"The Billingsley Dialogues are a five session program bringing together black family scholars, experts, and members of the general public to explore whether there are lessons to be learned from how African American families overcame challenges of the past that might informative to programs and policies to address present day and possible future challenges. The development of the program was inspired by entertainer and activist Bill Cosby's summer 2004 comments regarding the need for African American individuals and families to take greater responsibility for meeting such challenges. The program is named after Andrew Billingsley, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Family Studies at the University of Maryland, and a renown scholar on the black family dating back to the publication of his 1968 groundbreaking book, Black Families in White America (Prentice Hall)."

Session 4 & 5 Schedule

Tues, April 12 "The Post-Segregation Period and Forecasts for the Future (1965-Present)"

Tues, April 26 "Case-Examples of Community-Based Initiatives to Address Challenges Faced by Contemporary African-American Families."

All sessions will be held in the Nyumburu Cultural Center's multipurpose room from 4:15 pm-6:30 pm.

Co-sponsors of the Billingsley Dialogues are: the Department of Family Studies, the African American Studies Department, the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences, UMCP's Bioanthropology Laboratory, the Nyumburo Cultural Center, the Office of the Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity, The Engaged University Initiative of the Democracy Collaborative and The Community Research And Learning (CoRAL) Network.

GAB's all day conference provides an in-person forum for young women to address these and other issues. Girls ages 13-18 from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area will gather in this unique forum to discuss topics ranging from family communication to body-image, relationships, wellness, diversity, and much more.

The conference features four main workshop groups: Growing Up/Future Hour includes sessions on post- high school planning, financial competency, youth civic engagement and the "real world;" Relationships Hour focuses on healthy relationships, the world of Queen Bees, and family relationships; Self/Wellness Hour includes personal safety, body image and stress management; Wild Card Hour is a chance for girls to show their creative sides through art, writing, or acting.

Speakers and facilitators at the conference include: Shanterra McBride, Empower Deputy Executive Director; Laura Kovach and Sariel Ende of My Sister's Place; Dr. Lana Lehr; the local all-female rock band Del Cielo; Rosalind Wiseman, New York Times best- selling author of Queen Bees and Wannabes as well as Rachel Simmons.

The Empower Program's mission is to work with youth to end the culture of violence.

• Trains teachers and youth educators at schools, hospitals, and other unique sites nationwide to implement our award-winning curricula.
• Creates educational partnerships with schools and community-based organizations around the country to build safe and healthy communities.
• Promotes youth leadership in these efforts through establishing and encouraging youth-driven initiatives.
• Advocates for young people's safety through public speaking and outreach.
• Teaches youth in the D.C. metropolitan area to prevent violence

For more information: Contact Kristin Franke at 202- 686-1908 if you would like to attend the conference with your organization. For more information on Empower, please visit the Empower website at www.empowerprogram.org.

National Student Partnerships (NSP) is the nation's only year-round, student-led volunteer service organization that links people in need with the resources and opportunities necessary to become self-sufficient.

Founded by college undergraduates in 1998, NSP operates a national network of drop-in resource centers, staffed by student volunteers from area colleges and universities. Working one-on-one with low-income community members (clients), NSP volunteers provide intensive on-site and referral services, which enable clients to achieve their goals.

NSP's mission is to direct the energy and innovation of young people toward ensuring that all community members have access to the services, opportunities, and attention that they need to pursue employment, self-sufficiency, and personal success.

Mobilizing a Generation of Leaders NSP is dedicated to strengthening communities and developing the leaders who will care for them. Understanding that the youth of this country will soon be responsible for its safekeeping, NSP seeks to unite a national movement of students dedicated to direct service now, so that the systemic challenges inherited do not become ones that are passed on.

If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to Rachael Swanson, Director of Programs, at rswanson@nspnet.org by April 17th. Interviewing will be done on a rolling process.

