Our Social Enterprises
Teen-Run Businesses
YEI’s programs incorporate social entrepreneurship model. All of our student-run social enterprises sell products at retail locations in the community and through online marketing. These youth-led enterprises generate profits that are distributed to the Managing Owners (students), creating employment opportunities for youth to earn a living wage and gain invaluable experience as they transition toward becoming their own business owners.
Our students are involved in every aspect, from recipe testing and refinement to marketing, packaging, and sales.
Your purchases help provide students with meaningful wages, empowering their growth and real-world learning.
Native Artistic Products
Native Artistic Products
Scented futures Candles
Scented Futures Candles
Good Hair Beauty
Good Hair Beauty
Help Us "Put Poverty Out of Business"
Here at YEI, we believe a youth-led economy is possible. All purchases will support our work to help youth East of the River foster economic independence, creativity, and leadership. This, in turn, will help break the cycle of violence and poverty in our communities.
You can shop online with our social enterprises to buy individual products or sign up for a quarterly subscription that contains 5-10 items handmade by our youth entrepreneurs and interns.
Featured social enterprises
Every $25 you spend
creates one hour of paid-training 💸 💸 💸
for a future young person youth entrepreneur in the community.
Native Seasonal limited edition Subscription Box
Discover Unique Social Good Products
made by youth in SE Washington, DC
How it works
Become a member of YEI’s Native Subscription box and receive 5 to 10 youth made products from YEI social enterprises and local youth businesses for just $59 each season.
Your seasonally themed Native Box Subscription box ships four times per year the second week of Feb (winter), May (spring), Aug(summer) and November (fall).
Enjoy the best of DC delivered to your door! Don’t forget to use #yeidc when you show your youth make merch❤️ on social media!