---Black Elected Officials shows dramatic increase over three decades---Three decades after the publication of the first national count of Black elected officials (BEOs), the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies released its 2000 figures, showing a six-fold increase since 1970 to 9,040. The report, Black Elected Officials: A Statistical Summary, 2000, by David A. Bositis also highlights key trends that may shape the future of Black political leadership. First, Black women, who have accounted for all of the growth in the number of BEOs for two consecutive years, now make up 34.5 percent of the total figure. Second, younger African Americans, who often have different views and experiences than their older counterparts, are increasingly being elected. Finally, an increasing number of Black mayors are being elected in large cities (over 50,000) where the majority of the population is not African American. Although there was a modest increase of only 1.2 percent between January 1999 and January 2000, the combined total of the two states with the largest number of African Americans holding elective office -Mississippi and Alabama- is greater than the nationwide total in 1970 (1,469). "The past three decades have been the most dynamic period for African American elected officials in terms of growth, gender and age diversity, and political clout," said Eddie N. Williams, president of the Joint Center. "When the first roster was published in 1970, Shirley Chisholm was the only Black female in Congress and there were only two African American mayors of major cities. Today, there are 13 black female congressional representatives and 47 big city Black mayors." The net gain of 101 in 2000 was largely the result of African Americans being elected to offices previously held by non-blacks. There were increases in 19 states (including the District of Columbia), no change in 17 states, and decreases in 14 states. Among the top five states with the largest number of BEOs, Mississippi (897) and Alabama (731) saw modest increases, while Louisiana (701), Illinois (621), and Georgia (582) experienced slight declines. Most of the growth between 1970 and 2000 occurred in the South, and six states -- Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Illinois, Georgia, and South Carolina -- have each gained more than 500 BEOs during this period. Black Elected Officials: A Statistical Summary encompasses federal, state, municipal, and local officials, including those in law enforcement and education. The Joint Center ceased printing an annual roster listing black elected officials by name in 1993. However, such detailed information, including names, addresses, and levels of office, is still available for purchase. For more information, Liselle Yorke of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies at 202-789-6366.

---National Coalition on Black Civic Participation---
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) recently announced their 2002 Spirit of Democracy Award honorees. The Spirit of Democracy Awards are presented to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a consistent commitment to creating balance in the democratic process and support the NCBCP's mission and vision of making civic participation a cultural responsibility and tradition. Awards will be presented on May 9, 2002, 6:30 pm, at the Washington Hilton & Towers Hotel, 1919 Connecticut Ave, NW in Washington, D.C. 2002 Honorees are: William Burrus, President American Postal Workers Union, Honorable Shirley Clarke Franklin, Mayor City of Atlanta, Honorable Regena Thomas, Secretary of State New Jersey, A. Shaunise Washington, Vice President External Affairs Philip Morris Management Corporation. The Lifetime Achievement award will be given to Nate Gooden, Vice President and Director Daimler-Chrysler Department United Automobile Workers of America. The NCBCP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership organization, dedicated to training and engaging African American leaders and community activists in overcoming institutional barriers that have hindered the growth of Black communities politically, socially and economically. For more information on the Spirit of Democracy Awards gala, call (202) 659-4929.

---Young, gifted, Black, and ready to vote---
Youth leaders from across the nation will assemble in Washington, D.C. as Black Youth Vote! (BYV), the youth component of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), hosts their annual BYV! Leadership Conference. Created to engage and prepare a new generation of leaders and activists in effective civic participation, the four-day conference will be held April 4-7 at the National Education Association's Headquarters, 1201 16th Street, NW. For more information call (202) 659-4988. With the theme "New Voices, new visions, for a new political youth movement," the conference will present a number of training sessions and discussions that will educate youth on how to develop a political movement in the 21st century and empower them to take that movement from theory to practice. Students registered to attend the conference will come from colleges and universities in Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, California, and Connecticut.

---Millions for Reparations Rally, August 17: Are you going? ---
"The Council of the City of New York proclaimed March 21, 2002 to be "Reparations Awareness Day" in the City of New York and recognized the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery as crimes against humanity.." read the official City Council Proclamation signed by Councilmen Charles Barron, Al Vann, Leroy Comrie and William Perkins. This March 21st, which is recognized by the United Nations as the International Day Against Racism, in memory of the those Africans killed in the 1966 South African Sharpsville's Massacre, will be used going forward as a date to also recognize the remedy to international racism against African people - Reparations. Councilman Barron handed the Proclamation to Viola Plummer, National Chairperson of the upcoming August 17th, Washington, DC Millions for Reparations Rally. Plummer stated that the UN World Conference against Racism held in Durban South Africa in September 2001, had produced a true Pan African mandate on the issue of Reparations. She said "African leaders around the world maintained a steeled unity in the face of rabid western opposition, including the walk out of the US delegation, on the question of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and colonialism as Crimes against Humanity and Reparations". She reported that the August 17, Millions for Reparations Rally was initiated by the Durban 400, a coalition of U.S. based organizations attending the WCAR. For more information on the Million for Reparations Rally, call (718) 398-1766.

---Cornel West speaks at conference on Hip Hop and Faith----
Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS) in Massachusetts hosts notables like Prof. Cornel West, Harvard University and DaveyD, KPFA FM Oakland, CA radio personality and hip hop journalist, for Word Life: A Conference on Hip Hop and Faith. The conference will take place April 11-13, 2002 and explore how Hip Hop can be used to catalyze faith, hope and action for positive individual and societal change. The Word Life: A Conference on Hip Hop and Faith is FREE and open to the public. To register, call Scherazade Daruvalla King, at (617) 320-6433.

---Spa for the Spirit---
Self-care and wellness direct sales company WARM SPIRIT debuts their "Spa for the Spirit" series at the Bethesda Marriott in Maryland on Saturday, April 6, 2002. "Spa for the Spirit" is a sumptuous day of pampering, renewal and empowerment, with onsite massage services, refreshing herbal teas, a light lunch buffet and keynote addresses from author and speaker Debrena Jackson Gandy, and business entrepreneur Nadine Thompson. For more information contact, Kierstyn Richards at 1-888-296-9854 or kierstyn@warmspirit.com. Unity First has just a few complimentary passes to the event, so if you're interested in attending, send an email to editors@unityfirst.com to request one. Passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

--A special tribute: Ms Rosetta LeNoire -
Our thoughts are with actress Rosetta LeNoire who passed away recently at the age of 90. LeNoire was instrumental in breaking the racial barrier for actors of color, enabling them to appear both on and off Broadway. Most recently, she appeared as Mother Winslow in the popular show, "Family Matters."

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