---Marlon Jackson opens up about losing Michael---
 “I still can’t believe my brother’s gone,” says Marlon Jackson. Working past the tears and sincere longing for his younger brother, Michael, Marlon Jackson recently told JET magazine(August 3 issue) that he believes the beloved superstar is finally resting in peace. He admits it’s been an extremely tough time right now but credits prayer and his strong faith for helping him to understand the recent death of Michael. “That’s where I find my comfort because I really do feel that he’s at peace now,” said Marlon. “I feel in my heart that the Lord had to call Michael to come home because he had finished what he wanted him to do on planet Earth.” He said the entire Jackson family is “still in a state of shock” because “none of us saw this coming.” Together, they are working though the pain to accept the loss of Michael.

Jesse Jackson, Sr.

Marc Morial

Wendy Williams

Pres. Barack Obama

Business World Index

---Rev. Jesse Jackson pushes new civil rights agenda---
JET magazine reports that Rev. Jesse Jackson told hundreds of attendees during the 38th annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund conference that the nation’s economic turmoil has increased discrimination and inequality for America’s poor. Check out the story in the August 3 issue of JET.

---2009 National Urban League Conference---
The 2009 National Urban League Conference will be held from July 29-August 1 at the
McCormick Place Convention Center, West Building, Chicago. Themed “The Path to Power,” influential business, community and political thought leaders from around the country will participate to offer valued advice and insight.  Power-packed plenary sessions include:  The Path to Power, The State of Black America and 21st Century Now Leadership for a “NOW” Generation; workshops cover important topics like tips on preventing foreclosure; how to invest in a challenging economy; how to take advantage of the new “green” economy; the importance of being counted in the 2010 Census and building America’s workforce and how to save our children. The NUL Experience Expo & Career Fair is the largest ever and FREE to the public. National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial, will kick off this important event with an inspirational keynote address on the evening of July 31.

---Wendy Williams leaves radio show---
Executives from WBLS and representatives for Wendy Williams today jointly announced Ms. Williams plans to leave her daily radio show at month’s end to dedicate herself full time to THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW, a nationally syndicated talker which launched July 13th.  Ms. Williams, who has been a fixture on WBLS since 2002, has spent more than two decades on the air winning over fans and was recently nominated as a potential inductee to the National Radio Hall of Fame.  Her radio show has consistently rated as one of the highest rated programs on the station. “We are saddened to lose one of our most popular personalities,” noted Deon Levingston, Vice President and General Manager of WBLS. “But we understand what it requires to put a live show on television each and every day and wish Wendy all the best in this new venture.” On today’s edition of The Wendy Williams Show (syndicated, check your local listings) Wendy said about her listeners, “I love you for listening for twenty three years, but I love you for watching now.”

---Voter turnout increases by five million in 2008 Presidential election---About 131 million people reported voting in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, an increase of 5 million from 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The increase included about 2 million more black voters, 2 million more Hispanic voters and about 600,000 more Asian voters, while the number of non-Hispanic white voters remained statistically unchanged. Additionally, voters 18 to 24 were the only age group to show a statistically significant increase in turnout, reaching 49 percent in 2008 compared with 47 percent in 2004. Blacks had the highest turnout rate among 18- to 24-year-old voters -- 55 percent, an 8 percent increase from 2004. The increased turnout among certain demographic groups was offset by stagnant or decreased turnout among other groups, causing overall 2008 voter turnout to remain statistically unchanged -- at 64 percent -- from 2004. Relative to the presidential election of 2004, the voting rates for blacks, The voting rate was highest in the Midwest (66 percent), while the rates in the West, Northeast and South were about 63 percent each. Among states, voting rates varied widely. Among states and state-equivalents with the highest voter turnout were Minnesota and the District of Columbia, each with voting rates.

---Campaign for High School Equity---The Campaign for High School Equity (CHSE) provided recommendations for the development of common academic standards that take into account the unique needs of students of color and low-income students to ensure that all children, regardless of ZIP code, income, race, or ethnicity are taught to the same high standards. "Even though our kids represent the fastest-growing segment of public school students, communities of color are still frequently left out of the process of defining academic success in our country," said Michael Wotorson, executive director of CHSE. "Communities of color must be meaningful partners in the development, implementation, evaluation, and validation phases already under way in the common standards movement. If the leaders of this process fail to engage those most at risk, they may actually perpetuate educational inequities and therefore be complicit in creating a permanent underclass in America." According to the Alliance for Excellence Education, African American, Latino, and Native American high school students have at best a six in ten chance of graduating from high school on time with a regular diploma. And contrary to the model minority myth, many Asian Americans also face barriers in education. For example, about half of adult Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans have less than a high school education.