Minority business leaders concerned that athletes and entertainers are the main role models for their children are launching various programs to acquaint them with the business world and inspire them to become "kidpreneurs."

• Under the sponsorship of Black Enterprise magazine, about 120 children ages four to 18 learned about such issues as profit, income, personal finance and stocks at a recent conference -- while their parents attended a similar adult seminar nearby.

• In New York, Erika Fikes, an African-American, runs an education consulting business called Visualize Your Dreams -- a goal-setting program for teens.

• YoungBiz -- an entrepreneurial magazine published by Kids Way Inc. -- reaches 50,000 teens per issue and although it doesn't specifically target minority teens, they make up about 85 percent of it's readership and participants.

Hispanics are not left out of the movement to champion entrepreneurship among minority children. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is in the midst of forming a junior Hispanic chamber aimed at fueling interest in entrepreneurship among Hispanic teens.

Source: Paulette Thomas, "'Kidpreneurs' Program Focuses on Minority Youngsters," Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2000.

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