Marrea Walker-Smith, a business teacher at Devon Preparatory School in Chester County, is making sure that kids in her hometown of Chester have more opportunities than she had growing up, writes Matteo Iadonisi for 6ABC. 

“I grew up right here in the city of Chester in the low-income housing developments,” she said. “There were limited opportunities here, specifically the kind of opportunities that we’re trying to offer here at the Entrepreneur Innovation Center.” 

Walker-Smith partnered with her students to bring the Entrepreneur Innovation Center to Booker T. Washington Community Center as part of the Chester Housing Authority. It took months of planning and research to make the center a reality. 

This was made possible thanks to a grant from the McLean Contributionship, as well as by other donors and sponsors. The center consists of several labs with cutting-edge technology that includes cameras, a green screen, and microphones. 

The work that Walker-Smith’s students did in their free time was essential for the success of the project. 

“It started in the classroom and now we’re here about eight to nine months later,” said Jack Shaw, a rising senior at Devon Prep. 

Read more about Marrea Walker-Smith at 6ABC.