Youth Entrepreneurship · Ages 10–17 · Minnesota

Don't wait for an opportunity. Learn to create one.

Vendor Village helps creative kids and teens turn their hobbies and talents into their first real business, and learn to create their own opportunities along the way.

Free workshop in Brooklyn Park · Parents welcome

Your child has a talent. Here's the next step.

Maybe they bake, draw, make bracelets, design clothes, or make music. You can see their potential, but it's hard to know how to help them move forward.

A real next step

Guidance from first idea to first launch, so your child isn't stuck at "someday."

You don't have to plan it all

Hands-on workshops and supervised pop-ups give them a real place to start.

Skills that last

Confidence, responsibility, money basics and initiative, even if their first business changes.

What young people walk away with

Launch a real business

Choose an idea, create a product, service or experience, learn pricing and promotion, and prepare for their first sale, showcase or performance.

Learn to create opportunities

Instead of waiting for someone to hand them a stage, they learn to organize pop-ups, showcases and community experiences with other young creatives.

Kid Boss Lab: Turn Your Hobby Into a Business

FreeAges 10–17Hands-on, not a lecture90 minutes
Location:
Brooklyn Park Library
Date:
Date coming soon
Parents are welcome to stay.
Reserve a Free Spot

In the Lab, kids will:

  • Discover what they love to make, do or create
  • Turn it into a product, service or experience
  • Learn who might buy it or show up for it
  • Set a starter price and practice a 15-second pitch
  • Leave with their own Kid Boss Plan and a first step to take

From idea to first launch

  1. 1

    Kid Boss Lab

    A free hands-on workshop to discover an idea.

  2. 2

    Youth Launch Experience

    Coming soon

    A small-group program that takes the idea to launch.

  3. 3

    Village Pop-Up

    Young entrepreneurs sell, showcase or perform for a real audience.

  4. 4

    Next Opportunity

    They reflect, improve and plan what they'll create next.

The founding group is forming now. Join the interest list to be first to hear when enrollment opens.

Join the Interest List

Entrepreneurship is more than a vending table

When young people bring different talents together, they can create experiences that serve their whole community.

A young musician performs
A young baker sells treats
A young artist exhibits work
A young designer makes the flyers
A young photographer captures it all

Pop-up markets, backyard concerts, art showcases, always with the right adult supervision and permission.

Chef Roxie, founder of Vendor Village, smiling in a floral top and glasses

About your mentor

Hi, I'm Chef Roxie.

I'm Roxanne Wynne, a youth entrepreneurship mentor, food entrepreneur, and event organizer here in Minnesota.

Years ago, I hosted creative community events at my home. At one, my daughter's paintings turned our dining room into a small art gallery, and guests bought her work on their way to the backyard. My daughters grew their musical talents and now perform at venues around the Twin Cities. I also co-hosted the first BIPOC Holiday Extravaganza, where they joined as vendors.

Those experiences taught me something I want every young person to know: you don't have to wait for someone to give you a stage. You can learn to build one.

Now I'm bringing that to kids and teens ages 10–17, with hands-on guidance and their parents right alongside them.

Chef Roxie, Founder, Vendor Village

Parents stay in the loop

  • Parents register and receive all communication
  • Activities are age-appropriate and supervised
  • We never share a child's photo, name or story without parent permission
  • Honest expectations: we teach real skills and don't promise income

Stay in the loop

Get Kid Boss Lab dates, program news and pop-up invitations. For parents and guardians in Brooklyn Park and nearby cities.

Child's age *
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