OneUnited Bank Announces Winners Of The "Covenant Celebration And Conversation Weekend"
Los Angeles, CA – OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank and first Black internet bank in the United States, has partnered with Tavis Smiley during The Covenant with Black America book tour to raise awareness and financial literacy among urban communities. As the first nonfiction book from a Black author to reach #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list, The Covenant outlines a national plan of action to address a myriad of challenges facing African Americans today, including financial literacy. In an effort to galvanize the community to take specific action steps as outlined in the book, Mr. Smiley designated May 19-22 as the "Covenant Celebration and Conversation Weekend". As part of the festivities for this nationwide event, OneUnited Bank pledged $1 million towards raising awareness of the importance of saving in the African American community.
www.oneunited.com

Black 9/11 Survivor Authors New Book
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX - As someone who was working in the World Trade Center's Tower One on the morning of September 11, 2001, Leslie Haskin will never forget the soul-searing images she witnessed or the horror she and so many others endured during her long, panic-driven odyssey toward escape on that black day. In Between Heaven and Ground Zero (Bethany House Publishers), she shares what really happened to those who struggled to find their way out of the quickly closing doors of the tomb that was the doomed North Tower. Suffering from severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Leslie eventually lost her home, her career and her life savings. But with faith and medical help, she has emerged from the symptoms of her illness to shine as a remarkable testimony to the enduring legacy of hope.
www.bethanyhouse.com

Black Enterprise Announces Top 50 Colleges For African Americans
New York, NY - Black Enterprise (BE) announced its 2006 list of the Top 50 Colleges for African Americans. Of the 10 highest-ranking schools, five are historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs); five are located in the South; and eight are private institutions. Attaining the number one rank is Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL. Founded on Oct. 3, 1887, as the State Normal College for Colored Students, the venerable HBCU offers 62 bachelor's degrees in 103 majors/tracks and provides 36 master's degrees in 56 majors/tracks. Rounding out the top ten are: Howard University, Washington, DC., North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC; Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; Spelman College, Atlanta, GA; Hampton University, Hampton, VA.; Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Columbia University, New York, NY; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; and Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.
www.blackenterprise.com

Magna Helping Confront Rise Of African American Unemployment
Atlanta, GA - Magna Consulting Group, Inc. is a minority owned Executive Coaching, Career Transition and Outplacement firm who is providing exceptional results within an uncertain economy. According to the Department of Labor, "The unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 4.8 percent from 4.6 percent. The last time the unemployment rate was this high was in February, 2006." Magna recognized a real need to provide coaching/placement assistance and developed a service designed to help people and companies regain certainty of their future within an uncertain economy. Magna has the team and resources to provide an array of services ranging from Executive Coaching, Outplacement Services, Career Counseling, Employee Retention Services and more. Magna is also committed to the communities where they do business, supporting a wide range of charitable organizations. Magna serves clients nationwide, but their primary market space is the southeastern United States region. www.magnaconsultinggroup.com

African Americans Are Out Of Focus On Proper Vision Care
Jacksonville, FL – While most Americans visit their doctor annually and their dentist twice a year, a new survey shows that many adults do not prioritize, for themselves or their children, two of their most vital body parts – their eyes. The Americans' Attitudes and Perceptions About Vision Care survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Johnson and Johnson’s Vision Care Institute, also reveals alarming statistics that demonstrate among certain ethnic groups a gap between vision care knowledge and behavior. Among groups surveyed, African-Americans were most likely to report that they do not have a regular eye care professional (21 percent). The National Optometric Association, a leading optometry group dedicated to the delivery of effective and efficient eye and vision care services to the minority community, say that seeing an eye care professional regularly helps not only with standard vision correction, but also may help identify and lead to a diagnosis of other health concerns.
www.harrisinteractive.com or www.thevisioncareinsitute.com

NottaNigga.Com Shakes People Up
Indianapolis, IN - NottaNigga Clothing Company has launched its new line of products on its website, www.NottaNigga.com. The company has an extensive line including shirts, sweaters, baseball caps, and sportswear. Jones is in direct opposition with many Black leaders and "so-called" intellectuals who look at the term as one of endearment. "We are trying to wake people up with these clothes. What better way to discuss the N-word than on clothing. It shocks people, and then they talk," President and CEO, Overton Jones remarked. "We’re hoping the clothes will start conversations." Students at HBCU schools are the company’s target market. NottaNigga Clothing has products in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, and they are available on-line and in selected stores throughout the United States.
www.NottaNigga.com

Farrah Gray's Sister Greek Gray Dies From Leukemia
Atlanta, GA - Greek Gray, founder of the Greek Gray Leukemia Foundation (GGLF), has died in an Atlanta hospital at the age of 34, following a long, grueling battle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and terminal, post-remission, Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD) after receiving a bone marrow transplant. Many recall Ms. Gray from ABC's "20/20," "The Montel Williams Show" and BET's "106 & Park." Her brother, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Spokesman, Farrah Gray, has worked hand-in-hand with the GGLF to increase public awareness and bring light to the issues surrounding the effects of the disproportionately low representation of African-Americans in the NMDP's registry. Ms. Gray founded the GGLF after she too was diagnosed with AML, and worked tirelessly between treatments to rally the cause of education about the various types of cancers and diseases that would eventually take her life. Her work and her legacy continue through her foundation and its ongoing campaign of awareness and action, and her life of service has become the subject of documentary set to debut fall 2007.
www.gglf.org

Homeless Teen Awarded Scholarship
Grand Terrace, CA - StreetPositive.com has awarded a $1000 academic scholarship to the Los Angeles Dream Center to assist in making a dream come true for one of the center’s outstanding homeless youth. The recipient, nineteen year old Teresa Williams, is currently in transitional housing at the Dream Center and is enrolled in nursing school. Emancipated from foster care at age 16, she has excelled academically, persevered personally, and is headed in the right direction. Presentation of the enlarged version of the check was made before thousands of underprivileged youth attending a "Back 2 School" event hosted by the Dream Center and sponsored in part by Kohl's Department Stores. Terry Boykins, head of 4Positive Knowledge, parent company of StreetPositive.com, was on hand to make the presentation.
www.streetpositive.com