The U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), in partnership with Dallas Prestige, Inc., a National Organization Promoting Entrepreneurship has agreed to combine their effort in reaching the youth of today through a Memorandum of Understanding.  Dallas Prestige, Inc. will assist in co-sponsoring the "Minority Youth Business Retreats" throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Area Region. The theme of the retreat is "If You Care About America Tomorrow, Then You Have to Care About Minority Youth Today."

Dallas Prestige, Inc. will assist and focus on ethnic minority (i.e., Native American, African American, Hispanic and Asian) students in grades 10-12 within the Dallas/Fort Worth Area Region.  Dallas Prestige, Inc. is an organization of business and professional leaders that promotes entrepreneurship and community economic development.  Members represent a pool of management expertise that serves as mentor and advisors of professional services.   Dallas Prestige, Inc. offers annual summer entrepreneurship programs for high school junior and senior students.  Qualified students enroll through their high school counselors.

"The low rate of minority business formation is due to a lack of exposure to business related activities by minority youth," stated John Iglehart, Regional Director of the MBDA Dallas office.  "Our program addresses this problem, and will teach these future business leaders the keys to asset building and wealth creation in minority communities."
 
The purpose of the retreat is two-fold: To expose minority youth to the principles of business in an effort to motivate them to consider entrepreneurship as a career option and to position minority youth to become future business owners and community leaders to participate in the changing economy resulting from the rapid growth in the minority population in America.

Mr. John F. Iglehart, MBDA's Dallas Regional Director, founded this program in 1996 to encourage minority youth to consider business as a career.  Approximately, 3,700 youth have participated in these retreats. 

For additional information on MBDA's Minority Youth Business Retreats, call Dr. Kenneth E.(W) Francis at (214) 767-8004.

MBDA is the only Federal agency created to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America.  MBDA provides business counseling and program services to assist minority-owned companies to grow and expand.   For more information on MBDA's Local BDC Offices, click here.