---National Association of Black Journalists statement on Jayson Blair---
Here is an excerpt from the National Association of Black Journalists statement on Jayson Blair: "Such breaches of trust are especially damaging at times like these, when it is so vitally important for citizens to have confidence in what they read in their newspapers or see and hear in news broadcasts," said NABJ President Condace Pressley. "There is no room in our profession for those who betray both their fellow journalists and the readers and viewers they serve." Furthermore, NABJ stands staunchly opposed to those who "play the race card" in this unfortunate incident. While Jayson Blair is Black, his race has nothing to do with allegations of misconduct. "Suggesting Blair's alleged actions reflect on the thousands of Black journalists who daily uphold the highest standards of our profession is not only laughable and ludicrous, but also inaccurate and insulting," said Pressley.

---Marc H. Morial, new National Urban League President and CEO---
The National Urban League announced the appointment of Marc H. Morial as its new President and CEO effective immediately. Morial, 45, is the former two- term mayor of New Orleans and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Mr. Morial succeeds Hugh B. Price who announced in November of 2002 his intention to resign in April, 2003. Morial will be the League's 8th chief executive. Michael J. Critelli, Chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes, Inc., and current chairman of the National Urban League Board of Trustees made the announcement on behalf of the Board. Expressing the sentiments of the Board, Mr. Critelli gave special recognition to Milton J. Little, Jr., who had served as interim president since Price's departure in April. "We are indebted to Milton Little for keeping the organization functioning effectively and for the many significant contributions he has made as Chief Operating Officer of the League," Critelli said.

---National African-American organizations join campaign to introduce new $20 Note---A broad cross-section of African-American organizations have joined with the U.S. government in a public education campaign to inform the public about a new $20 note design with enhanced security features and subtle background colors. The new design, which will be issued in the Fall, is part of an ongoing effort to stay ahead of the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. The presidents of the National Black Chamber of Commerce and the National Bankers Association attended the unveiling of the new $20 note, highlighted by appearances by U.S. Treasury Secretary John W. Snow; chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Alan Greenspan; U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin; Tom Ferguson, director of the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which produces U.S. currency; and W. Ralph Basham, director of the U.S. Secret Service, the law enforcement agency responsible for combating counterfeiting, and James A. Brent, Jr., Chief, Office of Currency Production for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Brent, the top ranking African American official at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, said, African-Americans have had a long history of involvement in the production of currency at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Brent said, "The new design carries confidence, value and trust….thus protecting the integrity of everyone's hard earned money." African Americans, as one the nation's leading consumer communities, as well as diverse business owners, the growth sector for the small business market, are expected to pay particular attention to the note's new features. In fact, African-American organizations are joining a far-reaching public education campaign aimed at ensuring currency users know the new currency is coming, and helping them recognize and use the security features. Harry Alford, President of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, said, "With the purchasing power of African-Americans now estimated at $700 billion, we know the volume of $20 bills circulating every day in our community is vast, and it's imperative that our community becomes aware of the new $20 bill and the security features in place to protect us." For more information, contact Ofield Dukes via email: ofield@erols.com.

---2003 TOUR FOR SUCCESS to visit Dallas/Fort Worth/Metroplex, Texas, June 10---Successful entrepreneur Russell Simmons, CEO of Rush Communications - the 2002 BLACK ENTERPRISE Company of the Year - has joined forces with Global Diversity Group, Inc. and Volvo Cars of North America to bring the "Global Diversity Group Business Exchange: 2003 Tour for Success" to emerging minority entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country. Joining Mr. Simmons and the TOUR is Mr. Tony Brown, commentator of the PBS series Tony Brown's Journal, the longest running of all PBS series. The Dallas/Fort Worth/Metroplex, TX event begins with free interactive workshops being held all day on June 10, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. focusing on key business issues and trends. The highlight of the day will be the Partnership for Progress Luncheon leading to the evening featuring a keynote speech by Russell Simmons from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. A VIP Reception from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. will conclude the event with live music, good food, great networking opportunities with an appearance by Russell Simmons and a surprise guest. The seminars and panel discussions will focus on pertinent business matters such as: "Doing Business with the Government", "Strategies for Effectively Networking and Marketing Your Company", "Effectively Using Technology to Improve Your Business" and "Access to Capital"." We want to provide minorities with business solutions to meet the challenges of the new economy and help lead them to success," said Melodie Cunningham, event producer and President of Global Diversity Group, Inc. For more information, send email to: zona@globaldiversitygroup.com.

---Mississippi: Black women gather to honor Fannie Lou Hamer---
The Fannie Lou Hamer Roundtable (the Roundtable) will be held on June 7, 2003 in Moss Point, Mississippi (Gulf Coast).The event, organized by the Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights, is a gathering of Black women who quarterly meet in the Mississippi Delta and other parts of the state to give voice to the struggles waged by poor Black women, who often are invisible to the rest of the country. The roundtable is convened in a state and region where widespread inequality and racial discrimination continue to engulf work environments and communities. The Fannie Lou Hamer Roundtable was born out of a profound need to bring together Black women in the Mississippi Delta and other parts of the state, country and world, to dialogue, share experiences and find solutions to fight racism, sexism, poverty and other injustices. For more information or to support the efforts of the center, call 662-334-1122 or send email to rightsms@bellsouth.net. The Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights (a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization), located in Greenville, Mississippi in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.

---African Americans and local public schools--
While the majority of whites rate their local public schools highly, most African Americans and Hispanics give their schools only a fair grade, according to a Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies' education poll. The findings show that 54.9 percent of Whites believe their public schools are excellent or good, as opposed to 35.2 percent of African Americans and 42.9 percent of Hispanics.

---Nationwide campaign to fight money laundering---
A national grassroots education campaign has been initiated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to enlist the active support of money services businesses to help fight money laundering. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the Department of the Treasury is sponsoring the campaign to inform money services businesses about new anti-money-laundering regulations. According to Dave Vogt, Executive Associate Director of Regulatory Programs at FinCEN, having money services businesses comply with these new federal regulations "will help the government fight not only money laundering, but also terrorist financing and other financial crimes." To obtain free materials and learn more about the role that money services businesses can play in the fight against money laundering and financial crimes, please call 1-800-386-6329. Money services businesses are defined as businesses providing money transfer services in any amount or providing money orders, traveler's checks, check cashing, currency dealing or exchange, or stored-value and conducting more than $l,000 in one of these types of activities with one person in one or more transactions on any one day. For more information, contact Ofield Dukes via email: ofield@erols.com.

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