By Marc H. Morial, President and CEO
National Urban League

“From your founding amid the great migration, to the struggles of the civil rights movement, to the battles of today…America is a better place because of the Urban League.” President Barack Obama

As depression-era unemployment rates and a shrinking social safety net continue to plague urban America, the annual National Urban League census reveals that the organization’s 98 community-based affiliates served a record 2.6 million Americans in 2010 – a 25 percent increase over 2009.  

Last year the American economy was supposedly transitioning from the great recession to sustained recovery.  Instead, 14 million Americans remained jobless, 8 million more were underemployed and unemployment among African Americans reached 16 percent — nearly double the national rate.  While more urban families faced job losses, smaller pay checks, diminished health services and the threat of foreclosure, many Urban League affiliates filled the gap as lifelines of opportunity.  Following is a summary of affiliate activities targeted to our four empowerment goals:

Health Care:  Every American has access to quality and affordable health care solutions

The great recession has caused some families to choose food over health care, thereby exposing children and adults to the potential of seriously escalating illnesses.

With 31 states cutting funds for health care services and providers, Urban League affiliates managed to help more 1.4 million Americans purchase medicines, get necessary evaluations and screenings and obtain other critical health care services — up from 792,000 in 2009.

Education:  Every American child is ready for college, work and life

Education is always cited as the cornerstone of America’s future.  But last year, 34 states sought to balance their budgets by enacting cuts in K-12 programs.  This resulted in fewer participants receiving education services from our affiliates in 2010.  However, 172,000 clients still benefited from Urban League affiliate education services, with 50,000 receiving professional development and skills enhancement training.

Economic Empowerment:  Every American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits

Since 2009, unemployment among African Americans has increased from 14 percent to 16 percent.  Last year, the affiliates of the Urban League placed more than 18,000 people in jobs through the operation of 548 economic, entrepreneurship and housing programs.  Those programs served an astounding 608,852 clients — an increase of 232,000 from 2009.  

Housing:  Every American lives in safe, decent, affordable and energy efficient housing on fair terms

Urban League affiliates provided housing assistance to 441,493 clients in 2010, more than double the clients receiving assistance in 2009.  This included 1,188 homes purchased, and 15,524 clients benefiting from foreclosure assistance.  

Finally, in 2010, the National Urban League generated an economic impact of $1 billion, including $471.8 million in federal, state and local government support for Urban League programs across the country.  The secondary economic impact of $641.6 million is a measure of the success of these efforts, with 18,000 participants placed in jobs, 1,188 new homeowners, 357 new business start-ups, $3.3 million in business sales and $114 million in new investments in economically distressed communities.

Clearly, the National Urban League and its affiliates are helping millions of Americans navigate their way through these economic hard times. The services we provide help strengthen family budgets and communities.  And, just as importantly, they allow people to maintain their dignity and a sense of humanity. 

 
  120 Wall Street ▪ New York, NY 10005 ▪ (212) 558-5300 ▪ WWW.NUL.ORG

(Message from the Better Business Bureau)

In the last 12 months, there have been 403 complaints filed against heating and air conditioning companies, compared to 341 in the previous 12 months, an increase of 18%. Inquiries are up as well, there have been 64,407 inquiries for this past 12 month period, compared to the 50,492 for the previous 12 month period, an increase of 27%.

“When searching air conditioning companies, hiring the first company you call or not getting all the details in writing are some common mistakes made by consumers” says Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Often scammers will count on offering ‘free’ air conditioner tune-ups or cleanings, but end up recommending much more costly repairs than needed.”

Additionally, consumers should avoid falling victim to high pressure sales tactics, and look for red flags such as why a company would go door to door during a heat wave when they should have more work than they could handle.

The BBB recommends the following tips when searching for an air conditioning company:

• Research company background and licensing. Visit www.bbb.org for the Business Review of any company you are considering. This can provide information on its reputation and history of complaints. Ask if its employees are licensed and insured.
• Compare prices and service packages. Get at least three estimates for any air conditioning replacement, repair or maintenance work. All bids should be in writing and should provide a full description of the services provided and the materials used.
• Review warranty coverage. Find out if the company offers any type of warranty or guarantee, and make certain you understand the terms and conditions of the coverage. Also be sure to check the warranty on your current air conditioning unit to determine whether any repairs or replacements may be covered.
• Ask about energy efficiency. Many new cooling units are made to be significantly more energy efficient than older models. Additionally, some units may be eligible for tax credits. Make sure you get the necessary paperwork to cash in on these savings.

