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National Network News

---Diversity today---
Top companies say diversity initiatives have a direct impact on the bottom line, according to a new survey released by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and FORTUNE magazine. The majority of respondents said diversity initiatives have affected the bottom line in several positive ways. For example, 79 percent said it improves corporate culture, 77 percent said it improves recruitment of new employees and 52 percent cite improved client relations. The majority of HR professionals (91 percent) also said their diversity initiative helps their organization keep a competitive advantage. More than three-fourths said such initiatives do this by both improving corporate culture (83 percent) and improving employee morale (79 percent). More than half said it decreases interpersonal conflict among employees (58 percent), increases creativity (59 percent), and increases productivity (52 percent). "Many HR professionals at top U.S. companies say the number of African American, Hispanic, female and older employees in their workforce have increased over the past five years," said SHRM Director of Research, Debra Cohen, Ph.D. Among the diversity practices of these top companies, the most common initiatives were recruiting efforts designed to help increase diversity within the organization (75 percent), diversity training initiatives, education, and/or awareness efforts (66 percent), and community outreach related to diversity (61 percent). Least cited practices were diversity-related conflict resolution (16 percent) and company-paid literacy training (11 percent).

---Boston: MBTA news---
Boston's MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) was recently held accountable for retaliating against a former high ranking employee who supported other employees who voiced complaints concerning discrimination. The case resulted in an award of $7.6 million in damages. In the past two years, this is the second suit of this kind for the MBTA.

---Avis and Asian Americans---
Avis Rent-A-Car System, Inc. has been named one of the "Best Companies for Asian Americans" by Asian Enterprise magazine. Avis and 12 other companies were chosen for the award from 100 finalists. "This award is a tribute to Avis for excelling in outreach to the Asian American community," said Gelly Borromeo, publisher of Asian Enterprise. The award covers various facets of Avis' operations: employment, management, supplier diversity and other company diversity programs.

---What's your preference? ---
Black Enterprise Magazine has named Detroit one of the "10 Best Cities for African Americans" to live, work and play according to a reader survey. Cities were judged on 21-quality of life factors with the top four being income earnings potential, cost of living, work commute and cost of housing. Detroit placed sixth. Just ahead of Baltimore, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia. The top five in order were Houston, Washington, Atlanta, Charlotte and Memphis.

---A Mentoring Moment---
They call themselves "The Brothers" and Tiger Woods, age 25, is the youngest to join. The golfer's inner circle of friends consists of sports dominators much like himself: basketball stars Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley and pro-football star-turned announcer Ahmad Rashad. "Our bond is that we're Black, famous and rich, and living in a fish bowl," Barkely tells Newsweek. "Tiger is our younger brother -- that's the best way to describe him." In the June 18 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, June 11) "Tiger Rules" focuses on the five secrets of Tiger's dominance and his private inner circle of friends that keep him grounded. The Brothers depend on each other for support, speaking and e-mailing daily, visiting regularly and offering each other advice. Last December they took a week-long trip to the new Atlantis hotel in the Bahamas, where Jordan has a $25,000-a-night-suite named after him, to celebrate Tiger's 25 birthday. The group golfed, gambled away tens of thousands of dollars and puffed on the Cuban cigars they always give each other for Christmas.

---Los Angeles: Real Men Cook---
The University of Southern California Black Alumni Association (USC BAA) will host the nation's premier Father's Day charitable cooking event," Real Men Cook" on Sunday, June 17 from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. The family event will take place in Town and Gown and Crocker Plaza on the USC campus in Los Angeles. Real Men Cook is designed to mobilize hundreds of men in urban communities across the country to participate as volunteer cooks on Father's Day and the USC Office of Black Alumni Programs is recruiting male cooks and volunteers to participate in this family, food and community celebration. For more information, call 213-740-8342 send email to: obap@usc.edu.

