The Lansing Area African American Genealogical Society (LAAAGS) is gathering information for a publication concerning early African American families in Greater Lansing area. The printed work will include family stories detailing why and how African-Americans first came to Mid-Michigan. Many early families settled in towns close to Lansing and not in the city proper. This is valuable information about the early Black presence in this region. The gathering of information on early families will add to existing information about the city of Lansing as well as provide a resource for research. Photographs, birth certificates, letters, military records, baptismal records or other such documentation is invaluable in finding out about your family. If you are interested in learning about how to find information about your own family or about genealogy as a subject area, the society encourages you to visit. Meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at the Michigan Historical Library, 702 W. Kalamazoo Street. If members of your family settled in or around Lansing between 1847 and the 1940s, and you can document it, please contact the society at P. O. Box 22203, Lansing, MI 48909-2203 or on line at: www.laaags.org or Phone: (517) 882-1293.

Baltimore, MD - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has issued a “call” to 500 professionals and entrepreneurs to attend the first annual NAACP National Leadership 500 Summit, May 26-29 in Destin, Florida.

The “call” is similar to the one issued ninety-six years ago when invitations were extended to those interested in forming the NAACP to fight for civil rights and to stop a wave of lynchings and race riots in the country. The current “call” is being extended to young leaders 30-50 years-old who have benefited from the struggle and the progress made by civil rights victories of the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Julian Bond, Chairman, NAACP National Board of Directors, said: “The Leadership Summit will bring together some of our best and brightest. They’ll network with each other, hear an array of speakers and panelists about the old and new challenges facing African Americans, and will reinforce their commitment to the social justice movement.”

Roslyn Brock, Vice Chairman, NAACP National Board of Directors, and the inspiration behind the Summit, said: “This will be a special weekend for the next generation of committed leaders who are prepared to join the movement for social justice. Through a series of workshops and meetings, attendees will have an opportunity to network with colleagues from similar or different backgrounds who want to attack some of the problems that plague the African American community today.”

The Leadership Summit will bring together approximately 500 mid and senior level professionals who are making tangible contributions in the areas of business, finance, politics, religion, law, education, health, government, non-profit, media and social justice advocacy.

The Summit, which will be held at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, will open with an evening keynote address from NAACP Chairman Julian Bond followed by two days of workshops, interactive panel discussions and facilitated general sessions led by prominent private and non-profit leaders and scholars from across the country. There will also be a town hall meeting moderated by Harvard Law School Professor Charles Ogletree. Workshop topics include economic development, the media, education, religion, law, health and entertainment. In addition to Bond and Ogletree, other speakers scheduled to take part in the conference include: former Rep. Jack Kemp, Dr. Roland Fryer, Jr., Donna Brazile, Dr. Monica Coleman, Bishop Victor T. Curry, Dr. David C. Forbes, Jr., Earl Graves, Jr., Judge Greg Mathis, Marc Morial, Janette Murguia, Minister Ava Muhammad, Jonathan Slocumb, Cornell Belcher, Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, Rep. Harold Ford, Omar Wasow, and L. Londell McMillan.

“It’s past time that we begin to prepare new leaders to take over the mainstream of the organization,” said Hazel Dukes, senior member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “We must ensure that we have people who are ready to learn the NAACP culture, its goals and even its politics. I’m excited and hopeful that this weekend will only be the beginning and folks come away knowing there is a place for them in the NAACP.”

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.