Empowering the Next Generation with Financial Literacy

Program Overview

LaunchSpace's CEO and co-founder, Brianna Drohen, emphasizes the organization's long-standing desire to support local youth. The program focuses on teaching teens and young adults financial literacy skills crucial for launching a successful company. Sid Nordstrom, the director of programs and memberships at LaunchSpace, notes that each cohort brings new insights and that this particular cohort has formed quickly as a group.

There are two cohorts currently underway. One began in September and concluded on December 4th, while the other started in October and will last until June. A total of 22 participants attend the financial literacy lessons held on the third floor of the Orange Innovation Center at 131 West Main St.

Origin of the Program

The program's genesis can be traced back to a serendipitous youth camp run with Heywood Hospital. In the summer of 2022, they received COVID funding and saw remarkable transformations in students within just four weeks. This success led to the expansion of services for youths.

Catherine Comerford, the assistant vice president of community and business development at Workers Credit Union, highlights the importance of knowing personal finances. She explains how creating a personal budget is the first step towards managing finances for a business in the future.

Participant Stories

24-year-old Athol native Hannah Sotto is one of the recent cohort participants. She studied graphic design at Mount Wachusett Community College and was encouraged by her mother to join. Sotto has made new connections and finds the program beneficial, especially for introverted teenagers.

"There's a lot of new people I got to meet, new connections," she said. "They really help with basic life skills, especially for a lot of introverted people, especially teenagers. I know that there's not a lot of outlets for kids who are passionate about their creative skills."

Sotto describes herself as a team player interested in working for someone else before starting her own business. She is now an apprentice at LaunchSpace, with Drohen serving as her mentor.

"She's wonderful," Drohen said. "She's been working with me. She's a great graphic artist and that's kind of the path she wants to take. She designed our digital badges, which will be used in the future."

LaunchSpace is constantly seeking new students. Anyone interested can reach out to Drohen at brianna@launchspace-orange.com.