10:09 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 12, 2005

By Carolyn Campbell / 11 News

More than 1,000 Houstonians are expected to make the trip to Washington, D.C. this Friday for the Millions More Movement.

For many this is a return trip commemorating the Million Man March held 10 years ago. Others are going to be inspired for the first time.

From Shakespeare to rap artist Tupac Shakur this group of middle and high school students is learning to take their education to another level.

KHOU-TV

Lateef and Caroll Salley, founders of the Girls and Boys Preparatory Academy.

"Shakespeare was an awesome poet. In your day he would be somebody like Tupac. What about Tupac, the rose that grew from concrete what about that? Did you hear about the rose that grew from concrete, proving nature's laws wrong and learning to walk without feet? Isn't that awesome, he took it to another level," says their teacher at the Girls and Boys Preparatory Academy.

At this school, you will find students practicing Beethoven and Spanish.

It is one of the oldest charter schools in Texas with more than 500 students. It is pre-dominantly African-American and its founders say they were inspired by the Million Man March 10 years ago.

"After being with 2 million or more men, once that took place, nothing seemed to be impossible. I may have been apprehensive, but it didn't seem impossible," says Lateef Salley

Salley admits it was Carroll Salley, his wife and co-founder of the school, who insisted he go to Washington.

"With the march, when the men returned I think everybody was somewhat inspired and felt like we can do things now," she says.

What they wanted to do was provide African-Americans an alternative to public school with a focus on college.

"So together with that enthusiasm, we just went for broke," Mrs. Salley says.

The 1995 march was for men only but this year the Millions More Movement is open to women and children of any race.

Mrs. Salley will join her husband in Washington.

"This time with us going back together we are coming back twice as strong," he says.

They're taking a busload of staff, parents and students from the school with them.

"We want to carry on the legacy with the students," Mrs. Smalley says.

"I feel that I can come back and just make a major, dramatic difference," says a student.

"To me it just like a once in a lifetime thing," says 15-year-old Shermika Martin.

The controversy that surrounded the last march doesn't bother Martin. "What is wrong with us having a march and it go perfect? Why do we have to be stereotyped because we're black?", she says. She says she wants to go to the march, live a legacy, make history.

Tat's pretty much the lesson the founders of this school want all of the students to get.