With cries of "I control my destiny!" a crowd of 1,500 students, parents and community members vowed to actively promote academic achievement for African American students and work to close the achievement gap. The promise came during the second annual 'Building Leadership in the African American Community for Kids' (BLAACK) Conference, held April 19 at Overland High School.

Keynote speaker Hill Harper, who stars on CSI: NY, inspired students with stories from his life in Hollywood and his book, Letters to a Young Brother, MANifest Your Destiny.

"Make good choices," Hill said. "Don't let your ego get in front of your purpose."

Hill, who graduated magna cum laude from Brown University, cum laude from Harvard Law School, and also earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, stressed the importance of education and having a life plan. "Be an active architect of your own life," Hill said, encouraging students to draw up a blueprint, then build a foundation and a framework for their own success.

Hill's message resonated with students like Eriq Shipp, a junior at Overland High School who is taking several Honors classes and has a grade point average of 4.2. "It's becoming a cool thing to go to class and get good grades," Shipp said.

That's important, according to Dr. Gilpin Whiting and Dr. Donna Ford, who are national experts on the achievement gap. They told the crowd that 'deficit thinking,' which includes fear of success and an anti-achievement ethic, is holding back some African American students.

"Why are blacks not performing as well as Asians, who are also a minority?" Ford asked. She said that society must change the perception that doing well in school is 'acting white.' Ford and Whiting encouraged the community to demand quality curriculum and teachers in their schools, but also to take personal responsibility for things like putting homework before socializing and reading instead of watching television.

The BLAACK conference also featured Denver dance icon Cleo Parker Robinson, who got people on their feet, moving and grooving, before a performance by her internationally renowned Dance Ensemble.

A career fair gave students the opportunity to talk with professionals from a variety of fields, including education, medicine, media, the military, business, real estate, and public service.

The BLAACK Conference was sponsored by the Cherry Creek School District and Prairie Middle School, which have been leaders in efforts to close the achievement gap and prepare all students for success in college and the workforce.

"The education of our children is the responsibility of the entire community," said Jason Perry, a member of Prairie's African American Parent Leadership group. "We look forward to the day when the achievement gap is no longer an issue in our schools."