Jewel Diamond Taylor- motivational speaker and author:Click on her photo to see her column.

---National Fair Housing Alliance documents continued discrimination in housing---The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), the nation's leading civil rights organization focused on the elimination of housing discrimination, released its "2002 Fair Housing Trends Report" which documents reported acts of illegal discrimination nationwide. The report reveals that the level of housing discrimination complaints filed by African Americans and people with disabilities in 2001 remained high throughout the United States. The new report is based on 2001 complaint data compiled from fair housing agencies across the country, including: NFHA's membership of more than 80 private, local fair housing organizations; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); and more than 70 state and local government agencies. Race was the most commonly reported basis for housing discrimination in the United States (32 percent of all complaints), followed by disability and familial status (24 percent and 15 percent of all complaints, respectively). Complaints based on national origin discrimination comprise the next highest category of discrimination (10 percent). There are significantly fewer cases based on sex, religion or "color," although most complainants who would be classified as persons of color tend to file a complaint based on race or national origin. HUD estimates that two million Americans actually experience housing discrimination every year.

---Over 150 complaints of nationwide discrimination levied against MCI Worldcom---EEOC charges filed by Leeds Morelli & Brown, a leading civil rights firm based in New York, reveal systemic discrimination at MCI Worldcom. These claims are supported by white management at MCI who have come forward to support the allegations made by African-American employees. One such manager reveals that he was instructed to terminate and discipline employees based on their race, and when he and other white managers refused to do so, they were retaliated against. Leeds Morelli & Brown is filing these charges with the EEOC, a first step in the commencement of a major federal lawsuit. The New York law firm has filed over 30 complaints to date and say more are to come as they have been contacted by over 150 current and past employees of MCI in cities such as Denver, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Raleigh, Charlotte, Washington D.C. and Uniondale, New York. Two African-American account executives have filed charges alleging rampant hostile work environments and racial steering in their offices of MCI Worldcom. One alleges that in his Dallas office, where he is the only black member on his team, he has lucrative sales accounts stripped from him and given to younger, white account executives. Similarly, in a Chicago sales office, another African-American account executive points out that out of 50 employees in her office, only four were African-American. She further alleges that she too was the victim of racial steering as lucrative accounts were handed to white employees despite their lesser qualifications and experience.

---On the move: Bryant Gumbel to step down as anchor of 'The Early Show'---After five years with CBS, the last two-and-one-half years as anchor of THE EARLY SHOW, Bryant Gumbel has decided to resign from his position. Gumbel said, "After more than 17 years of hosting a morning news program, I feel it's time for me to move on and do something else with my life." Gumbel will work with CBS News management to determine the timing of his departure from the morning program. As the host of more morning network news broadcasts than anyone in television history, Gumbel has covered virtually all of the major national and international news events of our time and reported from all corners of the globe, including Europe, China, Japan, Australia, Russia, Cuba, the Middle East, South America and sub-Saharan Africa. Gumbel was recently engaged to marry Ms. Hilary Quinlan, a former research analyst with the investment firm of Goldman Sachs.

---Save the date: Black College Reunion (BCR)---
Students and alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities are planning to visit the Daytona Beach area for Black College Reunion on April 12-14. 2002. Now in its 17th year, BCR attracts approximately 150,000 participants to the weekend long event filled with concerts, festivals, competitions and beach activities. BCR began in 1984 as a beachside gathering of students and alumni sponsored by Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University.

---Raytheon and the National Minority Supplier Development Council---Daniel P. Burnham, chairman and chief executive officer of Raytheon Company, was recently elected chairman of the board of directors of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), one of the nation's leading business membership organizations. "We are fortunate to have one of America's top corporate leaders at the helm, and we look forward to working with him to expand opportunities for minority businesses, the fastest growing business segment in our economy," said Harriet R. Michel, NMSDC president. "Raytheon is building an inclusive culture and a diverse set of suppliers," said Burnham. "We are becoming a better and more competitive company by learning from and leveraging our diverse supplier base."

---Messages from Mayor Shirley Franklin and City Council President Cathy Woolard---The election victories of Mayor Shirley Franklin and City Council President Cathy Woolard forever changed the face of local politics in Atlanta. Franklin became the first woman and the first African-American woman to serve as Mayor of Atlanta. Woolard also made history when she became Atlanta's first female City Council President. Join the Atlanta Press Club for a headliner luncheon at Maggiano's Little Italy in Buckhead on Thursday, April 25 at 12:15 p.m. Franklin and Woolard will address such issues as the city's $80 million budget deficit, City Hall's performance on open records and open meetings and its relationship to the press.

---New York National Juneteenth benefit---
Brownsville Heritage House, Inc. will host their 1st Annual Juneteenth Independence Day Benefit Concert and Reception on Sunday, April 14, 2002, from 3:00pm - 6:00pm. The benefit will feature National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) Founder & Chairman, Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., MD and his jazz ensemble. A press conference will also be held on April 15 (noon) at the Brownsville Heritage House to discuss this very important issue. Come out and support the campaign to establish Juneteenth as a National Holiday in America. Let us come together to pray for racial reconciliation and healing from the legacy of slavery in our nation. Mark your calendars, to attend the Washington Juneteenth 2002 National Holiday Observance, June 13-19, 2002, at the Lincoln Memorial, National Mall and U.S. Capitol. The observance will include a National Juneteenth Black Holocaust Memorial Service on Saturday, June 15, 2002, at the Lincoln Memorial beginning at 1:00pm.For information on the New York Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, contact Patricia Deans at 718-385-1111.

---Rev. Falwell praises Attorney Willie E. Gary---
At first glance, attorney Willie E. Gary and the Rev. Jerry Falwell have very little in common. Gary is a litigator who has earned his wealth and reputation as "The Giant Killer" by taking on and defeating some of America's largest corporations. He gives a great deal of his time and money to educational and religious pursuits and is a loyal supporter of liberal politics and the Democratic Party. Falwell is a clergyman who grew to national prominence as a televangelist. He founded Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. and he is a staunch promoter of conservative politics and social causes. On Monday, the two men met at Gary's law firm in Florida to have lunch and to announce that Gary is giving $200,000 to help rebuild the Virginia University of Lynchburg, a historically black college that Falwell has supported for years. "We are all about education," Gary said. "This is nothing else but education. I tell young boys and girls every day that education is the key to success. You've got to have a thirst, a burning desire to succeed."

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