ROOTS

Sown Emancipation was founded in 2021 by Howard University graduate, Maliza Kalema. Her vision was to build a movement of “emancipative mobility” in education by offering access to business coaching and entrepreneurial development to young people. A former special education teacher, she decided that without entrepreneurship, education in its current state- did not and could not promise students, true liberation. So, she started sowing her own career mobility and economic freedom by starting a sewing business and store selling cultural products, while developing as an entrepreneurial educator and got into the business of “emancipative mobility” by offering free community sessions, lesson plans, community workshops, and a variety of youth entrepreneurial initiatives across the Twin Cities.

SEEDS

Sown Emancipation's mission is to increase access to early-onset entrepreneurial experiences and sow pathways of mobility that work in tandem with the educational process within accessible school, library, and community settings. Sown Emancipation’s vision plants proof-point programming and outcomes that attest to prioritizing youth entrepreneurship in the present as opposed to the future. By being innovative and raising funds and working, Sown Emancipation’s founder was able to provide free and accessible offerings in both schools and libraries, as well as community settings. Starting out-of-pocket, with four pilot events, and four fully funded youth businesses established, the seeds of Sown Emancipation sprouted a reality where youth were exposed to culturally affirming, profitable entrepreneurial experiences that helped them to acquire the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to launch their entrepreneurial journeys real-time.

 PLANTS

Our core values are Education, Excellence, and Entrepreneurship. We offer reoccurring youth entrepreneurship experiences that turn youth aspirations into real-time experiences where youth spark their business idea in workshops and launch them to sell to real customers at events. We fund event winners to sustain and grow their businesses for greater success. In addition to workshops and events, we offer 7 curriculum-supported workbooks to guide entrepreneurial development along with a Youth Business Directory.

WATERING
We support entrepreneurial pathways with additional youth career, college, and workforce development opportunities. We offer a scholarship database, career-college workshops, office hours, coaching, advising, and application support. This diversifies and amplifies the tooling of youth entrepreneurs.