Spotlight: The Gray Matter Experience

Founded by Britney Robbins, The Gray Matter Experience is a high-school business incubator based in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Students enrolled in the program engage in a series of workshops and activities teaching entrepreneurial and business skills, and then apply what they’ve learned to launch real businesses on the city’s south and west sides. Students are also placed in internships and paired with mentors to ensure that the learning continues past the program.

Gray Matter was born out of the need to provide resources and opportunities for Chicago youth in the field of entrepreneurship, as many schools do not cover the subject. Their program intends to show students that starting their own business is a viable career option. The curriculum also has a heavy emphasis on creating a positive impact on underserved communities in the Chicago area.

Since its inception, the program has served over 300 students from 40 different schools, launched eight student businesses and provided over $50,000 in seed-funding.

The first designs in our “Power” series are the “Knowledge is Power” and the “Know Justice, Know Peace” tees. All proceeds from these designs will be donated to The Grey Matter Experience. We encourage you to learn more about the organization here.