The University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning (UVI CELL) has launched the Young Entrepreneur Development Program, a new initiative designed to equip youth in the territory with entrepreneurship and financial empowerment skills.

The program is a flagship component of UVI CELL’s broader youth initiative focused on entrepreneurship, leadership development, and the return of the annual EmpowerU Youth Summit: Coins & Culture Wealth Festival.

Funded in part by a grant from the Popular VI Community Fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI), the Young Entrepreneur Development Program will provide hands-on training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, branding, marketing, and business planning. The goal is to help young people transform ideas into viable ventures while strengthening creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills.

Workshops will be held online twice monthly on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., beginning March 19, 2026. Over a six-month period, participants will move through the full entrepreneurial process, including idea development, market research, branding, financial planning, and pitch preparation. The program will conclude with a public pitch showcase and continued one-on-one advising and technical assistance.

“This program moves beyond theory; it prepares young people to see themselves as innovators, leaders, and economic contributors within their own communities,” said Liza Margolis, UVI CELL Entrepreneurship Program Manager. “The Entrepreneur Youth Development Program is about building skills, confidence, and opportunity early.”

UVI CELL’s youth programming also includes the annual EmpowerU Youth Summit, which has previously featured sessions on self-identity, mental health awareness, teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution.

This year’s EmpowerU Youth Summit: Coins & Culture Wealth Festival will focus on financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, and real-world decision-making. Modeled after the “Teach Students Money Expo,” the festival will engage youth through interactive simulations, hands-on activities, local economic data, and discussions aimed at building strong financial futures.

Participation in both programs is offered at no cost to students.

 

For registration:

For more information about UVI CELL or the Young Entrepreneur Development Program, please visit https://uvicell.uvi.edu or see this link to the Young Entrepreneur Development Program,  www.facebook.com/UVICELL, https://www.instagram.com/uvi_cell , or contact cell@uvi.edu.

 

Contact:
University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning (UVI CELL)
Email: cell@uvi.edu
Phone: (340) 693-1100

 

Contact the Office of Public Relations with all media inquiries at (340) 693-1059 or at pr@uvi.edu.