---Go to UnityFirst.com for the following ----
1) Check out UnityFirst.com's for the following articles on a number of diversity-related topics.
2) Feature: Workplace Barriers Inhibit Minority Professional Advancement
3) Feature: Harlem, New York is the focus of a new at the Museum of the City of New York
4) Feature: SHOWTIME will observe the fifth anniversary of the tragic dragging death of James Byrd, Jr. by premiering the original movie, JASPER, TEXAS.
5) Global Diversity Group Business Exchange: 2003 Tour for Success in New York City --- Russell Simmons joined forces with Global Diversity Group, Inc. and Volvo Cars of North America to bring the "Tour for Success" to emerging minority entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country. See photos from the New York event and stay tuned to hear about the tour's next stop - Dallas, Texas.

---Harlem, NY: El Hajj Malik El Shabazz's (Malcolm X) 78th Birthday observance, May 19 -Rodnell Collins, nephew of Malcolm X will lead the Annual Malcolm X Day Pilgrimage as well as greet community members during open reception/booksigning at Harlem's Hue-Man Bookstore. The O.A.A.U. (The Organization of Afro-American Unity) invites the community to celebrate the Annual Malcolm X Day and Pilgrimage to the resting place of Malcolm X on Monday, May 19, 2003. This year will be El Hajj Malik El Shabazz's (Malcolm X) 78th Birthday anniversary and the 38th year of the pilgrimage since his assassination. The pilgrimage and gravesite caravan were conceived and initiated by Ella Little-Collins, Malcolm's sister, who was the first President of Malcolm's O.A.A.U. The Pilgrimage will be led by Rodnell Collins, Ella's son and the nephew of Malcolm X and Prof. James Small now vice President and Executive Director of the O.A.A.U. The ceremony will be officiated by the Sons of Africa and co-sponsored by Malcolm X/Ella Little-Collins Family Foundation. The O.A.A.U. initiated the pilgrimage in 1965, after the burial of Malcolm X, to honor and show respect for Malcolm, a fallen leader as well as to educate future generations about his legacy. For the Pilgrimage, buses and cars will assemble at the Harlem State Office Building on 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd at 9:00 am and proceed to Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, NY at 10 am. There will be the traditional, one-hour ceremony followed by a return to Harlem for people to take part in several activities sponsored by many organizations throughout the day. Rodnell Collins is extending an invitation to all who wish to join him from 5-7 pm at the Hue-Man Bookstore in Harlem, New York (Frederick Douglass Blvd/125th St) for an informal reception and book signing, in cooperation with New York's Black Public Relations Society, African American Newswire/ UnityFirst.com. Rodnell will share some new insights regarding the family memoir, "Seventh Child: A Family Memoir of Malcolm X." The earliest attendees to the reception will receive autographed book compliments of UnityFirst.com. For further information, contact the following: the pilgrimage, (Prof. James Small at (212) 926-9062), Bus Sponsoring or directions: send email Rmabry@ndsny.org and about the reception, send email to jfondon@unityfirst.com or call 800-286-3659.

---Cleveland, Ohio: PowerNetworking 2003: Collaborating and Building Black Wealth and Resources---Ford Motor Company's PowerNetworking 2003: Collaborating and Building Black Wealth & Resources will be held June 19-22 at Cleveland Convention Center in Cleveland, OH. Co-sponsored by FraserNet, Inc., this event is the second annual networking training conference for people of African descent. The nation's economic slowdown is affecting many Americans, but Blacks seem to be feeling the brunt of the pain. For them, the unemployment rate is nearly double the national average. In 2002, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for Blacks jumped from 9.8 percent in September to 11.2 percent in December. In response to this difficult time for those of African descent, the focus of PowerNetworking 2003 will be on how to network for career building, entrepreneurial success and wealth creation in troubled economic times. This year's conference will feature over 44 training workshops and panels that will be facilitated by a dream team of professional business trainers, motivational speakers and Black business and civic leaders. Another conference highlight will be the nationally televised African-American Business Hall of Fame & Museum induction ceremony and gala. This year the event will honor the following business luminaries: Nathan G. Conyers, Founder & President, Conyers Riverside Ford, Inc.; Earl G. Graves, Sr., Founder & Chairman, Earl Graves Ltd./Black Enterprise; Frank Green, Founder, New Vista Capital Funds; William Hudgins, Founder, Carver Bank & Freedom National Bank; John H. Johnson, Founder & Chairman, Johnson Publications, Inc.; J. Bruce Llewellyn, Chairman, Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company; Ernesta G. Procope, Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer, E.G. Bowman Co., Inc.; and Herman J. Russell, Founder & Chairman, H.J. Russell & Company.To date, this year's roster of confirmed participants include, but are not limited to, Les Brown, Dr. Juanita Bynum, Ron Daniels, Dr. Therman Evans, Ed Gordon, Stedman Graham, Dr. Asa Hilliard III, Dr. I.V. Hilliard, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Dr. Dennis Kimbro, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Rev. Al Sharpton, Bev Smith, and national gospel recording artists CeCe and Vickie Winans. FraserNet, Inc.'s mission is to lead a global networking movement that brings together diverse human resources to increase opportunities for people of African descent. FraserNet publishes SuccessGuide Worldwide-The Networking Guide to Black Resources. For more information on this conference, contact Karen N. Stewart at 216.691.6686 x204.

