DCH Apparel is an entrepreneurial screen-printing program that implements the ideas of art and design into a small business collaborative with Detroit youth. The importance of a program like allows for youth to be introduced to skills in trade, entrepreneurship, and creative discipline allowing the participants to develop adequate portfolios and high aspirations toward colleges and future career paths. We started in November of 2012, made possible by a grant we received through Detroit SOUP, and are still going strong with professional equipment and an amazing youth staff. The students involved handle all the orders, designs, packaging, and manufacturing of all the prints we create. Teaching youth about the importance of business and trade gives them a leg up on the race to success and the skills necessary to solve important life issues. We collaborate creatively with Detroit communities through local commissions that allow students to actively participate in their urban and artistic cultures. The importance of the students seeing their work being worn throughout their local area allows for them to take pride in the work they create and gives them something to show for now, as opposed to what their work and education that they have to show for after high school graduation. With every print we make we create opportunity, community, and creative pride in the lives of the students that work to keep DCH Apparel going.

Designing Entrepreneurs

Designing Entrepreneurs is free resource and website where you can download a pdf of my book 'Designing Entrepreneurs.' The book is based on, prove to be successful, workshops and lessons I taught when I was Program Director at DCH Apparel (above.). The website serves to provide, not only a place to download the book, but also a chatroom for educators and community members to give feedback and share stories about experiences or ideas on how to promote creative and entrepreneurial education in high schools. The book is written as a guide to creating your own program, with little cost, and takes you step by step on lessons and workshops to get going. Currently Designing Entrepreneurs it is being formally edited for publication. All the proceeds will go into a scholarship fund for students who are involved in DCH Apparel.