YEA History
YEA was founded in 1996 by the father-daughter team of Robert and Julie Nessen. Robert, an attorney and investment banker, believed that juvenile offenders could mature into successful citizens and business owners and were not doomed to become lifetime criminals. Julie, a professional theatre director, had worked extensively with juvenile and adult offenders.
YEA's first project was with a group of teens in the juvenile justice system - teens without the skills, resources, or support systems to secure and maintain legitimate jobs. YEA worked hands-on with these teens to create a simple handyman business, Alliance All-Purpose. They worked through a comprehensive business curriculum and learned to apply these lessons in their daily business. They also learned how to conduct themselves in a professional, business-like manner. This meant providing first-rate service, arriving on time, behaving respectfully, and maintaining good customer relations.
After Julie Nessen took over as Executive Director in 2002, the organization was reincorporated as the Young Entrepreneurs Alliance, and the era of partnership with Boston-area vocational schools began. YEA partner schools serve teens in some of Massachusetts' most disadvantaged urban communities.
The history of each of these businesses is described in the Teen Business section. YEA's future vision for expansion and replication in other settings is described in Stairway to Success and YEA's future.
