By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
At Dent Education, entrepreneurship is not just a buzzword. It is a hands-on experience rooted in real-world application, community empowerment and the belief that all young people have the power to shape their futures.
Founded with the mission of fostering creativity and innovation among Baltimore youth, Dent works with students ages 14 to 24 through tailored entrepreneurship tracks. The nonprofit provides paid, skill-building programs that center design thinking, business development and leadership.
“We really believe Baltimore can be known as the youth innovation capital of the world,” said Mickey Wolf, CEO of Dent Education. “We’ve got creative, resilient young people, value-aligned partners and an ecosystem that’s supporting them.”
Dent offers a series of progressive programs to meet students where they are on their entrepreneurial journeys. The entry-level track introduces students to the core principles of design thinking, identifying problems, understanding users, brainstorming solutions and prototyping ideas.
“We support students at every stage of their journey,” Wolf told the AFRO. “Whether they are just starting with an idea or already running a business, we meet them where they are and build from there.”
The programming includes tracks like “Accelerate Your Dent” for those launching businesses, and a more advanced version for youth whose ventures are already operating. For the most seasoned students, Dent offers fiscal sponsorship and space to run their own initiatives.
Each summer, Dent accepts around 97 students into its internship programs. These students complete 125 hours of paid programming over the course of five weeks, funded primarily through YouthWorks and additional organizational support.
“We had one student who started a drone photography business,” said Ayomide Sekiteri, strategic partnership manager. “She was an ROTC student learning to fly drones and she turned that into something creative and profitable. She refined her pitch and business model with us and was able to speak on the main stage by the end of the summer.”
That student is just one example of how Dent encourages youth to explore their interests while developing meaningful projects.
“It’s about giving students a space where they can experiment, get feedback, and learn how to communicate their vision,” said Sekiteri. “We emphasize public speaking and networking so they can grow their business and their confidence.”
Another standout alumna is Shania Stevenson, who created a mental health initiative called NAV.
“She noticed that students weren’t talking about mental health in schools,” said Wolf. “She launched an Instagram page, led after-school clubs and eventually partnered with Baltimore City Schools to expand her programming.”
Central to Dent’s model is its “earn-to-learn” approach. Youth are paid for their time in the programs, removing financial barriers and honoring their contributions. Through partnerships with YouthWorks and other funders, students complete hundreds of hours in paid internships, after-school sessions and work-study programs that can total up to 195 to 320 hours over the school year.
“By paying our youth, we’re sending a clear message: their time, ideas and leadership matter,” said Sekiteri.
Dent also incorporates industry-recognized credentials, including a marketing certification with Adobe Express, to equip students with marketable skills.
“We’re not just building businesses,” said Wolf. “We’re building mindsets that will carry students through whatever path they choose.”