A Flagship Initiative of CoolOpps · Baltimore, MD

Preparing Baltimore's Next Generation of Workforce Leaders, Innovators, and Entrepreneurs.

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness (CEAC), a flagship initiative of CoolOpps, empowers middle and high school students to earn, learn, and serve through entrepreneurship education, career readiness training, AI literacy, leadership development, and real-world learning experiences.

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6: Year-round programs
M–HS: Middle & high school
Baltimore: Rooted locally

Diverse group of students collaborating on a project

Our Mission

Empowering youth to earn, learn, and serve.

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The Challenge

Today's students need more than classroom learning.

Many young people graduate without exposure to entrepreneurship, workforce readiness skills, professional networks, artificial intelligence literacy, financial literacy, or real-world career experiences. CEAC bridges this gap by connecting students to practical learning, mentors, industry exposure, and future career pathways.

Career Exposure

Students rarely meet professionals across diverse industries.

AI Literacy

Future-ready skills in artificial intelligence are missing from most classrooms.

Professional Networks

Access to mentors and industry connections is uneven.

Workforce Readiness

Practical skills for the modern workplace are underdeveloped.

What is CEAC?

Earn. Learn. Serve.

A three-part model that prepares middle and high school students for life beyond the classroom.

Earn.

Students explore career pathways, entrepreneurship, internships, and workforce opportunities that support future income and economic mobility.

Learn.

Students gain entrepreneurship education, AI literacy, financial literacy, leadership development, and career readiness skills.

Serve.

Students participate in community engagement, civic leadership, mentorship, and service-based projects.

Program Ecosystem

A year-round youth development ecosystem.

Six interconnected programs that meet students where they are and move them toward where they want to go.

01 / 06

Venture Lab

Students identify problems, develop solutions, create business concepts, and pitch ideas.

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02 / 06

Workforce Accelerator

Exposure to AI, emerging technologies, digital literacy, and future workforce skills.

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03 / 06

Professionals Go to School

Industry professionals visit schools to share career journeys, workplace expectations, and insights.

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04 / 06

Student Podcast

Students build communication, storytelling, interviewing, media production, and leadership skills.

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05 / 06

Earn, Learn, Serve Platform

A digital platform that tracks learning, service, certifications, and achievements.

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06 / 06

Youth Entrepreneurship Summit

Students showcase projects, business ideas, innovation, leadership, and community impact.

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Student Journey

The CEAC student journey.

STEP 01
Discovery
Students explore interests, goals, careers, and entrepreneurship.
STEP 02
Learning
Students build workforce, entrepreneurship, AI, and leadership skills.
STEP 03
Engagement
Students connect with professionals, mentors, SMEs, and community leaders.
STEP 04
Application
Students create business concepts, technology projects, service initiatives, and portfolios.
STEP 05
Showcase
Students present their work at the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit.

What makes us different

More than a program. A workforce readiness ecosystem.

CEAC combines entrepreneurship education, career readiness training, artificial intelligence literacy, leadership development, industry engagement, youth voice, community service, and real-world learning experiences into one ecosystem designed specifically for middle and high school students.

Community engagement event with young people

Entrepreneurship Education
Career Readiness Training
AI Literacy
Leadership Development
Professional Networking
Community Service
Real-World Projects
Youth Voice

We don't just teach skills — we build the relationships, projects, and pathways that turn classrooms into launchpads.

Leadership Spotlight

Led by experienced entrepreneurs and workforce development leaders.

Omar Muhammad

Co-Founder, CoolOpps

Director, Entrepreneurship Development and Assistance Center (EDAC), Morgan State University

Omar Muhammad is an entrepreneurship educator and economic development leader who has led EDAC at Morgan State University for more than two decades. His experience supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and innovation ecosystems provides strategic guidance for CEAC and its Venture Lab initiatives.

Joy Roberson

Co-Founder, CoolOpps

Joy Roberson is a strategist, entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to helping individuals and organizations gain clarity, identify opportunities, and take meaningful action. Through CoolOpps, she is helping create innovative pathways that connect education, entrepreneurship, workforce readiness, and community impact.

Why Partner

Your partnership helps build Baltimore's future workforce.

Corporate sponsors, schools, foundations, professionals, and SMEs each play a vital role in CEAC's ecosystem.

Build the Future Workforce

Help develop the next generation of skilled, ready-to-hire talent for Baltimore and beyond.

Support Youth Innovation

Fuel the entrepreneurs, technologists, and problem-solvers emerging from our city's classrooms.

Engage Employees Through Service

Offer your team meaningful volunteer, mentorship, and speaker opportunities with measurable impact.

Strengthen Baltimore Communities

Invest in pathways that connect youth, families, and neighborhoods to long-term opportunity.

Investment Opportunities

Ways to invest in CEAC.

Choose the opportunity that best aligns with your organization's goals — or combine multiple for deeper impact.

Most Impactful

Founding Partner Program

Lead the launch year of CEAC and shape the foundation of a citywide initiative.

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