The Felege Hiywot Center’s Future Innovators Program gives youth in the Martindale-Brightwood community the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial ideas focused on solving real community challenges. Throughout the program, students work in teams to identify problems they care about, research possible solutions, build presentations, and pitch their ideas during FHC’s annual Pitch Day competition.
Each year, student teams present their projects to judges, community members, and supporters for the opportunity to receive a $2,500 Momentum Grant to help move their ideas forward.
While many youth entrepreneurship programs stop once the pitch competition ends, FHC believes that presenting an idea is only the beginning. Learning how to execute an idea, work through setbacks, manage responsibilities, and deliver on commitments is where long-term growth happens.
Following Pitch Day, selected students participate in an execution-focused program designed to help them turn their ideas into real, actionable projects. During weekly four-hour working sessions, students learn the practical skills required to move from a proposal to a project with real accountability, timelines, responsibilities, and deliverables.
Students work together to define the scope of their project, identify responsibilities, manage resources, and develop systems that help teams stay organized and accountable. Coaches support the process by asking questions, guiding reflection, and helping students problem solve, while students remain responsible for leading the work themselves.
Throughout the program, students learn how to:
Define the finish line by identifying who is on the team, what will be built, when it must be completed, and how much funding is available
Create a Project Charter that establishes team expectations, goals, and responsibilities
Break larger goals into milestones and map them onto a real calendar
Assign accountable owners to specific responsibilities and deliverables
Run team standups, maintain visible project trackers, and monitor budgets connected to project milestones
Adjust plans when challenges arise and communicate honest progress updates to their team and coaches
After completing the program, students continue applying these practices through FHC’s weekly after-school program. This continued support allows teams to keep developing their projects over time while building consistency, leadership habits, and long-term accountability.
The initial program teaches the principles. The after-school program gives students the opportunity to continue practicing and applying them.
Every participating team leaves the program with:
A signed Project Charter
A milestone-based execution plan
Defined leadership and accountability roles
A working budget tied to project goals
A 30-day continuation plan for carrying the project forward
Experience working within a structured team environment focused on delivering real outcomes
The Future Innovators Program directly supports FHC’s RISE Growth Mindset Framework, particularly the areas of Resilience & Drive and Economic Security. Students learn how to continue working after the excitement of the initial idea fades, while also gaining practical experience with budgeting, planning, accountability, and execution.
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