----New York: Circle of Sisters Expo 2002--
A "Circle of Sisters" reveals the shape of things to come: a gathering round of dynamic women charting a revolving path of progress. On Saturday, October 19th and Sunday, October 20th, WBLS-FM and WLIB-AM will host over 25,000 African-American and Caribbean women and their families at the Circle of Sisters Expo 2002 in New York City. Coming this year to New York City's Jacob Javits Convention Center, the Expo invites women across the tri-state metropolitan area to maximize their potential while joining forces with other progressive women. Celebrating its fourth year, "Circle of Sisters" offers women a unique opportunity to establish beneficial business contacts and receive valuable information from a variety of experts. "Circle of Sisters," was conceived in recognition of African-American and Caribbean women and of their contributions to the community and to the business marketplace. The interests and concerns of this diverse population are anticipated and addressed by keynote speakers and through seminars and workshops. Attendees are also treated to choice fashion exhibitions and appearances by celebrity guests and national recording artists. Expo vendors find themselves in the unique position of meeting face-to-face over 25,000 representatives of a billion-dollar consumer base. These women, many of them small business owners themselves, respond favorably to companies demonstrating interest in them through participation, presentations and product samplings. The Expo provides a forum where talented women provide inspiration, accomplished women inspire their forward-moving sisters, and each woman recognizes the unique gifts and resources she has to share. "Circle of Sisters" will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City at 11th avenue and 34th street in New York City. Doors open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 19th and 12 noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 20th. Booth spaces are limited and some special pavilion sponsorship packages remain available. Call (212) 592-0477 to make arrangements or for further information.

---Congresswoman McKinney to deliver keynote at the Hip Hop Symposium II---On Saturday, August 17, 2002 Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney will join Hip Hop artists, executives and fans alike through the Hip Hop Symposium II. The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Stone Mountain High School, which is located at 4555 Central Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083.The theme for this second installment of the Hip Hop Symposium series is "Empowering the Hip Hop Generation." Says Congresswoman McKinney, "I believe it is important as public officials, and more importantly as parents, to educate that Hip-Hop is not just rap music. It is a way of life, a mode of thinking and a sense of style. It is not just a fad as others have suggested but a reflection of how many American youth view themselves and how they feel that the world does not answer their ever growing pleas to be heard." Panelists, including special host Chris Tucker, Professor Griff, Chuck D among others, will address such topics of interest to the Hip Hop community as "Getting In The Game," the economics of Hip Hop and the importance of participation in the electoral process to young people. For more information, contact Juanita Cribb, at (404) 377-6900 or by email at Juanita.Cribb@mail.house.gov.

---Racial profiling ---
In a national poll of African American registered voters commissioned by Black America's Political Action Committee (BAMPAC), 47% of African American males stated that they have been unfairly targeted by law enforcement for traffic stops and searches based upon their race. A total of 52% of African Americans, stated that they or someone they know has been profiled. The poll also showed that 60% of men and 45% of women had been or knew someone that had been profiled. Other results illustrated that racial profiling was most prevalent among the following groups of African Americans: suburban men, younger men, college educated men, and urban men. Other key findings: (1) The top issues of concern among African Americans are National Security (33%) and the Economy (24%) and (2) 63% of African American parents would place their children in private or charter schools if given the choice.

---- "Talking to Diversity Experts: Where do we go from here?"--FORTUNE magazine and UnityFirst.com/African American Newswire will partner to distribute FORTUNE's Special Diversity section found in the September 30 issue. For more detailed information regarding this special advertising section, special opportunities for corporations to participate in the section, send an email to glolernerfortune@aol.com, call 212-831-7068 or click here to view the section's prospectus." If you would like to review the section or join a national discussion about the section's topic --"Where do we go from here?"-- contact Janine Fondon at jfondon@unityfirst.com or call 800-286-3659.

---Racial Discrimination Charges Filed Against Xerox Corporation---In an unprecedented decision, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently issued several determinations confirming race discrimination and retaliation charges being leveled against the Xerox Corporation. According to Leeds, Morelli & Brown, a leading civil rights firm representing plaintiffs in the case, the EEOC has also approved a class to represent potentially 300 Xerox employees facing these types of rampant discrimination. By the EEOC's findings, the class action lawsuit will now move forward. Xerox employees in the Cincinnati, Ohio region have repeatedly complained of a pattern and practice of discrimination, to include being denied promotions based on race, egregious racial intimidation, being disciplined more as a class, and enduring a racially hostile work environment. "In over 20 years, I have never seen such an extreme determination made by the EEOC," noted Lenard Leeds of Leeds Morelli & Brown. The EEOC's determination also found that Xerox allows for patterns of a lack of promotional opportunity and equal compensation. Leeds, Morelli & Brown asserts that Black employees find themselves passed over in favor of junior white applicants who lack their experience and credentials. In addition, Leeds, Morelli and Brown asserts that Black employees find that they are paid less than their counterparts for performing the same functions, which range from vice president to equipment repair associates. Another dimension to the case is the systemic retaliation against those who have the temerity to raise complaints about the unjust treatment they suffered. Pleas to management and human resources repeatedly went unaddressed or mocked, and the EEOC's findings confirm this as well.

---Thurgood Marshall honored on 2003 Black Heritage Series Stamp---Thurgood Marshall, a famed civil rights lawyer and most notably the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice, will receive one of the nation's highest honors when the U.S. Postal Service issues a new commemorative postage stamp bearing his likeness. Marshall is one of the best known lawyers in the history of civil rights in America. He became the first director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. Inc. (LDF) in 1940 and remained in that position for 21 years. In 1954, Marshall and his legal team prevailed in the landmark Supreme Court case, "Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas," that struck down segregation in public schools. Marshall made history again in 1967, when he was sworn in as the first African-American justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His 24-year tenure was marked by his commitment to defending constitutional rights and affirmative action and by his strong opposition to the death penalty. On Jan. 24, 1993, Marshall died in Bethesda, Md., at the age of 85. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- our country's highest civilian honor -- on Nov. 30, 1993.

---'Cultural Competence' in mental health system---
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), the nation's largest organization dedicated to improving life for people with severe mental illnesses, testified before President Bush's "New Freedom" Commission on Mental Health, called for reforms that achieve "cultural competence" in the nation's treatment system." Less than a third of people with mental illness seek treatment," said Maria Jose Carrasco, program manager for NAMI's Multicultural and International Outreach (MIO) Center. "Members of ethnic and racial minorities face additional barriers, including racial discrimination, poverty, language, and cultural prohibitions that make access to care an arduous, uphill battle." More information about the Commission is available at http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov. Its preliminary report is due in October. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies major depression as the third leading cause of disability across the globe. In every racial or ethnic community, at home and abroad, mental illness is real. Treatment must start with the individual and recognize cultural differences.

---New York City: Museum for African Art---
On Sept. 19, the Museum for African Art will open at a temporary location in Queens, New York on 43rd Avenue. Its opening exhibit, ``Facing the Mask,'' will display African masks. For more information, go to www.africanart.org.

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