C.O.C.O.A. House, Inc.

C.O.C.O.A. House, Inc. 501(c) Non-profit, offering free after-school mentorship and academic enrichment program in Schenectady, NY.

💚 LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — Agent Orange The Orange Lantern KAMARION YOUNG 💡Today we shine the light on Kamarion Young!One of ...
08/22/2026

💚 LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — Agent Orange
The Orange Lantern KAMARION YOUNG 💡

Today we shine the light on Kamarion Young!

One of the things I appreciate about working with young people is that growth doesn’t look the same for everyone.

The Lantern Corp. Project wasn’t designed to give 20 young people the exact same experience. It was designed to put opportunities, expectations and resources in front of them and challenge each of them to determine what they would do with those opportunities.

Kamarion took that journey with us for six weeks.

From leadership and financial literacy to entrepreneurship, workforce development and community engagement, he was exposed to people and experiences intended to expand what he believes is possible for himself.

Then came the challenge of taking what he had learned and creating something of his own.

Kamarion developed his business idea, put the work into preparing his presentation and joined his fellow Lanterns at our Entrepreneur Fair and Shark Tank Event at Proctors.

For me, that’s what this project was about.

Not expecting a young person to have their entire future figured out.

But giving them opportunities to try, create, make decisions, learn from mistakes and discover something new about themselves in the process.

Kamarion, you’ve now completed something that didn’t exist six weeks before you walked through the door.

Take pride in that.

And more importantly, take everything you learned with you into whatever comes next.

Your next opportunity is waiting for a more experienced version of you than the one who started this summer. 💚

Keep growing, Kamarion.

Protect the Light. 💡

YouthEntrepreneurship Schenectady

💚 LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — The White LanternKHaliyl FAULKNER 💡Next up, we shine the light on Khaliyl Faulkner!One of the thin...
08/22/2026

💚 LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — The White Lantern
KHaliyl FAULKNER 💡

Next up, we shine the light on Khaliyl Faulkner!

One of the things I wanted our young people to understand through The Lantern Corp. Project was that growth requires participation.

You can’t experience something new if you’re unwilling to step into something new.

Over six weeks, Khaliyl was exposed to much more than a traditional summer employment program. He had opportunities to learn about leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, investing, workforce development, civic engagement and community responsibility.

He heard directly from business owners, elected officials, community leaders and professionals who were willing to share not only what they accomplished, but what it took to get there.

Then it was Khaliyl’s turn to do the work.

He developed his business concept, prepared his board and ultimately had the opportunity to present what he created as part of our Entrepreneur Fair and Shark Tank experience.

That’s what I hope stays with him.

Not simply that he completed a program, but that he now has another experience he can point to and say:

“I’ve done something like this before. I know I can do it again.”

Khaliyl, thank you for being part of our inaugural Lantern Corp. class and for taking this journey with us.

The program gave you some tools.

What you build with them is up to you. 💚

Keep learning. Keep challenging yourself. Keep moving forward.

Protect the Light. 💡

YouthEntrepreneurship WorkforceDevelopment Schenectady

One of the lessons I hope our young people take from The Lantern Corp. Project is that leadership isn’t always about bei...
08/22/2026

One of the lessons I hope our young people take from The Lantern Corp. Project is that leadership isn’t always about being in the room.

Sometimes it’s about finding a way to follow through when you can’t be.

Our next Lantern Spotlight is Jaela Brunson. A Violet Lantern

Jaela was unable to attend our Shark Tank Event & Entrepreneur Fair at Proctors in person. After spending weeks developing her business idea and preparing for the culminating event, it would have been easy to simply miss her presentation.

Instead, Jaela recorded her presentation and sent it in by video.

So when it was time for her presentation, her voice and her work were still represented.

As someone who works with young people, these are the moments I pay attention to.

We talk a lot about teaching leadership, professionalism and accountability. But those concepts become real when a young person encounters an obstacle and decides:

“I still need to finish what I started.”

That’s what Jaela did.

She didn’t get the experience of physically standing on the stage with her fellow Lanterns that evening, and we certainly missed having her there.

But she demonstrated something equally valuable:

Circumstances can change the way you show up without changing your commitment to showing up.

Jaela, I’m proud that you found a way to make sure your work was represented.

That’s a lesson much bigger than one presentation.

Congratulations on completing your six-week journey with The Lantern Corp. Project.

Keep finding your voice.
Keep following through.
And always Protect the Light. 💚

WorkforceDevelopment Schenectady

💚 LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — Green Lantern TEWAN YOUNG 💡Today we shine the light on Tewan Young!One of the things I appreciated...
08/21/2026

💚 LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — Green Lantern TEWAN YOUNG 💡

Today we shine the light on Tewan Young!

