Turn your passion into profit

12-weeks / 6 Credits

As entrepreneurs, you can expect to learn and share a lot in the Community Business Academy. The success of our program relies on your talents and contributions. 

In this course, you will be building strong fundamental business skills like budgeting, marketing, bookkeeping, and financing. 

Our experiential methodology embeds direct curriculum application so you are able to work on your business as you learn!

How It Works

Your learning experience.

  • 1. Learn

    Watch Video Lessons Before Your Live Zoom Sessions: These short video lessons are designed to introduce topics and get you thinking about your own business and questions you have. You can ask questions or share your thoughts in on-lesson discussions, take self-assessment quizzes and come back to these videos to review concepts whenever you'd like!

  • 2. Engage

    Participate in the Live Zoom Session: This is where the concepts you learned in the video lessons come alive. You'll discuss concepts, practice using these concepts through engaging exercises and connect what you learned to your own businesses. This is the community of the Community Business Academy!

  • 3. Apply

    Complete Homework: Each week for nine weeks you will have homework. This homework is designed to be your opportunity to apply what you learned to your own business. As entrepreneurs we spend a lot of time running our businesses. This is the time for you to think and plan for your business. Take the time and stay on top of your homework! We are here to support you through it all!

Meet Our Instructors

Experts that care.

Instructor Deirdre Malloy

Deirdre Malloy leads the managing process at the municipal level for state regulatory housing registration, violations reporting, remediation and improvements. Prior to becoming a committed entrepreneur, she worked at Integrity House as Dave Kerr’s Executive Assistant in 1993 to 1995. Ms. Malloy has a background in the corporate business sector having worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey as a health care account manager, as Business Systems Analyst at Prudential Healthcare, in Newark, New Jersey, and on the business acquisition core team at Aetna. Ms. Malloy became licensed with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Real Estate Commission in 2003 as a Salesperson and transitioned her career. From 2003-2007, Ms. Malloy also managed the Short Hills, New Jersey office, Southampton rentals, and business of a private life insurance and estate planning firm where she was responsible for managing real assets and a financial portfolio of over $10,000,000.00. In 2009, Ms. Malloy founded Lord & Powers, LLC consulting company to lead a housing development project in Montclair, New Jersey. Today, she is also licensed in real estate in New York State, and is a member of New Jersey Board of Realtors Political Affairs Committee. Through her company, Ms. Malloy provides housing industry compliance related state and federal regulatory consulting and workshops to municipalities, HUD Certified nonprofit 501c3 housing agencies, for profit agencies, and public housing authorities. In 2016, Ms. Malloy was lead consultant project manager for Talbot Village, Montclair, New Jersey’s first new construction affordable housing community. The Housing and Community Development Network of NJ awarded the township of Montclair an Innovative New Development Award in 2018 for this project.

Class Monitor Iyana Anderson

Iyana Anderson is a trailblazer in the field of wellness and mental health. As the CEO of Well Together, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to prioritize their well-being through holistic wellness education. With her expertise as a licensed social worker, Iyana has made it her mission to spread awareness and promote mental health and wellness. Iyana's journey in the field of wellness began with her service in Americorps. During her time there, she was able to contribute to various community initiatives and gain valuable experience in the field. This experience led her to pursue a career in non-profit organizations, where she continued her focus on mental health and wellness. In her role as a non-profit professional, Iyana was able to help individuals and communities heal and restore their wellness, using her skills and expertise to foster connections and provide support. Most recently, Iyana held a role in state government, where she was responsible for improving quality and ensuring youth and families were receiving quality resources and support. With her passion, expertise, and commitment to her work, Iyana is helping to create a world where everyone has access to the resources, support, and skills they need to thrive.

Course curriculum

    1. Navigate our Learning System

    2. Meet Your Online Instructor

    3. Meet Your Online Resiliency Guide

    4. Maximize the Course: Your Business and Time

    5. Communicate with Your Instructors

    6. Get Technical Help

    7. Understand Our Process

    8. LEARN: Complete and Continue

    9. LEARN: Check Your Understanding

    10. ENGAGE: On-Lesson Discussion

    11. ENGAGE: Get Ready to Zoom

    12. ENGAGE: Joining the LIVE class (Zoom)

    13. APPLY: Homework Tips

    14. APPLY: Homework Practice 1

    15. APPLY: Homework Practice 2

    16. RESILIENCY: Preparing Yourself for Entrepreneurship

    17. RESILIENCY: Reset Meditation

    18. CHECK-IN: How did it go?

    19. CHECK-IN: How are you doing?

    20. UPLOAD: Your Profile Image

    21. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. How to use this chapter

    2. Computer Basics

    3. Zoom Access

    4. Digital Skills Connecting to Wifi

    5. Digital Skills Online Learning and Research

    6. Digital Skills Staying Safe Online

    7. Importance of Financial Coaching

    8. DOWNLOAD: Resiliency Chime

    9. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. Welcome to the Community Business Academy!

