Greetings Colleagues, I trust you're well. Today I'm celebrating the White House Initiative on HBCUs, established by President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 to overcome the effects of discriminatory treatment and to strengthen and expand the capacity of HBCUs to provide quality education. On February 26, 2012, President Obama signed an executive order renewing the White House Initiative on HBCUs. The policy states that "These institutions continue to be important engines of economic growth and community service, and they are proven ladders of intergenerational advancement for men and women of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds, especially African-Americans." Resource Listing - White House Initiative web-site As you are aware, Ron Blakely, Associate Director, White House Initiative on HBCUs, accepted the Board's appointment as Advancement Advisor. In his role, Ron will assist with the identification of opportunities and provide related assistance. I'm pleased to report that the HBCU Library Alliance is listed as a resource on the White House Initiative's website. Click here http://www.ed.gov/edblogs/whhbcu/resources/ to access the Resource page. This listing strategically positions us for greater collaboration with the White House Initiative and its resources, and aligns us with strong voices for HBCUs and the communities they serve. It is my hope that this listing allows us to be identified and included as partners in sustainability activities. Ron Blakely webinar - The History and Role of the White House Initiative on HBCU's - Tuesday, August 27, 2:00 - 3:00 ET Join Advancement Advisor Ron Blakely for a discussion on the role and history of the White House Initiative on HBCUs. His discussion will include policy, funding and new programs. Ron joined the White House Initiative on HBCUs in 2007 to assist the Executive Director with operational leadership and program guidance. He has worked to revitalize underperforming HBCU programs and to identify new funding sources. Ron is involved with capacity building, infrastructure enhancement and program development. He encourages greater collaboration among HBCUs and in developing new program initiatives. He also works with federal agencies to increase program funding for HBCUs. Prior to joining the White House Initiative, Ron served as an Associate Director, US Army Small Business Office. He received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Tuskegee University (AL). To register for this session, paste this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WF96Q5R into your address bar and input the requested information no later than Tuesday, August 20th. On Friday, August 23rd, registrants will receive an email confirmation with detailed log-in and set-up instructions for the Adobe Connect software. Stay tuned! Respectfully, Sandra SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.