The mission of The B. Side is to develop the marketable skills and enterprising spirit of youth in Ypsilanti by providing entrepreneurial and leadership training, mentoring relationships, and support that will result in establishing youth-owned businesses.
The Business Side of Youth (The B. Side) was founded in 2007 as a project of Eastern Michigan University’s Office of Academic Service-Learning (AS-L). The B. Side is made possible by grant funds provided by the Ann Arbor Community Foundation, the RNR Foundation, the James A. & Faith Knight Foundation, and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. The purpose of the program is to develop a youth entrepreneurial culture in the community by providing ongoing entrepreneurial training, developing youth-owned and youth-run businesses, and cultivating youth-adult business relationships.
The B. Side Basics curriculum is based on the New Directions in Entrepreneurial Education curriculum by Generation E Institute.
Special thanks to:
- University Musical Society
- Monique Deschaine, owner of Al Dente Pasta Company
- VG Kidz
- Peter Rinehart, Owner Bombadill’s Coffee House
- Wayne Winderman, Entrepreneur
- Richard King, Regional Director, MI-SBTDC and Director, Center for Entrepreneurship at EMU
- Jesse Morgan and Community Records Inc. for our wonderful podcast
- Albert Berriz, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McKinley Real Estate
- Zingerman’s and ZingTrain