YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EMPOWERED (YPE) IS OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 14-24. YPE GUIDES YOUTH TO PURSUE THEIR INTERESTS, MAKE POSITIVE CAREER DECISIONS; AND CULTIVATE WORK-RELATED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE YPE PROGRAM COMBINES DYNAMIC ON-THE-JOB LEARNING WITH APPLIED WORK- BASED LEARNING FOR A WELL-ROUNDED EXPERIENCE. PARTICIPANTS ATTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ENGAGE IN A WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE,EITHER AS AN INTERN AND/OR AS AN ENTREPRENEUR CREATING THEIR OWN BUSINESS. PARTICIPANTS WORK IN THE RETAIL STORE, LEARNING WORK SKILLS AND BUSINESS SKILLS.