One of the things I appreciated most about The Lantern Corp. Project was watching each young person experience the program in their own way and at their own pace.

Over six weeks, Tewan was challenged to do more than simply complete a summer job. He was exposed to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, leadership, workforce development, civic engagement, community service and new professional relationships.

And through it all, he kept moving forward.

By the end of the program, Tewan had gone from learning about entrepreneurship to standing at Proctors alongside 19 other young entrepreneurs and presenting the work he had created.

That’s growth.

Not every accomplishment comes with a trophy or a placement. Sometimes the accomplishment is being able to say:

“I started it. I stayed with it. And I finished it.”

Tewan, I hope you recognize that completing these six weeks isn’t the end of anything.

It’s another piece of evidence that you are capable of learning, adapting, creating and finishing what you start.

Congratulations, Tewan Young. 💚

Take what you learned, keep building on it, and wherever life takes you next…

Protect the Light. 💡

YouthEntrepreneurship Schenectady InvestInOurYouth

💚 LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — Violet Lantern: LUISAH-MIA “LULU” DIAZ-PEREYA 🏆From the very beginning, we loved Lulu’s energy.Lui...
08/21/2026

💚 LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — Violet Lantern: LUISAH-MIA “LULU” DIAZ-PEREYA 🏆

From the very beginning, we loved Lulu’s energy.

Luisah-Mia “Lulu” Diaz-Pereya brought a spirit to The Lantern Corp. Project that you could feel. She showed up with personality, enthusiasm, and—most importantly—a willingness to support the people around her.

And apparently, we weren’t the only ones who noticed. 💚

At our Shark Tank Event & Entrepreneur Fair, Lulu was selected by the audience as our PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER! 🏆

That recognition feels especially fitting.

Because while our Shark Tank competition celebrated business ideas and presentations, the People’s Choice Award gave our community an opportunity to recognize someone who connected with them.

Lulu’s spirit connected.

Throughout these six weeks, we watched her encourage others, celebrate her fellow Lanterns, bring energy into the room and become part of what made this group special.

There are many ways to lead.

Sometimes leadership looks like being the person who makes sure other people’s light gets to shine too.

Lulu, never lose that.

Your energy matters.
Your spirit matters.
The way you support others matters.

And on Wednesday night, the people chose YOU. 🏆💚

Congratulations to Luisah-Mia “Lulu” Diaz-Pereya — our 2026 People’s Choice Award Winner!

Keep that light. Keep sharing it. And always Protect the Light. 💚

LanternCorpProject YouthLeadership Schenectady

🥇 GOLD LANTERN — ANIYAH WEST 💚🏆Some moments are bigger than the award.Watching Aniyah West earn 1st Place in The Lantern...
08/21/2026

🥇 GOLD LANTERN — ANIYAH WEST 💚🏆

Some moments are bigger than the award.

Watching Aniyah West earn 1st Place in The Lantern Corp. Project Shark Tank Competition was one of them.

Aniyah took the stage with an idea she had worked to develop, refine and prepare for over the course of the program. Then, in front of our judges and community, she delivered a presentation strong enough to earn the top spot.

She walked away with the Gold Lantern and a $500 award. 🥇

But what stood out most was what the moment represented:

Preparation meeting opportunity.

Aniyah did the work before anyone was applauding. She researched, prepared, practiced and trusted herself enough to stand in front of a room and present her vision.

That is what we want our young people to experience.

Not just being told they have potential.

Actually having a moment where they can prove it to themselves.

Congratulations, Aniyah West — our 2026 Gold Lantern. 🥇💚

You earned the win.

Now keep going.

Protect the Light.

YouthLeadership Schenectady YoungEntrepreneurs

Correct — it should feel like Mila’s moment, not a template with the name and placement swapped.🥈 SILVER LANTERN SPOTLIG...
08/21/2026

Correct — it should feel like Mila’s moment, not a template with the name and placement swapped.

🥈 SILVER LANTERN SPOTLIGHT — MILA JENNINGS 💚

There was something special about watching Mila Jennings take the stage.

By the time Shark Tank night arrived, the hard work had already happened — the research, the planning, the board, the preparation, the nerves, and the decision to stand in front of a room full of people and present with confidence.

Mila did exactly that.

Her presentation earned her 2nd Place in The Lantern Corp. Project Shark Tank Competition, along with the Silver Lantern and a $300 award. 🥈🏆

But what I hope Mila remembers most isn’t the check or the placement.

I hope she remembers what it felt like to have an idea, prepare for the opportunity, step onto that stage, and realize:

“I can do this.”

That confidence is worth carrying into every classroom, interview, boardroom, business opportunity, and challenge that comes next.

