“Purpose isn’t found — it’s built, step by step, on the path you choose.”
Too many of our Black youth are being pulled onto paths that lead to struggle, loss, and unrealized potential. This is not by accident—it is the result of fractured opportunities, and a world that too often dismisses their worth. If we do not act with urgency, we risk losing another generation to circumstances they did not choose.
The College Prep Conference exists to change that.
On Aug. 30, the Center for Leadership Development (CLD) will host our 18th Annual College Prep Conference and College Fair (CPC), an event designed to equip African American students with the tools, knowledge, and strategies they need to dismantle the barriers fueling career and academic achievement gaps. By connecting them with resources, knowledge, and proven pathways, this conference is a direct investment in their future.
The theme for this year’s conference is Your Pathway to Purpose — a call to action for students to take ownership of their future. This full-day experience will empower 9th–12th grade students, student-athletes, and the supportive adults in their lives, with the knowledge and skills to design a clear, achievable path toward academic, college, and career success.
Through dynamic, interactive sessions, participants will gain practical strategies and inspiration to guide every step of their journey. At the College Fair, students will connect directly with colleges and universities from opening doors to opportunities that can shape their purpose and propel them toward success.
During lunch, attendees will hear from keynote speaker Gregory Meriweather, a respected leader, changemaker, and community advocate known for transforming vision into action. Meriweather will share a personal story to inspire youth to pursue their own Pathway to Purpose with clarity, courage, and conviction. He believes, “It would be a tragedy to have the map and not give you directions.”
The stakes are high, but so is the potential. The College Prep Conference and College Fair is more than an event — it’s a movement to reclaim the narrative for our youth and to ensure they are seen, supported and prepared to succeed.
On Aug. 30, let’s come together to empower every student to step boldly onto their Pathway to Purpose. We look forward to welcoming you to this year’s College Prep Conference and College Fair — a day of inspiration, opportunity and transformation.
“Your Pathway to Purpose,” CLD’s 18th Annual College Prep Conference and College Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 at the Indiana Convention Center. Check-in begins at 8 a.m.
The registration fee is $25. Registration is not available onsite. Participants must register online by noon on Aug. 25 at www.cldinc.org.
School and organization discounts are available. For more information, contact mblack@cldinc.org.
