News Around The Nation

African-American Poet Buys 24-Year-Old Literary Magazine
New York, NY - Starting this month, poet Juanita Torrence-Thompson becomes editor and publisher of Mobius, The Poetry Magazine, first established in 1982 in Michigan. Mobius has published poets from 50 states and seven continents, and Torrence-Thompson expects to continue this legacy while publishing advanced and mid-career poets from around the world beside the work of gifted emerging poets. The next issue is scheduled for release in September 2006. Poets may visit Mobius’s website for complete submission guidelines and subscription information and may submit between Jan. 15 and May 31.
For information, visit www.mobiuspoetry.com.

Farrah Gray New Spokesperson For National Coalition For The Homeless
Washington - The National Coalition for the Homeless is pleased to announce Farrah Gray as a new spokesperson and partner in the fight to end homelessness. Gray will be the honorary chairperson for the Bringing America Home Campaign, a comprehensive effort designed to end homelessness in the United States and includes housing, health, income, and civil rights components.
For more information, visit www.nationalhomeless.org.

Daz Dillinger Considered One Of Top Five Producers In U.S.
Atlanta, GA - Producer Daz Dillinger, known for his trademark and signature street sound, has recently been named one of the most relevant producers of this time when polled by marketing executives at The Best Pitch. When polled, the top five producers were Dr. Dre, Pharell, Kanye West, Missy Elliott, and Daz Dillinger. Dillinger said he was humbled by the poll, and was confident that he will be more visible in 2006 with several projects, including a new label and a television show that launches this month.
For information, visit www.d-p-g-c.com.

FEMA Moves Families Out, Home Action USA Moves Them In
Atlanta, GA - Just as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it will soon stop footing the bill for hotel housing for families left homeless by Hurricane Katrina, Home Action USA, based in Atlanta, donated 10 new homes to hurricane victims in the Fairburn suburb of Atlanta. Keys were turned over to the families on Dec. 1 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local government officials. After an application process that examined urgency, family situations, and other factors, 10 families were chosen to receive a fully furnished home, mortgage free for a year. The homes are near good schools, shopping, and public transportation, and Homes Action USA foresees that the property will not depreciate in value but become an asset for the families.
For information, visit www.homeactionusa.org.

Black WW II Veteran Recounts Tales
Washington, DC - In the Shadow of the Statue of Liberty: A Memoir of a Black American by Cleve Overton is a true story, part memoir, part historical commentary -- a Black man's voice over seven decades. This story is told in vignettes from childhood to adulthood. Cleve has written about his search to find that elusive Gold Ring, his place on his island and in his less-than-perfect world. His experiences will be familiar to many Black American men, and his life lessons offer food for thought for Americans everywhere, Black or White.
For information, visit www.clevesart.com.

Farrah Gray Prepaid MasterCard Card Now Available
Southfield, MI - Fans of entrepreneurial icon and best selling author Farrah Gray can now order the new prepaid MasterCard cards called the goFarr card, which will feature the likeness of Gray, via the internet (www.gofarr.com) or phone for credit card purchases (1-877-463-2772). The goFarr cards are designed to increase financial freedom and financial literacy with a structure that provides cardholders with an easy to use, maximum access, controllable product. It enables cardholders to prepay, re-load the card, and store money as a balance that can be accessed for purchases, bill payments, or ATM cash withdrawals.
For information, visit www.gofarr.com.

UMCA And FGBC Launch Initiative To Increase Evacuee Inclusion And Minority Contractor Compliance For Hurricane Recovery Contracts
Los Angeles, CA; Atlanta, GA; Orlando, FL - Paul S. Morton, Sr., Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International (FGBC), and the United Minority Contractor's Association Inc. (UMCA) announced that they have agreed to work together on an initiative designed to increase both greater minority contractor business inclusion in hurricane ravaged areas and to create sanctuary for the hurricane evacuees. Arlen Best, President of UMCA, and Don Lewis, President of UMCA-Resource Group, will lead the ground attack and invite the National Urban League, National NAACP, National Association Minority Contractors, Black Contractors Associations of America, and all other established organizations to mobilize their efforts.
For information, visit www.umcaconsortium.com or call 877-849-6701.

Rainbow Push Wall Street Project Plans Economic Summit In New York City
New York, NY - Just a few years ago, history was made on Wall Street when the State of Ohio gave minority fund managers the opportunity to manage 10 percent of the $14.5 billion Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation Fund. But today this program, which grew to include some 69 minority fund managers, is about to be dismantled by Republican Governor Robert Taft amid allegations of inefficiency and mis-management. The Ohio pension fund crisis is among the critical issues that will be addressed during the 9th Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit, to be held Jan. 8-11, 2006, at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, 811 7th Ave., New York City. The Ohio situation testifies to the continuing importance of the conference, regarded as one of the most relevant and influential Wall Street events for minorities.
For information, visit www.thewallstreetproject.org or 212-425-7874.

