GISD Hosts Ideation Crash Course to Power Youth Entrepreneurship Across Genesee County

FLINT, Michigan — High school students across Genesee County will soon gather for a half-day of high-energy creativity, problem-solving, and business building as the Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) prepares to host its annual Youth Entrepreneurship (YE) Ideation Crash Course. The event takes place on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Genesee Career Institute.

Designed as a launchpad for young innovators, the Ideation Crash Course is part of a larger countywide effort to help students explore entrepreneurship, strengthen critical skills, and develop business concepts they may one day bring to life. Throughout the day, students will participate in “Storm Sessions.” These will be interactive workshops that push students to think boldly, refine ideas, collaborate with peers, and pitch solutions in real time.

For Kimberly Dehmel, Youth Entrepreneurship Coordinator at GISD, the magic of the event is watching students discover what they’re capable of. “This event gives students the space to explore bold ideas and see what’s truly possible,” Dehmel says. “While creativity is often the first skill they tap into, they also learn problem-solving, empathy, and the importance of building connections.”

For many students—especially those who may not see themselves as entrepreneurs—the Ideation Crash Course is a chance to practice stepping into their own power. Dehmel says the day is intentionally designed to help students gain confidence through hands-on experience. 

“Several storm sessions focused on different topics will allow students to ‘pitch’ their ideas, which naturally strengthens their speaking abilities,” she explains. “We will also feature several of our experienced young entrepreneurs, who will share real challenges from their businesses. The audience will then collaborate to brainstorm solutions that can have a direct impact on their ventures.”

Each year, students leave the Crash Course buzzing with new ideas that often evolve into full projects or prototypes by the time the Countywide Pitch Competition arrives in the spring. “The ideas students come up with are bold, fun, and often wonderfully unexpected. There are no limits to their creativity,” Dehmel says. Past concepts have ranged from innovative pet products to mental health support tools, with many students continuing to develop their projects back at their schools. “These ideas tell us that students are tuned into what their communities need. They’re thinking about care, connection, and ways to make life better for the people around them.”

A key partnership with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation fuels the continued growth of youth entrepreneurship in Genesee County. GISD’s YE program was established through a Mott Foundation grant, allowing the district to develop YE clubs in high schools, train advisors, host events such as the Crash Course, and support the annual Pitch Competition. 

“This program simply wouldn’t exist without the generous support of the CS Mott Foundation,” Dehmel says. “Because of this grant, more than 700 students each year are able to experience the impact of entrepreneurial thinking in meaningful and lasting ways.”

For Dehmel, the Ideation Crash Course is more than a one-day spark. It’s the first building block in a longer journey that leads to the highly anticipated Countywide Pitch Competition. “The skills they practice will be critical thinking, teamwork, rapid prototyping, and pitching, the exact skills they’ll need to succeed on a bigger stage,” she says. “Most importantly, I want students to believe that their ideas matter and that they have the ability to turn those ideas into real opportunities. If they leave with that mindset, we’ve achieved our goal.”

Students interested in attending should contact their school’s Youth Entrepreneurship Coordinator. For more information about YE programs and activities, email kdehmel@geneseeisd.org.