AUSTIN, Texas, April 20 -- The Austin Independent School District issued the following news release: The next African American Men and Boys and Women and Girls Conference will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at Gus Garcia Middle School, located at 7414 Johnny Morris Road. The theme will be "Urban Villages and the Making of Communities." The keynote speaker will be Joah Spearman, founder/owner of Sneak Attack, a company that consults with businesses and non profits on social m  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The office of Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., has issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today chaired a full committee hearing entitled "Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division." The witness for the hearing was Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Tom Perez of Maryland. "The Civil Rights Division has a proud tradition of fighting to enforce our nation's a  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The office of Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., has issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) issued the following statement in commemoration of Equal Pay Day. "Forty-seven years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act women are still making less than their male counterparts. In 1963, women earned 59 cents to every dollar a man earned, but we have failed to reach parity in wages. We must do better, which is why I have co-sponsored the Payc  more

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., April 19 -- The University of Virginia issued the following news release: A new Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Leadership Award was recently given to outgoing University of Virginia President John T. Casteen III, and named in his honor. Dr. Marcus L. Martin, interim vice president and chief officer for diversity and equity, presented the new award to Casteen at the "Media, Democracy and Diversity" conference earlier this month. "As University president for the past 2  more

NORFOLK, Va., April 19 --Old Dominion University issued the following news release: Charles Wilson, vice provost for undergraduate studies and dean of University College at Old Dominion University, has been appointed as interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters, beginning Aug. 10, announced Provost Carol Simpson. The current dean, Chandra de Silva, who earlier had announced his intention to step down as dean, will return to a faculty position in the Department of History. Simpson an  more

NEWARK, N.J., April 19 -- The city of Newark issued the following news release: Mayor Cory A Booker, Municipal Council President Mildred C. Crump, Council Member-at-Large Carlos M. Gonzalez, Geraldine R Dodge Foundation President and CEO David Grant, and New Jersey Performing Arts Center President and CEO Lawrence P. Goldman announced today that from Thursday, October 7 through Sunday, October 10, the City of Newark and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will host the largest poetry ev  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. (9th CD), has issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today introduced a House Resolution to honor the life and accomplishments of Dr. Benjamin Hooks - a Memphis native and legendary Civil Rights leader. To view the Congressman's comments, please click here(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD1pb_g_DD4). "Dr. Benjamin Hooks was a hero and a leader," said Congressman Cohen. "His work and accomplishments paved the w  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla. (3rd CD), issued the following news release: Congresswoman Brown made the following statement: "I was saddened to hear of the loss of one of the foremost leaders of the civil rights movement and a true national treasure, Dr. Dorothy Height. As an African-American woman and longtime Member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am particularly grateful for the courage, wisdom and determination she employed to create opportunities for women an  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif. (37th CD), issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Laura Richardson released the following statement praising the life and legacy of civil rights icon Dr. Dorothy Height, who passed away early this morning. "As a little girl growing up during the civil rights era of the 1960s, it was the strength and actions of leaders like Dr. Dorothy Height that gave me the inspiration that one day I too could be actively involved in  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The National Council of Churches issued the following news release: Dorothy Irene Height, who began her activist career as a teenager marching in New York's Times Square shouting, "Stop the lynching," was remembered Tuesday as one of the last great voices of the American Civil Rights Movement. Height, 98, who led the National Council of Negro Women for four decades and continued to speak out on justice issues in her 90s, died early today. "We remember Dr. Height   more

RICHMOND, Va., April 19 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news release: Former Virginia Commonwealth University Vice Provost Grace E. Harris, Ph.D., was honored for decades of dedicated service to VCU during a reception on April 15 at the Scott House. The recognition came on the golden anniversary of her graduation from the former Richmond Professional Institute, which is now VCU. VCU's School of Social Work, the School of Social Work Alumni Network, the Grace E. Ha  more

GREENVILLE, N.C., April 19 -- East Carolina University issued the following news release: East Carolina University's Phi Kappa Phi chapter on April 18 welcomed into its ranks six faculty members, three alumni and one honorary member, as well as more than 140 East Carolina University students. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines, said Dr. Michael Bassman, president of the ECU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. The ceremony a  more

HAMPTON, Va., April 20 -- Hampton University issued the following news release: The Hampton University Museum has received a donation on the history of African Americans in the U.S. military. Noted author and historian Bennie McRae, Jr. has donated more than 20 years of research on the African American military experience, primarily focused on the U.S. Colored Troops and Contrabands in the Civil War. McRae's research is compiled from numerous libraries, archives and historic sites, much of  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y. (14th CD), issued the following news release: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) today made this statement upon the death of Dorothy Height: Today we mourn the loss of Dr. Dorothy Height, a true American hero, who worked tirelessly throughout her 98 years to make the world better as a leader, activist, and counselor in the civil rights and women's rights movements. In 2004, I was privileged to support legislation that honored Dr. Height wit  more

HUNTINGTON, W.Va., April 20 -- Marshall University issued the following news release: Marshall University's Organization of African Students will present a play, "An African Wedding," at 7:45 p.m. Friday, April 23. The performance will take place in 154 Smith Hall on the Huntington campus and is free and open to the public. "In addition to the intriguing story of love and marriage, this play will showcase the unique culture, rituals and traditions of pre-marriage and the marital ceremony o  more

