Rider University’s Minding Our Business (M.O.B.) program was recently awarded the 2006 Urban League Guild Trenton Chapter/Union County President’s Award at the Marriott Hotel in Trenton.

M.O.B. received the award at the Urban League Guild Trenton Chapter/Union County Seventh Annual Brunch. At this event, the County of Mercer Board of Chosen Freeholders also approved a resolution in M.O.B.’s honor. Dr. Sigfredo Hernandez, professor of marketing at Rider and M.O.B. founder; and Kevin Wortham, M.O.B. director, accepted both honors with M.O.B. students and their families in attendance.

“We are deeply honored,” said Hernandez. “The Urban League is about empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. This is precisely what M.O.B. is doing with Trenton youth.”

Since 1997, M.O.B. has trained and mentored more than 800 Trenton students, ages 10 to 14, in starting and running their own businesses. M.O.B.’s mission is to advance the personal and vocational development of urban youth through entrepreneurship education and mentoring.

In 1997, spring and summer M.O.B. programs were created. The advanced program, begun in 2004, was designed for distinguished summer program alumni in need of additional training and support to make their businesses more sustainable year-round. In September 2006, M.O.B. Xtreme was created. This program is designed to prevent negative developmental outcomes (i.e., gang participation, crime) among Trenton’s higher at-risk youth.

M.O.B. students receive direct instruction and mentoring from Rider business students, Metropolitan Trenton African American Chamber of Commerce business leaders and other community members. The Trenton youth come from Hedgepeth-Williams Middle School, PJ Hill Elementary School and the Emily Fisher Charter School.

During the brunch, M.O.B. students Sidney Bell, CEO of Syd Jewels; Trevon Molder, CEO of Tick Tack Toys; and Brittany Neal, CEO of Grandma’s Sweet Potato Pies, ran their businesses in the lobby of the Marriott Hotel.

 

 

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