Detroit Launches Community-Owned Business Schools

Empowering local entrepreneurs through community business schools in Detroit.

News Summary

Detroit is initiating a transformative approach to entrepreneurship with the establishment of three community-owned business schools aimed at empowering local founders. Led by Racheal Allen, Ebony Cochran, and Jessie Hayes, these initiatives address the lack of recognition and resources for Black entrepreneurs. The schools emphasize business training, financial literacy, and community-focused support to help overcome systemic barriers and foster economic justice, enabling a new generation of entrepreneurs to thrive.

Detroit is witnessing a dynamic shift in local entrepreneurship with the launch of three community-owned business schools, a collaborative effort led by Racheal Allen, Ebony Cochran, and Jessie Hayes. These initiatives aim to empower grassroots founders who often do not receive recognition or resources from elite universities and accelerator programs.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Black women represent the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States. Detroit stands out as a city with one of the highest concentrations of Black women-owned businesses in the country. However, many of these entrepreneurs face significant challenges, such as a lack of formal business training and limited access to sustainable capital. In Michigan, most Black-owned small businesses operate as sole proprietorships, which are frequently under-resourced and burdened by various limitations. A striking indicator of this issue is that nationally, less than 1% of venture capital is allocated to Black women entrepreneurs, highlighting systemic neglect that hinges more on access than on talent.

To combat these disparities, Ebony Cochran opened the Detroit Wealth Club in June 2023. This 7,300-square-foot community business school located at 11145 Morang Drive on the east side of Detroit works towards closing the racial wealth gap through a focus on entrepreneurship, financial planning, credit literacy, and real estate ownership. Cochran invested $155,000 of her own funds into the initiative, supplemented by a $50,000 Motor City Match grant and an additional $10,000 from the Build Institute. The Detroit Wealth Club’s curriculum emphasizes mindset development along with practical business skills. The program aims to foster educational programming, mentorship, peer accountability, and connections to financial and legal experts.

Additionally, Racheal Allen operates the Operations School (OSchool) in Farmington Hills. Since its inception in 2019, OSchool has supported nearly 2,000 entrepreneurs through its free “Get Your Business Legit” program. Initially starting with an investment of over $200,000 of her own money, Allen secured a $2.8 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, making her the sole Black woman recipient among 27 grant winners statewide. OSchool offers tools and coaching centered on Black arts, culture, and innovation, catering specifically to the unique needs of local entrepreneurs. Allen plans to transition from her day-to-day leadership role to focus on expanding OSchool’s vision on a national level, with Dr. Stacie Hunter lined up as her successor.

Jessie Hayes is making strides in the beauty sector with the Hayes Institute of Esthetics & Entrepreneurship, Michigan’s first business school dedicated to multicultural skincare and beauty ownership. The institute provides a comprehensive 750-hour esthetics curriculum combined with entrepreneurial training to fill the gaps in access and cultural representation in the beauty industry. By merging licensure in esthetics with practical business education, the Hayes Institute aims to cultivate a new generation of beauty CEOs rather than mere service providers, thereby fostering economic opportunities within this segment.

Collectively, Allen, Cochran, and Hayes emphasize the importance of establishing sustainable infrastructure for the city’s entrepreneurs, prioritizing economic justice over profitability. Their efforts represent a departure from traditional definitions of success, promoting community-driven models tailored specifically to the needs of Detroit’s Black entrepreneurs. The newly established business schools are more than just educational institutions; they are evolving into supportive ecosystems designed to enrich the local business landscape and promote growth within the community.

The launch of these initiatives marks a significant step towards empowering local entrepreneurs in Detroit, providing them with the resources and education necessary to thrive in a competitive economic environment. As these schools begin their operations, they are poised to inspire a generation of entrepreneurs who are prepared to navigate the complexities of business ownership in today’s world.