Detroit CHEMpreneurIST

Detroit Youth Belong in Science and Entrepreneurship

Detroit CHEMpreneurIST helps young people recognize themselves as scientists, innovators, makers, and entrepreneurs.

Through hands-on, equity-centered STEEAM and entrepreneurship education, we create opportunities for Detroit youth to explore how ideas become experiments, products, prototypes, brands, and ventures.

Learning Through Science and Entrepreneurship

For five years, Detroit CHEMpreneurIST has delivered learning experiences in schools, museums, parks, neighborhood markets, summer camps, after-school programs, and community events across Detroit. Our programs make science and entrepreneurship accessible, relevant, and connected to the lives and communities of the young people we serve.

Students do more than observe demonstrations or complete worksheets. They actively move ideas from concept to creation by learning to:

• Formulate products: Create personal-care products while investigating ingredients, reactions, measurement, and safety.
• Build prototypes: Test ideas, solve design challenges, collect feedback, and improve their work.
• Develop brands: Create product names, labels, packaging, and visual identities.
• Explore costs and pricing: Calculate expenses, consider value, and practice setting prices.
• Research customers and markets: Identify needs, audiences, and opportunities within their communities.
• Present and pitch ideas: Explain decisions, respond to questions, and communicate the value of what they created.

Each experience combines scientific thinking with creativity, communication, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving.

From Curiosity to Creation

A Detroit CHEMpreneurIST learning journey may begin with a simple question: Why do these ingredients react?

That question can lead a student to measure ingredients, test a formula, compare results, troubleshoot a problem, improve a product, design a label, calculate its cost, identify a potential customer, and practice a sales pitch.

This progression helps young people understand that science and entrepreneurship are not separate subjects. Together, they can become tools for developing solutions, creating opportunities, and strengthening communities.

Meeting Youth Across Detroit

Partnership is central to our work. Detroit CHEMpreneurIST collaborates with schools, nonprofit organizations, museums, neighborhood groups, youth-serving agencies, public spaces, and community events to bring programming directly to young people.

These partnerships allow us to meet students where they already learn and gather while introducing them to new skills, mentors, industries, and possibilities.

Through community Innovation Stations and make-and-take activities, youth and families can also participate in approachable experiences in welcoming spaces. A brief activity can become the moment a young person realizes that science, invention, or entrepreneurship is something they can do.

Learning Through Experimentation

Detroit CHEMpreneurIST creates learning environments where young people feel welcomed, respected, supported, and encouraged to experiment.

Mistakes are treated as part of the design process. Questions and creativity are valued. Students are encouraged to revise their ideas, learn from feedback, collaborate with others, and develop the confidence to share what they have created.

Young people are recognized as active participants and capable problem-solvers, product developers, venture builders, and community innovators.

Building the Next Five Years

As Detroit CHEMpreneurIST enters its next five years, we are working toward a permanent home for youth innovation, science, and entrepreneurship.

We envision a dedicated space where students can participate in year-round programming, safely use materials and equipment, develop products and prototypes, meet mentors, prepare presentations, and return as their skills and ventures grow.

A central part of that vision is a youth-centered retail space that student entrepreneurs can use at no cost. Young people would be able to display, market, and sell what they create without rent, booth fees, or sales commissions becoming another barrier.

Our future home will be more than an office or classroom. It will be a laboratory for ideas, a launchpad for young entrepreneurs, a gathering place for families and partners, and a visible reminder that Detroit youth belong in the city’s legacy of invention, manufacturing, creativity, and enterprise.

Help Fuel the Future

Every donation helps Detroit CHEMpreneurIST expand hands-on learning, strengthen youth programming, invest in materials and equipment, support community partnerships, and move closer to establishing a permanent home.

Help Detroit youth move ideas from imagination to impact. Donate, share our work, create a fundraiser, volunteer, or partner with Detroit CHEMpreneurIST.