Atlanta Youth Program Fosters Teen Entrepreneurship

The Noble Truth Project pairs Atlanta teens with business mentors and job training at a local shop.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Youth

Bold vector editorial illustration of hands organizing professional tools, depicting a positive community-focused youth mentorship and career development program. — The Noble Truth Project in Atlanta partners local teenagers with community mentors to gain financial literacy and professional experience at neighborhood businesses. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Noble Truth Project Youth Entrepreneurship program provides local teenagers with hands-on business training and mentorship. Participants work at Glaciers Italian Ice on Sylvan Road to gain experience in customer service and financial literacy.

Why it matters

By providing professional pathways and structured guidance, the initiative aims to steer teenagers away from involvement with the justice system. The program connects youth with local business owners to build career-focused social capital.

The program serves teenagers ages 14 to 19, including 16-year-old student Treamone Ellison. Participants develop skills while serving Italian ice at locations including Piedmont Park, Grant Park, and the Beltline.

The players

The Noble Truth Project

This organization focuses on providing pathways to success for youth to prevent their involvement with the justice system.

Glaciers Italian Ice

This local business operates a shop on Sylvan Road in Atlanta and serves as the primary site for the youth entrepreneurship program.

Treamone Ellison

He is a 16-year-old student at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate who participates in the entrepreneurship program and plans to attend culinary school.

Jayden Horcon

He is a participant in the program who aspires to own an apparel company in the future.

The details

Teenagers learn practical money management and customer service by working directly behind the counter at Glaciers Italian Ice. The program also facilitates personal development sessions and one-on-one interactions between students and established community business mentors.

Culture Shift

This program aligns with the broader societal trend toward community-based mentorship models that prioritize skill-building to improve long-term outcomes for youth. It shifts the focus from traditional schooling alone to vocational apprenticeships that integrate teenagers into the local economy.

Residents can support the participating youth by visiting Glaciers Italian Ice or by engaging with students serving products at the Beltline and local parks. These interactions provide the teenagers with direct opportunities to practice professional communication and customer service.

The takeaway

The program demonstrates that providing tangible work experience can successfully prepare teenagers for their future career ambitions. Students interested in professional growth should seek out local mentorship programs that offer similar hands-on business training.