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National Network News--

---Technology usage at Black colleges---
The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund Inc., announced the release of "An Assessment of Current Information Technology Usage," the first long-term, in-depth study of information technology usage among its 44 member historically black public colleges and universities. More than half of the 44 member institutions have hired a chief information officer. Some 42 institutions have a campus network. Most institutions have a sophisticated Information Technology infrastructure. A majority of the campuses are moderately to highly sophisticated in (1) training for computer literacy, (2)software and (3)Internet. The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund is the only national organization of its type providing scholarships and programmatic support to students attending its 44 member historically black colleges and universities.

---GM forms Diversity Marketing and Sales Organization---
General Motors announced the formation of a diversity marketing and sales organization to focus on the women's market and the growing markets for African-American, Hispanic- American, and Asian-American consumers. The new Center of Expertise on Diversity is designed to enhance cross-divisional planning and execution, capitalize on the company's scale and share of voice, increase GM's understanding of multi-cultural consumers, support and leverage local dealer efforts, and serve as a resource within the corporation to coordinate and communicate learnings. The Center will be jointly led by Judy Hu, executive director-advertising and marketing strategy and operations; and Michael Jackson, executive director-sales support. The Center will be staffed by Chris Robinson, director of diversity marketing and sales-African-American; Sonia M. Green, director of diversity marketing and sales-Hispanic/Asian-American; Miriam Muley, director of diversity marketing and sales-women; Sandra Reid-Smith, manager-African- American marketing; and Diane Romanelli, manager-diversity marketing.

--Philadelphia's Women's Christian Alliance---
Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street, Marilyn Rivers, executive director of Women's Christian Alliance (WCA), and 12-year-old Lamont Collins led elected officials, dignitaries and more than 250 neighborhood residents in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at WCA's new multi-million dollar center on Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philadelphia. WCA is one of the oldest and most venerated agencies serving Philadelphia's African-American children and their families since 1919. The organization was founded by Dr. Melissa E. Thompson Coppin, wife of African American Bishop Levi J. Coppin, a prominent figure in the post slavery movement of the late 1800s and revered Bishop of the Richard Allen AME Church in South Philadelphia, who organized a group of church women to help with relocation of Southern Blacks to Philadelphia.

---African American Male Empowerment Summit in Oakland, CA---
Omega Boys Club Executive Director and Co-Founder Dr. Joseph Marshall, Jr. will address Oakland's First Annual African-American Male Empowerment Summit (AAMES) on May 11, 2001 at Laney College at 900 Fallon Street. Included are workshops for men, women and youth and powerful keynote addresses. Topics include entrepreneurship, fathering, youth leadership, mentoring and community development. New to the 2001 agenda is a "Women's Perspectives on Fathering" workshop. AAMES, which takes place in seven markets in 2001, is a 501(c)(3) company. Registration and contributions are tax deductible. For more information, send an email to: info@aames.org.

---2002 Playoffs---
The NAACP has strongly urged the National Collegiate Athletic Association to reconsider its decision to hold the 2002 first and second rounds of the Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship in South Carolina. NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said, "This issue continues to be of paramount importance to the NAACP. Until the Confederate Flag is removed from places of sovereignty in South Carolina, the economic sanctions imposed by the NAACP over one year ago will remain in effect. On April 27, the NCAA Executive Committee voted to honor its existing contracts to hold championship basketball games in South Carolina and Georgia.

---National Museum of African American History and Culture---
Senate Republican Conference Chairman Rick Santorum (R-PA) was joined by Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Max Cleland (D-GA) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), at a recent press conference to unveil legislation in the Senate to establish a National Museum of African American History and Culture on or near the national Mall in Washington, D.C. Joining the Senators were House sponsors John Lewis (D-GA) and J.C. Watts, Jr. (R-OK). The museum would house a permanent collection of artifacts and historical materials showcasing over 400 years of African American history and culture, and would be funded through a federal-private partnership.

---Venus rising---
Venus Williams has just won her second consecutive tournament, the Betty Barclay Cup. Now, Williams sets her sights on the French Open, where she could move to the No. 1 ranking and surpass tennis ace Martina Hingis.

---AIDS Conference for Black Churches, May 22-24---
As more and more churches take a more aggressive role in addressing the AIDS epidemic in Black communities, pastors and church members around the country are preparing to attend the 3rd Annual Black Church HIV/AIDS Training Institute at Tuskegee University in Alabama from May 22 to May 24, 2001. The Black Church HIV/AIDS Training Institute convenes clergy and auxiliary leaders of Black church congregations to examine the impact of HIV/AIDS on African American, African and Caribbean communities and the critical role members of faith-based institutions must play in AIDS prevention, treatment and care. The Balm In Gilead, the only organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to empowering churches in the struggle against the devastation of HIV/AIDS in the Black community. The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher and Helene Gayle, MD, director, National Center for HIV, AIDS, STD and TB Prevention for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are honorary chairpersons. The conference will feature some of the nation's top experts in the areas of health and religion. For more information, call 1-888-225-6243.

--- A new home for the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation---
The Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation has announced plans for the construction of a new dance complex, complete with a series of studios, a black box theater and office space for administrative and educational outreach purposes. This state of the art building, budgeted at $47.5 million, will be the largest complex in the United States dedicated exclusively to dance. New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announced a city grant of $7.5 million to launch the project. The foundation has agreed to purchase a building on the northwest corner of 55th street and Ninth Avenue in New York City. The existing building will be demolished on June 1, 2002 and the new building will be constructed and then opened in Spring 2004.

---Black Expo: New York City---
Black Expo New York City 2001 will be held on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. This is an event for the whole family with over 200 exhibitors, non-stop entertainment, seminars and celebrity appearances. The event is sponsored by New York radio stations, WBLS (107.5) FM and WLIB (1190) AM.

---Director John Singleton and Rapper Snoop Dogg---
Universal Records is preparing to release the soundtrack for director John Singleton's Columbia Pictures feature film, "Baby Boy", a coming-of-age drama starring Ving Rhames, Tyrese and Snoop Dogg. The soundtrack, to be released on June 12th, will be the first hip-hop/R&B soundtrack released by Universal Records. "Baby Boy" is scheduled to open in theaters across the country on June 29th.

---Job Opportunity of the Week---
Third Sector New England, (Boston, MA), Group Administrator
Third Sector New England (TSNE ) is a nonprofit organization with a mission of building the capacity of the nonprofit sector by providing information and management services. We are seeking a detail-oriented person to oversee and maintain the subscription data for the Nonprofit Quarterly publication, conference attendee data, and provide customer service to subscribers and attendees. The person will also regulate and report financial expenditures. Qualifications: Two years office experience, Excellent database skills, MS Access preferred. Desire to work in a nonprofit organization and commitment to social justice strongly preferred. Salary 30K-32K, excellent benefits. Email resume by 5/11 to johorgan@tsne.org. TSNE is an AA/EEO employer.