistent access to tools, mentors, markets, travel, paid learning, safe creative spaces, and real opportunities to practice.
Our theory of change is simple: when young people are exposed to new possibilities, given hands-on experiences, supported by caring adults, and connected to real-world opportunities, they build the skills, confidence, networks, and ownership needed to shape their futures.
The Challenge
Poverty does not only limit income. It limits access.
Fewer doors open early.
Many youth do not have consistent access to industry tools, career exposure, business networks, mentors, makerspaces, travel, or paid opportunities.
Skills need real use.
Young people need opportunities to practice business, communication, financial decision-making, design, leadership, and customer service in real settings.
Exposure shapes possibility.
When youth do not see pathways or people who reflect what is possible, it can be harder to imagine ownership, entrepreneurship, leadership, and mobility.
YEI’s Model
Inspire. Activate. Earn. Thrive.
Inspire
Youth are introduced to new careers, industries, tools, entrepreneurs, creative pathways, travel experiences, and possibilities.
Activate
Students build products, test business ideas, practice design thinking, create brands, learn financial basics, and prepare to pitch or sell.
Earn
Youth participate in vending, pitch awards, paid learning, social enterprise, custom orders, markets, and real customer experiences.
Thrive
Young people build confidence, skills, networks, leadership, ownership, career awareness, and a stronger sense of what is possible.
One Student Story
Bailey Wiley’s pathway shows the model in action.
Exposure, entrepreneurship, and sustained support can create real pathways to college, income, and leadership.
First Business
Summer after 8th grade, Bailey joined YEI through MBSYEP. By the end of the summer, she launched Heritage Skin and vended at her first pop-up.
Pitch + Launch
Bailey stayed engaged with YEI throughout high school. In 2023, during her senior year, she pitched and launched Nails Untamed and won 3rd place in YEI’s Spring Pitch Competition.
College + Leadership
Bailey graduated from Bard High School with a 4.0 GPA and an Associate’s Degree, was accepted to Pace University to study Business, and continued earning through Nails Untamed.
Peer Mentor
Bailey returned to YEI as a Peer Mentor, using her experience to support younger students as they begin building their own businesses, brands, and confidence.
Exposure + Entrepreneurship + Sustained Support = real pathways to college, income, and leadership.
If / Then
How change happens.
If young people receive access, practice, support, and real opportunities, then they can build the confidence, skills, income pathways, and networks needed to change their future.
The Change Chain
From access to outcomes.
What We Provide
- Mentors and instructors
- Program staff and safe spaces
- Materials, tools, and equipment
- Markets, events, and travel
- Stipends, awards, and startup support
What Youth Do
- Build products and prototypes
- Create brands and business ideas
- Pitch, vend, and sell
- Use STE(A)M and design tools
- Explore careers and leadership
What Gets Created
- Youth businesses
- Products and services
- Pitch presentations
- Vendor experiences
- Portfolios, skills, and work samples
What Changes
- Confidence increases
- Business skills grow
- Financial knowledge improves
- Youth build networks
- Young people see new pathways
Connected Ecosystem
Programs are connected, not separate.
YEI’s programs work together as a youth economic mobility ecosystem. A student may begin by making a product, then learn branding, pitch a business idea, sell at a pop-up, join a social enterprise, travel for exposure, mentor younger students, or launch their own venture.
Entrepreneurship
Business planning, pitching, branding, customer discovery, vending, and launch support.
STE(A)M
Making, prototyping, product development, cosmetics chemistry, 3D printing, and laser cutting.
Creative Economy
Graphic design, apparel, media, art, beauty, product branding, and creative business.
Social Enterprise
Made By Youth, custom orders, markets, youth-made products, and real customer experience.
Desired Outcomes
What success looks like.
Youth gain business, STE(A)M, creative, financial, communication, and leadership skills.
Students believe more deeply in their ability to create, speak, sell, lead, and solve problems.
Young people practice earning through vending, stipends, pitch awards, social enterprise, and business activity.
Youth connect with mentors, professionals, partners, customers, peers, and new places.
Students see themselves as creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and decision-makers.
Young people leave with more options, stronger pathways, and a clearer sense of possibility.
Putting poverty out of business means helping youth access the tools, relationships, resources, and belief needed to build a different future.
Long-Term Change
We are building pathways to economic mobility.
YEI’s long-term vision is a community where young people from under-resourced neighborhoods are not only included in the economy, but equipped to shape it. Through entrepreneurship, creativity, STE(A)M, and real-world opportunity, youth gain pathways to ownership, leadership, income, and generational change.
Support the Change
Help us create access on purpose.
Your support helps YEI provide young people with tools, mentors, markets, travel, paid learning, creative production, and real-world business experiences.