There is strong desire for sustainable change in Genesee County, an area still recovering from a high-profile water crisis that lasted from 2014-2019. Next Gen HQ and NextGen Chamber are committed to driving meaningful impact through entrepreneurship programming.
With support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Hopewell Fund and the Genesee Intermediate School District, Next Gen HQ and NextGen Chamber will be delivering a two-year entrepreneurship program for students in Genesee County. The partnership will also feature YouthQuest, a top-tier enrichment organization. The programming includes:
- Networking: Curated connections to ambitious, like-minded entrepreneurs
- Opportunities: VIP access to premier events, pitch competitions, and perks
- Mentorship: Facilitated 1:1 connections to expert mentors to capture career wisdom
- Event: Full scholarships to the award-winning Next Gen Summit in New York City
- Policy: Developing recommendations to address policy barriers with solutions that open doors to next generation business leaders
”The Genesee County youth entrepreneurs should be recognized for their creativity, drive and vision. Our high school students are taking risks in exchange for great rewards and seeking experiences like the Next Gen Summit to learn and grow their entrepreneurial mindset.”
-Kimberly Dehmel, GISD Youth Entrepreneurship Coordinator
Additionally, Next Gen HQ and NextGen Chamber will be hosting forums on the topic of entrepreneurship policy. These forums aim to identify and solve barriers faced by aspiring entrepreneurs in Genesee County and nationwide.
“Fostering entrepreneurship in our youth is an incredible opportunity to ignite interest in business ownership and gain new skill sets that can sustain growth for our American economy.
This partnership opportunity allows us to inspire, inform, and listen to the needs our future business leaders deserve to build an inclusive economy.”
-Eddie Monroy, Executive Director at the Next Gen Chamber of Commerce
With belief in the power of youth entrepreneurship, Next Gen HQ and NextGen Chamber are committed to driving meaningful impact for the next generation.
About Next Gen HQ:
Next Gen HQ delivers community resources and entrepreneurial programming to help the next generation succeed at work and life. Next Gen HQ works with leading governments and universities to supply students and young professionals with the tools to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and design the lives they want to live. Since its founding in 2014, Next Gen HQ has supported over 500,000 students and young professionals.
About NextGen Chamber of Commerce:
The NextGen Chamber of Commerce is America’s first business organization supporting our next generation of business leaders. We want to turn the tide in favor of millennials and support the generation that has been tasked with carrying America’s economy through the 21st century. We pursue this mission by advocating for policy solutions that will benefit Next Gen business formation, supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem, promoting diversity in our economic ecosystem, and advancing millennial voices to enable a new generation of business leadership across businesses of all sizes to promote better capitalism.
About the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation:
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a private foundation started in 1926 by Charles Stewart Mott of Flint, Michigan. The foundation operates in four program areas — Civil Society, Education, Environment and Flint Area — and aims to inspire and empower individuals to work with their communities in ways that will help them achieve more than they could ever accomplish alone.
About the Genesee Intermediate School District:
Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) provides educational leadership that drives student productivity and achievement. Strong relationships and partnerships are the foundation of GISD’s services. It is through those relationships and partnerships that GISD provides high quality, innovative educational programs and support services to students, parents, and educators.
