NBC to air five part series on Black women in the workforce

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS" SPECIAL FIVE-PART SERIES "AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN: WHERE THEY STAND" TO AIR BEGINNING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26 New York , N.Y. – November 15, 2007 –

Throughout the week of November 26, "NBC News With Brian Williams" will take a look at the issues facing African-American women across our nation in a new series "African-American Women: Where They Stand." The series will cover a wide-range of issues from their role in the '08 Presidential race, to the increased health-risks that they need to be concerned about.

Monday's installment will discuss African-American women's progress in the education field. Nearly two-thirds of African-American undergraduates are women. At black colleges, the ratio of women to men is 7 to 1. And that is leading to a disparity in the number of African-American women who go on to own their own businesses. Rehema Ellis will talk to educators, students and businesswomen about why this disparity exists.

Tuesday, Ellis will look at relationships within the African-American female community. Many agree the gender disparity in education and business among African-Americans is having an effect on relationships that African American women have. Some even say the implications could redefine "Black America's family and social structure." In the past fifty years, the percentage of African-American women between 25-54 who have never been married has doubled from 20% to 40%. (Compared to just 16% of white women who have never been married today). Ellis sits down with the members of a Chicago book club and talk about this difference and how it impacts them.

On Wednesday Dr. Nancy Snyderman will discuss the increases risks for breast cancer for African-American women. Mortality rates for African-American women are higher than any other racial or ethnic group for nearly every major cause of death, including breast cancer. Black women with breast cancer are nearly 30% more likely to die from it than white women. Premenopausal black women are more than twice as likely to get a more aggressive form of the disease. And, not only are African-American women more likely to die from breast cancer, but they're less likely to get life-saving treatments. Dr. Snyderman will profile one of the only oncologists in the world who specializes in the treatment of African-American women with breast cancer.

On Thursday, Ron Allen will take viewers to South Carolina -- the first southern primary state -- and ask the question: Will race trump gender or gender trump race? In South Carolina , black women made up nearly 30 percent of all democratic primary voters in 2004. This year, polls show a significant number are undecided, torn between choosing the first African-American or first female Presidential candidate. Allen talks with the undecided, as well the state directors for the Clinton and Obama campaigns, who happen to be African-American women.

To close the series on Friday, Dr. Snyderman will raise the frightening statistic that African-American women are 85% more likely to get diabetes, a major complication for heart disease. And, like breast cancer, more black women die from heart disease than white women. Dr. Snyderman will profile a leading expert and a unique church-based outreach program in South Carolina that seeks to spread the word about heart disease risks to black women congregants. Mara Schiavocampo, Digital Correspondent for "Nightly News," will address two hot topics in the African - American community: interracial dating and the impact of hip hop music on black women. Interracial dating is a growing trend in the African - American community. An <http://Essence.com> Essence.com poll found that 81% of participants approved of black women dating non- black men. According to a U.S. Census Bureau report in 2000, 95,000 black women were married to white men. In 2005, that number increased to 134,000. Schiavocampo will talk to experts about the trend and discuss how this defines the "Black family" of the future. Schiavocampo will convene a panel of leading black men and women from the hip-hop industry for an engaging discussion on whether hip hop lyrics and videos positively or negatively affect black women. The roundtable also will address how these portrayals are affecting relationships between black women and black men.

Consumers can go online to join the discussion and share their thoughts on message boards. They can also read and respond to blog entries at www.nightly.msnbc.com <http://www.nightly.msnbc.com/ <http://www.nightly.msnbc.com/> > .

Volunteers needded in New Orleans!

Please see a message below from our Regional Chair:

Ify Ike, National Corporate Relations Director, recently spoke with Juana Crear, Esq. (graduate of Tulane Law School) from New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation. Many of us have talked about going to New Orleans during the holidays and breaks to help with the legal issues there. Here is a little more guidance as to the SPECIFIC areas of need was necessary. Ms. Crear has stated that student volunteers are desperately needed in the following areas:

Litigation unit- "228 Appeals Project" (cases that could not be
settled and individuals need representation)
Housing Unit- FEMA; Road Home Appeals (grant money for homeowners)
FEMA "recoupment" (cases where FEMA is requesting recipients to pay
FEMA back)
Section 8 issues
Family unit- domestic violence; custody child support; divorce, etc.
Homeless unit
Public Benefits Unit (social security; food stamps; disability;
employment/unemployment; general welfare; education)
Low-Income Tax Unit
Note system (assisting in creating/finalizing documents that provide
legal information to inform public of what they need to satisfy a
cause of action)
Spanish speaking students for translation
Consumer law unit (bankruptcy; predatory lending; purchasing)
Covington office- purely family office

She also stated that New Orleans needs student assistance in their DA's office and Public Defenders Office.

There are currently no brown student volunteers in the office. THIS IS A PROBLEM! Ify is working on creating a "database"of resources that can contribute to aiding black law students that can sacrifice at least a week in New Orleans. This includes housing; per diem; food; transportation; etc. Ify is looking to solicit from the NBA and further suggestions are welcomed.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ANY WAY, PLEASE CONTACT IFY IKE AT ify.ike@gmail.com OR JUANA CREAR DIRECTLY AT jacrear@nolac.org OR PHONE at 504-529-1000x234. Our goal is to create a more consistent presence from NBLSA in
the New Orleans region as we pull together and rebuild OUR community.
Thanks!

--
Brian Baptiste
St. Thomas University, 3L
National Black Law Students Association
Southern Region- Regional Chair