How Mentors Empower Young Entrepreneurs at South Mountain YMCA

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - At the South Mountain YMCA, mentorship is at the heart of the Future Makers Entrepreneurial Program, a new initiative launched in fall 2025 to introduce middle and high school students to the world of entrepreneurship.

Future Makers gives teens hands-on experience in:

• Brainstorming and validating business ideas
• Understanding what it takes to launch a business
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Building confidence and communication skills

A key pillar of the program is mentor involvement. Volunteer mentors bring real-world business experience, encouragement, and personalized guidance to help students explore entrepreneurship in a meaningful way.

Thanks to grant funding from the State, the Y was able to offer the program free of charge to participants. The first session had 11 participants with three adult mentors supporting them. The Future Makers showcased their product‑based and service‑based businesses during a Makers Market event in early January.

How Mentors Support Teen Entrepreneurs

Throughout the fall cohort, mentors played a vital role in creating a supportive learning community. They provided:

• Encouragement to help students take creative risks
• Structured guidance to deepen analytical thinking
• Collaboration to build teamwork and communication
• Real-world context to connect lessons to life experience

Impact on Mentors

Mentor Jasmine Chay worked closely with a group of mostly high school students who had varying levels of confidence and clarity around their business ideas. Some students were confident in their ideas and approach, while others were more reserved and shy.

Jasmine made a consistent effort to ensure that everyone’s voice was heard and that there was meaningful sharing and collaboration when it came to developing their business ideas. She reflected on how important it was to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving throughout the process, sharing that she often asked guiding questions and helped students think through possible challenges and outcomes. By continuing to show up for her mentees, Jasmine helped create space for growth both in their business ideas and their confidence.

Another mentor, Leslie Kerner, shared how much she appreciated how open and engaged the students were throughout the program. For Leslie, mentoring went beyond business development: “Mentoring was about supporting not just business development, but the personal growth that comes with trying something new”, she shared.

Leslie enjoyed working with all of the students in the program, and noted how willing they were to learn and share their ideas.

“No one felt ‘too cool’ or like they already knew the subject matter,” she said. “That openness made the experience really fun and meaningful.”

Serving as a mentor also provided powerful personal takeaways for Leslie, reminding her that entrepreneurship isn’t about having everything all figured out; it’s about having the courage to try.

Why Mentoring Matters

As we celebrate National Mentoring Month, we honor mentors like Jasmine and Leslie who show up with intention, empathy, and a genuine desire to support youth. Their guidance helps plant seeds of confidence, creativity, and leadership that will continue to grow long after the program ends.

Spring Session

The Spring Cohort of Future Makers will run Feb. 24 - May 5, 2026. Interested participants should complete this application.

If you’re interested in supporting the Future Makers Entrepreneurial Program or learning more about youth mentoring opportunities at the YMCA, contact Nicole Josey at njosey@metroymcas.org or call 973-758-9039.