For more information on air conditioning repairs, visit www.bbb.org

National Kick-Off on Sunday, September 25, 2011

Washington, DC - The National Black Church Initiative, in partnership with major black religious leaders and denominations nationwide, believe that African American men have nowhere to go but back to church. In a press statement, the NBCI said “given the serious issues facing African American men, including rising levels of incarceration, drug use and unwed fatherhood – we can no longer stand by while our men openly defy God’s word. ”

Rev. Anthony Evans, President of NBCI says, “NBCI has no other greater mission than to reestablish God’s order – the first step being to call our men back to church.  We are committed to devoting a half a million dollars and a million hours of evangelism to get black men back into our pews.  There is something missing from the heart of the black church – the presence of our black brothers will heal hearts, minds and families.”

African Americans represent the strongest church attendance and affliciation amongst all ethnicities in the United States.  According to the Pew Forum 2007 survey, people of black ethnicity were most likely to be part of a formal religion, with 85% being Christians.  However, according to the Barna Research Group, a Christian research firm based in Ventura, Calif., more than 90% of American men believe in God, and 5 out of 6 call themselves Christian. But only 2 out of 6 attend church on any given Sunday.  This means that in America, 60% of church attendees are women. 

Black women overwhelmingly outnumber black men in regular church attendance. While black men may believe in God, in most cases it ends with belief.  If single black women are attending church regularly and following the guidelines that the church has put in place and the black men are not, what does this say about the future of the black family?

Our focus is to open our doors, arms and hearts to understand the complex sociological and psychological factors that prohibit African American men from being consistent churchgoers, better fathers, less abusive spouses and better members of society.  As a religious leader in the African American community for the past twenty years, we take our position as a moral authority very seriously.  NBCI believes that the first step for our African American brothers is to return to church – atoning for their sins and reestablishing their relationship with God through Christ.  Over the next ten years we will develop comprehensive ministries to sustain this initiative and commit African American men to the path of righteousness.

We invite you to encourage our African American men to join us as we reunite as a whole on Sunday, September 25th, 2011 – welcoming black men back to church for the first of many Sundays.

The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) is a faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 15 denominations and 15.7 million African Americans is committed to bringing African American men back to church.  

About NBCI 

The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) is a coalition of 34,000 African American and Latino churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare, technology, education, housing, and the environment. NBCI’s mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, churches and the public. The National Black Church Initiative’s methodology is utilizing faith and sound health science. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the-box and cutting edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. Visit our website at www.naltblackchurch.com.

Entrepreneurs can compete in the pitch contest, in partnership with 100 Urban Entrepreneurs and Babson College, to win one of two prizes of $10,000 in financing.

Registration for the summit is free; a meal package, which includes breakfast, lunch, and a networking reception, can be purchased for $100. Details are available at www.nul.org/conference.

Maggie Anderson, CEO of The Empowerment Experiment, is the luncheon speaker. 

Workshops will focus on financing a business, selling to corporate America, creating a marketing plan, as well as the availability of public sector programs.

 For more information:   www.nul.org/conference

The company is one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the country, and has been named as “One of the 20 Most Successful Black Businesses to Watch in 2011.”

Stephen W. Neal, President and CEO, K. NEAL

Hyattsville, MD (BlackNews.com) — K. NEAL International Trucks, Inc. (K. NEAL) of Hyattsville, Maryland is pleased to announce that it was recently named to Black Enterprise Magazine’s annual Top 100 Largest Black Businesses list for 2011 (BE 100s). The list itself is recognized as the most respected measure of black-owned business performance in the United States.The BE 100s, which are 51 percent black-owned, were ranked according to their gross revenues, billings or assets acquired over the course of the preceding year, business acumen and potential for long-term growth.

With 2010 sales of over $62 million, K. NEAL is the top-grossing black-owned commercial truck, bus and school bus dealership in the United States. K. NEAL made its debut appearance in the BE 100s list, ranked at No. 58. As a result of making the BE 100s list for 2011, Black Enterprise has also named K. NEAL International Trucks, Inc. as One of the 20 Most Successful Black Businesses to Watch in 2011.

“This ranking and acknowledgement is significant to K. NEAL International Trucks, Inc. because it demonstrates the strength of black businesses and more specifically, a black-owned commercial truck and bus dealership. In this competitive environment, it is also a testament to the hard work that all of my employees have put into this dealership year-round. K. NEAL has been truly blessed to assemble a fantastic team of people who use their God-given talents to ensure that our customers always receive a high level of service. Customer service is our first priority. Our company is surrounded by the right people: dependable, skilled employees, suppliers and the most important people of all – our wonderful customers,” says, President and CEO of K. NEAL, Stephen W. Neal. ” As our economy continues to recover, it’s evident that black businesses will continue to play a significant role in leading the U.S. economy back to recovery and will indeed spur growth in local communities,” continued Neal.
K. NEAL International Trucks, Inc. is the leading commercial truck, bus and school bus dealership in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. K. NEAL’s overall mission is to “Take Care of the Customer”, “Take Care of the Associates” and “Reinvest in the Business”.
More About K. NEAL International Trucks, Inc:
K. NEAL International Trucks, Inc. (K.NEAL) is a full-service multi-location commercial truck, bus and school bus dealership representing the International, IC, Hino, and Mitsubishi Fuso brands. Mr. Neal is the only African-American to own both a commercial truck and bus dealership in the world. The dealership provides new and previously owned sales, service, parts and maintenance for commercial trucks and buses sold under the above mentioned brands. K NEAL Idealease provides full-service lease, rental and contract maintenance on commercial trucks and buses. The dealership services the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Additional information is available at www.knealinternational.com.

