In 2022, the Coppin State University (CSU) Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship took a significant step toward transforming youth and young adult entrepreneurship through support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The 2024 release of the Excellence in Entrepreneurial Learning (EXCEL): Equipping Baltimore Youth & Emerging Adults for Opportunity marked the completion of a two-year descriptive analysis of entrepreneurship instructional programs in Baltimore City. This study was followed by six months of engagement with communities and key stakeholders—including elected officials, institutional leaders, funders, and financial sector leaders—to deepen understanding of the EXCEL findings. EICAC ’25 will continue the collaboration of ecosystem stakeholders to build a data-informed system that equips young people with the tools needed to maximize opportunities.
United States