Author and Motivational Speaker Richard L. Taylor Jr. to Deliver Keynote speech at Bronzeville Scholastic Institute High School (BSI) on June 17th

Chicago, IL, June 15, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Motivational Speaker Richard L. Taylor Jr. will speak June 17th at the Bronzeville Scholastic Institute High School (BSI) commencement ceremony, 4934 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago, about his experience with life after surviving abuse and a suicide attempt during his college experience. Many African American students believe they can’t reach their dreams because of their current situation or where they were raised, to which Mr. Taylor replies, “The decisions you make determine your destiny or demise.” Richard’s message, "Don't Let Your Victory Defeat You," was created especially for the 100% Africian-American student body of BSI and their parents who have carved a permanent place in Chicago's history under the leadership of Principal LeeAndra Khan.

As the first high school in Chicago exclusively built to serve African-American students, Bronzeville Scholastic Institute is a small school located at the historic Jean Baptiste Point DuSable High School Campus. Bronzeville's class of 2013 is its 5th graduating class. During the 2012-2013 school year, Mayor Rahm Emanuel bestowed an official City of Chicago Landmark plaque to DuSable High School, citing the Bronzeville building’s long history of community service while producing graduates that rose to the top of their fields in entertainment, music, publishing, athletics, and other professional endeavors.

“DuSable alumni are a ‘who’s who’ of American culture,” Mayor Emanuel said. “I invite every Chicagoan to recognize the building’s important role as a community cornerstone and as a springboard to success for generations of students.” The Bronzeville Scholastic Institute joins with parents and the community to provide a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, while offering significant personal attention and support to its students.

With his contagious energy and powerful message Richard Taylor has touched and changed the lives of youth and adults throughout the country. BSI will use Taylor's message to motivate, teach and encourage a new generation of self disciplined learners to achieve academic and career goals that will ultimately enable them to obtain global leadership positions in areas where minorities are traditionally underrepresented.

The 25-year-old motivational speaker credits the TRIO program (3 programs: Upward Bound MS, Upward Bound, and Educational Talent Search designed to provide post-secondary education to first generations students) as his saving grace during the roughest time of his life. "My mentor was amazing, and I'm grateful that I could be a part of such a program,” he said. "I've loved basically every minute of my life from that point forward…I had the best support system, the best teacher, the best motivator there is! This is my way of preparing this class for success in that world. Don't just celebrate the victory of graduating high school and allow college to defeat you.”

"We will continue to work hard to get more scholarships, more knowledge and more exposure to this global society! I am so happy to be here and my door is always open," said Principal Khan.

About Richard L. Taylor Jr.
Richard L. Taylor Jr. is an activist, speaker, life changer, leader and the author of "Unashamed: The Process of Reconstruction" (a self-help book) based on Richard Taylor’s personal struggles due to bad decisions and a self destructive lifestyle. When Taylor felt there was no way out, he made a life and death decision — suicide. After making that decision and surviving, Richard decided to change his life for the better. Although faced with the many problems life can sometimes bring, he decided to embrace the process of healing and reconstruction. Richard Taylor manages C & M Concepts.