Youth CEO Clubs
"When the Student is Ready, The Teacher Will Appear!"

For Ages 7 - 18
Copyright  2008 Angels Press. All Rights Reserved



Youth CEO Clubs
Cathy Harris, CEO
P.O. Box 870849
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Phone:  (770) 873-2072
Website:  http://www.YouthCEOClubs.com
Email:   info@YouthCEOClubs.com

OPEN LETTER TO ALL BLACK FATHERS:
What You Must Do Now To Save Your Children


This is an open letter and national call to action to all black fathers to save black youths by helping them become ‘successful business owners.’  This is the third part of an empowerment series to lay out an action plan for the entire black family. 

There is no blueprint to show you how to raise a black child but first of all black fathers need to be a part of their youth’s life.

We can no longer tell our youths to go to school and get a job.  Due to the failing economy and this administration, the whole paradigm has now shifted and that’s why schools are serving as ‘feeder systems’ into prisons.

In the past - black youths went to school, got out and got jobs and worked for 30 years and retired.  But now if you end up in the workplace, there’s a good chance that you will be forced out no matter what type of credentials you have acquired. 

Because of the economy, the people in charge in the workplace are bringing in their relatives and friends at an alarming rate, and this practice has totally polluted most workplaces in America.  So why do we continue to prepare our kids for a workplace that doesn’t want them in the first place? 

So we have no other choice than to prepare our youths to become business owners.

A Father’s Duty:

With over 70% of homes being ran by black women, black men or fathers, must now step up to the plate and do the right thing and be in the lives of their children. 

Black mothers are very strong individuals but still sometimes they need help! 

Black fathers need to come back in the lives of their children and help them transition into successful business owners. 

Let’s not dwell on what happened in the past between you and your child’s mother but let’s start today building for the future. Let’s build a gateway to empower your youths to become successful leaders of tomorrow. And the way to do that is for them to become successful business owners.

We are asking all black fathers to sit down with their youths that are at least 7 years of age and encourage them to investigate the possibility of becoming a business owner. 

Explain to them how important it is for your youths to stay in school especially with black parents being arrested for truancy now because of educational neglect. 

Black men must also work with other black males or females who no longer have any type of males in their lives.  They need to work with groups such as "Big Brothers Big Sisters of America."

Fathers it’s never too late to do the right thing for your family.  Remember you are still the father of that youth and therefore you are responsible for that child’s future.

Black Youths are Multi-talented!

Our kids are multi-talented! So what are you waiting on?  It’s time to invest in them!  They have the strength, the tenacity, the boldness and the aggressiveness to become successful business owners. They are imaginative, creative, bold, and fashionable. 

But the reality is our youth do not want to be a carbon copy of their parents.  They are living in the world of technology.  Every thing is open to them with just a ‘click.’  Therefore, they do have what it takes to become a successful business owner but one of the main obstacles that will stop them from going that route is the lack of parental supervision and support in their lives.

A New Concept:

Youth business ownership is a ‘new concept’ especially in the black community.  And for some, it’s going to be an uphill battle because people don’t embrace new things.  Chances are support from the community will probably be slow.  That’s why it’s extremely important for black parents to be on board with their youths as they maneuver through this uncharted territory of youth business ownership.

No one expects black mothers or fathers to teach their youths about entrepreneurship when most of them don’t understand business themselves.   But what is expected of black mothers and fathers is to encourage, allow and assist your youths to investigate the possibility of becoming a business owner.

If you don’t understand business yourself, there are ethical business mentors, consultants and coaches and other business owners that would love to help your kids succeed in business, but first you have to see the vision and take the proper steps to make this happen.  Do your research by all means, but then take the proper steps to help your youth transition into a successful business owner.

The Vision:

We know that black males are the last hired and first fired in the workplace simply because when companies hire a black female, they have hired a minority who is a: 1) female, and an 2) African American – so the company gets two quotas when they hire black females instead of black males. So it’s going to be extremely hard for black males no matter their age to hold on to many jobs in America.

Therefore, black males should understand how important it is for their youths especially males to become business owners.  And the good thing about becoming a business owner, you can start many businesses from the leisure of your own home.

If black youths have something that they can feel good about, then they would not want to join gangs and be criminalized by police or engage in some other type of unhealthy habit in order to feel good about themselves. 

Your daughters would not be looking for young men to make them feel good about themselves.  All this love and training should start at home even if the father is not in the home.

For some, it’s going to be black youths to teach their parents about business ownership.  But first they have to learn the process. So don’t stand in their way but support them instead!

Let’s Look at Some of the Qualifications for Youth Entrepreneurs:

  • Is your child a self-starter?
  • Can your child make decisions?
  • Does your child have will-power?
  • Does your child have self-discipline?
  • Does your child have a good understanding of their strengths and weaknesses?

Not all black youths like black adults have what it takes to become a business owner. Some youths will have to work for others! 

Some of the Reasons that Black Adults Need to Start Businesses:

  • One out of every two marriages ends because of finances so someone in your household (youth, parents, or both) need to start a business. 
  • Most families dream of having their own businesses.
  • No family really wants to have ‘latch-key’ kids.
  • People are sick of office politics (discrimination, workplace abuse, nepotism,  cronyism, favoritism, etc.)
  • People do not like driving in traffic.
  • When you transfer to another city, it’s best to start a business rather than looking for a job.
  • Because of the weak economy, owning your own business will lend more security to your life.

But the reality is, it is going to be extremely hard for black parents over the age of 35 to start a business because: 1) They are too set in their ways, 2) They want everything for free, and 3) They refuse to read helpful non-fiction books. 

Youths unlike adults are still learning and their minds are still developing, therefore, youths will read non-fiction books, which will make it much easier for them to learn about business ownership. 

Some of the Reasons That Youths Need to Start a Business:

  • It will help them grow into a responsible adult.
  • It will help them help their family out financially.
  • It will help them change the conditions in the community.
  • It will help them pay for their entire college education.
  • They have no other choice because of the economy.

The entire black community must get behind the black family and especially black fathers that are trying to be in the lives of their children and set up several outlets to teach black youths about entrepreneurship opportunities.  If we can’t set up youth entrepreneurship opportunities in the school system, then we must set them up in the community. 

Steps You Can Take to Help Your Youths Jump-Start Their Entrepreneurial Minds and Start a Business:

  • Look for ethical businesses that can mentor and give your youth advice. Our company, Angels Press, is an ethical company so allow your youth, ages 7 – 18, to start a business with our  "Youth CEO Clubs." We offer 3 to 6 months of  low- cost business coaching/consultations in person, by phone or email.


  • Take your youths to the library often to read books on business and marketing especially during the summer time.

  • Buy your youths books from bookstores on business and marketing. List of recommended books (click here).

  • Subscribe to Black Enterprise and support their annual Kidpreneurs and Teenpreneurs events.

  • Allow your youths to learn from the leisure of their homes by watching shows such as The Suze Orman Show and other financial and educational channels.


There are several businesses that your youths can start ASAP and start making money within two weeks.  Why…because they are multi-talented! 

Please support the "Youth Action Plan."

For more information on how to start, run and build a youth business, have your youth, ages 7 – 18, fill out the Youth Talent Survey.

Cathy Harris is a Business Coach, Founder of  Youth CEO Clubs and author of the  How To Take Control of Your Own Life  book series.  She is available for seminars, workshops and consultations and can be reached through her company at Angels Press, P.O. Box 870849, Stone Mountain, GA 30087, Phone:  (770) 873-2072, Website:  http://www.angelspress.com and Email:  info@angelspress.com.

Copyright 2008 Cathy Harris. All Rights Reserved