---Send your news to UnityFirst.com---
Send in your news and events for our special sections in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day (deadline: January 9, 2004) and Black History Month (deadline: January 25, 2004). Send news and events via email to: editors@unityfirst.com or call 413-734-6444.

---Dick Gregory on Michael Jackson---
Against doctors orders, author, activist, nutrition expert and comedian Dick Gregory completed a 40-day fast -- and did it without consuming any solid foods. He declared that he was fasting and asking for others around the world to join him in a prayer vigil every day at noon "so that the truth comes out about Michael Jackson's case." What makes Gregory's fast even more amazing is that his doctors had diagnosed him in 1999 with terminal Cancer (lymphoma). "I am extremely happy to announce," Gregory stated, "that the report of my last tests taken on December 9, 2003, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, clearly demonstrated that I am free of the Cancer." Doctors from Cedars Sinai confirmed Gregory's statement. Gregory, who has known Michael Jackson for years, said, "He's a good man and I feel that he's been the target of a conspiracy to destroy his career." "In my opinion," Gregory said, "there are people who have a financial interest in bringing Michael down."

---Health Update---
When former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington died suddenly of a heart attack, the African American community was shocked. Recently, African American singer Barry White died due to diabetes complications, and dancer/actor Gregory Hines lost his battle with cancer. The African American population is in a health crisis, and Chicago area urologist Terry Mason, M.D., is challenging local and national leaders to join the battle for healthy living with the Leaders for Positive Health initiative. Nationally known for his research and lectures in the arena of promoting healthy African American lifestyles, Dr. Mason has assembled a local dream team of political, religious and business leaders to make the ultimate lifestyle change. Dr. Mason and Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter, as well as other local leaders, are publicly announcing their personal commitment to Leaders for Positive Health, an initiative that challenges area leaders to personally modify their lifestyles to serve as strong community role models. State Senator Hunter, Senior Pastor Jeremiah Wright (Trinity United Church of Christ), advertising pioneer Tom Burrell, and Illinois Congressman Danny Davis, will actively take the challenge, along with Dr. Mason. After adjusting their diet and exercise routines, they will check in every six weeks with the Center for New Life, an accredited health facility, to monitor their progress. The leading health culprits facing African Americans are cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, HIV/AIDS, obesity and homicide.

---Next generation: focus on retirement---
An estimated 50% of the total government workforce will retire over the next five years, leaving open leadership opportunities that agencies and companies must plan now to fill, according to a study by business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information. Aside from government agencies facing the impending retirement crisis, many top Fortune 500 executives will also vacate their positions, along with the other baby boomers across the country. The report suggests that top companies adopt what they learn from the CEO succession process for each department and manager throughout the organization. For example, one profiled company's workforce had an average age of 48, with many key employees near retirement. The company expected to lose up to one third of its work force within five to seven years, creating a tremendous succession planning challenge.

---Bank of America focuses on 'multicultural' communities---
Bank of America announced it will open 23 new banking centers in South Florida, between now and 2005. This expansion represents an investment of $68.08 million in South Florida for land, construction, personnel and building operations. This is in addition to more than $1.2 million the company invested last year in Miami through Bank of America Foundation and charitable activities. Since 1998, Bank of America has invested more than $3.2 billion in community development lending and investments in South Florida. The expansion in South Florida is part of a national initiative to open 550 new banking centers over a three-year period. Bank of America has identified its Top 25 markets for expansion and growth. South Florida - including Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach - is in the top three areas for the bank's expansion. About 70 percent of the new banking centers nationwide will be located in neighborhoods with a strong multicultural presence. Bank of America expects growth in multicultural communities to be twice that of the national average. The Hispanic market continues to show fast growth in homebuying and in small business ownership.

---Better business, win $50,000---
The history of Ford Motor Company is a story of the American dream. Armed with big ideas and a bankroll of just $28,000, Henry Ford set out to make the automobile accessible to everyone, giving birth to one of the world's largest companies. In that spirit, the company is sponsoring the Ford BEST Business Plan contest that gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to submit a business plan and be judged by SCORE counselors for a grand prize of $50,000 and two runner-up prizes of $25,000 to start up the business of their dreams. The Ford BEST Business Plan contest requires individuals to submit a business plan comprised of five main elements, including type of business, product or service, pricing considerations, target market and competition, and general operations. An advisory panel of SCORE counselors will review the plans based on the following judging criteria: overall presentation of the business plan, the viability of a success, funding requirements, anticipated sales, analysis of competition and overall benefit to the community. For more information, contact: Bgreen@uniworld.com.

---America Behind The Color Line: Dialogues with African Americans---
On Tuesday, January 13, at 6 p.m., Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Chair of the Department of African and African American Studies and Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research will be reading at Harvard Book Store from his new book, "America Behind the Color Line: Dialogues with African Americans." The book is the authoritative companion to the new PBS documentary "America Beyond the Color Line." Viewed through the lens of four intrinsic elements of the African American experience - Black Hollywood, The Black Elite, The Ghetto, and The New South - Gates examines the legacy of the Civil Rights movement, tracing the fascinating journey of Black people since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

---2003 National Shopping Study---
The Retail Industry has experienced dramatic changes during the last decade and Holiday 2003 was no exception. Holiday 2003 sales were driven by four specific groups of consumers: adults 18-34, males, African Americans and Hispanics. The industry channel experiencing the most dramatic change was Department Stores. In the four year history of the study, the percentage of consumers naming Department Stores as the place they spent the most has declined from 15% to 11%. The consumer groups supporting the Department Stores are also changing. In this year's Meridian study, 11% of Caucasians, 15% of Hispanics and 18% of African Americans reported spending the most at a Department Store. Data from the study indicates that the African American and Hispanic consumer groups now account for 25% - 30% of Department Store sales. The significant changes in the shopping behavior of these consumer groups and their purchasing motivations will require Department Store management to make meaningful changes to their assortments and strategies to effectively accommodate their new customers. Spending on gifts varies by ethnic group. Caucasians report spending 72% of their Holiday budget on gifts, while African American and Hispanic consumers report spending 62% and 52% respectively.

---Send your news, events and press releases to editors@unityfirst.com! ---

For more information on African American Newswire, a national press release distribution service targeting the diverse press or UnityFirst.com, call 413-734-6444 or send email to editors@unityfirst.com.

###