Microsoft has donated $5 million to the National Urban League, the nation's oldest and largest African-American organization.
The grant money will provide the National Urban League and its 102 affiliates with software to meet the organization's goal of empowering communities and changing lives.

Burnette is the director of community relations and business equity, a position created after a community outcry over the lack of minority-owned business participation on PDC-backed projects. Unofficially, she will champion diversity planning at the PDC.
"I'll work on more non-traditional channels to get to people," Burnette says.
To do that, Burnette will have to increase minority and female participation and change internal PDC policies – policies that have been in place for decades. That may sound like a momentous task, but Burnette said the attitude of the development commission, as well as the City Council, seems to be changing.

Portland Public Schools is opening both the Young Women's Academy academy and the Jefferson High School Young Men's Academy in September, in response to community interest and the proven success of single-gender schools. Both single-gender academies will open with sixth through ninth grades, adding a grade each year until they become grades six through 12 academies. Both are designed to boost student achievement through innovative, career-focused curriculum.
The Young Men's Academy will be located at Jefferson. The Young Women's Academy will be at Harriet Tubman Middle School in North Portland.

Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, left, congratulates National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial, after presenting Morial with a $5 million technology grant from Microsoft at the company's 16th annual Blacks at Microsoft Minority Student Day. See related story on this page.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer  announced  a software grant worth $5 million for the National Urban League last week, during Microsoft's 16th annual Blacks at Microsoft Minority Student Day, an event designed to teach minority students about opportunities in technology.
The technology grant from Microsoft will provide the National Urban League and its 102 affiliates with software to meet the organization's goal of empowering communities and changing lives.
"Access to technology and strong computer skills is necessary to ensure that our community is more economically competitive," said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. "As a result of Microsoft's generosity, the National Urban League and our affiliates will have the technology needed to enhance our wide array of programs from education assistance and job training to home ownership and business development initiatives."
"In turn," Morial said. "We'll be able to better assist the over 600,000 African American children and families we serve nationwide and help them to acquire the necessary skills to close the digital divide that still exists in America today."
The $5 million dollar software grant will be rolled out over the next three years to give the National Urban League and its affiliates the technology system assessments and software needed to enhance its adult and youth programs as well as to encourage kids to pursue careers in science and math.

Photos featuring the legacy of Seattle's African Americans, like the one shown here, will be featured at "Speaking Out! Voices of Seattle's Black Community," from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11 at McEachern Auditorium, 2700 24th Ave. E.

A coalition of African American advocacy groups, churches, businesses and organizations will converge in Olympia for African American Legislative Day, Monday, Feb. 12.
The annual African American Legislative Day will be held at the Capital Building, 210 11th Ave. SW, in Olympia.
"The overwhelming response from the community has amazed me," said Rosalund Jenkins, of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs. "The people believe it's our year to be heard. They're coming in force."
There will be programs for adults, teens and children at the event

Solomon Comissiong, assistant director of student involvement and public relations at the University of Maryland's Nyumburu Black Cultural Center, answers questions after giving a presentation titled "Bringing Historical Balance to U.S. Education: Hip Hop's Progressive Pedagogy" to a packed room at the Association for African American Historical Research and Preservation's fourth annual Black History Conference, held Saturday Feb. 3 at Seattle University.

King County Executive Ron Sims has proclaimed Feb.7 "Black HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information Day."  Local Black leaders and organizations are responding to the impact of HIV and AIDS in King County's African American communities by encouraging residents to get educated, get involved, get tested and get treated.
"Let's use Feb. 7 as an opportunity to recognize that HIV and AIDS disproportionately affects the Black community, which is a crisis for African Americans and for all of us," Sims said.  "We must show our caring for our family and friends by insisting that they learn about HIV, including their HIV status."
For information about HIV and testing call the HIV/STD Hotline at 206-205-7837.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The pomp and circumstance of the presidential announcement is over for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, and now it's on to the real work. After announcing his run for the White House Saturday in Illinois' capital city, Obama headed to Iowa where observers say he's wise to start laying the groundwork for that state's leadoff caucuses.