Igniting Possibility: Chicago Emerging Stars Joins City of Chicago’s Youth Biz Expo to Inspire the Next Generation of Leaders

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Chicago Emerging Stars was honored to participate in the City of Chicago’s Youth Biz Expo, held at Malcolm X College and hosted by the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

The event brought together over 250 attendees, including 175 CPS students from seven schools, along with exhibitors from city agencies, nonprofits, and financial institutions all united for a day dedicated to business, leadership, and innovation. Through workshops, networking opportunities, and a keynote panel of young founders, the Expo empowered students to see entrepreneurship not as a distant goal, but as an achievable path that begins now.

For Chicago Emerging Stars, this moment represented far more than a speaking opportunity. It reflected a shared mission: to guide youth toward purpose, possibility, and power.

During the keynote address, “Young Innovators: Igniting the Entrepreneurial Spirit,” Chicago Emerging Stars’ Founder, President & CEO Jaqueza Thomas joined fellow young entrepreneurs Ava Dorsey, Founder of Ava’s Pet Palace, and Qiling Jiang, Founder of Kaizen Collective Apparel LLC. Together, they shared personal stories of resilience, courage, and community impact demonstrating to students that leadership is not defined by age, but by action.

Jaqueza’s participation underscored the very essence of what Chicago Emerging Stars stands for. Founded on the belief that every young person has the potential to lead, the organization continues to create spaces for youth to be seen, heard, and supported. Through mentorship, community programs, and school partnerships, Chicago Emerging Stars works year-round to equip young people with the confidence, resources, and relationships to reach their fullest potential.

The City’s Youth Biz Expo amplified that same message showing youth that their ideas are valid, their dreams are powerful, and their stories matter. Events like this affirm the growing ecosystem of support available to young people in Chicago who aspire to make a difference in their communities.

Chicago Emerging Stars is grateful to BACP, CPS, and the City of Chicago for creating opportunities that highlight youth innovation and entrepreneurship. This collaboration reinforces a shared vision, one where Chicago’s young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the changemakers of today.

As the organization continues to expand its impact across the city, Chicago Emerging Stars remains committed to helping young people build brighter futures one idea, one opportunity, and one empowered voice at a time.

About Chicago Emerging Stars

Chicago Emerging Stars is a youth-centered nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young people ages 7–24 across Chicago through mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement. The organization’s mission is to guide youth toward purpose, possibility, and power, equipping them with the tools to lead meaningful lives and create positive change in their communities.

Learn more or get involved at www.chicagoemergingstars.org/get-involved.

Follow @chicagoemergingstars on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for updates and opportunities to support the movement.