SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

Who will be the next Bill Gates? The next Ray Kroc? The next Warren Buffet? The right start in Birmingham-area institutions could make all the difference.

Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham (JA) recently launched JA &8220;It&8217;s My Business!&8221;, an inspirational, six-session course in entrepreneurship for grades 6-8. The program began Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Birmingham YMCA in Alabaster.

JA &8220;It&8217;s My Business!&8221; provides children with engaging lessons in entrepreneurship, profiles of past and present entrepreneurs and their characteristics to be applied to their own lives.

The program also presents a strong focus on social studies, reading and writing skills as well as math and career tech. Kids learn to think critically, explore and enhance their career aspirations, and build positive attitudes and self esteem.

JA provides these programs, materials and teacher training at no cost.

The Oct. 12 launch date coincides with Lights on Afterschool, a day devoted to supporting after-school programs for America&8217;s children and communities. Programs such as JA &8220;It&8217;s My Business!&8221; help fill the need for the 14.3 million American kids alone and unsupervised after every school day. Afterschool Alliance, afterschoolalliance.org, sponsors &8220;Lights on Afterschool.&8221;

Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham, (birmingham.ja.org), uses hands-on experiences to help young people understand the economics of life.

In partnership with business and educators, Junior Achievement offers educational programs for students in grades K-12, focusing on seven areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy and career development.

JA serves more than 25,000 Birmingham-area students annually