E CITY (Entrepreneurship: connecting, inspiring and teaching youth) was founded in January 2002 in response to a concern over the high school drop-out rate among urban teens, and the discouraging cyclical life of poverty that those drop-outs settle into. E CITY offers a unique and innovative 70-hour after school educational program which focuses on entrepreneurial, business and life skills and targets students who are in the most vulnerable sections of our city. It is structured on the belief that kids in the inner city, who have mental toughness, street smarts, survival instincts and creativity, can put those innate traits to productive use, if shown how. The E CITY program helps students see the connection between academics and “real life,” and thereby increases the chances that they will stay in school.
E CITY was founded by John Zitzner, a successful entrepreneur who wanted to teach kids that they can also do what he had done, and that above all, they can take control over their own futures. Hundreds of Northeast Ohio business executives serve as volunteers for E CITY and work one-on-one with students to refine the students’ business plans.
E CITY held its first class in 2002 after receiving financial support and volunteer assistance from the community, including the city of Cleveland, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and several local community foundations.
During the 70-hour program, students learn the basics of operating a business. Working with a mentor, the students create an original business plan. Students have the opportunity to connect with professionals who offer insight from their business experiences. At the end of the program, students present their plans to a panel of judges, competing for cash prizes that are used to reinvest in their business.
To date, six E CITY students have won the prestigious international award of “Young Entrepreneur of the Year,” awarded by NFTE annually. Some students who graduated from E CITY’s program have continued their businesses.