Legal Victory For Katrina Victims
Washington, DC - U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. ruled in favor of the Lawyers' Committee's clients by extending the January deadline for hurricane evacuees to remain in hotel rooms across the country. The Dec. 13 ruling will allow those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to remain in hotels until Feb. 7 or two weeks after they receive a notice regarding their application for assistance. In addition, Judge Duval's order required FEMA to notify all displaced persons who were incorrectly told by the agency that they must apply for a SBA loan in order to obtain temporary housing assistance. Pursuant to the court order, FEMA must notify applicants and potential applicants that no such requirement exists and that no applications will be held up for Temporary Housing Assistance processing due to an SBA Loan application not being filled out, or being filled out incorrectly, unnecessarily, or superfluously. This decision by the district court is the first federal court decision against FEMA's federal housing assistance program.
For information, visit www.lawyerscommittee.org.

Confined Lil' Kim Reads Bradley's Identity Schemes
Detroit, MI - Author Bradley emerges from the mental stagnation of self-destructive behavior and explodes with this intoxicating urban fiction novel Identity Schemes. For 24 years, Bradley perpetrated identity theft crimes to attain a lavish lifestyle, filled with haute couture designer labels, expensive jewelry, and exotic cars. Rapper Lil' Kim is given great praise in this urban street novel, for her street savvy, gritty, vibe. Bradley has sent Lil' Kim an autographed copy of Identity Schemes, as he pays homage to her jewelry line Royalty.
For information, visit www.identityschemes.net.

Headliners & Legends To Celebrate Gospel's Heritage In 2006 With GHF
Washington, DC - The Gospel Heritage Foundation brings together Gospel luminaries in the Washington, DC metro area, Feb. 15-17, 2006 to celebrate the nation's largest and most prestigious Gospel music celebration during Black History Month. There is excitement regarding the keynote speakers and artists slated to take part in Heritage 2006. While all the activities will certainly appeal to those in every age bracket, GHF is showing its love for tomorrow's leaders by putting particular focus on today’s young people. This year’s Youth Division will present a slate of speakers who will focus on helping young people learn to maximize their potential to lead as politicians, businesspeople, educators, entertainers, or religious leaders.
For information, visit www.ghf06.com or 866-864-5611.

This Program Stops Crime In The African-American Community - So Why No Media Attention?
Nationwide - The Institute for Self Esteem & Evaluation (ISEE), Inc., a radical transformational self-esteem program for the African American community, does what parents, teachers, community leaders, and even the police have not been able to do: stop crime. So why hasn't this program been visible as of late? One community leader, off the record, stated that because there is money in crime, the government does not want it to be eradicated, so programs that are as successful as this one don’t get the media attention they deserve. Yet countless youth letters continue to pour in as testimony to ISEE, Inc's very effective program. Why it hasn't gained media attention is continues to be the underlying question in the African American community.
For information, visit www.iseeinc.org.

Book Gives Insights For Reaching the Lucrative African American Consumer Market
Chicago, IL - Two of the nation's foremost African American marketers have joined forces to author a book that contains power strategies designed to help companies capture more of the $723 billion dollar buying power of the African American consumer. What's Black About It? Insights to Increase Your Share of the Changing African-American Market, by Pepper Miller and Herb Kemp is being hailed as a long-awaited tool and a standout in the universe of marketing references. Gleaned from the authors decades of market research and observations, What's Black About It? offers in-depth, qualitative insights and quantitative information on Black consumers. It also gives a unique glimpse into the breadth and depth of the Black experience.
For information, visit www.paramountbooks.com or call 888-787-8100.

Executive Career Portal Seeks African American Professionals Looking For Six Figure Jobs
Stamford, CT - There are many career sites and job portals on the web, but few offer exclusive, pre-screened, executive job opportunities. However, 6FigureJobs.com is an exception. This high-level, industry leading executive-niche career portal is the answer for Black professionals looking for jobs that highlight their $100K+ candidacy and experience. Membership to the site is free, but there are some criteria. The site allows members to post their resumes, search through thousands of job opportunities, research numerous entrepreneur opportunities, sign-up for nationwide career events, and access the latest career advice.
For information, visit www.6figurejobs.com.

Tom Joyner Remembers Richard Pryor
Dallas, TX - Tom Joyner, the nationally syndicated radio and TV personality, devoted segments of his radio show to the memory of Richard Pryor and issued the following statement:
"Richard Pryor's comedy represented a measure of freedom for Black people because he talked about things Black people rarely talked about in mixed company. It's one thing to joke about White people and Black/White relationships in an all Black setting, it’s another thing to do it in a mixed audience or on national TV. His comedy, his phrases, and his punch lines are a part of Black American life. Pryor's death reminds me of how important it is to support the entertainers we really love. So many people will regret never having had a chance to see him perform live. I won't have that regret."
To listen to highlights of the show and read more about Pryor, go to visit www.blackamericaweb.com.

National Urban League Honors Farrah Gray With Entrepreneurship Award
New York, NY - Farrah Gray, 21-year-old entrepreneurial icon, social entrepreneur, and author (Reallionaire: Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from the Inside Out: The Essential Lessons That Took Me from Public Assistance to a Millionaire by the Age of 14), has received the Whitney M. Young Jr. Entrepreneurship Award during the annual National Urban League's Whitney M. Young, Jr. Center for Urban Leadership Conference. Even though he's just 21, Farrah Gray has achieved more than many achieve in a lifetime. Currently, Gray is the youngest member of the "African-American Leadership" Roundtable invited by President Bush and the Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, to set the stage for the upcoming corporate and philanthropic summit being planned for March 2006.
For information, visit www.farrahgrayfoundation.org.