KOKOMO, Ind., April 20 -- Indiana University at Kokomo issued the following news release: The Medical Imaging Technology (MIT) program at Indiana University Kokomo will be offering free carotid artery screenings to the community in hopes of raising awareness of stroke prevention and symptoms. The screenings will take place on campus in Hunt Hall, room 103, from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 30. MIT faculty and students will conduct the carotid plaque assessment through ul  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., (4th CD) issued the following news release: In commemoration of Equal Pay Day, Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) released the following statement highlighting the commitment of the 111th Congress to pay equity while urging all Americans to work together to close the wage gap. "In the forty-seven years since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law women still earn less than 80 cents for every dollar earned by their male count  more

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., April 19 -- Indiana University issued the following news release: Five outstanding student leaders have been chosen as recipients of the Onward! Curtis R. Simic Scholarship for Leaders at Indiana University Bloomington. The students, all juniors, were selected because of their scholarship, leadership and commitment to constructive university engagement. The $1.3 million endowed scholarship fund honors Simic, president emeritus of the IU Foundation, for his years of serv  more

AUSTIN, Texas, April 19 -- The Texas Department of State Health Services issued the following news release: The Texas Department of State Health Services and local officials are trying to locate a potentially rabid puppy that was given to an unknown man April 14 in the parking lot of Joe's Food Market on Highway 21 West in Bryan. One of the puppy's littermates tested positive for rabies. DSHS, Bryan Animal Control and the Bryan Police Department are trying to locate anyone who might have c  more

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 19 -- The Arkansas Department of Health issued the following news release: The Texas Department of State Health Services and local officials are trying to locate a potentially rabid puppy that was given to an unknown man April 14 in the parking lot of Joe's Food Market on Highway 21 West in Bryan. One of the puppy's littermates tested positive for rabies. DSHS, Bryan Animal Control and the Bryan Police Department are trying to locate anyone who might have come in   more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., (4th CD) issued the following news release: Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) issued today the following statement regarding the passing of a women's advocate and a founding matriarch of the civil rights movement, Dr. Dorothy I. Height. "Today the nation mourns the loss of Dr. Dorothy I. Height, an American icon who dedicated her life to racial justice and gender equality. During a time when women and African Americans were regarded a  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., issued the following news release: -Legislation Authorizes Study to Memorialize Contributions of Nation's First Segregated Units to the National Park System- U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced legislation to commemorate the Buffalo Soldiers, the Army's first all-African-American units, and the critical role they played in the early years of the National Parks. "We must preserve the memory of ou  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The White House released the following statement by the President: Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dorothy Height - the godmother of the Civil Rights Movement and a hero to so many Americans. Ever since she was denied entrance to college because the incoming class had already met its quota of two African American women, Dr. Height devoted her life to those struggling for equality. She led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 year  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force issued the following news release: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force mourns the death of Dr. Dorothy Height, a civil rights pioneer, who died today at the age of 98. Height was a key figure in the struggles for school desegregation, voting rights, employment opportunities and public accommodations in the 1950s and 1960s. She was president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years. Height lobbied First Lady Eleano  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release: U.S. District Court Judge R. Bryan Harwell has sentenced three men in Florence, S.C., for their role in terrorizing an African-American man and two Caucasian men and for carjacking, the Justice Department announced today. Judge Harwell sentenced Thomas Howard Blue Sr., 49, to 156 months in prison, while Thomas Howard Blue Jr., 29, received 36 months in prison. A third co-conspirator, Judson Hartley Talbe  more

WAYNESBURG, Pa., April 20 -- Waynesburg University issued the following news release: Dr. Joonna Trapp, associate professor of English and chair of the Department of English at Waynesburg University, was recently named one of only 26 individuals selected to participate in a highly competitive seminar titled "Slave Narratives." The seminar will be held June 13 through June 16 at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. The seminar will be led by David Blight, professor of American history and direc  more

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 20 -- The University of Alabama at Birmingham issued the following news release: A talented group of Birmingham high-school students will take to the stage with a remarkable performance Wednesday, April 28 to celebrate the success of UAB's Alys Stephens Center arts education program. Children from schools across Birmingham and Jefferson County will fill the center's 1,300-seat Jemison Concert Hall to see the performance free through the Alys Stephens Center's Arts i  more

ATHENS, Ga., April 20 -- The University of Georgia issued the following news by Julie Sartor: Five University of Georgia graduates have been recognized for their career achievements and community leadership with 2010 Distinguished Alumni Awards from the UGA College of Education at its annual Spring Celebration April 16 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel. Crystal Apple Awards Debbie Clark, an English/language arts teacher at Hall County's Chestatee  more

GREELEY, Colo., April 20 -- The University of Northern Colorado issued the following news release: The University of Northern Colorado will hold ceremonies marking the 120th spring commencement May 7-8 on campus. The Graduate School ceremony to award specialist, master's and doctoral degrees will be at 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, in Butler-Hancock Hall, south of the intersection of 14th Avenue and 20th Street. Don Marostica, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and I  more

MACOMB, Ill., April 19 -- Western Illinois University issued the following news release: Victor Hicken, noted historian, prolific writer and Western Illinois University's first Distinguished Professor, passed away April 8 in Iowa City (IA). He was 88 years old. Hicken was hired at WIU in 1947, and served as chair of the WIU history department from 1967-1969. He was instrumental in establishing the University Archives and went on to document the history of the University in the book "The Pu  more