A spectacular new venture has arrived: The old State Theater at 1219 State Street is now the home of Youth Interactive’s teen arts entrepreneurship program and a collaborative workspace for other nonprofits focused on youth and/or the arts. On September 11, Youth Interactive (YI) and the Hutton Parker Foundation held a soirée in the magnificent 13,000 sf space to introduce potential donors to the new venture.
After a cocktail and mocktail hour, founder and CEO Nathalie Gensac, a French woman schooled in England, shared with guests how after a career as a media professional, she traveled the world for two years, meeting with leaders of exceptional grassroots organizations to learn how to get people out of poverty. This led her to focus on education as a means to earning a living. After establishing organizations in India and Jamaica, in 2012 she founded one here. YI focuses on the arts because after listening to students here, she discovered this is what most interests them and therefore, what will most engage them. She stressed how the businesses are youth-led, with staff and volunteers providing guidance. Mentoring is crucial, especially when parental support is lacking.
Thanks to the Hutton Parker Foundation, YI was able to move out of its small Funk Zone facility into its new location. In explaining his support, Tom Parker praised Gensac for her talent, passion and energy. He declared unequivocally that because of Gensac, this will be a success. Parker referred to her, with a smile, as “the woman you can’t say no to.” This sentiment seems widespread. When people meet Gensac, hear her vision, and observe her passion, they want to be a part of the venture.