---U.S. Commission on Civil Rights celebrates African American History Month-The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is pleased to celebrate February 2003 as African American History Month. "During this month, we celebrate the many achievements and contributions made by African Americans throughout our nation's extraordinary history," said Commission Chairperson Mary Frances Berry. "We are a better nation because of our diverse and multicultural peoples, and we are stronger when we recognize and celebrate that diversity." African American History Month had its genesis in 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, under the auspices of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, successfully lobbied for the creation of a "Negro History Week" to promote awareness of the achievements of African and African American peoples. The Week was expanded to Black History Month in 1976.

---Chase commits $500 billion in home financing by end of decade to minority and underserved markets---Chase Home Finance, the mortgage division of JP Morgan Chase Bank, announced the Chase Dream Maker Commitment -- an unprecedented $500 billion commitment through 2010, providing increased home financing to minority borrowers across the full economic spectrum, low-to-moderate income borrowers and new immigrant families nationwide. As the largest commitment of its kind ever made by a lending institution, the Chase Dream Maker Commitment answers President Bush's call to the mortgage industry to make homeownership accessible to all members of our society. The funds will go toward single family home financing for home purchases, refinances or home equity loans and lines of credit. Chase has established strong partnerships with Fannie Mae and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation as well as other housing finance partners such as Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, FHA, VA, Rural Housing Service and the Federal Home Loan Bank. For example, Chase partnered with the Congressional Black Caucus at the inception of its With Ownership, Wealth (WOW) initiative, which strives to create a million new African American homeowners by the end of 2005. Chase is also expanding existing relationships with other strategic alliances with member-based organizations, such as AFL-CIO, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, National Council of La Raza and National Urban League. For more information, contact Shelley Bates at 212-594-6300 x39, or via email: shelley.bates@primeaccess.net .

---Bill Campbell, Former Mayor of Atlanta teams with trial lawyer Willie Gary-
Bill Campbell, the former mayor of Atlanta under whose leadership the city hosted the 1996 Olympic Games, is joining the national law firm of prominent attorney Willie E. Gary, best known for taking on and defeating some of America's most powerful corporations with verdicts totaling several billion dollars. Campbell graduated Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University in 1974 in only three years with his B.S. degree in History, Sociology and Political Science. He received his Doctor of Law degree from Duke University in 1977.

---Washington, D.C.: Premiere Screening of HBO Documentary: Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives---In celebration of Black History Month, HBO, the Library of Congress and the Congressional Black Caucus will present a special Washington, DC premiere screening of UNCHAINED MEMORIES: READINGS FROM THE SLAVE NARRATIVES on Thursday, February 6, 2003 in Washington, D.C. at the Library of Congress. From 1936 to 1938, more than 2,000 interviews with one-time slaves were conducted for the Federal Writers' Project, with the transcripts forming a unique firsthand record of slave life. Produced in association with The Library of Congress, "UNCHAINED MEMORIES" brings the words of former slaves to vivid life through on-camera readings by celebrated African-American actors, including Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Robert Guillaume, Samuel L. Jackson, Courtney B. Vance, Vanessa L. Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Alfre Woodard and others. The film is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. The narratives chronicle the life of a slave, from childhood to adulthood to marriage (which was not legally recognized) to death. Excerpted from dozens of volumes recorded in 17 states, the interviews preserve the memories of the last generation of slaves in the United States. The exclusive presentation debuts on HBO, February 10 at 8:00 PM. For more information on the reception, contact Brooks Meek, The Walker Marchant Group (202-466- 6040) or send email to bmeek@walkermarchant.com.

---Detroit: Public Library to Host a Day in the Life of Africa photography exhibition-A major photography exhibition detailing A Day in the Life of Africa and featuring an array of vivid photographs portraying life on the African continent from Tunisia to the Cape of Good Hope goes on display at Detroit's Main Library, 5201 Woodward Avenue from February 4, 2003 to Saturday, March 1. Admission is free. Detroit is one stop on the exhibition's six city North American Tour. It displays the work of nearly 100 of the world's most renowned photojournalists, who visited 53 African nations on February 28, 2002 to capture the daily life, landscape, and infinite diversity of the continent.

---15th Annual National Black Nurses Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.-The National Black Nurses Association will host its 15th Annual National Black Nurses Day on Capitol Hill, Thursday, February 6, 2003, from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 106. The theme of National Black Nurses Day is "Nursing Education, Practice and Research: Essential Elements for Positive Health Outcomes."All nurses and student nurses are welcomed to attend the day long activities. For more information, contact: Millicent Gorham by phone, 301-589-3200.

---Los Angeles Towne Street Theatre celebrates 10th anniversary---
Towne Street Theatre, LA's premiere African American theatre company, kicks off its 10th Anniversary with "The Best of Towne Street," featuring three revivals from their history of producing original work by African-American playwrights. They open season ten with "Start of Conversation," recently nominated for two awards by the Valley Theater League ADA Awards, including "Comedy Production: Evening of One Act Plays" and "Best Ensemble-Comedy." "Start of Conversation" begins with half-price previews on February 7-9 and opens on February 14 through March 16, at the Raven Playhouse, 5233 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, in the NoHo Arts District. Tickets are $20 with senior, student and group discounts available. For information about TST 10th season events, please call 213-624-4796, email info@townestreet.org or visit www.townestreet.org.

--- National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), Feb. 7, 2003---
"We are in a fight for our lives. It will take the commitment of each and everyone of us as well as sustained action to win it," said U.S. Congresswoman Donna Christensen, (D-Virgin Islands), who called all African-Americans to participate in the nation's third annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), Feb. 7, 2003." Congresswoman Christensen is the chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus' Health Braintrust, and the honorary chairperson of the 2003 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. On Feb. 7, more than 150 community organizations in more than 60 cities across the U.S. will conduct educational and outreach programs in their communities including free HIV testing, town meetings and youth rallies. In 2000, more African-Americans were reported to have HIV/AIDS than any other racial/ethnic group, according to the most recent statistics from the CDC. African-Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, yet represent 52% of persons diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. African-American children (under age 13) represent almost two-thirds (64 percent) of all reported pediatric HIV cases in the U.S. For more information about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day call toll free 877-867-1446 or visit www.blackaidsday.org

----National African American Parent Involvement Day, Monday, February 10, 2003---Plan now to "Take Your Child to School/Visit Your Child in School" on Monday, February 10, 2003 in observance of the Eighth Annual NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day). Celebrated annually on the second Monday in February, NAAPID is a national call to action aimed at creating and maintaining positive parent-school- community partnerships. The initiative was inspired by Joseph Dulin, principal of Roberto Clemente Student Development Center in Ann Arbor, MI. Even though the day is specifically targeted to parents of children of African American descent, all parents are encouraged to participate. NAAPID is a win/win endeavor that benefits the entire community. Thousands of parents and family members have visited their children in schools across the nation. The National Parents' Day Coalition and many other groups and individuals have recognized and supported NAAPID, including governors, mayors, school boards, school officials, business executives and community leaders.

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