    2. THINGS TO KNOW: The Design of the Class

    3. DISCUSSION: Business is all about relationships!

    4. REVIEW: Student Handbook (Download)

    5. YOUR COMMITMENT: Student Handbook

    6. FILL-IN: Pre-Survey

    7. DISCUSSION: Getting To Know You

    8. FILL-IN: Getting To Know Your Business

    9. NEW CONCEPT: You – The Entrepreneur

    10. ASSESSMENT: Self-Evaluation

    11. NEW CONCEPT: The Business Idea

    12. DISCUSSION: What Makes a Good Product or Service?

    13. DEFINITION: Business Plan Outline

    14. The Executive Summary Contest

    15. FILL-IN: Check Your Understanding

    16. DISCUSSION: How are you doing?

    17. NEXT STEPS: Our LIVE class is coming up!

    18. BEFORE WE START: Get ready to Zoom

    19. BEFORE WE START: What to bring

    20. WELCOME: Our LIVE Zoom class

    21. HOMEWORK 1: Introduction

    22. HOMEWORK 1: EXAMPLE

    23. STUDY HALL: Extra support for you

    24. RESILIENCY: Intention

    25. CHECK-IN: How are you doing?

    26. UP NEXT: Looking ahead to Week 2

    27. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. Welcome back!

    2. THE GAME: Purpose

    3. GAME CONTEXT: Location

    4. GAME CONTEXT: Target Customer

    5. GAME CONTEXT: Your Role

    6. TOOLS REVIEW: Business Cycle Calendar

    7. TOOLS REVIEW: Daily Record Keeping Journal

    8. TOOLS REVIEW: Weekly Sales Journal

    9. TOOLS REVIEW: Weekly Expense Journal

    10. NEXT STEPS: Our LIVE class is coming up!

    11. BEFORE WE START: Get ready to Zoom

    12. BEFORE WE START: What to bring

    13. WELCOME: Our LIVE Zoom class

    14. HOMEWORK 2: Business Simulation I

    15. HOMEWORK 2: EXAMPLE

    16. STUDY HALL: Extra support for you

    17. RESILIENCY: Create Positivity

    18. CHECK-IN: How did it go?

    19. UP NEXT: Looking Ahead to Week 3

    20. CHECK-IN: How are you doing?

    21. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. Welcome Back

    2. Managing Your Personal Expenses and Income

    3. Personal Budget

    4. NEW CONCEPT: Personal Expense Categories

    5. DEFINITION: Personal Income

    6. APPLYING YOUR LEARNING: Personal Income and Expenses

    7. THINGS TO KNOW: Savings

    8. THINGS TO KNOW: Understanding Your Credit

    9. DEFINITION: Interest

    10. FILL-IN: Check Your Understanding

    11. THINGS TO KNOW: Why is Having Good Credit Important?

    12. THINGS TO KNOW: How to Correct Errors in a Credit Report

    13. THINGS TO KNOW: Negative Information in your Credit Report

    14. RESOURCE: Example Credit Report

    15. NEXT STEPS: Our LIVE class is coming up!

    16. BEFORE WE START: Get ready to Zoom

    17. BEFORE WE START: What to bring

    18. WELCOME: Our LIVE Zoom class

    19. HOMEWORK 3: Monthly Personal Income and Expense Budget

    20. HOMEWORK 3: EXAMPLE

    21. STUDY HALL: Extra support for you

    22. RESILIENCY: Unlock Energy

    23. CHECK-IN: How did it go?

    24. CHECK-IN: How is your learning?

    25. UP NEXT: Looking Ahead to Week 4

    26. REMINDER: Importance of Financial Coaching

    27. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. Welcome to Week 4

    2. THINGS TO KNOW: Basic Business Structure

    3. DEFINITION: Variable Expenses

    4. NEW CONCEPT: Understanding Your Competitors

    5. DISCUSSION: Your Competitors

    6. THINGS TO KNOW: The Importance of Your Competition

    7. FILL-IN: Check Your Understanding (Competition)

    8. NEW CONCEPT: Your Target Market

    9. DISCUSSION: Defining Your Target Market

    10. THINGS TO KNOW: Mistakes to Avoid

    11. FILL-IN: Check Your Understanding (Target Market)

    12. NEXT STEPS: Our LIVE class is coming up!

    13. BEFORE WE START: Get ready to Zoom

    14. WELCOME: Our LIVE Zoom class

    15. BEFORE WE START: What to bring

    16. HOMEWORK 4: Competition and Target Marketing

    17. HOMEWORK 4: EXAMPLE

    18. RESILIENCY: You’re Connected

    19. CHECK-IN: How did it go?

    20. STUDY HALL: Extra support for you

    21. CHECK-IN: How are you doing?

    22. UP NEXT: Looking Ahead to Week 5

    23. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

About this course

  • Free
  • 315 lessons
  • 3 hours of video content

FAQ

  • What's the cost?

    Tuition for The Community Business Academy is valued at $3,000 per student. Thanks to our generous supporters and donors, tuition is waived for every student accepted into the program. All participants, however, must pay a small materials and registration fee. Based on your household income, your fees are calculated on a sliding scale ranging from $150 to $375. Additional financial aid is available for those who qualify.

  • Who are the instructors?

    Our instructors all actively own or run small businesses, and have been through a one-year intensive training program geared towards maximizing their experience as entrepreneurs in teaching small business concepts.

  • How do I apply?

    Introduce yourself by filling out our program inquiry form here and we will walk you through next steps.