Hillsides Youth Moving On Coffee Cart Social Enterprise Business Proposal

During my 10-week summer internship at Hillsides, I completed and presented my MPH capstone project. I authored a comprehensive business proposal for a social enterprise designed to empower Transition-Aged Youth (TAY), aged 16–25, through vocational training and employment opportunities. The initiative, centered around a coffee cart business, was developed to address employment barriers and create a pathway to self-sufficiency for youth, while generating revenue to support broader programming for TAY.

• Key Features of the Proposal:

  • Program Structure: Designed a cohort-based vocational training program offering paid internships and hands-on experience in customer service, barista skills, and business operations.

  • Stakeholder Engagement: Conducted interviews with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership at Hillsides and leaders from social enterprises across Los Angeles and the United States, to integrate diverse perspectives and align the program with industry best practices.

  • Market Analysis: Performed a detailed assessment of the local Pasadena, CA coffee market to identify target customer segments and opportunities for integrating the social enterprise within the local community.

  • Financial Modeling: Developed a financial projection model with clear timelines for achieving cost recovery and establishing sustainable returns on investment.

  • Scalability and Expansion: Proposed long-term growth opportunities, including potential expansion into a permanent retail location and the addition of complementary revenue streams to maximize the program’s impact.

This project demonstrates my ability to combine public health principles with business strategy to create sustainable, data-driven solutions that address systemic barriers for vulnerable populations. It highlights my expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, financial modeling, and program development, as well as my ability to deliver impactful results within a short timeline.