New York, NY, May 5, 2003—

The National Urban League announced today that registration for its 2003 annual conference is now open and available via its website at www.nul.org. The conference will take place July 26 through July 30 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

This year\'s theme is The Black Family: Building on its Resilience. Scheduled events include plenary sessions titled The Civil Rights Movement: Passing the Baton; Relationships in the 21st Century and The Future of Affirmative Action.

A Town Hall Meeting titled The State of the Black Family is also on the agenda, as well as a special taping of the MBC Networks\\\' series, "The Future of Black America", which features a panel discussion moderated by noted attorney and MBC Chairman & CEO Willie Gary and Economist Dr. Julianne Malveaux.

Conference attendees who register by May 30th will receive a free ticket to see the musical sensation "Three Mo\\\' Tenors" during the conference.

Online registration and paper forms to download for mailing or faxing are available at www.nul.org. The site also features hotel information and discounted travel options. Potential exhibitors and sponsors can also view exhibit/sponsorship packages on the site. Requests for printed materials can also be sent by email to urbanleagueconference@nul.org or made by calling 1-888-314-CONF (2663).

"We are pleased to announce that registration for our Conference is now open," said Milton J. Little, Jr., National Urban League Interim President and CEO.

"This year\\\'s conference will offer prime networking opportunities, a dynamic array of plenary sessions and events featuring some of our nation\\\'s most illustrious leaders, and engaging dialogue about the state of the black family and how best to confront some of the challenges facing our community. All against the backdrop of one of the most inviting cities in America."

Little added that interest in this year\\\'s conference has been especially high given the likelihood that the organization will have installed a new president by that time.

The PNC Financial Services Group is the National Co-Chair of the League\\\'s 2003 Annual Conference. The Urban League of Pittsburgh is the host affiliate and Equitable Resources, Inc. is the Chair of the local host committee.

As in prior years, the 2003 conference will include plenary sessions and workshops featuring leading corporate, government and civil rights figures; an exhibit hall known as "The Opportunity Showcase," featuring products by several hundred of the nation\\\'s leading companies; the largest Career Fair targeting African Americans in the Pittsburgh area, an extensive Health Pavilion and an Art Expo & Marketplace featuring arts and crafts by top African-American vendors and artists from the Pittsburgh area.

National Urban League annual conference activities open to registered guests include plenary sessions and workshops, the National Urban League president\\\'s keynote address, a gala benefit concert and the annual Whitney M. Young Dinner featuring a special celebrity, political or public figure as the event\\\'s speaker.

Admission to the Career Fair, the Opportunity Showcase, Health Pavilion and African-American Art Expo & Marketplace is free. Last year\\\'s career fair featured the participation of more than 100 Fortune 500 and high-tech companies, as well as non-profit and government agencies with both national & local job opportunities.

Other events on the National Urban League annual conference agenda include the National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) The Training Ground: A Next Generation Civic Engagement Institute, a leadership development institute designed to give participants tools for resolving the socioeconomic, political, and social inequalities within African-American communities. Information, agenda, and registration materials for The Training Ground are available at www.nul.org/nulyp.

National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) is an auxiliary organization dedicated to bringing the next generation of leaders into the Urban League movement. NULYP serves as an umbrella over dozens of Urban League Young Professional chapters in cities across the country. Through these chapters, thousands of members, ages 21 to 40, work to advance the Urban League agenda through corporate, social and community activism.

Requests for printed materials can also be sent by email to urbanleagueconference@nul.org or made by calling 1-888-314-CONF (2663).