Uplifting and Inspiring Our Communities
What We Do
Youth Business Enterprise is a unique program established in 2015 through the inspiration of a small group of youth participating in UPAC’s Alliance for Community Empowerment program. These youth recognized that they were facing significant barriers to attaining self-sufficiency in adulthood, including poverty, limited English proficiency and poor academic achievement. With two small grants, a strong dedication, and willingness to learn, these youth and their staff mentors created a print shop operation, designing and selling t-shirts, mugs, window lettering, shopping bags, and cell phone covers.
Program staff, a majority of which are past participants of the program, have developed a 16-hour formal curriculum and a 20-hour hands-on experiential learning experience in the Neighborhood Enterprise Center Kitchen and Print Shop, with graduates having access to paid apprenticeships at NEC. The workshop covers all aspects of starting a small business and includes making a “Shark Tank” presentation at the end of the course.
Who We Serve
YBE is open to all local youth interested in learning professional development and striving to grow their professional proficiency. Interested in joining our program? Email [email protected] for more information.
Funded by the County of San Diego
Program Manager
Dante Dauz, BS, JD
Dante Dauz was born and raised in San Diego and has developed and implemented numerous community engagement and empowerment programs with the Union of Pan Asian Communities. Current projects include development of a diverse community center that focuses on embracing diversity, family strength, building neighborhood esteem, and business enterprise development called the UPAC Neighborhood Enterprise Center. Dante has been a well-respected community advocate for over 20 years and maintains a reputation of being on the front-line of serious matters that impact the community. He also has a distinguished professional background in law enforcement, social services, and business ownership that has led to several acclaimed awards including Probation Officer of the Year and member of the Obama Volunteer Team award. Collectively, he has supported over 3,000 youth and families through social services and has successfully supported numerous youth and families overcome the most difficult barriers by utilizing a variety of traditional, non-traditional, and innovative approaches. As a former business owner, Dante has employed over 80 individuals that were in need of opportunities that other businesses were generally reluctant to offer. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from San Diego State University in Criminal Justice and his Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
5348 University Ave., Suite F202
San Diego, CA. 92105
Tel: (619) 818-1013