09/25/2026
Big ideas can start early. 💡
Today, Ennovation Center Executive Director Danielle DuPree spent the morning with Independence School District AVID 8th graders—something she has had the privilege of doing for the past several years.
This year, instead of simply talking about entrepreneurship and nonprofit careers, we put the students to work.
Their challenge?
You have $100 and a community problem to solve. Create a business OR a nonprofit.
The students were a little shy at first… but their ideas were BIG.
And all three teams chose nonprofits!
📵 The Chill Out Zone — A safe place for young people ages 10–18 to get off their screens, meet new people and participate in activities.
🐾 Homes for Animals Project — Helping animals find safe homes while connecting them with people looking for pets.
🌳 Revive McCoy Park — Bringing families and young people back to McCoy Park through free events and activities while sharing more of the park’s history.
They had to decide who they would serve, how they would raise money, how they would spend their first $100 and why anyone should support their idea.
Then we handed them a “Chaos Card.”
Suddenly circumstances changed. Sponsors appeared. Money came with conditions. Their original plans had to be adjusted.
Sound familiar, entrepreneurs? 😉
That was part of the lesson.
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about having a great idea. It’s about seeing a problem, finding a solution, building relationships, figuring out how to fund it… and adapting when the plan changes.
These students will eventually attend William Chrisman, Truman and Van Horn High Schools, and we hope this is only the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.
Because somewhere in these groups are our future business owners, nonprofit leaders, creators, volunteers and community problem-solvers.
And Independence is going to need every one of them.
Thank you to the Independence School District and AVID for continuing to invest in our young people and inviting the Ennovation Center to be part of their journey.
Where local ideas become thriving businesses… sometimes those ideas start much earlier than we think.
