Washington Informer

Hurricane Irene affected many residents in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area and the Tom Joyner Morning Show supports local restoration efforts.

Washington, DC October 17, 2011 -- Hurricane Irene's wrath included downed trees and other wind damage totaling about $5 billion in personal claims, while flood damage totaled about $2 billion in claims, according to a statement released by the Consumer Federation of America. Tom Joyner and the My Majic 102.3 staff delivered checks to the Tom Joyner Morning Show Hurricane Irene Help Contest winners on Saturday, October 15th to support local residential restoration efforts.

Qualifiers submitted stories of their disaster damages along with supporting photographs, repair estimates and insurance claims. Each submission was carefully reviewed and damages were assessed to determine the financial need of each household. The Tom Joyner Morning Show & My Majic 102.3 staff surprised each winner with a check presentation at their residence from 8:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011.

After a highly successful inaugural edition this past spring, Macy's innovative business of fashion program -- The Workshop at Macy's -- returns to mentor and foster growth for a new class of up-and-coming minority and women-owned businesses. The retail 101 crash course aims to take promising enterprises to the next level in order  to achieve and sustain positive and successful vendor relationships. This industry first initiative reinforces Macy's long-standing commitment to vendor diversity and to providing customers with unique goods and services that meet their lifestyle.

The Workshop at Macy's is a four and a half-day intensive training course developed by a consortium of experts from Macy's Learning & Development, Macy's Multicultural Merchandising and Vendor Development, Babson College, the nation's leading business school for entrepreneurship, and with select Macy's merchants/vendors. The specially designed business development curriculum is aimed at minority and women-owned retail businesses that are poised to succeed on a larger scale, but need real-world business practice information and perspective on large-scale vendor relationships, to move to the next level and sustain growth. A potential goal of this annual program is to help create a pipeline of viable enterprises that will grow to become successful partners within Macy's own vendor community. First held this past Spring, the inaugural Workshop included 22 businesses that ranged from makeup/skincare companies to confectionaries, home textiles and ready-to-wear designers.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has announced a $1 million grant from Walmart to support the CBCF/Walmart Emerging Leaders Internship Program. The announcement marks Walmart's renewed commitment to supporting deserving African-American college students who are interested in internships on Capitol Hill or with government agencies. Walmart has donated $2 million to this program since 2006.

The CBCF/Walmart Emerging Leaders Internship Program is a semester-long internship program that prepares participating students for careers in public service or the private sector. As a result of Walmart's funding, interns also receive a stipend and housing during their internships.

"CBCF is proud to accept this generous award from our partners at Walmart," said Donald M. Payne, CBCF chairman "There is nothing more important than investing in the futures of our young people," he continued. "The grant will help to ensure that CBCF will be able to develop leaders who will be primed to make a positive impact on the lives of African-Americans. It is a guaranteed return on investment that is immeasurable."

NEW ORLEANS--Social researchers and financial experts agree that women investing for retirement--especially those from African-American, Latino and other ethnic communities--are facing tough choices in the wake of the last decade's financial downturns.Darleane George/NAM

Today's tough economy leaves female retirees—regardless of whether they've had financial guidance—to grapple with decisions about how to invest their hard earned savings. Although retirement research and best-practice recommendations may be sparse, one thing many working women have going for them is their resilience.

When retirement day arrived in 2000, Darlean George of Westwego, La., had put in a faithful 30 years and six months at Bell South. Career-wise, she retired as an electronic technician (a switch operator), which offered less hassle and greater pay than the clerical role she started in.