D.C.’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program Gives Startup Boost to D.C.-Area Students

August 12, 2026

Two young Washington D.C. residents, Zaynah Crawley and Tioluwani Fabunmi, won the top prize of $2,500 each after completing a seven-week intensive entrepreneurship training program run by the D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development. Crawley developed Teen Connect, a mobile application designed to help high school students find internships and mentorship opportunities that are typically only available to college students. Fabunmi created Fayola Jewelry, a hand-crafted jewelry line that showcases authentic West African culture and aesthetics inspired by her Nigerian heritage.

Who is affected

Zaynah Crawley (winner, Teen Connect app creator, incoming Stanford freshman)
Tioluwani Fabunmi (winner, Fayola Jewelry founder)
Ten young Washington D.C. participants aged 18-24 in the DCYEP program
High school students seeking internships and career opportunities (future users of Teen Connect)
Consumers interested in West African-inspired jewelry (future Fayola Jewelry customers)
D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD)
D.C. Department of Employment Services (DOES)
Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program participants
Program judges: Jess Randolph, JC Smith, and Keyonna Jones

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The seven-week program has concluded, the competition has finished, and prize money has been awarded.

Why it matters

This program addresses critical gaps in youth entrepreneurship and economic development by providing young people with practical business skills, mentorship, and startup capital. The initiative demonstrates D.C. government's commitment to developing local business owners and supporting youth career readiness. Crawley's Teen Connect app addresses a significant problem facing high school students who struggle to access internships and career-building opportunities typically reserved for college students. Fabunmi's Fayola Jewelry fills a market gap by offering authentic, ethically-sourced West African cultural products. The 47-year-old Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program continues its legacy of connecting young people with professional experience and career exposure.

What's next

Crawley plans to use the funding for programming, development, and AI features for Teen Connect as she enters her freshman year at Stanford
Fabunmi will use the funds to ethically source materials for Fayola Jewelry and share West African culture more broadly

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer