---Janice McLean DeLoatch is one of the top women of color distributors of pantyhose---Maryland-based entrepreneur Janice McLean-DeLoatch is constantly striving to carve out her niche in the hosiery industry. She is one of only a few women of color who have worked to break the barrier in this exclusive industry and she is the only woman of color to distribute pantyhose via vending machines that are placed in bathrooms, churches, offices, hospitals, theatres, etc. As President and CEO of McLean Machines & Company, Janice has directed her five-year old company fairly well in an industry that is mostly dominated by the European males. Mclean-DeLoatch's pantyhose and legwear are a favorite of many women and particularly compliment women of color, who seek colors and shades that compliment their varied skin tones. Companies with significant numbers of women employees should consider installing a pantyhose vending machine at worksites to not only offer a convenient purchase for women, but also to reap dividends from the sales. McLean-DeLoatch's private label "Uni Collection" legwear will be featured as part of the grab bag ensemble in connection with the Fashion and Arts Exchange, New York who will honor among others, designer, Calvin Klein and model Naomi Sims. McLean-DeLoatch's line "The Uni Collection" is becoming very popular among '20-30 somethings' as it adds a new hippness to the flavor/style couture for this age bracket. McLean DeLoatch's products are great for little girls, teenagers as well as the more mature audience. To speak with Janice or inquire about purchasing pantyhose, send an email to mcleanmachines@yahoo.com. McLean-DeLoatch is also a dynamic speaker, with a message for all entrepreneurs about empowerment, self-esteem and entrepreneurship as featured in "Entrepreneur Magazines "How to, Vending Business"' 2000". She is listed on UnityFirst.com's Speakers Bureau.

---Newsweek (March 3): Black women are rising much faster than Black men---Black women are making historic strides on campuses and in the workplace. Once consigned to mostly menial work, black women (24 percent of them, compared to 17 percent of black men) have ascended to the professional-managerial class. But, as Contributing Editor Ellis Cose writes, their professional progress has widened the gap between them and black men, and they're having to rethink old notions of race, class and romance. Cose explores the causes and implications of the new black gender gap in the March 3 cover story, "From Schools to Jobs, Black Women are Rising Much Faster than Black Men. What it Means for Work, Family and Race Relations," (on newsstands Monday, February 24).

---Bank of America is named top national SBA minority lender---
Bank of America announced that it has been ranked as the nation's No. 1 Small Business Administration (SBA) lender to minority groups. One-in-three SBA loans granted by the bank last fiscal year went to minority-owned businesses. The announcement follows Bank of America being named the top overall SBA lender in the country, with 3,917 loans granted in fiscal year 2002 (October 2001 through September 2002). Figures supplied by the SBA indicate that the bank directed 1,319 SBA 7(a) loans, and 28 percent of its total SBA loan dollars, to minority-owned businesses. Following are the SBA 7(a) loans to key minority groups made by Bank of America: Native American (52 Loans totaling $2.548 million ) African Americans ( 198 Loans totaling $4.240 million ) Hispanic ( 443 Loans totaling $26.149 million) , Asian (628 Loans totaling $36.315 million ). The average Bank of America SBA loan to minorities in fiscal year 2002 was $52,500.

----Black credit union closings across the U.S. and now in Western Massachusetts (Springfield)---Members, friends and community supporters of the D. Edward Wells Federal Credit Union in Springfield, MA marched for "justice" on Saturday, February 22 to protest the seizing of the only Black Credit Union in Western, Massachusetts, the D. Edward Wells Credit Union on Friday, February 21, 2003. The March was called as the Federal Government announced that the Wells Credit Union was placed into Conservatorship by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The credit union has 2,600 members, nearly $4.9 million in assets, serves largely low-income and diverse communities in Springfield, MA., one of Massachusetts' most diverse cities. In the past 40 years, the Credit Union has helped over 5,000 families with loans totaling over $6,000,000. Community members gathered to support the 43 year old Black-owned financial institution, in light of the long-term struggle it has had with the National Credit Union Administration, an organization that has a track record of closing record numbers of small credit unions and Black credit unions across the U.S. "This closing comes on the Friday before the Monday hearing we were to present an audit confirming that there are no 'serious operational deficiencies" at the Wells Federal Credit Union," said Carol Aranjo, CEO of the D. Edward Wells Credit Union. The NCUA ordered a CPA Audit which was completed, and revealed that there were no issues warranting the assumed control of the Credit Union by the NCUA. "This is a wake-up call for African Americans, Black-owned financial institutions and everyone across diverse communities who seek to maintain Black-owned institutions and financial services in our diverse cities across Massachusetts, the New England region and the country," says Aranjo, who has taken the lead nationally in fighting other small credit union closings. The NCUA has audited the Wells Federal Credit excessively, compared to other similar credit unions around the country. In January 2002, the Wells Credit Union filed a lawsuit against the regulators for abuse of power and harassment for excessive examinations of the Credit Union. The average hours for examinations of all credit unions is approximately 76 hours and the average hours examining the Wells Credit Union is 156 hours for the last five years. To contact Carol Aranjo, share information or letters of support, send email to wellscreditunion@unityfirst.com.

---Educational inequities require continuation of Affirmative Action in Higher Education---A diverse group of Members of Congress, representing 23 states, recently filed a brief on behalf of the University of Michigan's affirmative action program. The Members ask the Supreme Court to consider the link between disparities in educational opportunity and achievement for minorities in K-12, and their admission in colleges and universities. "On the day the Supreme Court rules on this affirmative action case, you will not find one state in the union that provides a majority of its K-12 African American and Latino students with an equal educational opportunity, comparable to their white suburban counterparts. Sadly, there has never been a day in the history of this country where that was true," said Congressman Fattah, who led the effort for the brief." As the court considers whether diversity remains a compelling state interest, and whether affirmative action is still needed in higher education admissions, it must consider the nexus between quality in K-12 education and higher education admissions and college-going," said Congressman Fattah." In his State of the Union speech last year, President Bush said, he had 'a great goal for America: a quality teacher in every classroom.' This is a worthy objective. However, absent qualified teachers for all students, up-to- date textbooks in every classroom, and the other educational opportunity, affirmative action is still very necessary at the college level," said Congressman Fattah. "President Bush has contradicted himself. In No Child Left Behind and in two Executive Orders [2/12/02, 10/12/01] he recognized the gaps in K-12 education the majority of African American and Latino students are facing," said Congressman Fattah. "In his Michigan brief, he ignores them."

---National Urban League files amicus brief in support of Affirmative Action---
The National Urban League announced that it has filed an amicus brief supporting affirmative action in admissions policies at the University of Michigan. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Los Angeles and the National Rainbow/PUSH Coalition have also signed on to the Urban League brief. The Urban League brief argues that because racial disparities stemming from past discriminatory practices continue to affect our nation's institutions at all levels, affirmative action remains a compelling and effective tool for higher education institutions committed to educating a diverse student body that is reflective of the larger society.

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