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Entrepreneurs today — no wait for tomorrow

By Richard Muhammad on Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Talk of product expenses, hourly price rates, industry competitors, customer service, marketing strategies, and business pitches might seem odd for teenagers. But young people at Sunshine Gospel Ministries recently tossed around business lingo readily.

The youth were participants in the Small Business Expo held Dec. 11 at Sunshine’s Woodlawn headquarters on East 61st Street as part of a program sponsored by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and After School Matters.

The youth developed business proposals — and were paid to do so — as part of a technology curriculum at Sunshine Gospel Ministries, with After School Matters paying stipends based on program attendance.

From the PowerPoint presentations flashed via an electronic clicker on a flat screen TV to the natty business attire of some presenters, it was clear the young entrepreneurs were serious about their work – and nearly all put in extra time on their presentations, according to program staffers and parents.

The ideas were varied and innovative. They ranged from a talent agency, to a music studio for young people, a Caribbean restaurant, a mommy-friendly beauty salon, a computer instruction service for the elderly, and a resume prep service especially for people trying to switch careers in a bad economy.

Brittany Fisher won first prize and $100 for her Dynamic Resume service idea. With the downturn in the economy, the young entrepreneur's idea was to specialize in helping people who are trying to change careers and to specialize in helping people who were hard to employ — all at a reasonable price.

But as the judges from NFTE, After School Matters, and Sunshine Gospel Ministries observed, there were no losers here. The 10-week program pushed the youth to create businesses, said Lew Williams, a judge from Sunshine Gospel Ministries. Youth focused on their interests and talents, but they were told to think beyond just getting jobs in appealing areas — and to focus on making jobs for themselves.

“They need to know that they could operate without being dependent on someone to hire them in,” said Williams. “And at the same time, if the business becomes profitable, which we really hope it does, they can hire on other people and help the economy to start to thrive again.”

All of the participants did great and presented ideas they focused on for five weeks, he said. The presentations included business plans, long and short range personal goals, qualifications they possess to make the businesses successful now – and a social responsibility, or "give-back," component.

It was also a time to dream, learn business concepts and acquire skills such as being on time and operating Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and other software. “Not everybody wants to be an entrepreneur,” said Vince McCaskill, an expo judge and director of Sunshine’s community technology center. “But I think the main thing they all gain is that to be a good entrepreneur, you need to be a good employee. Those are the cross set of skills we’re trying to build in our youth.”

Maurice Moore, a 17-year-old, presented Class X-Muscle, which was his concept for a business that specializes in car art. “It seems like this is a growing business because everywhere I go, I see people with their names or favorite characters on their cars,” said Moore. “It felt good because I got to put my love of cars and art together.”

The competition involved two rounds of idea pitches before two sets of judges. Four winners in the first round went on to repeat their presentations for a second group of judges.

Barbara Brown, whose sharply dressed daughter Cassandra Williams won honorable mention in the competition’s first round for her catering business, looked forward to seeing the presentations become reality. What made her proud? “To see her in action and actually presenting her plan made me proud as a parent and educator,” said Brown. “To see and hear our children do something positive and to speak positively unlike we’re portrayed in the news most times.”

Chotsani Baylis watched daughter Ashley Jones present her Entre Tainment restaurant concept. The 10th grader envisioned a place to play, socialize and eat. Her competition is Dave & Busters, which provides food and arcade games. Baylis was proud of her daughter, who received an award for perfect attendance, came in during her day off, and arrived early to complete her PowerPoint.

“They all worked real hard,” Baylis said. She was impressed by the youths’ willingness to speak before the judges and audience – something she would have been nervous doing.

Students self-select for the entrepreneurship program and pass interviews to join, said Keri Teplitzky, NFTE program director. Eighteen youth were interns at Sunshine Gospel Ministries. Students in 40 city high schools participate in the NFTE program, which has served over 9,000 Chicago youngsters since 2003.

“Our biggest goal is that students have to create a business idea based on the skills and resources they have today so that they can do something even part time or after school,” said Teplitzky. “They can use their passion and their skills and their resources that they have and start making a business.”

In the spring, the youth will come back and build on their presentations, adding financial information and sales forecasting. There will be another competition to win a slot representing Sunshine Gospel Ministries in a May citywide competition.

Joel Harmernick, executive director of Sunshine Gospel Ministries and one of the judges for the four finalists, promised to find mentors if any youth wanted to pursue their business ideas.

It was exciting to see teens who see themselves “as people who will produce things much bigger than who they are,” he said. “The goal of our community technology center is access, training and entrepreneurialism, and this is a piece in the entrepreneurialism side."