---40th anniversary of MLK’s assassination---
Tavis Smiley will travel to Memphis, Tennessee to broadcast his PBS late-night talk show(airing March 31-April 4) from the National Civil Rights Museum in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 3 (9-11a.m.), he will broadcast from the historic Mason Temple. Throughout the week, Tavis Smiley's PBS program will feature guests who were touched by the life of Dr. King, including actor and King colleague Harry Belafonte; Rev. Al Sharpton; Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West; Monumental Baptist Church's Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles; former King attorney Clarence B. Jones; Taylor Rogers, one of the striking Memphis sanitation workers in 1968; former King secretary Dorothy Cotton; Beverly Robertson, executive director of the Civil Rights Museum; and minister/social commentator Michael Eric Dyson.The National Civil Rights Museum is located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination on April 4, 1968. The Mason Temple is the site of Dr. King's "I've been to the Mountaintop" speech delivered April 3, 1968 the night before his death.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

Nancy Pelosi

TNJ Celebrates

The Links Inc.

Business World Index

---Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: MLK and Robert F. Kennedy---
On the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Lt. Governor of Maryland, will give a public lecture at St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM).  The lecture is on Friday, April 4 at 8 p.m., and is titled “Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy: Remembering the Advocate and the Politician 40 Years Later.” “In the midst of our own history-making presidential campaign, many of us wish that King and Bobby Kennedy were around to see it unfold,” said Michael Taber, the director of the College’s Paul H. Nitze Scholars Program, which is sponsoring Townsend’s visits.  Taber said, “[She] was a teenager in that Spring when King, and then her father were assassinated.  Yet she resolved even in those moments not to let bitterness drown out hope.  When her father, Bobby Kennedy, informed a crowd on his Presidential campaign trail in Indianapolis that King had been killed, the emotions were palpable."

---Pelosi Statement on the Anniversary of Cesar Chavez’ Birthday---
Here is an excerpt from Speaker Nancy Pelosi remarks regarding the 81st anniversary of Cesar Chavez’ birthday on March 31: “Cesar Chavez championed the causes of justice and equality and inspired millions with his vision of hope and prosperity for working people.  With enormous passion and dignity, he claimed for America’s farm workers the rights that must be possessed by all workers: a good job, a fair wage, and a safe workplace. On the occasion of what would have been Cesar Chavez’ 81st birthday, we pause to thank this great man for the gifts he gave to America’s workers, to rededicate ourselves to the causes he championed, and to recommit our nation to renewing the American dream for all.  As Cesar Chavez said, ‘Si Se Puede!’”

----TNJ 25 ALUMNA REUNION---
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of its 25 Influential Black Women in Business award, The Network Journal Magazine convened a reunion of past honorees. The Gala planning committee included past honorees Marsha Haygood, Valerie Rainford and Michelle Taylor-Jones along with magazine Editor, Rosalind McLymont. The reunion included a networking leadership forum and reception hosted by Merrill Lynch and Dr. Westina Matthews Shatteen (also a past honoree). The program consisted of Susan Taylor speaking about "Our Sister's Journey" and the signing of her new book, "It's All About Love" and George Fraser speaking about "The Power of Black Women to Make a Difference". Shown in the photo (left to right) are: George Fraser, Rosalind McLymont, TNJ Publisher Aziz Gueye Adetimirin and Susan Taylor. (PHOTO CREDIT: KTP/CINNAMON FLIX)

---Celebrating with The Links, Incorporated of Greater New York---
“We are forty women strong and we are committed to making a difference,” are the stirring words used by The Links, Incorporated Greater New York Chapter President Dr. Minta Spain to open the organization’s 59th Annual Easter Luncheon and Fashion Show. Sister Links, family, friends and guests came from throughout the United States and beyond to join Greater New York Chapter in saluting Joyce M. Roche, President, Girls Inc. and Susan L. Taylor, Editor Emerita, ESSENCE Magazine and founder, National Cares Mentoring Movement, with the Greater New York Chapter’s signature Spirit Award created exclusively for the Chapter by the legendary sculptor Tina Allen.  Shown in the photo (L to R): Luncheon co-chair Evette Beckett-Tuggle, Joyce M. Roche, Susan L. Taylor, luncheon chair Gerri Warren-Merrick and Greater New York Chapter President Dr. Minta Spain.

---Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures and ethnic Patients---
Almost a quarter (2,626,700) of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed on ethnic patients in 2007, up 13 percent from last year, including Hispanics, African Americans and Asian Americans, according to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Since 2006, cosmetic plastic surgery procedures increased in the following demographic categories: up 8 percent (1,011,000) in Hispanics, up 8 percent (847,800) in African Americans, and up 26 percent (767,800) in Asian Americans. The most commonly requested surgical procedures for ethnic patients are consistent with last year. African-American patients requested nose reshaping, liposuction and breast reduction; Asian-American patients requested nose reshaping, breast augmentation and eyelid surgery; Hispanic patients requested breast augmentation, nose reshaping and liposuction.