---Diversity initiatives fall short---
Most employees believe that diversity is good for business, but fewer than a third believe that their company has an effective diversity initiative. What's more, 12 percent of employees surveyed said they believe that their company is at risk for a diversity-related lawsuit. Those are just some of the findings of a study released by the National Urban League, the country's oldest and largest community-based organization devoted to advancing equal opportunity. The two-year study, called "Diversity Practices that Work: The American Worker Speaks," revealed that fewer than half (45 percent) the people surveyed believe that diversity is part of the corporate culture of their respective employers, and only 32 percent believe their company has an effective diversity initiative. Moreover, executives' perceptions about diversity are 28 percent more favorable than those of the overall workforce.

---Happy Birthday, Bill Cosby---
July 12 is the birthday of Bill Cosby. He was born in 1937 to William and Anna Cosby in Philadelphia's Germantown Hospital. Cosby left high school (secured his GED at a later date) and joined the U.S. Navy. Four years later, he entered Temple University on an athletic scholarship, pursued his career in comedy and later earned both a master's and doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts. Recently, Cosby has been airing what some people say is the Black community's dirty laundry. What do you think? Are Bill Cosby's comments on target or off base? Share your comments with us before July 16 by sending them to: info@unityfirst.com

---"The Race Is On" As NAACP holds 95TH Annual Convention---
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is holding its 95th annual convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, July 10-15. Prominent speakers include: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, Senators John Kerry (D., Mass) and Rick Santorum (R.,Pa.), Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree and Miss America 2004, Erica Dunlap. Kweisi Mfume, NAACP President & CEO, said: "As we launch our 95th annual convention in Philadelphia, we are reminded of our rights and responsibilities as citizens. In this election year, the NAACP launches its own race: a race to economic opportunity, improved healthcare coverage, education for all students, and a race to turn out voters." Julian Bond, Chair, NAACP National Board of Directors said: "Our main focus will be on mobilizing the enormous self-help power of minority communities - at registration offices now and polling places in the Fall, we will expend every effort to elect candidates supportive of civil rights." During the convention Women in the NAACP (WIN) will hold its annual fashion show and brunch as well as a symposium, "Voice of Women: From Dialogue to Action". This year's fashion show features special guest and celebrity model "Omarosa" Manigalt-Stallworth from the television reality show, "The Apprentice."

---Top books by African American authors---
What books by African American authors should be on a 'best books' resource list and recommended for people to read and purchase. Send UnityFirst.com your recommendations, including author, book title, and publisher to info@unityfirst.com. All readers are invited to submit their favorite books. Authors are encouraged to send an online press package referencing their books to info@unityfirst.com.

---National Urban League---
The 2004 National Urban League Conference - Empowerment: Building on the Civil Rights Movement- will be held in Detroit, Michigan, July 21 - 25 2004.

---Harlem Book Fair- Saturday, July 24, 2004---
More than 40,000 attendees and over 150 African American authors are expected to convene in Harlem on Saturday, July 24, 2004, from 12 Noon to 7:00pm at the 6th annual Harlem Book Fair. This is a free community event. The Harlem Book Fair, will feature over 250 exhibit booths, four stages, celebrity authors, book selling, storytelling and a variety of musical entertainment that will run a two-block stretch on 135th street between 5th Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. A total of 15 free author panel discussions will take place during the day at the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture and air live on C-SPAN's Book TV. The panels (go to www.qbr.com/hbf2004/panels.htm) will cover topics ranging from the state of affairs of the Black church to a host of other topics where authors will discuss on every day life issues facing Black America. Best selling controversial author J L King (On the Down Low: A Journey Into the Lives of Straight Black Men Who Sleep With Men) will participate in a lively panel discussion with the Harlem Book Fair Audience on the subject of Love, Lust and Lives with Michael Baisden (God's Gift to Women) as moderator and Darren Coleman (Before I Let Go), Crystal McCrary Anthony (Homecourt Advantage), Earl Sewell (Taken for Granted), Tia Williams (The Accidental Diva). This year the book fair will expand it's base to include a Christian Book and Sound Stage Pavilion, where well-known and self-published authors of faith. For more information, send an email to legzpro@aol.com or call (718) 398-7334.

---New $50 note to begin circulation on September 28---
The newly designed series 2004 $50 notes, featuring subtle background colors of blue and red, images of a waving American flag and a small metallic silver-blue star, will be issued beginning on September 28, the U.S. government has announced. On the day of issue, the Federal Reserve Banks will begin distributing the new $50 notes to the public through commercial banks. The redesigned $50 note is the second in the series 2004 new currency designs. A redesigned $20 note was issued in October 2003. A redesigned $l00 note is also planned. Because the improved security features are more effective if the public knows about them, the U.S. government is undertaking a broad, worldwide public education campaign. This program will ensure that people in this country and all over the world know the new currency is coming, and help them recognize and use the security features.

---New Pfizer initiative to expand access to prescription medicines---
Pfizer Inc said it is launching the pharmaceutical industry's most comprehensive initiative to significantly expand access to prescription medicines across the United States, with a specific focus on enabling America's 43 million uninsured to obtain Pfizer medicines at significant savings. With enrollment beginning in August, Pfizer will provide millions of working families without drug coverage access to Pfizer medicines at an average savings of 37 percent. Pfizer's medicines treat many common medical conditions, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression and diabetes. America's uninsured suffer because they can't afford to see doctors as well as get preventive care, needed medical tests and prescription medicines. The uninsured also lack the purchasing power of large-volume buyers like health maintenance organizations and large employers. Many of their treatable medical conditions go undetected for years until expensive medical interventions, often in America's already overloaded emergency rooms, are required. In response, Pfizer will offer uninsured families earning less than $45,000 a year the ability to buy medicines at prices similar to those paid by large purchasers. Families without drug coverage making more than $45,000 will be eligible for average savings of 15 percent off retail prices if they do not have drug coverage. For information, send an email to info@unityfirst.com.

---Tour of Success presents Spike Lee, Tony Brown in Baltimore, Maryland - July 29, 2004---The Business Exchange: 2004 Tour for Success presented by Volvo Cars of North America and produced by the Global Diversity Group travels to Philadelphia for a July 29 event with Spike Lee and Tony Brown at the Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel. The Tour for Success brings free seminars, workshops and networking opportunities to emerging minority entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country. The event begins at 9 a.m. (registration opens at 8 a.m.) with free interactive workshops focusing on key business issues and trends including: "Winning at the Contract Game", "Marketing Your Way To Success" and "Gaining the Competitive Edge via Technology." There are also workshop tracks focusing on issues that concern mature businesses as well as Business Basics workshops for startups. The workshops, Success Story Session with Spike Lee and luncheon with Tony Brown are FREE and open to the public, but registration is required. Tickets are also available for the Economic Empowerment Networking Reception. If you would like to be a vendor at the event, send an email to: vendor@globaldiversitygroup.com . To register for the Tour of Success event, go to www.mpbnetwork.com or enter a drawing to win two free tickets to the Empowerment Networking Reception, send your name, address, phone and email to info@unityfirst.com or call 800-286-3659.

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