Youth Civic Leadership & Entrepreneurship Program
Submitted by:
Student StepUp Scholarship Fund
718-889-1646
Recipient:
Aprio
January 27, 2025
Executive Summary
Transforming Youth Into Tomorrow's Leaders
Aprio seeks to expand its leadership in community investment, youth economic mobility, and long-term workforce development. This proposal outlines a high-impact Youth Civic Leadership & Entrepreneurship Program designed to cultivate middle school youth as future leaders, entrepreneurs, and civic innovators.
Built with the support of partners including Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce & Industry, CUNY Medgar Evers College, and tech company EON Reality, the program places Aprio at the center as the primary strategic, financial, and business advisory partner.
About Student StepUp Scholarship Fund
Mission & Vision
Student StepUp Scholarship Fund (StepUp) is a hybrid social enterprise empowering college students to coach and mentor K-12 youth, facilitate immersive college and career exploration, and support community organizations with technology. Our vision: every student has a pathway to success and every community has equitable access to digital tools and innovation.
Core values: Equity, Empowerment, Innovation, Collaboration, Integrity, and Impact.
Our Model: Connect. Coach. Create. Change.
We recruit and train talented college students as StepUp Coaches who:
  • Connect with younger students as near-peer mentors
  • Coach them through academics and life challenges
  • Create access to technology and skills in schools and businesses
  • Change lives and communities for the better
Underserved Youth
Receiving tutoring, guidance, and career exploration from relatable near-peer mentors
College Students
Gaining paid leadership experience, skills training, and career pathways
Communities
Local nonprofits and small businesses get affordable tech assistance and fresh perspectives
Youth Civic Leadership & Entrepreneurship: Program Vision
The vision is to create a national model for youth civic leadership by immersing students in project-based learning, entrepreneurship training, financial literacy development, and real-world civic engagement. Through Aprio's leadership, the program will serve as a talent pipeline for future diverse leaders while delivering measurable community impact.
About the Program
The program serves middle school through high school youth (grades 6th–12th) and is structured as an after-school/weekend leadership academy operating 2–5 days per week. Students form project teams (Youth Chambers) that function like small civic and business units.
They engage in leadership workshops, entrepreneurship modules, community service initiatives, and real-world problem-solving guided by mentors, coaches, and business partners.
Leadership & Entrepreneurship Training
Financial Literacy Workshops
Youth-Led Civic & Business Projects
General Assembly Governance Meetings
Near-Peer College Mentoring
Aprio Business Advisory Sessions
Technology Integration via EON Reality
Aprio's Strategic Partnership
Aprio's Role
Aprio serves as the flagship partner providing:
  1. Financial backing for staffing, student stipends, materials, and technology
  1. Business advisory expertise including financial literacy instruction, budgeting guidance, operational structure, and entrepreneurship insights
  1. Mentorship through Aprio employees serving as speakers, project judges, professional mentors, and role models
  1. National scaling capacity, positioning Aprio as a leader in youth development and community advancement
ESG Leadership
Strengthens Aprio's ESG and corporate citizenship footprint
Talent Pipeline
Builds a pipeline of future leaders and potential long-term talent
Brand Visibility
Enhances brand through youth summits, community events, and press opportunities
Employee Engagement
Offers meaningful employee engagement and volunteerism pathways
Community Networks
Connects Aprio directly with schools, families, and community networks across markets
The program engages local businesses, nonprofits, elected officials, community boards, and arts/culture organizations. Aprio's involvement strengthens these networks by offering business expertise and financial guidance that elevate community-based partnerships.
Curriculum
Comprehensive Learning Experience
The curriculum blends leadership, civic engagement, business fundamentals, and experiential learning. Students immediately apply these skills through hands-on projects serving real community needs.
Public Speaking & Communication
Teamwork & Conflict Resolution
Community Needs Assessment
Basics of Starting a Business
Project Management & Event Planning
Youth Democracy & Governance
Financial Literacy & Budgeting
Led by Aprio
Youth-Led Projects: Real-World Impact
Teams identify, design, and implement semester-long projects serving real community needs. Youth manage planning, logistics, budgeting, outreach, and execution—mirroring real-world leadership roles.
Community Markets
Supporting small businesses
Social Media Campaigns
For local enterprises
Food Drives
Service campaigns
School Improvement
Neighborhood initiatives
Business Pitch Competitions
Entrepreneurship showcases
Mentorship Structure: Cascading Support
This creates a cascading mentorship ecosystem fostering confidence, skill-building, and community leadership at every level.
Multi-Layered Mentorship Model
The program uses a comprehensive mentorship approach that creates meaningful connections across generations and experience levels.
  • Aprio professionals mentor staff and youth, providing business expertise and career guidance
  • College students from MEC and other partners provide relatable near-peer guidance
  • Youth leaders mentor younger peers through leadership roles, reinforcing their own learning
Staffing
Expert Team Structure
Program Manager
Overseeing operations and strategic direction
Leadership Coordinator
Ensuring curriculum quality and educational excellence
College Coaches
Managing day-to-day youth engagement and mentorship
Guest Speakers & Business Mentors
Including Aprio, CACCI, MEC, and EON partners
Student Recruitment & Retention
Recruitment Strategy
Recruitment occurs through schools, community organizations, and partner networks, ensuring we reach students who will benefit most from the program.
Retention Strategies
  • Meaningful project ownership giving students real responsibility
  • Recognition systems celebrating achievements and milestones
  • Youth stipends providing financial support and valuing their time
  • Strong relationships with mentors creating lasting connections
  • High-interest activities maintaining engagement and excitement
Evaluation & Outcomes
A comprehensive Year-End Outcomes Report will highlight Aprio's role in driving measurable social impact across multiple dimensions.
100%
Student Leadership Growth
Measured through pre/post assessments
100%
Project Completion
Youth-led initiatives from start to finish
100%
Community Service Impact
Hours served and lives touched
Financial Literacy Improvement
Pre/post knowledge assessments
Parent & Community Satisfaction
Survey feedback and testimonials
Attendance & Retention Metrics
Tracking engagement over time
Student Transformation Stories
Qualitative impact narratives
Annual Timeline & Conclusion
1
Aug–Sep
Staff recruitment & training
2
Sep–Oct
Student enrollment & project planning
3
Nov–Dec
Fall project implementation & winter showcase
4
Jan–Mar
Second cycle planning & execution
5
April
Youth Leadership Summit
6
May–Jun
Project completion & graduation ceremony
By positioning Aprio as the central strategic partner, this program creates an unparalleled opportunity to reshape youth leadership, civic responsibility, and economic empowerment. Aprio's investment and expertise will elevate the program into a national model—impacting communities, strengthening youth pipelines, and showcasing Aprio as a leader in corporate social innovation.
Program Budget
The total annual investment of $267,000 represents a comprehensive commitment to youth development, community impact, and long-term workforce pipeline building. This budget supports a full academic year of programming serving 100 youth with professional staffing, mentorship, and meaningful stipends that value student participation.
The investment delivers measurable returns through leadership development, community service impact, and positioning Aprio as a national leader in corporate social innovation.
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Student StepUp
Gregory Paul, CEO
greg.paul@stepupedcorp.com
718-889-1646
studentstepup.org