Meet The Team
Meet The Team of Youth Business Initiative
Dajuan WigginsFounder, CEO & ED
Dajuan Wiggins is the Founder, CEO & Executive Director of the Youth Business Initiative (YBI). He strategically built the YBI Team with Business Owners, Managing Members, and Entrepreneurs who can share their business intelligence, professional distinctive competence, and community values with the YBI youth. As a long time resident of Norwalk, CT, he is a neighborhood & community mobilizer working nonstop to increase the level of youth engagement through youth development programs. Dajuan prepares the youth with workforce readiness and business development knowledge, skills, and abilities. He believes the youth and their future of work requires entrepreneur-like tools and skills.
Dajuan served as a Board Member at Serving all Vessels Equally (S.A.V.E), and was a former Community Organizer for Katal in Hartford CT, focusing on mass incarceration and harm reduction. While running the Youth Business Initiative, Dajuan is also a partnered business owner of The Gold Room Lounge located in Norwalk, CT. When he isn’t managing his business ventures, he enjoys spending time with his children, watching sports, and helping others develop their business ideas.
Yenesis BritoProgram Supervisor
Yenesis Brito began as the Program Coordinator in 2022 for the Youth Advancement program, and quickly worked her way up to becoming Program Supervisor. Yenesis is in charge of coordinating and running all events and social media, as well as programs and managing staff. The Youth Advancement Program Initiative engages youth with interactive activities that expand their exposure and potential to advance in society. The goal of the program is to provide a safe and secure outlet for children while also having them engage in productive and enjoyable environment.
Yenesis Brito graduated from Southern Connecticut State University and majored in Sociology, Criminal Justice. Her personal mission is to become an active youth mentor, and share the knowledge gained throughout her education and experiences. Yenesis envisions to continue running her business and teaching the youth about Entrepreneurship while maintaining and growing YBI to its fullest potential.
Yohana RamirezOperations Manager
Yohana Ramirez is the Program Manager, responsible for maintaining and developing partnerships and collaborations that align with the organization’s goals and objectives. Assisting with overall coordination and planning to improve implementation and ensure desired outcomes.
Yohana believes in leveraging community resources and supports to provide the youth with meaningful opportunities and mentorships. Yohana began working with youth as a volunteer in her local church when she was still a teenager, her work evolved later as a paid care coordinator in the mental health field, and continues today as she enjoys providing financial education to youth and their families. Her experience in different fields demonstrates her belief in providing Wraparound services that address a variety of needs, offering comprehensive support and a holistic approach to ensure effective long-term success.
Christian ReidProgram Coordinator
Christian Reid was born in Stamford Connecticut and raised in Bridgeport Connecticut. Overcoming many trials and tribulations our youth face placed Christian as the best candidate to serve as our Program Coordinator. His passion derived from having to sleep outside on playgrounds and park benches at youth. His experiences from youth has built a fire and desire to shift the culture of our youth; so if even one life is changed that’s one step closer to victory.
Being that Christian runs three business of his own; a digital media company, entertainment company, and marketing company he understands the value of being an entrepreneur. His theory is to pour inspiration within the youth with the hopes they will eventually inspire the world. YBI and Christian’s goals align perfectly and together they will push our youth into being owners instead of employees but most importantly to instill self-love and happiness.
Over the years Christian has become a great impact within his community. Providing resources that affect the parents and the youth. Currently he host his annual book bag drive that donates over 100 hundred book-bags and supplies for the youth. He also has his annual Toy drive that donates over 100 toys for the less unfortunate children. Lastly he has his annual food drive where every Thanks-giving he’s outside feeding the less unfortunate families and hopes to develop and bring YBI into Bridgeport.
Volunteers
Meet The Team of Youth Business Initiative
Maya DonaldProgram Coordinator
Maya Donald was raised and currently lives in Stamford Connecticut. As a wife and a mother to Black men she has dedicated her life to educate, advocate and empower her people. As a local activist Maya’s mission is to bridge the gap between the Black communities and the areas of constant injustices they face.
Maya serves as a community organizer in Stamford Connecticut, her goal is to educate and empower her people by hosting panel discussions on Black history and Women making Black history. She also created pop up shops in Stamford to showcase black business owners in the community. Her child attends Hart Magnet School where she advocates for diversity and inclusive programs for the school.
Her hopes for bridging the gap with the Black community and the Connecticut Police Department is to end the unnecessary violence and mistreatment of Black people young and old. She understands it’s a marathon not a sprint. Time, patience and communication is key for success. Which invited her to be a member of the POST Council Social Justice Advisory Subcommittee.
Maya has hosted many rallies within the community to get the community involved in change. She has created a support group for many parents and adults in the Valley to work together and to share stories to help create change amongst each other. She was a part of the NAACP Valley Chapter as not only the Secretary but also the executive leader of the Education committee and now founder of C.O.R.N.E.R.S Community which YBI now partners with. Her goal with the education committee is to create a safe environment for children to learn and become successful.
Amanda FeurtadoYBI VOLUNTEER
Amanda Feurtado provides volunteer services at YBI. As a Stamford, CT native and with her performing and visual arts background, Amanda innovates and creates YBI’s program curriculum to root in workforce readiness, business development, and entrepreneurship.
Amanda Feurtado provides Program Development services at YBI. As a Stamford, CT native and with her performing and visual arts background, Amanda innovates and creates YBI’s program curriculum to root in workforce readiness, business development, and entrepreneurship.
Amanda is an Entrepreneur. She is the Vice President of Real Ambitious Women, which is an all-female run real-estate investment group. Amanda is also developing a makeup line called M. Noire Beauty. As a Stamford, CT native, Amanda values sharing her entrepreneur knowledge, skills, and abilities with the youth.