Staff photos / R. Michael Semple . . . Inspiring Minds student Gabrielle Perez, 14, of Youngstown, right, watches as Tia Taylor of Warren, center, takes a sniff of one of many scents that Gabrielle has to offer from her business, Sunny Scents by Gabs, during the IM’s Youngstown chapter summer market on Thursday. At left is William Taylor of Warren, Tia’s husband. Gabrielle is a freshman at Struthers High School.

YOUNGSTOWN — Everyone deals with pain in their lives, though 15-year-old C.J. Hall is using that inevitability as part of his business model while hoping it leads to two other “P’s” for people.

“I want people to be motivated to reach their purpose and passion, and a higher level of life when they wear my clothes line,” C.J., of Youngstown, said.

The teen has started such a path via naming his “business” “3P: Pain, Purpose and Pleasure.” On a deeper level, C.J. hopes that not only will he be successful in selling his T-shirts, pairs of shorts and hoodies, but that those who wear them will be inspired to continue pushing forward in response to whatever trials and tribulations they face, and “in everything in their lives,” he said.

C.J. also was among those who were part of the Inspiring Minds summer enrichment program, which was set up to teach them the importance of entrepreneurship. During the program, participants created “businesses” that reflected their interests and passions.

Such efforts were highlighted, and culminated, during a summer market gathering Thursday afternoon at Inspiring Minds’ new location, 2110 South Ave., on the South Side.

A similar youth-led market took place Tuesday at 837 Woodland St. NE in Warren.

C.J., who has faced his own challenges, selected the color patterns and logo designs for his merchandise, with assistance from his mother, Tammye Hardin, who has helped on the financial end.

His interest in business certainly won’t end when the last shirt is sold, however. C.J., who joined IM at age 9, plans to study theater and business when his college days arrive, then open his own business. His two colleges of choice are Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pa., or the University of Oregon in Portland, he added.

“I wanted to join because of the way they treat you. They want you to go hard and not settle for less,” Gabrielle Perez, 14, of Youngstown, said, referring to her foray into IM.

Gabrielle, a Struthers High School freshman, was on hand Thursday selling her brand of scented candles and wax melts, after having adopted “Sunny Scents by Gabs” as her “business” name. Without the sun’s rays, “you have darkness and you have nothing,” she observed.

IM has taught the teen the value of always having plenty of inventory for events and individuals, as well as being prepared for what may come up. In addition, Gabrielle, who considers herself between an extrovert and an introvert, has found that IM has “made me a better communicator,” she said.

The cosmetology field is alluring to Keira McQueen, 11, of Youngstown, who became part of IM in summer 2023.

“I learned financial literacy and investing my money wisely, and respecting others,” Keira, a sixth-grader at William S. Guy Middle School in Liberty, said.

Perhaps her reason for hoping to one day enter that field is as straightforward as her long hair is stringy.

“I just like doing hair,” Kiera said.

The imprint Inspiring Minds likely will leave on the 80 students in grades five to 12 in the program supersedes merely making money and being successful in the business world, however. The experience also grooms them to be producers of whatever they choose that mirrors their particular interests, Hardin, IM’s program coordinator, explained.

Along the way, the young people learn the importance of performing the legwork necessary to reach their goals, having a strong work ethic, following instructions and being prompt. They also have instilled in them the significance of the interview process, networking and knowing their business pitch, Hardin said, adding that the students also write their own commercials that are posted to IM’s website.

Those in the program will have far more space to accomplish these and other aspirations, courtesy of IM’s new 10,000-square-foot South Avenue location. Beforehand, IM operated in a 3,000-square-foot building in the 2900 block of Glenwood Avenue on the South Side, Hardin said.

Renovations to the South Avenue site will soon get underway and will include an industrial kitchen, recreation space, a library, rooms for tutoring students, a computer lab, a meeting area for parents and four or five classrooms on each side of the building, she added. In addition, students will be able to have one-on-one sessions regarding career explorations, where they will write job resumes, essays, bios and college applications, Hardin continued.

“This will allow us to service more kids in the community, and provide an opportunity to host our events onsite,” she said.