Luther G. Bellinger speaks from experience.

"You can make it," said Bellinger. "You can take charge of your life and be what you want to be."

Bellinger, an education consultant in the St. Louis area, pointed to a ring he wears proudly as he spoke to a tired and sleepy group of young people at the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau early Saturday morning.

"This ring is from the University of Notre Dame," said Bellinger, a graduate of that university with a masters of arts degree in mathematics and education.

"I was dirt poor as a kid," said Bellinger. "There were five children -- three girls and two boys -- in our family. I didn't have my first pair of pants until I was 6. I wore my sisters' dresses."

But Bellinger said he had a dream, even at an early age. "And my dad talked to me: He explained that some day I could be somebody.

"Although my parents had little money, the had a family plan, and it worked," said Bellinger.

All five Bellinger children graduated college, said Bellinger. "All except me are retired now. I'm not rich but I'm wealthy."

Bellinger was one of a number of speakers at a 20-hour, "Back-to-School/Stay-in-School" family summit, an overnight program held at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope, from 6:30 p.m. Friday through 2:45 p.m. Saturday.

The program, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and supported by a number of Cape Girardeau businesses and individuals, followed a pattern of the NAACP organization's national campaign to "educate, agitate and motivate" youths to stay in school.

The program is designed to reverse chronic absenteeism and drop-out rates among minority youths and to develop positive attitudes toward the importance of education, said Michael J. Sterling, local NAACP president.

Members of the local NAACP organization are working with parents, educators and business owners to improve attendance and excellence in Cape Girardeau public schools.

The first event in the on-going program was an overnight shut-in to provide students with a fun setting where they can hear motivational speakers, talk to professionals about career options and learn goal-setting skills, she said.

More than 200 students and 80 adults participated, said Sterling.

"A lot of the young people played basketball throughout the night," said Sterling. Others sang and entertained.

"We didn't just load them up with information and work," said Dr. Bernice Coar-Cobb, NAACP branch vice president. "We provided speakers and a lot of fun, too. Included in the entertainment during the overnight stay was the appearance of a magician.

Parents and others participated.

Among the list of speakers were Bellinger, a motivation speaker who centered his talk on PREP, Personal Responsibility Education Process; and bank representatives Charles Daniel, president of Union Planters Bank; and Viney Mosley, a banking officer with First National Bank. Also on the program were city, library, health, school and Scout representatives.

A number of parenting workshops were held.

This is not a single-event thing, said Sterling.

"Students will be tracked throughout the year and until they graduate so that the program can chart its success," he said. "

Bellinger, who was impressed with the program, said he would return to Cape Girardeau to participate in the ongoing program.

"Children are the cornerstone to America," he said. "I talked with students here that expressed strong desires about their future. This is a program that the NAACP, parents and sponsors should be proud of."

The theme of the program was "Reaching Educational Achievement by Completing High School."

The entire group -- students, parents, organizers and speakers -- observed an art display exhibited by Scott and Calvin Johnson. The Johnson brothers, graduates of Cape Girardeau Central High School, exhibited pastel, acrylic and watercolor arts of scenes and portraits.