         | May 26, 1998The 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 will inform the American public about the Initiative's progress. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION
- On April 14, in Houston, Texas, President Clinton held a National Conversation on Race with representatives from the sports community which was broadcast live on the ESPN network. The meeting was also simulcast on the ESPN radio network. This forum examined how race-related issues are handled in the sports world, and the lessons learned from the successes and challenges the sports world has faced.
CABINET & ADVISORY BOARD ACTIONS
- On May 19, the Advisory Board held a meeting and panel discussion which focused on the issues of race, crime, and the administration of justice. U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno gave the keynote address. The round table discussion, moderated by Harvard Law School Professor Charles Ogletree, explored several areas:
- The facts surrounding these issues
- The impact differing perceptions of crime and the administration of justice have on the effort to build One America
- Strategies that can help promote a criminal justice system that serves Americans of all races fairly
- On May 21, the Reverend Suzan Johnson Cook hosted the first Religious Leaders Forum in New Orleans, LA. Among the topics discussed at the forum were the changing demographics in the faith community and the key elements for successful racial reconciliation.
- On April 30, the PIR and the YWCA jointly hosted "Statewide Days of Dialogue." Governors from 39 states and two territories joined over 100 YWCA affiliates in a nationwide effort to encourage constructive discussions about race.
- On April 23, the PIR and HUD jointly convened a meeting on race and housing issues to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act in Newark, NJ. The meeting featured a panel discussion on housing discrimination and integration issues with housing experts and practitioners from the area.
- On April 29, the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington and the region's leading housing providers signed a landmark partnership agreement in Washington, D.C. The Fair Housing Council is a grant recipient of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Initiatives Program. This agreement represents a significant commitment to equal housing opportunity and an important step toward aggressive fair housing compliance.
- On April 29, U.S. Secretary of Energy, Federico Peņa signed an agreement to provide Department of Energy (DOE) technical assistance to the National Indian Business Association. This agreement supports efforts of the association to help businesses establish procurement systems, promote technology transfer opportunities and provide access to the DOE's National Laboratories and other facilities.
UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
- On May 28, the First Lady will participate in the Team Harmony Washington event. This event will bring together 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. Team Harmony is also one of the Initiative's original Promising Practices identified on our web site.
- On June 1, the second Religious Leaders Forum is scheduled to be held at Spaulding University in Louisville, KY.
- Over 35 new promising practice programs have been added to our web site. To date, we have featured nearly 150 examples of these programs from across the country and spanning many sectors, including community building, education, and multi-media.
- 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.
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