Congratulations, Mila Jennings.

You didn’t just earn second place.

You proved to yourself that you belong on the stage. 💚

YouthLeadership Schenectady

🥉 BRONZE LANTERN — 3RD PLACE! 💚Congratulations to Malhakye Williams, our 3rd Place winner of The Lantern Corp. Project S...
08/21/2026

🥉 BRONZE LANTERN — 3RD PLACE! 💚

Congratulations to Malhakye Williams, our 3rd Place winner of The Lantern Corp. Project Shark Tank Competition! 🦈🏆

What you didn’t know!
He rode to the presentation on his bike and while riding his Board flew out of his hands and over the bridge and he came without a Presentation Board and knocked it out of the park!

For six weeks, Malhakye put in the work — researching, developing his business idea, building his presentation board, preparing his pitch and getting ready to defend his vision in front of our judges and community.

Then it was time to step onto the stage at Proctors and deliver.

And he did.

Malhakye earned the Bronze Lantern and a $200 award! 🥉

What makes me proud isn’t simply the placement. It’s knowing how much work happened before anyone saw the final presentation.

The research.
The preparation.
The adjustments.
The practice.
The courage to stand up and present.

That’s what this experience was about.

Congratulations, Malhakye Williams! 🥉💚

You earned this moment. Now keep building on it.

Protect the Light.

YoungEntrepreneurs Schenectady YouthLeadership

💚 Thank You to Our Shark Tank Judges & Keynote SpeakerThere are moments when young people need more than someone telling...
08/20/2026

💚 Thank You to Our Shark Tank Judges & Keynote Speaker

There are moments when young people need more than someone telling them that their ideas matter — they need accomplished people willing to sit down, listen to those ideas, challenge them and take them seriously.

That is exactly what our judges did at The Lantern Corp. Project Shark Tank Event & Entrepreneur Fair.

A huge thank you to our Keynote Speaker & Judge, Walter Thorne of the Albany Business Review, for pouring into our Lanterns and helping set the tone for an incredible evening.

And thank you to our Shark Tank judges:

🦈 Paul “Batman” Collins-Hackett — The RED Bookshelf
🦈 Mark Eagan — Capital Region Chamber
🦈 Walter Thorne — Albany Business Review

Our young entrepreneurs had spent six weeks developing their ideas, learning about business, building confidence and preparing for this moment. When they finally stepped onto that stage, our judges gave them something incredibly valuable: their attention, their questions, their feedback and their respect.

You didn’t treat them like kids completing a summer assignment.

You treated them like entrepreneurs.

That matters.

Thank you for challenging them, encouraging them, celebrating them and helping us create an experience they will remember long after this summer is over.

On behalf of C.O.C.O.A. House Inc., The Lantern Corp. Project and our 20 Lanterns — thank you for investing in our youth and helping us Protect the Light. 💚

Schenectady InvestInOurYouth

💚 WHAT A NIGHT! 🏆Last night was the culmination of six weeks of hard work, growth, leadership, entrepreneurship, financi...
08/20/2026

💚 WHAT A NIGHT! 🏆

Last night was the culmination of six weeks of hard work, growth, leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, creativity and determination from our Lanterns — and our community showed up for them.

THANK YOU.

Thank you to every family member, friend, community leader, partner, mentor, speaker and supporter who came to Proctors for The Lantern Corp. Project Shark Tank Event & Entrepreneur Fair.

Our young people walked the red carpet, stood behind their businesses, answered questions about their ideas and then stepped onto that stage and pitched in front of a live audience and our Shark Tank judges.

That takes courage.

And while all 20 of our Lanterns should be proud of what they accomplished, we have to celebrate our Shark Tank winners:

🥇 GOLD LANTERN — Aniyah West
1st Place | $500

🥈 SILVER LANTERN — Mila Jennings
2nd Place | $300

🥉 BRONZE LANTERN — Malhakye Williams
3rd Place | $200

CONGRATULATIONS! 🏆

What I’m most proud of isn’t simply who finished first, second or third. It’s watching young people who walked into this program six weeks ago leave with new skills, savings, investments, business ideas, relationships, confidence and a larger understanding of what’s possible for their lives.

And last night, they got to look into the audience and see something else:

A community that showed up because they believe in them.

To everyone who poured into our Lanterns over these six weeks — thank you for protecting the light.

And to our 20 young people:

This wasn’t the finish line. This was proof that you’re capable of getting to the starting line. Now go build something. 💚

Protect the Light.

CommunityImpact CocoaHouse InvestInOurYouth

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869 Stanley St
Schenectady, NY
12307

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Tuesday 2pm - 5pm
Wednesday 2pm - 5pm
Thursday 2pm - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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