|
August 3, 1998
The President's Initiative on Race (PIR) is an effort to move the country
closer to a stronger, more just, and unified America, one that offers
opportunity and fairness for all Americans. It is a chance for every
citizen in our country to be a part of a great national conversation
about America's racial diversity and about the strength it brings our
nation. One America on the Move is one of the ways in which we inform
the American public about the Initiative's progress.
PRESIDENTIAL, VICE-PRESIDENTIAL & FIRST LADY ACTIONS
- On July 16, Vice-President Gore addressed the NAACP Annual
Convention, where he announced the creation of a national monument to Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. to be located on the national Mall in Washington,
D.C. During his remarks, he thanked the NAACP for being a force for
justice, reinforced the administration's continued support of affirmative
action, and committed to clearing the backlog of civil rights cases
before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
- On July 9, President Clinton participated in a one-hour dialogue
on race in a special broadcast on PBS. This discussion with eight
Americans included four regular contributors to The NewsHour with Jim
Lehrer, and was moderated by Jim Lehrer. The program was a round-table
style conversation in which the panel discussed issues of race with the
President.
- On June 13, President Clinton addressed graduates at the Portland
State University commencement ceremony. He discussed how we can
strengthen the bonds of our national community as we grow more racially
and ethnically diverse. The President devoted special attention to the
large wave of immigration currently changing the face of America.
- On June 11, President Clinton hosted approximately 20 Members of
Congress at the White House to discuss the efforts of the Race Initiative
and efforts similar to those of the Initiative being undertaken by
Members of Congress.
- On May 28, the First Lady participated in a Team Harmony event in
Washington D.C. This event brought together approximately 4,000 students
from the Washington metropolitan area. The Team Harmony program seeks to
promote understanding and respect for differences among young people
through participation in interracial projects. It is one of the
Initiative's original Promising Practices identified on our web site.
CABINET, ADVISORY BOARD & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ACTIONS
- On July 23, U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater
participated in the PIR's fourth regional corporate forum in St. Louis,
Missouri. The forum brought together more than 100 regional corporate
and business executives to discuss the economic value of diversity, ways
to effectively build relationships between majority and minority-owned
businesses, and best practices for fostering productive, racially diverse
workplaces.
- On July 13, Dr. John Hope Franklin, Chairman of the President's
Advisory Board on Race joined the Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., to
discuss issues concerning immigrants and race in America.
- On July 10, the PIR and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services jointly sponsored a forum in Boston, Massachusetts, to discuss
issues related to race and health. Dr. David Satcher, Surgeon General of
the United States and Assistant Secretary for Health, was the keynote
speaker. The goal of the meeting was to convene a panel of health care
experts and community leaders to identify ways of eliminating the
disparities in health care that affect racial and ethnic minorities.
- On June 22, the PIR convened a meeting of religious and civil
rights leaders to discuss possible ways the religious community and the
White House can continue to work together on racial reconciliation.
Among the topics discussed were the ways the clergy could invoke moral
authority to promote racial reconciliation, efforts to increase public
awareness and understanding of racial issues, and the creation of a
National Day of Focus on Racial Reconciliation.
- On June 17, members of the Advisory Board participated in four
subgroup meetings to discuss ideas and challenges in the areas of
education, economic opportunity, leadership, values, and a vision for One
America. The Advisory Board held its final official board meeting on
Thursday, June 18 in Washington, D.C. to present ideas raised during the
previous day's meetings.
- On June 17, PIR Executive Director Judith Winston attended the
first Congressional conversation on race, co-sponsored by Representatives
John Lewis and Amo Houghton. The discussion included approximately 50
members of Congress. Colin Powell gave the keynote address. This was
the first of four conversations on race that Representatives Lewis and
Houghton plan to host in the coming year.
UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
- The PSA "On Target," which the Initiative produced in conjunction
with the Leadership Conference Education Fund, the Ad Council and the
Griffin Bacal Advertising Agency won the 1998 Tele Award, the advertising
industry's honor for best public service announcement.
- The Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation
Service has concluded a Memorandum of Agreement with the Minority
Business Technology Consortium, and the Agricultural Research Service, to
make agricultural technology more readily available to minority farmers
and rural communities through the local Resource Conservation and
Development Councils.
- The One America Dialogue Guide, a manual to assist groups in
holding constructive dialogues on race in their communities, is available. Please
contact the Initiative if you would like to receive a Dialogue Guide, or you can retrieve a
copy from our web site.
|
