---Langston Hughes: Black Heritage Commemorative Stamp---
Langston Hughes -- known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties -- will soon receive one of the nation's highest honors when the U.S. Postal Service issues a new commemorative postage stamp in his honor. The stamp commemorates both the centennial of Hughes' birth and the 25th anniversary of the Black Heritage series. The Black Heritage series began in 1978 with the issuance of the Harriet Tubman commemorative stamp. The Hughes stamp will be issued Feb. 1 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York, N.Y. "Langston Hughes used the collections of the Schomburg Center throughout his career. He donated part of his papers to the Center and his remains are interred in the atrium of the Center's Langston Hughes Auditorium," said Howard Dodson, director, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. One hundred twenty million Langston Hughes self-adhesive stamps will be printed for the February 2002 issuance.

---University of Pittsburgh hosts National Minority Health Leadership Summit---Minority health leaders and scholars from around the United States will convene in Pittsburgh Jan. 10-11 for the University of Pittsburgh Center for Minority Health's second annual summit on eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities. The 2002 theme is "The Impact of Discrimination on Health Status." The two-day summit will be held at the University Club, located on University Place between Fifth Avenue and O'Hara Street in Oakland. "Our aim is to mount a comprehensive response to the growing body of scientific evidence that discrimination has invaded the health care delivery system," said Stephen Thomas, Ph.D., director of the Center for Minority Health and Philip Hallen Professor of Community Health and Social Justice at the University of Pittsburgh. "Since the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, much progress has been made in addressing racism in the United States, but discrimination -- usually unintentional -- still exists in the provision of health care services. The scientific literature clearly documents restricted access to medical care among minorities."

----Artist Paul Goodnight launches new calendar---World renowned African American artist Paul Goodnight has released his 2002 calendar, "Leaving a Legacy, Art Across the Ages IV, a 14 month-calendar featuring the works of Paul Goodnight and Harvey Johnson, as well as the visual legacy of the late artist, John Biggers. Partial proceeds for the calendar will go to the John Biggers Art Scholarship fund at Texas Southern University. The calendar guides you into the year 2002 and beyond with African American historical dates and quotations. Edmund Barry Gaither, Director of the Museum of the National Center of Afro American Artists, says, " Biggers, Johnson and Goodnight are visual storytellers who hold three great passions in common. First, they all love ordinary Black people, often depicting their characteristic manners, gestures and attitudes. Second, Africa, its oral traditions, dance and music, is the source of unity for their sundry visions. And third, the three all believe that art can capture dimensions of human spirituality, inaccessible by other means. Therefore, they are devoted to creating extraordinarily evocative works resonant with memories of Black familial and communal experiences." To order, call 1-800-397-8611 or send email to: info@colorcircle.com

---Save the date: World Saviours' Day, February 13-17 2002, Los Angeles, CA----The Nation of Islam led by the honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan will hold its annual gathering, World Saviours Day, in Los Angeles, California, February 13-17, 2002, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This year's theme is "Healing the Wounds to Bring About a Universal Family." The star-studded line-up of the event's honorary chairs include: the Honorable Louis Farrakhan, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Russell Simmons, Steve Harvey and Karl Kani. On Wednesday, February 13 at 7 pm The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan pays tribute to the classical composer Ludwig von Beethoven at Los Angeles' Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. His performance will carry a message of healing for the human family. He was first introduced to the violin at an early age by his mother. He immediately fell in love with the instrument and dreamed of becoming a concert violinist. The proceeds from the recital will benefit educational development. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been a strong supporter of education and has built schools fostering academic excellence. He has personally sponsored many college scholarships for needy students and supported student achievement. On February 17, Louis Farrakhan will deliver his keynote address during the Great Western Forum. Other Saviours' Day events include a musical tribute to humanity, celebrity appearances, vendors, entertainment, Hip Hop Summit Live Performance on Center stage with recording artists from Arista, Def Jam, MCA, Warner Bros. and more. This national, annual gathering the Nation of Islam offers a variety of workshops: healthcare (Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes, Hypertension), Language Skills ( Spanish and English), Reparations, Relationships, Financial Freedom, Charter Schools vs. Public Schools, UFO's, Street Organization Interventions, Healing the Oppression of Debt, Parent/Teacher Relationships with Children, Family Relationships w/focus on Parenting, The Digital Divide, Real Estate, Grant Writing and more. Youth workshops include: Science, Storytelling, Theater Arts, Martial Arts, Dance, Teenage Life Skills, Nutrition and Health and Male Rites of Passage.

---Beautiful Me---
Successful entrepreneur, Wanda Thomas, enjoys sharing her creativity with children nationwide. Her debut children's stories, Handsome Me and Beautiful Me are targeted to African American children in elementary school and are inspired by real-life experiences from the author's youth growing up in Harlem, New York. These vibrantly illustrated companion books take each child on an entertaining and educational journey of understanding that helps to build self-esteem and positive images. For more information, call 212-662-6993.

---2002: Events---
Send your event dates to editors@unityfirst.com, so that we can post them for our readership to see. Our readers hope to attend and support your events.

June 13-19, 2002
Juneteenth Celebration: National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, U.S. Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C.

August 2-3, 2002
5th Annual National Juneteenth Convention & Expo, Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, California

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