Young Entrepreneurs Program

 

The goal of the Young Entrepreneurs Program is to bring to scale entrepreneurial opportunities for Portland’s low- income and minority 14-18 year old youth. Empowering the next generation of business innovators will assist the business community develop, recruit and retain local talent, achieve workforce diversity and ensure economic growth throughout the City of Portland.

  

Your generous contribution at any level will assist REAP students to explore entrepreneurial opportunities as part of their high school to college and career transition; develop students’ baseline skills in pursuing entrepreneurial ventures and fosters students’ relationships with community members able to guide, mentor and potentially invest. Many industry leaders have partnered with REAP to close the skills gap and create a strong diverse future workforce through our Young Entrepreneurs Program.

 

“Dark Horse Comics has been working with REAP, Inc. over a year to encourage students to explore entrepreneurial opportunities as part of their high school to college and career transition. We share a common goal to impact the lives of youth in poverty by providing opportunities to instill a sense of strong self-confidence, hard work and self-reliance. The entrepreneurial community plays a vital role to business growth, employment opportunities and a proven strategy to reducing poverty in our city. The more resources we allocate to prepare youth for the world of work the more economic vital our region will be”

– Mike Richardson

Founder, Dark Horse Comics

 

“Oregon Business Council (OBC) has been working with REAP, Inc since 2009 to provide students with career leadership opportunities to interface with business leaders, community advocates, educators and elected officials to advance the goals and objectives of our Oregon Business Plan. Oregon’s population is becoming increasingly diverse and increasingly poor.  OBC cannot achieve its goals—and Oregon’s at-risk youth cannot lift themselves out of poverty—without additional efforts to connect poor and minority students to the world of work.  REAP Inc. is well positioned to assist OBC in the development, recruitment and retention of future local professional talent, workforce diversity and economic growth throughout the City of Portland”

– Jeremy Rogers

Vice President, Oregon Business Council