---Remembering Margaret Bush Wilson---
The NAACP family is saddened by the passing of Margaret Bush Wilson, an activist and lawyer who was the first African American woman to chair the NAACP Board of Directors. Wilson died on August 11 at the age of 90. “Margaret Bush Wilson’s passion for legal equity and social justice provide the framework for which many of our civil rights victories have been fought and won” said NAACP Chairman of the Board of Directors Julian Bond. "The NAACP has lost a champion and the world has lost a pioneer.  Margaret Bush Wilson served as an NAACP Board member and Board Chairman and a path breaking Missouri lawyer."

Ed Gordon

Ilene Lang

Matthew Davis

Wendy Williams

Business World Index

---Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. to hold National Town Hall Meeting---The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) will focus on a renewed sense of responsibility and purpose at its National Town Hall Meeting from 8:30-11:45 a.m., on September 24 during its 39th Annual Legislative Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Under the title "Economic Recovery and Opportunity," the panel will feature policy makers and experts from the corporate and business world who will discuss methods on how to survive and thrive in these financially turbulent times. The panel is a reflection of the conference overall theme Reinvest... Rebuild... Renew. Ed Gordon, host of Our World with Black Enterprise, and Renee Chenault Fattah, anchor for NBC 10 News in Philadelphia will moderate the panel discussion. Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council; John Bryant, founder of Hope Economic Development in Minority Communities; George Burrell, executive vice president of PRWT Services; Alfred Liggins, chief executive officer for Radio One; Julianne Malveaux, president of Bennett College and Reps. James Clyburn of South Carolina; Charles Rangel of New York and Maxine Waters of California will join in the discussion. "The town hall meeting brings together a diverse group of African Americans who have come from across the country to collectively discuss common issues and concerns," said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer for CBCF. "There is hope in the midst of America's economic crisis. It is critical to remember that as we move forward in facing and defeating the many obstacles Americans are facing today."

---Women of Color in law firms Still Face Workplace Challenges---
Are law firms putting their bottom lines at risk? According to Catalyst’s Women of Color in U.S. Law Firms, women of color face complex barriers compared to other groups that may significantly decrease job satisfaction and increase the intent to leave their current firm—factors that affect a firm’s bottom line. The study is the fourth and final in Catalyst’s Women of Color in Professional Services Series examining how the “intersectionality,” or combined identities of gender and race/ethnicity, puts women of color at a unique disadvantage in the workplace. Despite widespread existence of systems created to develop and advance women of color, research has shown that more than 75 percent of these women will leave their employer within five years, costing an amount potentially greater than each person’s total salary and benefits. “We’ve seen many law firms make significant inroads towards advancing more women into partnership and leadership,” said Ilene H. Lang, President & Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst. “Yet retention and advancement of women of color attorneys is still a challenge. Law firms are well positioned—and it will be to their advantage—to take the next critical step to address the unique differences among women, which can lead to more successful outcomes.”

---Obesity remains top health problem for kids in 2009---
Public concern about childhood obesity is on the rise and it continues to outrank all other health problems as the top concern for children in the United States. According to a report released  by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, the proportion of adults who believe childhood obesity is a big problem has increased from 35 percent of adults in 2008 to 42 percent in 2009. While obesity has ranked as the top overall health concern for kids in the U.S. for the last two years, it has not always been the case for Hispanics or Blacks. "This is the first year the three major racial/ethnic groups all agree," says Matthew Davis, M.D., director of the poll. "In 2008, among Whites, the chief concern was obesity, while among blacks the chief concern was teen pregnancy, and among Hispanics the chief concern was smoking."  In May 2009, the Poll asked adults to rate 23 different health concerns for children living in their communities. For the top 10 overall health concerns rated as a big problem for U.S. children in 2009 and the facts according to race/ethnicity, go to unityfirst.com.

---Growing power of ethnic and minority voters---
Immediately after the Presidential election of 2008, it was quickly apparent through exit polling that Latino, Asian, and African-American voting had expanded dramatically compared to the 2004 election. Census Bureau data released late last month confirms the tremendous growth in voting among these groups. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) released a fact check report, "Latino and Asian Clout in the Voting Booth," which shows how much the electoral power of racial and ethnic minorities increased in just four years. The report finds that the number of Latino voters increased by 28.4% from 7.6 million in 2004 to 9.8 million in 2008. Also, the number of Asian voters increased by 21.3% from 2.8 million in 2004 to 3.4 million in 2008 and the number of Black voters increased by 15.1% from 14 million in 2004 to 16.1 million in 2008. At a time when the United States has elected its first African-American president, appointed its first Latina Supreme Court justice and started down the road to comprehensive reform of our broken immigration system, this data should serve as a demographic wakeup call to politicians. Many future elections throughout the United States will be won and lost based on decisions made by policymakers that impact ethnic and minority.

---Wendy Williams and Rapper Pitbull---
Rapper Pitbull (Armando Christian Perez) performed his hit single, “I Know You Want Me” and chatted with Wendy Williams on today’s episode of The Wendy Williams Show (nationally syndicated, check local listings) about his life and his new album, ‘Rebelution.’  Photo credit: Anders Krusberg/THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW. Taped live in New York, The Wendy Williams Show combines the latest buzz and hot topics with a diverse mix of celebrities from the arenas of film, music, sports and television.