Youth Express uses outcomes evaluation, meaning that impact is measured in short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes. Youth Express also tracks the economic impact of its social enterprises. In 2010, 133 youth participated in one of Youth Express' programs including:<p> - 32 high school youth successfully completed the 15 session, Urban Apprentice curriculum, which teaches key business, entrepreneurship, and advanced work skills through highly interactive and hands-on lessons and field studies;<p> - 24 high school youth completed a 6-month, paid internship at one of our social enterprises, Express Bike Shop and Express Yourself Clothing. Youth interns demonstrated 1-3 points of improvement (scale of 1-5) in their understanding and application of Bicycle Repair or Fashion Retail, Sales, Business Finance, Business Communication, Professionalism, and Advertising/Merchandising. <p> - 42 youth completed the hands-on Express Bike Mechanic course offered in cooperation with the St. Paul Connections program of the St. Paul School District. Youth received high school credit for successful completion;<p> - 35 middle school youth, ages 11-14, participated in the year-round Learn to Lead program focused on building the social, emotional, and leadership skills of participants through enrichment and experiential learning activities;<p> - Youth Express passionately promotes social enterprise through consultations with other organizations interested in social enterprise, and serve on the local chapter of the Social Enterprise Alliance. <p> - Express Bike Shop and Express Yourself Clothing also contribute significantly to the economic development of the community by providing goods/services, generating sales tax revenue, and enhancing the earnings potential of participants.

Opportunities for youth to experience part-time work are severely lacking, which hurts their preparedness and outlook on the future. Youth Express wants paid work opportunities to be available to any young person who wants one. We focus our efforts on generating as many opportunities as possible through our own youth enterprises and strategic partnerships. <p> 1. Continue successful operation of social enterprises - Express Bike Shop & Express Yourself Clothing - which serve as hands-on learning labs where youth complete paid internships emphasizing business and entrepreneurship.<p> 2. Expand our public and private partnerships in order to create new job opportunities that are relevant, challenging, engaging, and dedicated to fully developing youth potential.<p> 3. Provide our unique and hands-on curriculum to organizations seeking to increase the competitive advantage of their teenage participants as they prepare to join the workforce.

Primarily under-served youth, ages 11-18

Primarily St. Paul