Nonprofit Minding Our Business to Collaborate with Monmouth County Organizations

ASBURY PARK, N.J. - Feb. 24, 2015 - PRLog -- Interfaith Neighbors, a nonprofit corporation involved in neighborhood revitalization efforts and economic development initiatives in Asbury Park and Monmouth County, presented a generous check for $5,500 to Minding Our Business (MOB), an organization that has been recognized as one of the premier youth entrepreneurship programs in the nation. The money, provided through a grant from the New Jersey Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, will be used toward the collaboration between MOB and the Asbury Park JET (Junior Entrepreneurship Training) Program.

The check was presented during a weekend-long training for Minding Our Business mentors held at Rider University in Lawrenceville where MOB is headquartered. Having coached and mentored more than 3,000 students on starting and running their own businesses, MOB is a nonprofit organization that currently operates an after-school service learning program for middle school students in Trenton and has now expanded its scope to serve both Asbury Park and Perth Amboy. In addition to the after school program, MOB offers  a summer program at Rider University for low-income middle school students and an advanced program providing business coaching to MOB alumni seeking additional guidance. Each program emphasizes entrepreneurship training, as well as math, reading, communication and life skills.

Interfaith Neighbors’ JET Program is based on the MOB service learning model. The JET Program will be held at Interfaith Neighbors’ not-for-profit Business Development Center, located at 1201 Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park, which is designed to help entrepreneurs grow their current businesses or start new ones. Now with the implementation of this program, middle school students will be given the opportunity to learn what it is like to start and run their own business. The program began in early February and will meet for about 12 weeks for 15 sessions. Currently, 17 students are enrolled in the program and the numbers continue to climb. The students were recruited from Asbury Park Middle School, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, and Sisters Academy. The students will get the opportunity to present their venture at the “Made in Monmouth” expo in April.

It is the vision of Frank Syphax, President of West Side Citizens United, an organization that serves the youth and citizens of Asbury Park, that the MOB program be part of curriculum in middle schools, specifically in urban neighborhoods. Mr. Syphax, whose son, Tracey, is the chairman of the MOB Board, was instrumental in introducing MOB and its programming to Roger Boyce, Director of Interfaith Neighbors Business Development Center and the administrator of the JET Program.

“I’m excited beyond belief for the collaboration with the Asbury Park JET program that will enable us to serve a growing population of students who are underserved,” said Kevin Wortham, MOB’s Executive Director. “I hope this will be a long partnership,” said Mr. Boyce. Mr. Boyce noted the significance of how area organizations are coming together to work on and support this project and how the students will benefit from this close collaboration. Interfaith Neighbors’ partners in the program include MOB, Community Affairs and Resource Center (CARC), West Side Citizens United, and the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County which will provide transportation to students to the program.  Douglas Eagles, Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, explained, “Under resourced communities like Asbury Park are often not given opportunities like ones offered through this program compared to wealthier communities. It is empowering.”

Charles W. Simmons is a high tech entrepreneur who left the business world in 2013. After having a successful career, Mr. Simmons felt the need to give back to his community. After speaking to Mr. Boyce, Mr. Simmons felt being a volunteer and mentor was the opportunity he was seeking and will serve as director of the program. “Even if they do not become entrepreneurs, they will have gained valuable skill sets for life,” Simmons said.

For further information about Minding Our Business and/or to donate to support its efforts, please visitwww.minding-our-business.com or call Executive Director Kevin Wortham at 609-731-9311. For more information on Interfaith Neighbors and the Asbury JET Program, visit http://www.interfaithneighbors.org or http://www.businessdevcenter.org.


Caption: Pictured, left to right, Dr. Sigfredo Hernandez; Mychal Mills; Frank Syphax; Charles W. Simmons; Robert Weiner; Douglas Eagles; Roger Boyce; Kevin Wortham