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National Network News-- Happy New Year

---Census 2000---
The Census Bureau released the first results from Census 2000 showing the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000 was 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 persons counted during the 1990 census. The most populous state in the country was California (33,871,648); the least populous was Wyoming (493,782). The state that gained the most numerically since the 1990 census was California, up 4,111,627. Nevada had the highest percentage growth in population, climbing 66.3 percent (796,424 people) since the last census. Regionally, the South and West picked up the bulk of the nation's population increase, 14,790,890 and 10,411,850, respectively. The Northeast and Midwest also grew: 2,785,149 and 4,724,144. Additionally, the resident population of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was 3,808,610, an 8.1 percent increase over the number counted a decade earlier.

---Census in Georgia---
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-4th) says "Georgia's good count means more clout in Washington." A brief excerpt from her remarks regarding the Census follows: "The participation of the African American community in the Census should not be forgotten as new power is doled out. Because of Georgia's phenomenal growth, Georgia's Congressional delegation will grow by an additional two members in the United States House of Representatives. The added representation means additional clout for the residents of our State: more money from Washington to local communities; more votes to press our interests in Congress; and more attention in presidential election campaigns. Our growth will also save us from the painful process of downsizing our Congressional delegation, as many states will now have to do. We worked very hard with the Census Bureau to achieve a good count and it appears that we succeeded. The cooperation of the people of Georgia with the Census Bureau is to be commended. However, the boost given our efforts by the participation of the African American community, in returning census forms, should not be forgotten as new power in our State is doled out."

---From the White House---
President Clinton appointed Roger Gregory to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. This appointment is historic. The Fourth Circuit, which hears appeals from trial courts in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, has the largest African American population of any circuit in this country, yet it has never had an African American appellate judge until the President recess appointed Roger Gregory. The seat for which the President appointed Roger Gregory had been declared a "judicial emergency" by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts because it was vacant for almost a decade, longer than any seat in the nation. So, pursuant to Article II of the Constitution, the President has the authority to recess appoint federal judges and he took action, after several nominations. The President had actually nominated four qualified African Americans to the Fourth Circuit (Judge James Beatty, of North Carolina, nominated in December 1995 and re-nominated in January 1997; Judge James Wynn, of North Carolina, nominated in August 1999; Roger Gregory, of Virginia, nominated in June 2000, and Judge Andre Davis, nominated in October 2000). However none of these exceptional candidates received a Judiciary Committee hearing, let alone a vote on the Senate floor. Even Gregory was never afforded a Judiciary Committee hearing, notwithstanding the fact that he received the enthusiastic support of both of his home state Senators. FYI, some of the most well respected jurists have originally received recess appointments, including Judge Thurgood Marshall, was recess appointed to the Second Circuit by President Kennedy in 1961.

---Black Leaders focus on agenda, Top clergy clarify position---
The leaders of America's most powerful civil rights, service and religious organizations, the Black Leadership Forum (BLF), reaffirmed their goal of a "full measure of justice and equity for all" in a meeting of 50 BLF members and extended family, including the NAACP, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), National Urban League, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), Blacks in Government (BIG), Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Congress of National Black Churches (CNBC), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC/LEO). The Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, BLF's Chairman and SCLC's President Emeritus, summarized the meeting's outcomes when he reported: "Administrations come and administrations go, but our relentless advocacy for a full measure of justice and equity for all people remains the same. We have agreed to support task forces seeking legal redress of voting rights violations and abuses in Florida and elsewhere; reaffirmed our public policy agenda addressed both to the Congress and the executive branch; celebrated the tremendous African American voter turnout as victorious and prophetic; and, assured the nation that there will be no reversal of gains. We've come too far, marched too long, prayed too hard, wept too bitterly, bled too profusely and died too young to let anybody turn back the clock on our journey to justice," Lowery declared. The BLF also agreed to have a significant pressence throughout the U. S. Civil Rights Commission's hearings relating to charges against the State of Florida and its officials, due to begin on January 12, 2001. Also, several events were endorsed including a : A Voter Registration Rally in Greensboro, N. C. on Dr. Martin Luther King's January 15th birthday; a full national Unity Celebration in Tallahassee, Florida, on January 20th; and a series of national leadership strategy sessions, including a January 4th Howard University Black Leadership Roundtable Summit. For more information, contact: Dr. Yvonne Scruggs of the Black Leadership Forum at 301-946-2393 or 202-841-2443