---Washington, DC: Leadership conference on civil rights to honor heroes of justice---The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights announced the recipients of the 2003 Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award. Named to honor the legendary U.S. Vice President, Senator, and civil rights stalwart, the Humphrey Award is the civil rights community's highest accolade. "The Leadership Conference is very pleased to recognize the outstanding contributions of Representative John Lewis, Northwestern University's Medill Innocence Project and The Center on Wrongful Convictions, and Sesame Workshop," stated LCCR Executive Director Wade Henderson. This year's Dinner Chair is legendary civil rights leader, Dr. Dorothy I. Height.

--Baltimore: Links induction to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum---
The induction of The Links, Inc. founders' wax figures, Margaret Hawkins and Sarah Scott, took place on
April 25, 2003, at The Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Baltimore, Maryland and will be on permanent display thereafter. The wax figures were funded by The Eastern Area Links, Incorporated and unveiled at their 37th Eastern Area Conference Thursday, April 24, 2003 at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in downtown Baltimore. More than 1,200 members and friends attended the ceremony. Margaret Hawkins and Sarah Scott of Philadelphia, PA founded the Links, a public service organization, in 1946, and became incorporated in 1951. They now have more than 11,000 African American women who are represented in 274 chapters in 40 states across the U.S. in addition to chapters in Nassau, the Bahamas, Frankfurt, Germany and South Africa. Visit The Great Blacks In Wax Museum website at www.greatblacksinwax.org

---Onyx Woman Magazine is the How-To guide for Black Professionals---
What started as an eight-page newsletter in Pittsburgh has grown into a full-blown career, entrepreneurial and financial empowerment magazine exclusively for women of color. Onyx Woman magazine offers practical information on career development, money management tools, as well as steps for growing entrepreneurial enterprises. Ola R. Jackson, founder and publisher of Onyx Woman magazine, says the mission of Onyx Woman is to help African-American women on their adventures up the corporate ladder and on their journey through entrepreneurship. Our goal is to provide women of color with information that will empower them financially, politically, and spiritually. Onyx Woman offers a no-nonsense magazine where women of color can now read about professionals, as well as aspiring and successful business-owners just like themselves. Jackson says that she is particularly proud to showcase some very dynamic women who show all of us that we can exceed our own expectations and go from struggle to success.
What Jackson enjoys most about her career as the creator of Onyx Woman is having the opportunity to speak to women across the country about how they can turn their visions into successful ventures and dreams into reality. If you think you have a story to share, or you believe that you typify the Onyx Woman, email Ms. Jackson at: ola@onyxwoman.com.

--Calendar Watch---
July 10-13, 2003
International Black Buyers and Manufacturers Expo and Conference: This event will be held at the new Washington, D.C. Convention Center. For more information, go to: www.IBBMEC.com or call (202) 797-9070
August 7-11, 2003
Make plans to attend Jewel Diamond Taylor's Maui Hawaii retreat, August 7-11, 2003. For more information, e-mail - JEWEL@DoNotGiveUp.net or call 323-964-1736
October 24-25, 2003
Attend Jewel Diamond Taylor's Annual Sisterfriends National Conference in San Diego, CA. For more information, e-mail - JEWEL@DoNotGiveUp.net or call 323-964-1736

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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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