---United States Conference of Mayors Mission to Africa 2003---
The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently led a delegation of nine mayors on a Mission to Africa 2003 thru September 6, 2006. This international mission, led by Conference President, Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner is the largest mission undertaken in the 71-year history of the organization. It is the second mission to Africa for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and is the beginning of a sustainable presence and partnership with U.S. mayors and African mayors. Additionally, Conference President Mayor James A. Garner was appointed by President George W. Bush to be an official delegate to the Sustainable Development Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa last Fall. The delegation traveled to four African nations: South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Uganda. The Mission focused on the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa and its impact on economic development and youth development in African cities and nations. This mission will allow U.S. mayors to share their experiences with African mayors and build collaborative partnerships between U.S. cities and African cities in response to the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. For more information, send an email to: penpower@villagenet.com.

---Institute Proclaims September 11 International Unity Day'
The International Institute For Human Empowerment, Inc., a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering all people through the attainment of basic human rights, including quality education, healthcare, food, and a peaceful and loving environment, proclaims September 11 'International Unity Day.' Based upon the premise that many countries lost people in the attacks on the United States on September 11; that all people stand to benefit from resources directed toward education, healthcare, housing and development; and that terrorism and war result in needless pain and loss of human potential; the International Institute For Human Empowerment, Inc. invites cities, peoples, and governments internationally to proclaim September 11 International Unity Day.Activities may include adopting a Unity Pledge; honoring those who perished; drafting a proclamation for unity across geographical, racial, ethnic, and religious boundaries; designing art and music in celebration of unity; and donating time and service toward organizations that promote peace.

---Unemployment today: African Americans see little improvement in unemployment rate---African Americans continue to struggle with double digit unemployment and a shrinking job market as employers cut jobs for the seventh straight month. According to a government report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10.9 percent of African Americans were unemployed in August and that's almost double the overall unemployment rate of 6.1 percent. "President Bush has been in office nearly three years, and in that time he has added $3 trillion to the national debt and lost 3.3 million jobs ," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said. "We also have learned that employers have cut jobs for the seventh straight month"

--Americans to linger longer in the labor market---
After almost three years of a slumping economy, dwindling investments and stagnant job raises, many Americans have concluded they will just have to postpone retirement. The good news is that they say they really wanted to continue working anyway because they enjoy it.That is among the conclusions published in the Allstate "Retirement Reality Check" survey. Specifically, 29 percent of those surveyed said they would need to postpone retirement because of the economic downturn. That expectation crosses generational, gender and ethnic lines.Among Baby Boomers, who at ages 38 to 57 are the next generation to reach retirement, only 27 percent of those surveyed said they anticipate delaying that decision. That compared with 38 percent of Generation X--people age 24 to 37--who responded that they expect to delay retirement because of the economy.African-Americans feel hardest-hit by the economy, the Allstate survey suggests. Among African-Americans surveyed, 35 percent said they might have to postpone retirement, compared with 27 percent of Caucasians and 29 percent of Hispanics who responded.

--California: Sports Hall of Fame to hold induction ceremony in Oakland---
Tom Flores, the former Oakland Raiders head coach and star quarterback, will join five other standouts that will be inducted into the African- American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame on September 12 in Oakland, California. Flores is one of only two people in NFL history who have earned Super Bowl rings as a player, assistant coach and head coach. After quarterbacking the Raiders for six seasons in the 1960s, he coached them to victories in Super Bowl XV and XVII. Flores will be inducted (and become the second Hispanic) into the AAESHOF at a ceremony held at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel in Jack London Square from 6-10 p.m. Former NFL players George Atkinson from the Raiders and Bubba Paris from the 49ers also will be inducted, along with track and field standout Ray Norton, basketball's Brian Shaw (a former Bishop O'Dowd High School star who helped the Los Angeles Lakers win three NBA titles) and, posthumously, Bay Area sports journalist Sam Skinner. The Hall will also honor coach Fitz Hill, San Jose State University, Theo Jackson, Oakland Convention Bureau, Pamela Wimberly (basketball coach), Don Johnson (tennis) and Roland Williams, Oakland Raider tight end. "We are proud to honor these outstanding sport figures and community leaders to emphasize to our youth that champions are born out of hard effort and perseverance," said Arif Khatib, Founder and President of AAESHOF. For tickets, call 510-482-9969.

---New York: National Reparations Rally---
The National Reparation Rally will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2003 at 12pm at the United Nations, 47th Street & First Ave in New York City, NY. For information contact 718-398-1766.

---Prostate Cancer Awareness Month---
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer found in American men, second only to lung cancer. There will be approximately 256,000 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2003. So as we enter Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September, the Kidney & Urology Foundation of America encourages men 50 and over to get a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) at every annual check-up. Although prostate cancer can strike all men, at any age, African Americans have a significant higher risk of the disease. They are six times more likely to develop prostate cancer, and seven times more likely to die from it. Men 40 or older with a family history of the disease are also at higher risk.

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