----Summit on Leading Diversity---
The second annual Summit on Leading Diversity, one the nation's leading conferences for sharing diversity-oriented information and resources, will be held in Atlanta, GA from March 26-28, 2001. With keynote speakers Dr. Maya Angelou, Dr. Roosevelt Thomas, Brian McNaught, George Herrera, Chin-Ning Chu and Mark Williams, the conference will unite over 350 thought-leaders and practitioners dedicated to the advancement of workforce diversity. The 2001 Summit will provide: innovations for expanding outreach to an increasingly more diverse labor pool, retention strategies and usable insights into what employees really want, strategies from recruitment to succession planning for increasing diversity at the executive level, tools to effectively measure the tangible and intangible impact of diversity initiatives, practices that will drive true behavior and organizational change, and fresh ideas for making the business case for diversity. Attend and visit the vendor showcase of dozens of diversity-focused companies and resources. Also, meet key authors and connect with session attendees representing some of the nation's top corporations. To register for this event, call 781-862-3157 or visit the Summit website at www.linkageinc.com/diversity2001. Special gift offer: When you register for the conference, mention, Unity First and receive a complimentary 2001 calendar by world-renowned, African -American artist Paul Goodnight.

---Luster Products Kicks Off PCJ Express Yourself ! Readers Club and $5,000 Grand Prize Shopping Spree---Your favorite hair care brand, Luster Products, has come up with the greatest duo ever - reading and shopping! Girls of all ages love to be up to date on the latest fashion trends while parents are more concerned with their education. What better way to stylishly improve their reading skills than to enter in the PCJ Express Yourself! Readers Club Essay Contest. It's easy! Just read one of the selected books from the booklist found in every specially marked PCJ Pretty-N-Silky kit, or visit the website at www.lusterproducts.com. You also can obtain a list by writing to the address below. To enter, girls within the age groups, 5 - 9 and 10 - 14, must write a book report and mail it to PCJ Express Yourself! Readers Club, 8 S. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1510, Chicago, IL 60609. Book report entries from girls in the 5 - 9 age group must be 100 - 250 words in length; book report entries from girls in the 10 - 14 age group must be between 500 and 750 words in length. Only one essay may be submitted by each entrant, during each contest period in four geographical regions. Each essay should include a title page (not considered part of the word requirement limit) with the following information: title of your book report, your birthdate, complete name, address (including zip code) and telephone number. Entries become the property of Luster Products and will not be returned. Luster Products, Inc. is the leading African-American owned manufacturer of hair care products for people of African descent worldwide. To obtain more information about Luster Products, please visit the Web site at www.lusterproducts.com.

--- Advisory Committee On Minority Health---
Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala announced the appointment of 12 members to the Secretary's new Advisory Committee on Minority Health. The committee will advise the Secretary on ways to improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations, and on the development of goals and program activities within the department. The advisory committee, created by the Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, will be chaired by Louis Stokes, a lawyer, a former congressman from Ohio, and a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. The committee also includes: Dr. Henry Chung, physician, Chinatown Health Clinic, New York, N.Y.; Dr. Estevan T. Flores, sociologist and journalist, Latino/a Research and Policy Center, Denver, Colo.; Dr. Clyde Oden, optometrist and health services executive, Watts Health Foundation, Inglewood, Calif.; Dr. Joan Reede, physician and educator, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

--Unity First Job Opportunity Showcase: Bentley College---
Secretary: Provide support for John E. Rhodes, Chair. Support accountancy faculty members regarding syllabi, coursework and correspondence. This will entail answering phones, photocopying, interacting with students, greeting visitors and coordinating meetings. In addition, you will provide support for the accounting internship coordinator. Arrange mid and final evaluation interface with faculty. You will assist other department secretaries as needed. This position requires a high school diploma and 1-2 years' experience in a fast-paced office. Must have excellent interpersonal communication and organization skills and possess working knowledge of Microsoft Office/Lotus Notes. Familiarity with an academic environment is preferred. Full-time 9-month position with benefits. If interested, please forward resume to: Human Resources Department, Bentley College, 175 Forest Street, Rauch Administration Center, Room 217, Waltham, MA 02452-4705. Apply online at: www.bentley.edu. Please reference Job Code 40717.

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