Duarte "Lemonade Brigade" to Launch in
January Utilizing Mount Olive Students 
DUARTE, CA, December 7, 2011 – Kids and lemonade stands. It’s a childhood rite of passage, a chance to make your own money, be your own boss – if only for a summer day.
Now, some 15 to 20 Mount Olive Alternative High School students in Duarte are preparing to revisit the old lemonade stand model, this time armed with business and marketing plans, and the guidance of a successful entrepreneur.
Robin Salzer, owner of Robin’s Wood Fire BBQ and Grill in Pasadena came up with the idea of the Lemonade Brigade to get teens to work together, gain leadership, organizational, critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills. The teen-run fresh-squeezed lemonade business was first implemented in 2007 in Northwest Pasadena by the Neighbors Acting Together Helping All (NATHA) Youth Leadership Group. The community had been experiencing an upsurge in youth gang violence.
“My feeling was that if you put them together in a 10’x10’ booth maybe when you put kids back on the street they say maybe that wasn’t so bad,” said Salzer.
“The preconceived notion of one to another may dissipate by just the team work that they enjoy working together. It’s been very successful. I felt if we can do it in Northwest Pasadena we can do it anywhere.”
Salzer was approached with the idea of helping launch the Lemonade Brigade in Duarte by Chamber of Commerce President/Chief Executive Officer, Jim Kirchner, Chamber board member Sandi Mejia, and Duarte Unified School District Superintendent Terry Nichols. Salzer enthusiastically accepted. The School District, City of Duarte, and Chamber have all pledged their support to the program and the teens are excited about the opportunity of learning how to start and run a business. Proceeds from the business will be applied towards scholarships for the seniors and college field trips, sending home the message that through volunteerism and hard work they can begin to invest in a successful future together.
The students meet once a week at the high school and periodically at Mejia’s Ranchero Mexican Restaurant in preparation for a mid-January 2012 Lemonade Brigade business launch. Mejia is one of the key professional mentors the students can count on for advice and guidance. Each teen will commit to the business by purchasing a $20 share of stock in the company and by participating in orientation, training and seminars to guide them in preparing business and marketing strategies, development, operation and management plans, and financial reporting projections.
Inland Community Bank in Duarte has agreed to work with the young entrepreneurs in setting up a business bank account. Duarte based Specialty Promotions is providing the students with guidance in the area of developing marketing materials and supplies, including company logo, uniforms, and paper goods. The School District will provide the loan for the start-up capital expenditures of approximately $1,500. To help get the Lemonade Brigade off to a successful start, the City will proclaim the drink the official beverage of Duarte and along with the Chamber will encourage organizations to include them in events. Mount Olive Principal Kevin Morris will provide the teens and the enterprise with the day-to-day supervision and oversight.
The Lemonade Brigade business model calls for each glass of the drink to be made by hand using all natural ingredients to ensure a high quality product that is expected to be priced at approximately $2. “I’m just thrilled that the city is behind it. To have the City, School District and Chamber all involved means they really care about their kids. And you mark, 10 years from now you’re going to see some of these kids be very successful residents and participants in the City of Duarte,” said Salzer.
For more information, or to contact the Duarte Lemonade Brigade for an event, call the Duarte Chamber of Commerce at (626) 357-3333.
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