Event: Community Arts Showcase
Sponsor: Friendship Edison PCS & CoRAL Network
Where: Friendship-Edison Public Charter School, 4095 Minnesota Avenue NE, 20019
When: Friday, April 15th from 4-7pm

Community Arts Showcase with Friendship-Edison Public Charter School: a kick-off event for National Youth Service Weekend and the inception of the university-high school service learning project, Peers Helping Area Students Engage in Service (PHASES), a student initiative of the CoRAL Network.

College students from American, Georgetown, George Washington, Catholic, UMD, and Trinity Universities partnered with high school students from Friendship- Edison Collegiate Academy will perform.

Students, faculty, and community members from Friendship-Edison Public Charter Schools and the local participating universities are invited to attend.

The 2005 Lannan festival convenes writers, artists, & scholars from the African Diaspora world for a multi- disciplinary program of poetry, theatre, film, fiction, sculpture, and criticism.

The keynote lecture will be delivered by Dr. Aldon Nielsen, Kelley professor of American Literature at The Pennsylvania State University, at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, April 13, in the InterCultural Center Auditorium. Dr. Nielsen will speak on "'Darkness at the Break of Dawn': The Color of Modernity." The keynote speech will be followed by an opening reception in the ICC Galleria.

As two special events, Linton Kwesi Johnson, the top- ranking international dub poet, will give a rare performance of his work in the USA at 8:00 PM, Wednesday, April 13; and Derek Walcott, the 1992 Nobel Laureate, will read from his poetry at 8:00 PM, Thursday, April 14; both events will take place in the ICC Auditorium.

Participants include Jay Wright, Nathaniel Mackey, M. Nourbese Philip, Haile Gerima, & Merle Collins.

All member of the GU community and the public are invited to attend the readings, presentations, and symposia.

In celebration of Fair Housing Month, the Equal Rights Center, the DC Office of Human Rights and the DC Department of Housing and Community Development have partnered to present the Fourth Annual Fair Housing Symposium.

The common goal of this collaborative effort is to champion for equality in housing. This year the theme will be "Fair Housing in the District of Columbia: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment." Symptoms - When Location Makes a Difference Diagnosis - Today's Victims, Today's Victories Treatment - Back to the Basics - The Intent of Fair Housing.

The symposium will seek to explore fair housing issues affecting all segments of the District's diverse communities. Distinguished experts from various disciplines will be on hand to discuss the most prevalent fair housing issues and their effect on District residents.

The panel and speaker sessions are designed to inform, exchange ideas, answer questions, and perhaps propose solutions to fair housing concerns in an increasing demanding market.

The Equal Rights Center has been aggressively combating persistent discriminatory practices that place many Washington area residents at a disadvantage or illegally deny them access to opportunity. Partnering with fair housing groups from across the nation and with a variety of local and national community organizations, academics, researchers, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and other civil rights litigators, the ERC implements effective enforcement, education, and outreach programs. Experts on civil rights law, students, and volunteers use both traditional and novel techniques to identify, test, and document discriminatory practices in areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations.

If you need any special accommodations, please contact Emilia Moran at (202) 727-1145 by April 17, 2005. SPACE IS LIMITED - REGISTER EARLY

*Successful schools and educational innovations for K-12, higher education, and adult learners

*Healthy families/ healthy communities

*Livable wages, employment opportunities and job training

*Affordable housing for all

*Building and preserving diverse communities

*Using culture and the arts to promote community development

*Faith and spirituality as resources for community building

Registration

Register today to join us at the GWU Cafritz Conference Center to discuss these and other topics, learn more about the CoRAL Network, explore the principles of community-driven research, and network with community partners committed to social change. The general registration fee is $25 for individuals and free for students. Nonprofit staff (2 or more) flat fee of $50

We look forward to having YOU join us!

If you would like to share any announcements from your organization or campus with the CoRAL Network community, send a brief blurb to kcarter@coralnetwork.org by close of business each Thursday for inclusion in the following Monday's Newsbits.

Please note that submissions MUST be about local events, news, opportunities and activities that are related to community affairs in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Northern Virginia.