---Black unemployment continues to rise---
Figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, show that while the nation's unemployment rate remained fixed at 6.0 percent for December, the unemployment situation has gotten worse for African Americans. The unemployment rate for African Americans jumped by half a percentage point to 11.5 percent in December; an increase in a rate that is almost twice the rate of the rest of the nation. Equally disturbing are the continued disparities in the labor market for highly educated African Americans. In separate tables, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports year over year changes in unemployment by race and educational attainment for workers over age 25. From December 2001 to December 2002, the unemployment rate for African-American college graduates jumped from 2.7 to 4.0 percent, and for African Americans with some college, the rate jumped from 6.2 to 9.0 percent. By comparison, white college graduates had their unemployment hold steady over the year, falling slightly from 2.7 to 2.5 percent, and for those with some college rising slightly from 3.8 to 4.3 percent. The National Urban League Institute for Opportunity and Equality calls on our nation's leaders to devise a temporary stimulus plan that will create jobs, be short-term in nature--so that it will not create federal budget problems in the future, or make permanent changes in taxes or federal budgets--and that will be fair, insuring that those who have been hurt the most by the current recession are addressed most.

---National Medical Association on Medicare cuts---
Following is an excerpt from comments made on Medicare cuts by L. Natalie Carroll, M.D., President of the National Medical Association: Unless the Bush Administration and Congress act immediately, a bad situation in the American health care system will become even worse. Additional cutbacks in physician Medicare payments are due to go into effect in March. We must not allow this to happen. Last year Medicare fees to doctors were reduced by 5.4 percent. Now, on top of that, payments are scheduled to be slashed by another 4.4 percent, which will result in an unprecedented 10 percent reduction in Medicare payments to doctors within a two-year period. More cuts will further aggravate this looming crisis in health care, resulting in too few physicians available to treat elderly and frail patients. African American and minority doctors are particularly impacted by reduced Medicare payments because they generally have fewer resources to start with and therefore face the greatest financial risk.

---First African-American woman to earn a seat on the Ways and Means Committee---Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced that Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones had been selected as the newest Member on the very powerful Ways and Means Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. "I am pleased to have a seat on the Ways and Means Committee, as it is a long overdue honor to have an African-American woman to serve on this committee," said Rep. Tubbs Jones. "As a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, I plan to work with my colleagues to secure access to health care for every American by extending health insurance for the uninsured. In addition, I plan to work to secure national Social Security programs, such as a prescription drug benefit, provide funds for the well being of our nation's children, and support tax and trade legislation that would help spur economic growth for small businesses and American families." Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, now serving her third term, is also the first African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives from the State of Ohio.

---Malcolm X/Ella L. Little-Collins Family Foundation is launched by nephew of Malcolm X----Rodnell P. Collins, the nephew of Malcolm X has officially launched The Malcolm X/Ella L. Little-Collins Family Foundation, to recognize Malcolm's life and legacy. One of the Foundation's objectives is to grant scholarships to individuals who wish to pursue careers in the fields of government, science, medicine, divinity, education, health and the trades, whether in colleges, universities, and/or vocational institutions. The recipients will be those people who have demonstrated their volunteerism in communities. Rodnell Collins is the nephew of Malcolm X and son of his Ella Little Collins, Malcolm's sister. Ella Collins knew Malcolm X perhaps better than anyone else. Ella took Malcolm into her Boston (Roxbury, Massachusetts) home after his father was lynched and his mother was institutionalized following a nervous breakdown. Also, Ella was the one who went looking for Malcolm in the streets of Boston when he was a rebellious teenager and monitored his development in prison. In addition, Ella later paid for Malcolm's trip to the holy city of Mecca. The Foundation namesake was formed in honor and recognition of over 175 years of the Little and Collins families struggle for freedom/empowerment and human rights in community, religion, and government (national/international). The Foundation will seek to collect materials to archive for scholarly research and preservation of Malcolm and his family legacy. It will also manage the Malcolm X /Ella Little Collins house, a historical landmark designated by the City of Boston and state of Massachusetts. Institutions or individuals who seek to preserve the legacy of Malcolm X may work collectively with the Foundation, a 501(c)3 state /federal non- profit tax exempt organization. For more information on the Foundation or Rodnell Collins, send an email to rodnellcollins@unityfirst.com.

---The State of Racial Progress in Chicago---
Chicago Urban League President and CEO James W. Compton will deliver the "Compton Report: The State of Racial Progress in Chicago" on Friday, February 7, 2003 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Dr., during the League's Annual Report Luncheon. The report, which details the League's work throughout fiscal year 2002, will also cover the socioeconomic impact of race and class issues on the quality of life for African Americans and minorities. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. The general public is invited to attend; tickets are $50 and are available by calling (773) 451-3518.

---Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson carrying and passing on the dance torch of legends---Here is an excerpt from a story (full story on UnityFirst.com) by Sharon Dukes. Mary Rose Reeves Allen is first given credit for laying the foundation for dance in a higher education institution when she established recognition for dance as a discipline at Howard University. Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson preserves the foundation, with persistence and perseverance, by picking up the torch of dance legends like Allen, and passing it on to the next generation as the Howard University Dance Major Coordinator. This month, as host for the International Association of Blacks in Dance's (IABD) 15th Annual Conference, along with Howard University, Johnson melds her charge for upholding the integrity of the art of dance, while enriching the next generation as mentor with her aspiration for revitalizing the Black Dance community at large. Consequently, she aptly titled the theme for the conference: Timekeepers of the Flame: Passing on the Torch. This coming year the IABD, under Johnson's direction, will honor legendary dance scholar and educator, Katherine Dunham, founder of IABD Joan Myers-Brown, and will also welcome many other notables in the world of dance during its 15th Annual Conference that will take place in Washington, D.C. January 16-19, 2003. For more information, send email to ofield@erols.com.

---Red Lobster donates $150,000 to Tom Joyner Foundation---
Continuing its tradition of supporting diversity in its restaurants and in the communities in which it does business, Red Lobster has donated $150,000 to the Tom Joyner Foundation in 2002, providing 60 students enrolled at historically black colleges and universities around the nation with scholarships. Over the course of the 2002 - beginning January 18 in San Antonio and wrapping up December 6 in Birmingham, Ala. - the world's largest seafood dining company made a series of donations to the Foundation during Tom Joyner Sky Shows, a 30-city tour of the nation's top-rated urban radio show, the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Two scholarships of $2,500 each were awarded to select African-American students at each Sky Show. "With this $150,000 donation, Red Lobster continues to demonstrate its ongoing support of the community by helping young people further their education," said Ken Mills, vice president of marketing for Red Lobster. "Our company-wide commitment is visible every day in our diverse workforce, our community involvement and our business practices" The Tom Joyner Foundation, which was founded by Tom Joyner, Sr., host of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, has raised more than $12 million for African-American students. For more information, please email: rstein@piersongrant.com.

---Unity First's Speakers Bureau: New speakers will be added each week---
.UnityFirst.com and African American Newswire invites speakers (keynote or panel), businesses owners, entrepreneurs, motivational speakers, professionals in various fields, and others with key presentations, to participate in UnityFirst's Speaker's Bureau. This week… Check out Rodnell Collins on UnityFirst.com's Speakers Bureau. Rodnell P Collins is the nephew of Malcolm X and author of "Seventh Child: A Family Memoir of Malcolm X ."

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