In an election year twist to its conference theme, the Urgency of NOW!  BESLA  fuses a “Hollywood on the Potomac” perspective with its 28th Annual conference offerings with actor, author and Presidential campaign member Hill Harper as  Power Luncheon speaker.

Accomplished across film, television and stage, Harper is best known for his portrayal of Dr. Sheldon Hawkes in the hit CBS drama series, CSI: NY. A magna cum laude graduate from Brown University and a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, Harper also holds a Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government. He presently serves on the National Finance Committee for fellow Harvard Law classmate and Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama, who contributed to Harper's best-selling motivational book for young African-American men called “Letters To a Young Brother: MANifest your Destiny.”  He also has published memoirs to young ladies entitled Letters To a Young  Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny.” Harper will address Conference attendees on Thursday, October 23.