PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As they navigate their studies, students at a North Philadelphia high school are also getting a lesson in real-world business. A teacher at the U School is coaching students through their side hustles.
Samuel Reed teaches humanities at the U School, a district high school with a project-based curriculum. During last year's pandemic lockdown, Reed thought to himself: What would give his students hope?
He encouraged them to turn their passions into cash, and he created the small business Side Hustle Accelerator program at the school. He collects donations and gives $200 grants to students to follow their interests to make money.
Reed has connected 15 students with seed money so far. He's thinking of going digital.
"I want to develop an app that can mimic the support that I provide for young folks," he said.
Senior Christian Kelly wants to use his new experience to return the favor.
"I hope to be a computer technician. So like, maybe one day, I could probably help Reed with that app he's talking about," Kelly said.
Sophomore Landan Duval invested his $200 in the photography business he has been managing from his cell phone.
"I spent it on equipment — like, I got some lights, batteries and stuff," he said. "I just have to get a camera."
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Ninth-grader London Cooper (pictured at top) isn’t in the program yet, but she says she is already looking to expand her lip gloss and accessory hustle.
"At first, my mom would buy it off a website, and I would put my logo on there and then I would sell it," she said. "But now my mom actually buys the lip gloss ingredients, and I make them."
Bhreel Meyers graduated last year, and he says his business, Mac Customs, is growing.
"My side hustle is painting, expressing myself through art," Meyers said. "I customize shoes, jean jackets, everything."
Meyers gives Reed the credit. He says he would not be in business if his teacher had not pushed him to follow his passion.
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