New York, NY, July 19, 2004—The National Urban League today announced the addition of Five New Empowerment Zones to the Exhibit Hall at its Annual Conference taking place July 21-25, at the COBO Center in Detroit, Michigan. The new Health, Employment, Homeownership, Technology and Education Zones will connect conference attendees with industry experts and resources in areas that continue to be plagued by persistent gaps in black and white progress. The Zones, which are free to the public and open daily throughout the conference, are part of the overall conference redesign and provide real-world tools for building black wealth. The 2004 conference theme is Empowerment: Building on the Civil Rights Movement. Registration is now open and available via website at www.nul.org and by telephone (800-263-9926).

The National Urban League is the nation's largest civil rights and community based organization. With over 100 affiliates in 35 states, the National Urban League serves 2 million people in the African American and urban communities nationwide through direct services, advocacy, and research.

"Access to homeownership, a quality education, first rate health care, decent jobs and mastery of technology are the nuts and bolts of progress in the new civil rights movement," said Marc H. Morial, National Urban League President and CEO. "The Empowerment Zones gets our conference participants up close with industry experts and provides them with the knowledge and expertise they need to unlock the doors to wealth building and community empowerment."

Conference Speaker Highlights include: National Urban League President Marc H. Morial's keynote address, Wednesday, July 21 from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. President George Bush will address the conference attendees on Friday, July 23 at 9 a.m. at the Marriott Renaissance Center. Senator John Kerry is scheduled to speak on Thursday, July 22 at 10 a.m. at Cobo Center. Special appearances by Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.,(Rainbow/PUSH Operation); U.S. Secretary Rod Paige, Department of Education, Earl G. Graves, Sr., Publisher, Black Enterprise magazine, Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick, City of Detroit; Donna Brazile, Political Consultant and CNN Commentator, Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder, National Action Network; Miss America Ericka Dunlop, Malik Yoba, Actor/Producer, Dave Bing, NBA legend and Chairman and CEO, The Bing Group; Ann Fudge, Chairman & CEO, Young & Rubicam; Rosa Parks, mother of the modern-day civil rights movement; Dr. Charles J. Ogletree, Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Professor Derrick Bell, NYU School of Law; Dennis W. Archer, President, American Bar Association; Cathy L. Hughes, Founder and Chairperson, Radio One, Inc.; Linda Johnson-Rice, President & CEO, Johnson Publishing Company(Ebony/Jet Magazines),Ted Shaw, Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund; Dr. Kenneth S. Burnley, CEO, Detroit Public Schools; and Dr. Charles Adams, Pastor, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Detroit.

Major Sessions and Award Highlights: Women of Power Awards Luncheon; a National Education Summit on the 50th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education ruling; launch of the Commission on the African American Male, the annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Conference Gala Tribute to Legends, National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) Training Ground: A Next Generation Leadership Development Seminar; A National Urban League Incentives to Excel and Succeed (NULITES) Youth Summit.

Entertainment Highlights: A Benefit Concert featuring 10-time Grammy award winning pop icon Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Cultural Night: Salute to Motown starring legendary pop duo, Ashford and Simpson, the Miracles and the Contours and the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Sky Show will broadcast live from the conference.

The Empowerment Zones At-A-Glance

Featuring over 400 booths, Fortune 500 businesses, leading national, state and local government agencies, community-based organizations and academia, each of the five Zones will be designed as a stand-alone area dedicated to key products, resources and developments in that industry. The Zones will be open to the public Free of Charge, Thursday, July 22 from 12 pm-5 pm; Friday, July 23 from 10 am-5 pm; and Saturday, July 24 from 10 am-4 pm. Highlights of each of the Zones include the following:

• The Homeownership Zone will help current and prospective homeowners connect with industry experts including financial advisors, mortgage brokers, home improvement specialists and other resources they need to learn about buying or refurbishing a home.

• Formerly known as the Career Center, the Employment Zone will allow prospective job seekers face-to-face interviews with recruiters from over 100 of the nation's top corporations, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and others. Job seekers can network with their peers, or seek industry advice from the some of the nation's leading recruiters.

• The Health Zone will offer free blood pressure testing, as well as information about HIV/AIDS, diabetes, obesity and hypertension. To help mobilize community health, the Zone will feature a 3-kilometer Wellness Walk at 6:30 a.m.-8:00 a.m. Saturday, July 24, starting from Winter Garden, Renaissance Center.

• The Technology Zone is designed as an interactive experience aimed at bridging the digital divide between Digital Haves and Digital Have-nots. The Zone will feature the latest in new and innovative products including an Intel sponsored Cybercafe and the Microsoft IT Youth Challenge featuring talented minority teens from around the nation developing new technology-based businesses and competing for a $15,000 prize in seed money.

• The Fun Zone (Education and Learning Zone) will feature interactive, energizing activities for children and adults to have fun while learning. The Zone will feature children's storytellers, adult author readings and book signings; plus the new Urban League Book Drive community-service project to raise books for Detroit's school children. Additionally, Microsoft, a key sponsor, will feature the latest and greatest in X-box games, the U.S. Army, also a sponsor, will provide a fitness rock wall so kids can test their physical fitness, a military Hummer and racer bikes will be available for children and their parents to explore. In addition, celebrating the rich musical legacy of the historic Motown, an Entertainment Stage featuring talented local artists will perform throughout the day.

The Detroit Urban League, under the leadership of President and CEO N. Charles Anderson, is the host affiliate. G. Richard Wagoner, Chairman, President and CEO, General Motors Corporation, is the 2004 Conference General Chairperson and Roderick D. Gillum, Vice President Corporate Diversity, General Motors Corporation is the Host Committee Chairman.

Sponsors of the Homeownership Zone include Fannie Mae, Nationwide Insurance, Lowes Home Improvement and Countywide Home Loans, among others. Health Zone sponsors include Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Proctor and Gamble, MacDonald's and American Red Cross. Technology Zone sponsors include Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic and Dell, leaders in the technology industry committed to bridging the digital divide; Employment Zone sponsors include United Parcel Service, Honda and the US Army and the Fun Zone is sponsored by Microsoft, the U.S. Army, and UPS. More information about the National Urban League's 2004 Annual Conference registration, exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities is available on the League's website at www.nul.org, or by calling (800-263-9926).