SAN DIEGO – Publisher Archaia Entertainment is adding another layer to their digital offerings by hosting the worldwide debut of 10 original graphic webisodes centered on their latest graphic novel, Bleedout.  The webisode series is set to launch on Wednesday, July 20, opening day of the 2011 San Diego Comic Con.

Based on the expansion to the Massively Multiplayer Online shooter, CRIMECRAFT, from Vogster Entertainment, Bleedout tells the frighteningly plausible tale of a world destroyed by its own greed and shortsightedness. When every oil well on the planet mysteriously runs dry, utterly dissolving the cornerstone of modern civilization, global economies wither and nations fall like bone-dry dominoes, including the seemingly impervious United States. Caught in a zenith of chaos, Sunrise City now lies in the hands of a criminal cabal who may or may not hold the key to the future… and the secrets behind the planet’s tragic ruin.

The deluxe hardcover graphic novel, which also hits store shelves on July 20^th, collects chapters from some of the comic industry’s hottest superstars, including Nathan Fox, Zach Howard, Sanford Greene, David Williams, Ben Templesmith, Gary Erskine, Howard Chaykin, Glenn Fabry, Vince Proce, and Trevor Hairsine, with cover art by Tim Bradstreet. Written by Mike Kennedy, this graphic novel presents the world of Bleedout in all of its grim, pulp noir glory, with page after page of supplemental graphic and story material that further explores this tragic future, and the frighteningly familiar current events that lead there in the first place.

The webisodes will go even deeper into Bleedout’s ambitious storyline, taking fans on a visual whirlwind tour through the graphic novel’s gritty and frightening world. The short films, written and directed by creator, Mike Kennedy, feature high-quality animation illustrated by the same stellar line up of artists featured in the book. The webisodes also feature original music by industrial legend Jason Novak of Cracknation, and narration by animation veteran Tom Fahn.

After the July 20 debut, new episodes will roll out every day leading to the dramatic conclusion on Saturday July 30. A sneak-peek can be checked out at http://vimeo.com/channels/bleedout.

Archaia will host several signings at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to celebrate the launch of this exciting new book and webisode series, with featured signings by artists Tim Bradstreet, Nathan Fox, and Sanford Greee, as well as author Mike Kennedy.  Vogster will be distributing a limited run of free CRIMECRAFT game discs at each signing as well.

About Archaia Entertainment:

Archaia is a multi-award-winning graphic novel publisher with more than 50 renowned ongoing and stand-alone titles, including such domestic and international hits as Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, Gunnerkrigg Court, Awakening, The Killer, Okko, The Secret History, Tumor, Artesia, The Engineer, and a graphic novel line for The Jim Henson Company.  Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for publishing innovative, imaginative, and indelible stories, building one of the industry’s most visually stunning and eclectic slates of graphic novels. Archaia was named Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year according to Ain’t it Cool News, Graphic Policy, and Comic Related, and was honored with nine 2011 Eisner Awards nominations. Archaia has also successfully emerged as a prolific storyteller in all facets of the entertainment industry, extending its popular titles into film, television, gaming, and digital media

Applications Available Online; No Essay or GPA Required

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — As the fall season approaches, WomenScholarships.org continues to give away a $10,000 monthly scholarship award to a female who is 18 years of age or older. The scholarship award is designed to help women and moms, who make up nearly two-thirds of all college students. It can be used to pay for tuition, books, housing, and more. To apply, students simply have to register online, view free information from sponsor colleges and universities, and then confirm their registration.

Females of all ethnic groups and age brackets are eligible to apply. Applicants must, however, be permanent residents of the United States, and must be planning to attend or are already enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at any college, university, or trade school.

At the end of each month, one random winner is selected from a drawing and the scholarship monies are paid in one lump sum directly to the winner upon verification. Typically, the drawing date is around the middle or the end of each month.

The organization behind the web site that provides the scholarship funds is on a mission to help as many female students as possible by offsetting their disadvantaged situation. A recent USA Today article revealed that minority and female enrollment in college lags disproportionately because of the lack of resources and financial aid that are being made available.

For more details, visit:
www.WomenScholarships.org