15th Annual PAFF Showcases African Cinema
Los Angeles, CA - Going Into Exile, a South African documentary by filmmaker Peter Se-Puma, tells the story of one of the most memorable photos of the 20th Century: the body of young Hector Peterson being carried after the Soweto Uprising. Going Into Exile, Made In Jamaica, and Rwanda Rising are among the films featured in the 15th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) Feb. 8-19. PAFF is the largest festival of African and African American films in the United States showcasing over 100 films as well as a world-class art exhibition showcasing work from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the South Pacific and Canada.
For more information, call 323-295-1706 or visit www.paff.org.

Hamilton Lands McLaren Ride
Lewis Hamilton will step up in 2007 as world champion Fernando Alonso’s teammate at the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team. Hamilton will become the first Afro-Caribbean F1 driver. The 21-year-old Briton, already with four karting titles to his name, has been a protégé of McLaren CEO Ron Dennis since he was 13. Hamilton won the 2000 European kart championship, the 2003 U.K. Formula Renault championship, the 2005 Formula 3 EuroSeries title and the 2006 GP2 crown. Hamilton did not drive a McLaren until September, but he has been selected over Pedro de la Rosa, who raced for the team this year after Juan Pablo Montoya’s abrupt departure. De la Rosa will revert to his previous role as McLaren’s test and reserve driver.
For more information, visit www.autoweek.com.

KFC Foundation Offers College Scholarships
Louisville, KY – The Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Foundation, an independent non-profit foundation established by KFC, announces the search for this year's Colonel's Scholars. The program, founded on Colonel Sanders' belief in education and faith in an entrepreneurial spirit, is looking for accomplished high school seniors planning to attend a public in-state college or university. The 50 students selected will receive up to $20,000 over four years in order to complete a bachelor's degree program. Applications are due no later than Feb. 16, and the winners will be announced in May. Scholarships may be used to fund tuition, books, school fees, and room and board for up to $5,000 per year.
For more information or to apply online, visit www.kfc.com.

New Black Institution On Wall Street
Boston, MA – Misconceptions of the financial services needs of minority communities, especially the African American community, have resulted in a lack of excitement and dedication in servicing this market sector. Subsequently, the minority faith-based groups, business sectors and high-net worth individuals remain an ignored and under-served market. The demand for service in these markets has reached staggering and critical levels. New Vision Financial (NVF) views the African American community, including faith-based churches and organizations, affluent investors, businesses and national organizations, as a prospering and economically viable market that has been grossly overlooked. NVF, new to Wall Street, has established itself as the preeminent provider of global wealth and personal financial management services among diverse and multicultural markets.
For more information, visit www.newvisionfinancial.net.

New DVD Celebrates Godfather Of Soul
Washington, DC – In honor of the late and great James Brown, On the Potomac Productions re-releases James Brown: The Man, the Music & the Message on DVD. The late James Brown often said that this documentary "Is the best one ever done on me." The one-hour entertainment special highlights the great live performances of Brown and his music that spanned four decades. The program, hosted by Dick Cavett features tributes by Dick Clark, Little Richard, Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, and others influenced by his music and lifestyle. Exclusive footage of Brown at his home in South Carolina is displayed as well as his overall life story from dancing for pennies to entertaining presidents.
For more information or to place an order, call 202-898-0899, e-mail onpotomac@aol.com, or visit www.jamesbrownsoul.com.

Government Grants Offered For Women In 2007
Columbus, OH – There are millions of dollars in government grants available to women to help pay for college, help start a home business, help expand a business, or even to help pay bills.
The federal government and local governments allocate millions every year to women because women are a minority. They have been sideswiped for years by men, are underserved, and are underestimated. In addition, big corporations use private foundations to give away grants because they are great tax write-offs and good publicity stunts.
For more information, visit www.GrantsForWomen.org.

