About Us
We empower young creators through innovation, training, and entrepreneurship.
City Wide Youth Development provides hands-on programs in tech, design, manufacturing, and retail, equipping youth with real-world skills and experiences to innovate, collaborate, and build thriving careers.
Our Mission
Revitalizing Communities Through Innovation & Industry
At City Wide Youth Development, our mission is to uplift and empower underserved communities by providing entrepreneurship education, vocational skill training, and enterprise development opportunities. Through these initiatives, we aim to support individuals facing economic hardship, helping them build sustainable pathways to success.
We believe that entrepreneurship and manufacturing can serve as powerful tools for crime prevention, poverty eradication, and community revitalization. By equipping individuals with the skills and resources needed to create and sustain businesses, we foster economic independence, strengthen communities, and pave the way for long-term generational wealth.
Addressing Systemic Challenges
Decades of policies have led to high poverty rates, extreme unemployment, and underfunded education, contributing to crime in West Baltimore.
Workforce Development & Economic Growth
Investing in manufacturing, business development, and vocational training creates sustainable job opportunities, reducing generational poverty and crime.
Empowering Youth Through Entrepreneurship
Citywide Youth Development (CYD) provides entrepreneurship education, vocational skill training, and enterprise development at the EMAGE Center, focusing on underserved communities.
Building Sustainable Social Enterprises
CYD’s flagship initiatives—Frozen Desert Sorbet, Made In Bmore Clothing, and Students of Style—offer hands-on experience in business, fashion, and food industries, empowering opportunity youth (ages 14-24) and beyond.
Citywide Youth Development’s Entrepreneur Blueprint
Entrepreneurship drives economic growth in the Black community, yet Black Americans, particularly Black men, remain the least likely to launch businesses despite expressing the highest interest. This gap reveals untapped potential that, if realized, could increase wealth and reduce unemployment. The U.S. Minority Business Development Agency notes that raising minority entrepreneurship rates could create sustainable economic growth. Citywide Youth Development is committed to closing this gap through training, resources, and mentorship.
64% of New Jobs from Small Businesses
Opportunity youth face barriers to education and employment, often due to life circumstances like criminal records. Policies like ban the box and fair chance legislation help, but entrepreneurship training offers another solution.
Citywide Youth Development’s social enterprise system equips youth with entrepreneurial skills for success.
Awards
We’ve been recognized for our impactful work empowering Baltimore’s youth through manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
