---Labor Day 2003: Annual Report--- The Employment Policy Foundation's (EPF) eighth-annual American Workplace Report, "The American Workplace 2003: Realities, Challenges and Opportunities" examines 75 years of workplace history and the possibilities that lie ahead for the next 75 years. By 2006, EPF estimates the annual cost of corporate IT security spending related to potential economic terrorism at $155 billion -- a 135 percent increase since 2001.The American workplace is facing new challenges as the labor force becomes more diverse. In the next 20 years, women and minority men will make up over two-thirds of the workforce. Despite the realities of the recent economic downturn, the American workplace has experienced 75 years of advancement -- compared to its 1929 level. Employment is three times higher today and real per capita personal income is almost five times higher. As the economy recovers from the 2001 recession -- deepened by the terrorist attacks in September 2001 and the continuing war on terrorism -- the American workplace faces distinct challenges and opportunities.

---Plans announced for first-ever National Sports Museum in Lower Manhattan (NYC)---National Sports Museum Management, LLC announced it is developing The National Sports Museum (NSM), a first-of-its-kind, world-class venue dedicated to the celebration of sports and their cultural significance. The NSM, slated to open in the spring of 2005, will be located in Lower Manhattan and will help play a role in the revitalization of downtown New York. The National Sports Museum has received letters of involvement from 30 sports halls of fame, museums and other organizations that will participate in the founding of the nation's first significant, comprehensive museum of sports. Among others, the partners include the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, The Hockey Hall of Fame, NASCAR, The Legends of the Game Baseball Museum, The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, The World Golf Hall of Fame, The College Football Hall of Fame, USA Football, The NCAA Hall of Champions, The National Soccer Hall of Fame, The National Track and Field Hall of Fame, The International Boxing Hall of Fame and The Women's Sports Foundation. The National Sports Museum intends to serve as an internationally recognized sports destination, bolstering New York City's bid for the 2012 Olympics. Under the current plans, the Museum will contribute 3% of its gross revenues to three diverse charitable organizations.

---'Courtside Champions' Award honors contributions to sports history and public service---Ron Thomas, author of "They Cleared the Lane: NBA's Black Pioneers" and Tony Pettaway, Founder/Director of the Greater Springfield PRO/AM Basketball League, Inc. and owner of the Springfield Slam Semi-Professional Men's Basketball team, have been selected to receive the first-ever 'Courtside Champions' award for their public service and contributions to sports history and education. The media and general public are invited (call 800-286-3659 to register) to hear in-depth analysis of today's hot sports stories and celebrate the contributions of Ron Thomas and Tony Pettaway on Thursday, September 4 ( 6-8 pm) at 682 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, Mass (The birthplace of basketball). The awards event and public forum coincides with Hall of Fame festivities in Springfield, which include the induction of Earl Lloyd, a key figure in "They Cleared the Lane," Lloyd became the first Black athlete to play in an NBA game on October 31, 1950. On September 6, 2003, Thomas will share intimate reflections during a Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend panel discussion themed African Americans in the NBA. Thomas covered the NBA for 11 years and was the first African American NBA sportswriter/analyst at USA Today. A sports writer and author, Thomas is the nation's premiere scholar specializing in Black NBA Pioneers. Pettaway is recognized nationally for his youth violence-prevention activities and achieved hometown celebrity status for his commitment and contributions to young African American athletes. For more information, contact Lynne Scott Jackson at millynneum@aol.com or (212)560-9300 or to attend the reception, contact Janine Fondon at UnityFirst.com at jfondon@unityfirst.com or 800-286-3659.

--- Imam W. Deen Mohammed resigns---
Imam W. Deen Mohammed, leader of the American Society of Muslims, has retired. Muhammad, 69, still plans to continue and focus on his ministry. He is the son of the Nation of Islam's founder, Elijah Muhammad.

---New University of Michigan undergraduate admissions process---
A new process for undergraduate admissions at the University of Michigan will gather more information about student applicants and will include multiple levels of highly individualized review. The new process was developed over the past several weeks in order to comply with two June 23 U.S. Supreme Court rulings. In its rulings, the court said that achieving the educational benefits of diversity is a compelling government interest, and that universities may consider race as one of many factors in their admissions processes provided they do so in a manner that is flexible, holistic, and individualized. The court upheld the University of Michigan's Law School admissions process in its entirety, but disallowed the awarding of a specific number of points with regard to race in the undergraduate admissions process because it was seen as too mechanical and rigid.

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