Have You Met These CPS' Young Entrepreneurs?

All summer long, we’ve been covering the spectacular work of our students across the city. From selling baked goods to hosting community events, our students have taken their passions and turned them into self-owned businesses. Meet the young entrepreneurs shaping the future of business.

Gage Park HS Grad Celebrates TGi’s One-Year Business Anniversary; Gives Back

Young entrepreneur Devonta Boston, 21, designs and sells hoodies, windbreakers, and T-Shirts under his TGi brand. The growing small business is celebrating one year this month and will host a grand opening event July 21 from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. at the Englewood Boombox, 822 W. 63rd St. There will be music, food, an open mic, live art and more. Proceeds will go to help better the community, he said.

TGi didn’t start as a small business though, it was initially a high school group he and his friend Omphile Franklin formed at Gage Park HS their junior year. They were active in volunteer work and community service. The two designed matching hoodies just for them, he explained, to get students interested in joining the group.

Oglesby Elementary Student to Launch ‘J’s Delights’ After Winning School Competition

Entering and winning a school business competition was the final push 13-year-old Jada Jackson said she needed to create JJ’s Delights, her dessert business, which launches in August.

The Oglesby Elementary School eighth-grader grew up watching her grandmother cook, learning family recipes over time.

Her earliest memory of selling her cupcakes was when she was seven. She baked and sold them to family and neighbors.

“It started when my cousins and I were trying to get a bike for the summer,” Jada said. “ We decided to bake since my grandma was always bringing me a lot of baking gadgets.”

Hobby Turns Into Small Business, ‘Mimi’s Accessories,’ For This Teen Entrepreneur

Mimi’s Accessories & More didn’t start off as an accessories business. Fourteen-year-old Marchaun “Mimi” Holmon, an incoming Dyett HS freshman, would simply spend time making bracelets with her grandmother for “fun.” The favorite pastime soon turned into a small business when her grandmother noticed that she showed talent, said the teen entrepreneur.

“I started making bracelets when I was in fifth grade with her,” Mimi said. “One day she was like, ‘You’re really good at making them, you should try to make money from them and put it up for college.’”

Teen’s Organization, ‘Black Is Gold’ To Host Back-To-School Drive Aug. 4

Ever since she was a young girl, 17-year-old Amber Anderson says she wanted to have something of her own that could impact people. Under her co-founded organization, Black is Gold, the Kenwood senior says she’s fulfilling that goal.

On Aug. 4, the organization is hosting a back-to-school event at Marcus Garvey Elementary School from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. There will be music, games, food and even free haircuts and styles for students. Black Is Gold members will distribute 150 book-bags filled with school supplies.

Sisters Follow In Mother’s Footsteps, All Self-Published Authors

The Jones sisters, three at Pullman Elementary School, one in college, have all followed in their mother’s footsteps as authors, with the exception of one sister, who’s an illustrator.

What started as a class project for Ayanna Jones in the second-grade, created a ripple effect, said her mother Shaniqua Jones, the author of “A Memoir to My Younger Self.”

Ariel, the third eldest, illustrated Ayanna’s book, “The Girl Who Can Breathe: Overcoming Asthma,” which details her challenges of living with asthma.

At a young age, Jah’Kaya Tekhen says she knew she was destined to have her own business.

Today, the University of Chicago Charter School junior is the founder/creator of Legendary Cosmetics, a beauty line selling products ranging from lipsticks to foundations. She caters to all complexions but specializes in darker tones. She says she plans to help people feel “lavish” for years to come. The business is set to launch this fall.