Disabled Dancer Stars In Katrina Play
Baltimore, MD – Emmitt Thrower, a disabled retired New York City police officer, producer, writer, and actor, and Tiara Mone't King (Sunshine), a wheelchair-bound dancer, actress, model and double survivor of domestic violence and hurricane Katrina, battled Katrina together in the new multimedia Hip Hop Musical Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water, written and directed by Emmitt Thrower. Tiara King, a former New Orleans resident, who temporarily relocated to her hometown of Baltimore, was pegged for a role in the off Broadway production that toured in Baltimore in January. Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water explores the emotional, psychological, human rights, race, class, and gender issues affecting hurricane Katrina survivors.
For more information, visit www.wabisabiproductions.com.

First-Ever Black Art Auction To Be In New York
New York, NY - On Tuesday Feb. 6, Swann Galleries will conduct the first auction ever devoted entirely to African American fine art. This is the first time a major auction house has organized an entire auction dedicated to this important and rapidly growing field of art. The sale comprises over 200 prints, drawings, collages, paintings and sculptures by well-known African American artists presented in a fully illustrated color catalogue. Swann Galleries, which has been conducting auctions of printed and manuscript African American works for the last 11 years, established the new department of African-American fine art in May 2006. The auction contains a veritable who's who of important African American artists, and includes some of the scarcest and most important examples of their work.
For more information, visit www.swanngalleries.com.

NSBE Receives $1 Million Donation
Alexandria, VA - The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) announced it has received a donation of $1 million from Battelle to support NSBE initiatives in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Half of the gift will establish annual scholarships for NSBE members at colleges around the country. Most of the remaining funds will be used for programs at the grade school and middle school levels. Smaller amounts will be dedicated to other initiatives. The money will be distributed over the next five years. Battelle will join more than 300 other organizations as sponsors of NSBE's 33rd Annual National Convention in Columbus, Ohio in March.
For more information, visit www.nsbe.org.

Rosa Parks Academy Opens In Atlanta
Atlanta, GA – Statistics show that the local school systems are failing children, particularly African American children. Finally, a leader in the educational arena has begun to implement a plan of building 85 independent schools in 17 states. Junior Academies, Inc. (JAI) will open the first school, the Rosa Parks Leadership Academy (RPLA) in Lithonia, Georgia, this fall. Melodee Ford, president and founder of JAI, believes it is necessary for JAI to establish independent schools as opposed to charter schools, because charter schools are still public schools under the control, in most states, of the same board that governs the local public schools. The RPLA will lead the way in providing what has been missing from education in the underserved communities: an equitable education.
For more information, visit www.junioracademies.org or www.rosaparksla.com.

Site Helps People Clear Past Arrests
Chicago, IL – If your New Year's resolution plan includes clearing up past minor arrest records, ArrestFree.com wants to help make 2007 your year. Arrestfree.com (www.arrestfree.com), has released the first Web site solely dedicated to helping U.S. citizens straighten out their minor arrest offense by providing expungement services. By combining innovative technology and the latest U.S. provisions on expungement policy, ArrestFree’s approach plans to clear over 1 million users' arrest records now eligible under new laws across the U.S. They provide phone support, as well as an interactive Web site to help users pull their arrest record and determine their eligibility for record expungement. The site launched Jan. 15, on Martin Luther King's birthday. The site will also host resources for training, education, faith-based support, housing and employment.
For more information, visit www.ArrestFree.com.

Toyota Pledges $2.5 Million To Urban League
Los Angeles, CA - Blair H. Taylor, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League announced the pledge of $2.5 million by Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA Inc. to the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, which is a part of the League's new five-year strategic plan. The announcement came with Toyota's presentation of a $500,000 check for 2007 to the League. This is the first multi-million dollar corporate donation to the five-year neighborhood change strategy, which was approved by the Los Angeles Urban League Board of Directors in August 2006. The Urban League has been working the past year with leading planning consultants, LAUSD, the Mayor's Office, the Superintendent of Schools, Crenshaw High School, LAPD, the Office of the City Attorney, local and state elected officials, and many community groups and corporate partners to develop a strategic initiative to transform the community and uplift the educational profile at Crenshaw High School for the benefit of its students and the feeder schools.