When Christina Jones told her daughter, Aden, that she had enrolled her in a small business course for teenage entrepreneurs, Aden was skeptical.

“She likes to just sign me up for stuff without always telling me, so I wasn’t totally sure what I was getting into,” Aden said with a laugh. “The program was really good experience though.”

Aden was one of 10 participants in Mile High United Way’s Youth Accelerator this summer. The six-week course helped teen entrepreneurs access the valuable skills and information they need to scale and grow their own business.

“I liked how the Accelerator had the structure and a lot of information I needed for my business,” Aden said.

Christina knew the program would be a good fit for her daughter after she received key support from Mile High United Way for her own company, Humane in the Membrane. The business provides adaptive strategy, systems development and leadership consulting for organizations seeking to increase their service impact.

“Mile High United Way really was this beacon on a hill for me when I needed the support in my journey,” Christina said. “The programs reminded me that small business development is an iterative process, much like curriculum design.”

Christina launched Humane in the Membrane after a career shift away from developing curriculum for a local school district. She started a traditional job search but found the process inauthentic to her passion for creating change through relationships.

“I already had my consulting business on the side, but I was spending so much time working for others, bringing their visions to life, while sitting on my own idea,” Christina said.

“Eventually I told myself, let’s just try it – all you can do is try.”

Christina enrolled in Mile High United Way’s Small Business Accelerator and Website Build Initiative, hosted by our United for Business program. The courses helped Christina refine her business model and growth strategy. The connections with other small business owners offered both accountability and community.

“I thought I had everything figured out and then I was asked insightful questions that made me reflect on my ‘Why,’” Christina said. “We also discussed competition not as a barrier, but as a part of a broader ecosystem. As an educator, I’m not interested in gatekeeping information. Small business owners give people multiple ways to find the support they need.”

We believe that small businesses are the heart of our community. When local entrepreneurs succeed, they support their community and create generational wealth for their families. Mile High United Way connects Metro Denver small business owners with the tools and resources they need to grow their business.

“I was challenged by Mile High United Way to think about, ‘Who am I doing this for and why?’” Christina said. “I’m so thankful for the support.”

Generational Impact

After watching Christina embark on her small business journey, Aden was inspired to create her own company. The Eye of Our Youth is an online platform dedicated to promoting mental health awareness among teens through creative expression. Aden’s inspiration came from her own experiences of feeling isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic and seeking community.

The Youth Accelerator taught Aden about key business topics including finance, branding and establishing her audience. The Accelerator culminated in a pitch competition, where Aden took third place.

“I was really nervous to go up by myself, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought,” she said. “I felt supported, and even though I ran out of time, it was a good experience.”

Watching Christina problem solve and pivot has inspired Aden to dream about what The Eye of Our Youth can become.

“I’ve learned resilience from my mom,” Aden said. “Even when she has a hard or stressful day, she always says, ‘I’m going to do this,’ and then she does.”