Young Entrepreneurs Showcase Talents at Moraine Valley Community College Fair

Dozens of children and teens sell handmade crafts, baked goods, and more at annual event

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois featured dozens of young people selling a variety of self-made products, including crocheted animals, baked goods, jewelry, and more. The event, now in its third year, aims to teach budding entrepreneurs valuable business skills like customer service, marketing, and sales.

Why it matters

The fair provides a unique opportunity for young people to gain real-world experience in entrepreneurship and business management. By creating and selling their own products, the participants learn important financial responsibility and develop confidence in their abilities at an early age.

The details

The fair featured a wide array of products made by the young vendors, including crocheted animals, baked goods like cookies and cinnamon rolls, resin trinkets, jewelry, and more. Many of the participants, like the Jafar sisters, learned their skills from family members. The event also included a business pitch competition judged by local professionals. Organizers say the goal is to teach the young entrepreneurs how to attract customers, communicate effectively, and successfully sell their items.

  • The Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Moraine Valley Community College took place on February 18, 2026.

The players

Salma Jafar

A 15-year-old student at Universal School in Bridgeview who sold baked goods and flavored coffees at the fair.

Jana Jafar

An 8-year-old who sold various candied concoctions at the fair alongside her sister Salma.

Noor Issa

The mother of the Jafar siblings, who taught her daughters how to crochet and bake, inspiring them to participate in the fair.

Rush Darwish

The president of the Arab American Business and Professional Association, which co-sponsored the event with Moraine Valley Community College.

Sundus Madi-McCarthy

An academic adviser and teacher at Moraine Valley Community College who co-organized the fair with Darwish.

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What they’re saying

“I tested out a bunch of recipes, tweaked them, found the perfect ones and wrote them in a recipe book. These are the most sellable.”

— Salma Jafar (chicagotribune.com)

“It teaches them an important financial responsibility. We have the resources to put these children in a position to start their businesses, generate revenue and support their families.”

— Rush Darwish, President, Arab American Business and Professional Association (chicagotribune.com)

“My kids wanted to host their own business fair. It provides the kids the opportunity to learn, grow, create, come out of their shells and find the bravery to make this happen.”

— Sundus Madi-McCarthy, Academic Adviser and Teacher, Moraine Valley Community College (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

The organizers plan to continue hosting the Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Moraine Valley Community College annually to provide more young people the opportunity to gain real-world business experience.

The takeaway

The Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Moraine Valley Community College demonstrates the value of providing young people with platforms to showcase their talents and entrepreneurial skills. By empowering the next generation of business leaders, the fair is helping to foster innovation and economic growth in the local community.