What We Do

The Generation E Institute (GenEI) is unique in its community approach and instruction designed to empower every participant and to grow a business venture.   Students become equipped with skills to compete and contribute to our ever changing societal needs, and this approach is reflected in our mission statement:

Through the development and delivery of innovative curricula and programs, GenEI creates the entrepreneurial mindset in individuals so they may compete in an ever-changing economy.

Recognizing that not every community will offer entrepreneurship education in their school, GenEI utilizes a community-wide approach to find the “pockets of entrepreneurs” within a community. Contracting with an interested community, then collecting information through interviews and surveys, interested community partners determine offerings for youth entrepreneurship programming.  Entrepreneurship opportunities are sought through organizations, examples of which include schools, libraries, after school programs, faith-based, home school, alternative education, at-risk youth summer camps, WIA youth programs (Michigan Works!), Boys and Girls Clubs, and any community based organizational programs are sought to collaborate to offer entrepreneurship opportunities. In addition, GenEI collaborates with Junior Achievement, 4-H and any existing program to complement and augment entrepreneurship education. Educators, community volunteers and facilitators are certified to deliver the curricula. Continuous mentoring and customization provided by GenEI staff solidifies community programs. Assistance with funding resources, business leader mentoring, student loan resources, student recognition celebrations, internships and job shadowing are provided.

The curricula are project based and student driven. They support educational standards to provide rigor, relevance and relationship building into all lessons. From idea generation, market surveys, developing business and financial plans, all students benefit from implementing their own business ventures. Math, English, writing and communication skills are taught in the curricula to apply to core subjects. Whether the business venture is a one day event or continues after five years, the entrepreneurial mindset is established. From lawn mowing, product creation, community gardening, creating green and/or recycled products youth are empowered and challenged to think creatively.  As an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur, the skills equip youth to better compete and contribute in today’s global economy. Teaching entrepreneurship education utilizing an experiential learning style at the middle school and high school levels provides a pipeline to entrepreneurship educational opportunities at post-secondary levels. Youth will pursue their chosen career pathway with an entrepreneurial spirit.

As an educator center stated, “Adding entrepreneurship education to my curriculum gave my program a new reason to exist.”

The Generation E Institute (GenEI) invites Michigan communities to reinvent themselves to be entrepreneurial in their thinking through a partnership with Gen El.   In its sixth year as a nonprofit, GenEI views itself as a catalyst for community innovation, empowering youth to be creative and innovative thinkers.

The five Step Approach utilized by GenEI has consistently demonstrated itself to be a sustainable model. Offering teachers, in schools, an entrepreneurship curriculum is only marginally effective.

GenEI will:

• Increase awareness and generate excitement regarding the value of youth entrepreneurship education and training in a community through community and youth surveys
• Build on the level of entrepreneurship programs currently offered in the communities
• Incorporate the input and expectations of all the organizations that serve youth in the region including in-school and after school programs, home school families, faith-based and community-based organizations and organizations that serve at-risk, low-income and minority populations
• Determine the role of partner organizations to serve as a lead organization, funders, facilitators/trainers, mentors speakers, volunteers, or hosting a location for a program
• Utilize local leaders and coaches to plan, operate, and evaluate the expanded program
• Certify educators and community-based organization representatives to introduce GenEI entrepreneurship curricula into new or existing curricula or programs
• Build and coordinate a network of continued support from business and other community leaders
• Plan and hold a community-wide (regional) Showcase that recognizes and celebrates the effort of the students, educators, volunteers, and parents as part of running a successful youth entrepreneurship education program. To qualify, every youth participant must have a educator approved business plan and an operational business
• Continue to work with partners, certified interested and committed educators, and community organizations to implement a sustainable plan to ensure a successful youth entrepreneurship program.