The Black Star Project was founded in 1996 to improve the quality of life in the Black American and Latino communities of Chicago by eliminating the racial academic achievement gap. We believe that by eliminating the racial academic achievement gap, many other quality-of-life gaps will improve for African American and Latino students, their families and their communities. The Black Star Project began as a small mentoring program in two Chicago public schools. Since then, we have grown to be an organization with national impact for our innovative programs that engage and inspire students, parents and communities to improve educational outcomes. The Black Star Project works to help pre-school through college students succeed academically by providing educational services while supporting parents, families and communities to effectively provide educational supports for their children and students.