---Affirmative action in hiring practices?---
More than 6 out of 10 Americans believe that giving women and minorities preferences in hiring has been good for the nation, but there is significantly less support for continuing affirmative action programs in the workplace. These are among the major findings contained in the latest national survey commissioned by the Employment Law Alliance (ELA) in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision upholding the use of race-based preferences in college admissions. As part of the ELA's continuing series of "America At Work" polls, 1,000 adults were asked their opinion on the ruling as well as their views on affirmative action, including its impact on the American workplace. Of those surveyed, 36 percent approved of the ruling, 44 percent were opposed, and 20 percent either had no opinion or did not express an opinion. However, 58 percent of those sampled said they believed that giving preference to minorities in college admissions was good for society. The Employment Law Alliance is the world's largest integrated, global practice network comprised of premier, independent law firms distinguished for their practice in employment and labor law.

---New firm to target Hispanic market, voters---
Leslie Sanchez, named one of America's "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business magazine and the woman who spearheaded the Republican National Committee's $3 million Hispanic marketing campaign during the 2000 elections, announced that she has left her most recent position as executive director of President Bush's "White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans," to form "Impacto Group LLC," the premium Washington-based strategic communications and marketing firm serving clients who target Hispanic markets. Impacto Strategies will be the first DC-based Republican political strategy and research group aimed solely at the U.S. Hispanic marketplace. The political division will provide in-depth market analysis, national public opinion research and strategic advice and counseling for elections and public policy.

---American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame holds induction ceremony---
Wilt Chamberlain, one of the greatest players in NBA history was one of the athletes inducted (posthumously) into the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame at the Black Tie Induction Ceremony on Saturday, July 12, 2003, at the Marriott Hotel/Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the Hall of Fame weekend. Other members honored include: Mal Whitfield (Track & Field), Theodore Ratcliffe (Negro League Baseball) and Marques Haynes (Harlem Globetrotters), and posthumously, Wilt Chamberlain (Basketball) and Sam Lacy (Wendell Smith Media Award). Emanuel Steward (Boxing Manager/Trainer Award), Steve Powell (Inspirational Award), Milton Harrison (Outstanding Community Award), T. Demetrius Brown (Executive of the Year Award), John Register (Track & Field Award) and Kenneth Hudson (First Black NBA Referee) were acknowledged for their achievements. In July 2002, in Las Vegas, Don King, Althea Gibson and eight other athletes became new inductees into the national Hall of Fame.

---Public schools get low grades from African Americans---
In a national poll of African American registered voters commissioned by Black America's Political Action Committee (BAMPAC), 62 percent gave the schools in their area a grade of "C" or lower. The poll was conducted June 6th- 26th among 1800 African American registered voters via telephone and the internet. In other related questions, 62 percent of African Americans stated that parents bear the primary responsibility for their children's education while 17 percent stated that the responsibility should be shared by parents, teachers and local school boards. African Americans further expressed their displeasure with the public school system with 52 percent stating that if given a choice they would remove their children from the local public school and place them in a charter or private school.

---Job Opportunity of the Week---
Industrial Economics, Incorporated (IEc), an economic and environmental consulting company, is seeking a full time Associate to work in its Cambridge, MA office. This professional will conduct environmental analyses in support of government agencies and other clients engaged in environmental policy development and analysis. Much of the work will involve human health risk assessment and related activities (e.g. hazard evaluation, exposure assessment, dose-response assessment, uncertainty analysis, risk management.) Candidates should have a Master's degree with emphasis in environmental science, policy analysis, public health, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have course work and/or work experience in several of the following areas: risk assessment, exposure assessment, epidemiology, statistics, economics, and environmental policy. Demonstrated problem-solving skills, ability to work independently, and excellent written and oral communication skills are required. IEc is an Equal Opportunity employer. A corporate goal of IEc is to continue to expand the cultural diversity of its staff, enhancing career opportunities in the environmental field for under-represented groups. More information on this position is located on IEc's web site at www.indecon.com, which is the avenue for making an application. If you have any questions, please contact Kate Phelps, Human Resources, Industrial Economics, Incorporated, 2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140 oe send email to KPhelps@indecon.com .

---New York: Harlem Book Fair 2003, July 14-19---
There are a host of great events and panel presentations connected with New York's Harlem Book Fair 2003, including celebrated authors and publishers. The first event on Monday July 14, will be the First ANNUAL HARLEM BOOK FAIR SPELLING BEE (Location:Hue-Man Bookstore, 2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd. at 125th Street and 8th Avenue) from 6:00 - 8:00 pm Some of the week's events include: July 15 -TIMES TALK: EMERGING WRITERS, EMERGING MARKETS, July 16- WOMEN WORDS: POETRY AND PROSE, July 16 and 17, IT'S IN THE BOOK - A CHILDREN'S THEATRICAL PLAY, July 17: THE SONY/QBR SALON, July 18th :THE WHEATLEY BOOK AWARDS AND VIP AUTHOR RECEPTION Hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, July 19, THE 5TH ANNUAL QBR HARLEM BOOK FAIR & ART FESTIVAL(noon -7 pm on West 135th between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.). Also, plan to attend the July 19 (4pm) event, "Free Your Mind and Return to the Sources: Revising Black Literary Classics" at The Schomburg American Negro Theatre. The event launches the new Givens Collection series, a trade paperback series of reissues published under the Washington Square Press imprint. The first three titles in this series are Oscar Michaeux's The Conquest, Frederick Douglas's My Bondage and My Freedom, and Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Books will be available for purchase. Harlem Book Fair panel presentations include: "CULTURAL GATE KEEPERS," "MEMOIRS and AUTOBIOGRAPHIES: WHAT WE REVEAL, WHAT WE CONCEAL", " WRITING AS ACTIVISM," "POST 9/11: AN ANALYSIS IN THE AFTERMATH," "EMERGING WRITERS," "WOMEN'S WELLNESS," "MEN and WOMEN (Love and War" and "HARLEM ON THEIR MINDS." For more information, dates, times and locations for these events, send an email to: Tobyspeaks@aol.com

---FORTUNE's special diversity section, "The Diversity Factor"
FORTUNE's special diversity section, "The Diversity Factor," will be published in the magazine's October 13, 2003 issue (deadline: August 25, 2003). This special section, produced in cooperation with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), is invaluable to people of all backgrounds and professions, from diversity practitioners to community-based organizations, who want to more fully understand the ever- increasing multicultural world that we live and work in. The "Diversity Factor" will explore best practices in the field including diverse hiring practices, management training, mentoring programs, and incentive compensation tied to diversity achievements. For more detail about the section and special opportunities for corporations to participate, contact Gloria Lerner via email: glerner@bellatlantic.net or by phone (212) 831-7068 or Janine Fondon via email: jfondon@unityfirst.com or phone: 1-800-286-3659.

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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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