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.

Although the Portland Police Bureau is "excellent," according to the most recent report analyzing officer-involved shootings, the report's authors say the bureau still needs to undergo some changes.
Compiled by the Police Assessment Resource Center (PARC), the 2006 "Officer-Involved Shootings and In-Custody Deaths" report, contracted by City Auditor Gary Blackmer's office, is the third city-commissioned look at police policy and procedure for officer-involved shootings since 2002.
The report issued a total of 16 new recommendations to the police bureau – compared with 89 from the 2003 report – all related to policy changes.
Police Chief Rosie Sizer said she saw the recommendations as a positive step forward.
"I concur with almost all the recommendations," Sizer said at a City Council meeting on Jan. 24.

Unseen. Invisible. Underreported. These are just a few of the words Meghann Darne uses to describe the homeless youth problem in North Portland. To say the problem of homeless youth is invisible would be a joke to some; so-called "street kids" crowd the sidewalks downtown, begging for change and causing some in government to call for laws further restricting vagrancy.

Lt. Harry Jackson is presented a retirement badge by Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer during his retirement celebration at Emmanuel Temple Church Jan. 9. Jackson, who also received Distinguished Service Medal at the event,  served 26 years and five months for the Portland Bureau of Police. He said he never fired his gun in the line of duty.

Black History Month  will be celebrated at Portland City Hall on Feb. 1 with art, song and an appreciation of the African American community.
The free event from 5 to 7 p.m. is open to the public and sponsored by United Way Art of Change Gallery, the World Arts Foundation Inc. and the Zimbabwe Artists Project.
The events at Portland City Hall, 1221 S.W. Fourth Ave., will be followed by a gathering from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Art of Change Gallery, 619 S.W. 11th Ave.