---New Orleans: Satchmo---
The birthplace of jazz will mark the centennial of native son and "International Ambassador of Jazz" Louis Daniel Armstrong from August 2-5, 2001. Satchmo SummerFest, held at the U.S. Old Mint in New Orleans' French Quarter, celebrates Armstrong's memorable career with an unforgettable free music festival, a centennial conference, intimate seminars, children's activities, a club crawl, a jazz mass and second-line parade, and much more. On Saturday, August 4, the University of New Orleans will host "Satchmo to Marsalis: A Tribute to the Fathers of Jazz," a benefit concert will feature Ellis Marsalis, all four of his musical sons, Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason, and one of his most well known students, Harry Connick, Jr. For more information, call (800) 673-5725.

---Congrats to Whitney Houston---
Legendary artists from different worlds will cross paths to set off a Black Star Power explosion at the first annual BET Awards on June 19 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Whitney Houston will receive the first-ever BET Lifetime Achievement Award, hand-crafted by revered graffiti artist Carlos "MARE 139" Rodriguez. The two will meet at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel as part of BET's live star-studded telecast recognizing la creme in music, film and sports. The inaugural BET award pre-show and ceremony will be televised live on June 19, 2001 at 8:30 p.m. ET. As part of its special Black Music Month programming, BET will televise encore presentations of the BET Awards Pre-Show from 7:30 - 8 p.m. ET/PT and the BET Awards Special from 8 - 10 p.m. ET/PT on Tuesday, June 26; and the BET Awards Special on Saturday, June 30, from 9 - 11 p.m. ET/PT.

---Jazz sensation Patricia Adams in New York on June 15---
Treat yourself to a relaxed evening of fine dining and live jazz at Yvonne's Southern Cuisine, 503 Fifth Avenue at Sixth Street, Pelham, NY on Friday, June 15 from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm. Hear the not so standard jazz standards by Duke Ellington, Arlen & Mercer, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday and more with jazz vocalist Patricia Adams. Bill Wurtzel will be featured on guitar. Come on out and let the music entertain you while you enjoy the elegant surroundings and the soulful entrees served. Plenty of free parking. Make your reservations (recommended) now by calling 914-738-2005.

----Job Opportunities of the Week---

Harvard University: Career Forum 2001---
Harvard University's Career Forum 2001 will be held on Tuesday, June 12 (11 am - 7 pm) at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, 48 Quincy Street, Gund Hall, Cambridge (Corner of Cambridge and Quincy Streets - Take the Red line to Harvard T-stop). The Career Forum welcomes individuals who want to explore Professional and Administrative Support positions at Harvard University. For more information, call (617) 495-2772.

American Cancer Society: Tobacco Control Coalition Project Director
The Mass. Coalition for a Healthy Future(MCHF) seeks four new staff to design and execute aggressive tobacco control policy campaigns using grassroots, media and lobbying. This dynamic team will navigate the tobacco control movement in Massachusetts. Positions are grant funded for three years with benefits. Employer: American Cancer Society (based in Natick with Western Mass. Satellite office). The positions are:
(1)Tobacco Control Coalition Project Director-Leadership position for person with background in community organizing, coalition development, and political/legislative campaigns. Requires min. 3 years exp. in staff supervision, grant mgmt. & Bachelor's degree. Related advanced degree preferred.
(2) Tobacco Control Community Organizers (two positions)-Recruit, train & mobilize grassroots advocates on state & local tobacco control issues, & expand geographical, organizational, racial, & ethnic diversity of MCHF. Requires exp. in community organizing, public health campaigns or policy development & Bachelor's degree. Related advanced degree preferred.
(3)Tobacco Control Coalition Associate-Provide administrative support to MCHF staff and committees. Database management, phone skills, budget tracking, meeting management. Requires excellent communications & computer skills, ability to multi task & Bachelor's degree. For all positions, send resume, cover letter and salary requirements by 6/15/01 to: L. Fresina, MCHF search c/o American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701 FAX: 508-270-4699.

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