---NAACP ACT-SO program turns 25---
Approximately 1,200 high-school students from nearly every state in the U.S. are preparing to compete in the 25th ACT-SO (Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympic competition sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The national ACT-SO contest will be held July 5-7, 2002 in Houston, Texas as part of the 93rd NAACP Annual Convention, which runs July 6-11 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among students of color. Since its inception, ACT-SO's size has significantly increased. This year's overall program is the largest ever, with 26 new local competitions added in cities across the country, bringing the total number of local competitions nationwide to 178. Because this year marks the 25th anniversary of ACT-SO, there will be a special award ceremony honoring the legendary history of the program. The banquet is scheduled for Sunday, July 7th at 7:00 PM. NAACP Board Chairman Julian Bond and NAACP President/CEO, Kweisi Mfume are expected to deliver remarks. ACT-SO alumni celebrities include actor Michael Beach from NBC's Third Watch, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, filmmaker John Singleton, former Miss America Marjorie Vincent, and jazz musician Roy Hargrove. For more information, contact Brooks Meek via phone: 202-466-6040.

---Confronting the workforce crisis requires action---
"America has a workforce in crisis," according to a new report being released by the National Policy Association's (NPA) Digital Economic Opportunity Committee (DEOC). "The workforce has a sufficient supply of workers, but they lack the technological skills needed for the 21st Century. As we recover from a recession, we must train our workers and expand the digital workforce to include previously ignored groups such as women, seniors, African-Americans, and persons with disabilities." The skills divide is a critical challenge for both business and labor. Businesses need qualified individuals to run, maintain, and fix complex software and hardware. Workers need technology skills in order to remain attractive in a competitive job market. With markets creating higher demand for higher technology skills, bridging this gap becomes all the more important.

---Black Women On Wall Street---
"Black Women on Wall Street," the first forum of its kind for women leaders of color, brought together top executives from a cross section of financial services, consulting and academic arenas to offer candid assessments of the specific challenges facing African American women professionals in the financial services arena, as well as proven strategies for their success. Sponsored by Merrill Lynch, the Executive Leadership Council, Essence and Working Mother, the event provided over 200 executives with a robust array of research, expertise and advice to help achievers build and manage stellar careers in the corporate world. Dr. Katherine Giscombe, Senior Director of Research at Catalyst, set the stage by outlining the difficulties facing women of color in the corporate workplace. According to results of a study conducted by Catalyst of over 1,700 women of color professionals and managers (Women of Color in Corporate Management: Opportunities and Barriers), the greatest barrier for respondents was the lack of a mentor or sponsor (47%), followed by a lack of networking opportunities (40%) and role models (29%). Another factor complicating these women's advancement was the experience of having "double outsider status" of both gender and race discrimination. The heightened visibility of being a woman of color throws the spotlight on her successes but leaves very little room for failure, the research found. This serves to discourage managers from taking the risk of assigning women of color to new positions where they might be under scrutiny, Dr. Giscombe observed. Dr. Bell urged the audience to be pro-active in assessing the organization and culture. "You need to understand your environment, how it's changing, how you fit into it, and how to build relationships. It's important to distinguish yourself and project the image of who you are - your talent, skills and strength - to your colleagues." Corporations must leverage the tremendous talent offered by such professionals, according to speakers at the forum. Dr. Giscombe pointed out a vital link between inclusion and retention of talented women of color. The Catalyst survey showed that 64% of respondents strongly intended to stay at companies that demonstrated commitment by hiring a diverse workforce. Fifty-one percent strongly intended to stay when the firm fostered respect for her background; and 49% said they would stay when the firm created a supportive environment for women.

---Baltimore's African American Leaders Declare War on HIV/AIDS---Leaders of Baltimore's African American community met with the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (BLCA) to develop an action plan to fight HIV/AIDS in Baltimore. Plans the leaders committed to include declaring Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, as HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to encourage State legislators to declare a state of emergency in Baltimore as requested by the City Council. "Baltimore is among the top five cities in the nation on the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Black community," said Rev. Raphael Walnock, co-chair, BLCA Baltimore and Pastor, Douglas Memorial Community Church. "We must rethink how we allocate resources and increase the tiny percentage that goes to prevention. It is unconscionable to wait until people get sick and then treat them. "We can't have economic empowerment and educational advancement if the city's workforce is sick and dying," he said. According to the Maryland Department of Health 88 percent of Baltimore's AIDS cases are among African Americans. The rate among Whites is 11 percent.

---New development in Harlem---
Expected to be the nation's largest affordable environmentally-sustainable condominium, Full Spectrum Building & Development held the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the $40 Million Condominium Development. An historic groundbreaking was held today at 1400 5th Avenue, the site of a future energy-efficient ("green") affordable multifamily housing condominium that will incorporate "smart" technologies for residents. The $40 million development will be the first of its kind in New York City and is expected to be the largest in the U.S. The 225,000 square-foot development includes 30,000 square-feet of retail space. Construction is scheduled to be completed by summer 2003. "This is one of the most significant housing development projects of its kind in Harlem and the City of New York," said Carlton Brown, a Principal, at Full Spectrum Building "We believe we will see many more like this in the future. They not only help bridge the housing affordability gap for urban families, but are environmentally friendly and provide many of the modern amenities people want." Full Spectrum Building and Development, a Harlem-based African American-owned real estate developer is the developer of the project. HRH Construction LLC is the general contractor.

---National Urban League's 2002 Annual Conference---
Networking opportunities and inspired messages will take center stage as Judge Greg Mathis, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., E. Stanley O'Neal and Earvin Magic Johnson deliver keynote addresses at four luncheons scheduled during the National Urban League 2002 Annual Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center, July 27 through July 31.Beginning on Sunday, July 28, each day of the conference will feature a luncheon keynote address and opportunities for luncheon guests to network with one another and discuss personal, business and career goals. The theme for the National urban League 2002 Annual Conference is Opportunity + Equality = One America, and this year's event marks the League's return to Los Angeles after a decade visiting other Urban League affiliate cities.

---Erykah Badu as 2002 LifeWalk Celebrity Spokesperson---
AIDS Arms, Inc., the only Dallas-based agency providing both outpatient medical care and psychosocial services for persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, announced Grammy Award winner Erykah Badu as the 2002 LifeWalk Celebrity Spokesperson. As a local artist committed to the prevention of HIV/AIDS, Badu has generously agreed to lend her name and her music to the cause as she will be performing at the annual LifeWalk Recruitment Party in August in addition to attending the twelfth annual event presented by LaurusHealth.com on Saturday, October 5.

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.

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