Caife Aspire is grateful for the community’s support! This great cause is helping kids learn about entrepreneurship and responsibility. Photo collage thanks to parent Rebecca Seegert

by Marsha Chartrand

It’s been a long, slow start for Caife Aspire, a “kid-centric hub where children can develop their aspirations to guide future careers,“ but things are happening at the former Nellie Ackerson building since it was purchased by Joe Walsh last spring and it is slowly evolving into his vision of a business hub for the school and community in Manchester.

It hasn’t been without its hurdles. Delays in acquiring the building cost the venture one of its major sponsors. There was a break-in that caused some heartache and slight setbacks. But Mr. Walsh and his students have kept on task and now there are currently three student-run companies operating out of the building, and the Robotics Team also has a permanent home there.

Fund-raising efforts to keep things moving along also continue. Most recently, the nonprofit raised $1,221 to support its mission by charging for parking spots during the Manchester Community Fair. “Each dollar supports our youth in aspiring to reach their dreams and explore their passions,“ Walsh said in a Facebook post thanking the community for its support.

Walsh credits his son, Luke, for inspiring the idea behind Caife Aspire. Four years ago, at age 7, Luke decided he wanted a Newfoundland puppy. Two years and a lot of hard work later (snow shoveling, lawn mowing, window washing) for people in the neighborhood, Luke had earned the $2,000 needed for his puppy, Ripiano.

He learned through this experience that “things don’t just come to you instantly; you have to earn it,“ and one of his dad’s proudest moments of the whole venture was hearing Luke tell a friend, “If you work hard, you can get anything you want.“

He’s applied this same philosophy to the businesses that now reside in the “entrepreneurial hub“ — also known as the west wing — of Caife Aspire. And some of the young students (although not as young as Luke was when he began saving up for the dog) have caught the vision — he has nine 14–15-year-olds in the Bamboo Accessories and More (BAAM) business, which currently has a net worth of $30,000 and is now putting 10% of its sales into long-term investments. BAAM has really taken off, with Amcor as a major supporter and River Raisin Distillery also carrying their product. It also has a presence on Facebook and Instagram.

“These kids are motivated,“ Walsh says. “They really can see the vision. This is exactly what I hoped would happen when I started this.“

He also has a more diversified group, called 40-13 (which began as 40 13-year-olds and has whittled down to a more manageable 10), and this group is creating handmade soaps, custom knives, and leather goods. And one of the original businesses, Burning Sensations, may only have three members remaining, but they are still successfully creating candles that can be found for sale in the community.

The Robotics groups that are housed at Caife Aspire have a small engines component, a woodworking component, and a new underwater robotics program, which is really exciting to Walsh.

“These kids all have enthusiasm for their projects and this will keep feeding the Robotics program in the district,“ he says. “It will continue to grow in the future. Who knows where this could go?“

All of the business proceeds go back into the individual businesses. And those who do the most work are rewarded most highly. “The percentage of hours worked is equivalent to the percentage of ownership,“ Walsh explains. “And I have to say, the girls are doing extremely well in these traditionally male-dominated fields. It‘s really rewarding to watch. I couldn‘t be more proud of these kids. They are pretty amazing.“

If you work hard, you know, you can get anything you want. Just ask Luke Walsh.