Madisen Ellis

The mission of Enterprise for Youth is to empower young people to prepare for and discover career opportunities. Through Enterprise, youth cultivate their individual interests and potential through training, guidance, and employment experiences in supportive and diverse environments. Enterprise for Youth was founded in 1969 by Gladys Thacher, a non-profit visionary and champion of young people, who also helped found the San Francisco Education Fund, San Francisco Village, and Lifeprint, formerly Alumnae Resources/Lifeplan Center. Since then, Enterprise has evolved from helping a handful of students find summer jobs into an integrated group of programs that combine job-readiness training with experiential learning. More than 20,000 San Francisco youth, including young people from almost every public and private high school in San Francisco, have learned the skills and values essential to workplace success at Enterprise for Youth. Enterprise programs provide youth with the ability and opportunity to find and retain jobs, explore career opportunities through internships and job shadowing, get career and college counseling, and develop life skills crucial for their transition from high school to adult life. Enterprise also operates one of San Francisco's largest job banks focused exclusively on high school students. Learning in a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment, Enterprise for Youth's​ members gain more than valuable skills and training. They acquire confidence. They build trusting relationships with supportive adult counselors. They serve as role models to their peers. And, they realize the world is truly open to them through education, work, and career.