A new youth summer camp in Minnesota is focusing on more than just traditional activities. Launching July 9–11 at Bethel University, the “I’m a Boss” Youth Business Camp is designed to support young Black entrepreneurs in developing skills for business ownership. Founded by LeBrent Speed, the camp aims to help close the racial wealth gap by introducing campers to topics like credit, real estate, and trades, while also offering mentorship and community support.
The camp comes in response to disparities in Black business representation in the state. While Minnesota has nearly six million Black residents, only about 2,500 businesses identified as Black-owned in the 2023 Annual Business Survey. Speed, who leads the Better Black Business Project (B3P), created the camp to provide the kind of programming often reserved for athletics or arts, but with a focus on entrepreneurship.
B3P is a professional network of 120 members committed to supporting Black-owned businesses. At the camp, over 15 presenters and an additional 20 volunteers will engage with attendees, offering lessons and one-on-one guidance. The goal is to expose young participants to practical knowledge while building relationships with mentors and professionals.
One camper, teenage visual artist Ella Beard, shared her excitement about attending. “I’m hoping to learn about investment and just growing and putting back into my business… being surrounded by encouraging people like youth entrepreneurs like me,” she said.
Speed is continuing to encourage sponsors to support the program. Details on the camp’s schedule and curriculum are available on its website.
