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National Network News--

---From the U.S. Surgeon General---
United States Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher offers some perspective on the burgeoning AIDS crisis in the African American community: "In observing Black History Month each February, we acknowledge and celebrate the richness of African American culture and history. It is often a story that centers on our collective struggle and survival in the Americas. Yet as we have overcome much, we continue to struggle to improve African American health. With regard to HIV/AIDS, the situation is dire. An estimated half of the more recent U.S. HIV cases are among African Americans, who comprise just 12 percent of the population. In 1998, HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death for Black men 25-44 and the second leading cause of death for Black women in this age group. Most HIV/AIDS cases among gay/bisexual men are African Americans, and female and heterosexual HIV/AIDS cases are found at a disproportionate rate among Black women. We are facing a public health crisis."

---Rice Appoints Senior Director for African Affairs---
National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice announced the appointment of Dr. Jendayi E. Frazer as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council. Frazer comes to the NSC from Harvard University, where she has been serving as an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government. Frazer graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in political science and African and African-American Studies, M.A.s in international policy studies and international development education and a Ph.D. in political science.

---Census Bureau Releases Facts for African American History Month---
Education: In 2000, 79 percent of African Americans age 25 and over had completed at least high school a record high. In 2000, a record-high 17 percent of African Americans age 25 and over had earned at least a bachelor's degree.
Income and Poverty
The 1999 poverty rate for African Americans, 23.6 percent, was the lowest ever measured by the Census Bureau. The 1999 median income for African American households, $27,910, was the highest ever recorded.
Families:
In 2000, there were 8.7 million African American families; just under half of them (48 percent) were married-couple families.
Population Distribution
The nation's African American population totaled an estimated 35.5 million as of Nov. 1, 2000. It comprised 13 percent of the total population. In 2000, the majority of African Americans (54 percent) lived in the South, followed by the Northeast (19 percent), Midwest (19 percent) and West (8 percent). There was no statistical difference between the percentages living in the Northeast and the Midwest. Homeownership:
The African American homeownership rate the percentage of African American families owning their own home reached 47 percent during the third quarter of 2000.

---What's your net worth?---
The median net worth of U.S. households stood at $40,200 in 1995, not statistically different from 1993, according to results of a survey released by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau, "Household Net Worth and Asset Ownership: 1995." Household net worth is defined as the value of assets, minus debts. Half of all households had net worth above the median figure and half were below. Included in net worth were interest-earning assets, checking accounts, stocks and mutual fund shares, real estate, motor vehicles, value of business or profession and mortgages held by sellers. The data should not be confused with Census 2000 results, which will be released over the next three years. In 1995, the net worth for households with a White householder was $49,030; for households with an African American householder, it was $7,073; and for those with a Hispanic householder, it was $7,255.

---Detroit: Lewis College of Business---
Lewis College of Business, Michigan's Only Historic Black College (HBCU), on Thursday, March 8, 2001, will host its eleventh annual fundraising banquet, Salute to the Parents of Famous African Americans, to be held at the Dearborn Hyatt Regency Hotel at 6 p.m. The event, created by Dr. Marjorie Harris, LCB president, honors parents who have contributed to the success of their famous children but often go unrecognized publicly. For ticket information call Mary Hollens, 313-862-6300, ext. 201.

---Joint Center Releases New Book On Strategies To Promote Racial Inclusion----The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies today released "Steps Toward an Inclusive Community," with a companion guide for communities to use in assessing their level of inclusiveness. It was authored by Maggie Potapchuk, a senior program associate with the Joint Center's NABRE (Network of Alliances Bridging Race and Ethnicity) program." The book discusses the steps that Clarksburg mayor Reverend David Kates and city council member Jim Hunt undertook when the White Kamellia Ku Klux Klan requested permission to hold a rally there in November 1999. The book's companion "Inclusive Community Assessment" was developed as a tool for community leaders and groups to determine their level of inclusiveness. It identifies four levels -- Invisibility, Awareness, Disequilibrium, Restructuring -- and suggests techniques for actively intervening to push a community toward greater tolerance and understanding. For more information, call 202-789-3500.

---Chicago: A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum---
The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum in collaboration with Amtrak, unveiled the Historic National Registry for African American railroad employees, at Chicago's Union Station. The idea for the registry was originally intended to document surviving members of the once renowned Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) union, the first African American labor union chartered in the United States. Surviving members of the now defunct union would be documented or their descendants would register their relative. Amtrak has provided computers and people support to register surviving union members or their descendants who desire to register; Pullman Porters, dining car waiters, and other railroad employees who worked for the railroad from 1863 to 1963. The names entered on the registry will become part of history and will be honored and preserved. The A. Philip Randolph Museum plans to use the names in a Commemorative Exhibit to be displayed at the museum. For more information, contact Lyn Hughes of the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, 773-255-0169, or pullport@aol.com .

--Remember Gail Fisher---
Gail Fisher, who played the TV role of Peggy on the 1970s television series Mannix , has died. Fisher was born in Orange, N.J.

---Summer Institute On The African Diaspora---
Florida Memorial College received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment of Humanities to create a unique educational program highlighting the history and culture of the African diaspora in the Americas. The grant will create a three-week summer institute and faculty- development seminar aimed at enhancing the college's curriculum and student, faculty and community understanding of the African diaspora. Florida Memorial College is the only historically African-American college in South Florida and requires all students to take a course in African- American History. For more information on the college, call the Office of Public Affairs, (305) 626-3624. For more information on the African diaspora program, call the Division of Social Sciences at (305) 626-1406, or email jsilver@shadow.net.

---National Directory of African-American Organizations---
For more than two decades, Philip Morris has produced the National Directory of African-American Organizations. This year the Company has teamed up with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies to launch the 2001-2003 edition of the publication. On Monday, February 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., representatives from organizations listed in the Directory will convene at Philip Morris Headquarters, 120 Park Avenue, New York City, for the unveiling.

---Job Opportunity for the Week---
National Black College Alliance, a non-profit organization of college students and alumni from historically Black Colleges and Universities, seeks a Coordinator of Community Partnerships as well as a Coordinator for membership, volunteerism and philanthropy. For more information, check out www.nbcalliance.org.

--Focus on Smith College---
Smith College seeks: Assistant Director of Admission
The Assistant Director is responsible for recruitment and evaluation of prospective students. Responsibilities: application review; regional travel including eight weeks of travel to recruit high school students and meet with alumnae; interviewing; program planning; could also include supervision of student volunteers and assisting with multicultural recruitment. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree; minimum of two years of experience in admission or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience; bilingual English/Spanish desirable; demonstrated organizational and interpersonal skills; excellent oral and written communication skills; valid driver's license; good humor and grace under pressure appreciated. The ability to articulate the values of a selective liberal arts college to prospective students, parents and secondary school personnel is important. Starting salary for this full-time position is competitive and includes a comprehensive benefits package. For more information, check out www.smith.edu.