Empowered by choices of entrepreneurship: An intervention for female African American high school students through the My Entrepreneurial Journey (MEJ) program

The number of women entrepreneurs has significantly increased since 1987 and continues to grow. Furthermore, thirteen percent of all women owned minority women own businesses. The success and growth rate of Asian American and Hispanic women owned businesses however, far outpace the success and growth rates of African-American women owned businesses.; Research discusses two factors relevant to successful entrepreneurial pursuits. The first factor is early exposure to an entrepreneurial parent, relative or close friend. Studies have shown that exposure to an entrepreneurial role model greatly increases one's likelihood of pursuing entrepreneurship as a career option, citing that people are more likely to "do" what they "see." The second factor related to successful entrepreneurship is the awareness of and access to human, social and financial capital resources and/or skill development. African American women lack both the entrepreneurial role model as well as the awareness of and access to the resources deemed necessary for small business development and growth.; The present research seeks to narrow this gap with the female African-American community. Utilizing the experiences of practicing African American female entrepreneurs and the perceptions of African-American female youth hold regarding small business ownership, and the literature on entrepreneurial education, the researcher has designed a 14-week entrepreneurial program for African-American female high school students. The purpose of the program, entitled My Entrepreneurial Journey (MEJ), is to introduce entrepreneurship as a career option at an early age.; The program share fundamental principles of other youth entrepreneur education programs, but differs from them in the following ways. First, the MEJ program incorporates elements of spirituality and encourages self-esteem and self-knowledge development. Second, the program integrates a mentoring relationship so the participants will have continued supports in the achievement of established future goals after completing the program. Third, the program has African-American women entrepreneurs as guest speakers so that the participants can learn from the experiences of these small business owners. Limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are also discussed.