The Abyssinian Fund will exhibit for sale 18 original pieces of Ethiopian art work during the Harlem Fine Arts Show this week.

Visitors to the celebrated art show at The Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, will be able to view and purchase the art work, produced by emerging Ethiopian artists who rarely get a chance to showcase their impressive contemporary images outside of Ethiopia. The works are by artists are associated with Makush, one of the largest commercial galleries in Addis Adaba.

The exhibition hours of the art show are 6 p.m. to Midnight, February 25th, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., February 26th and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. February 27th.

All proceeds from sale of artwork will be used to further the work of the Abyssinian Fund in the rural farming community of Chaffee Jeneta and to promote economic development in Ethiopia.

To learn more about The Abyssinian Fund, go to www.abyfund.org. To purchase tickets to the Harlem Fine Arts Show website go to www.hfas.org to learn more about the show.

Experts say solution addresses President Obama’s Call for Innovation

A proposed new identity protection software development company could lead to creating nearly 200,000 permanent new jobs in the U.S. at a time when President Obama is calling for more innovation and job creation.

Tom Hill, who ran the EDS Fellows and the Distinguished Engineering Program, says B-Security Systems’ concept “potentially solves an enormous identity management problem facing the United States government.” He said the company’s solution could create anywhere from 125,000 to 200,000. In an evaluation of the product, Hill said, “The proposed B-Systems solution has identified several key areas of concern for secure identity management that have not been adequately covered by either government or commercial initiatives.” Most of these jobs also would require employees to be bonded and U.S. citizens, according to B-Security Systems’ business plan.

Velma Hart, who recently became a partner of B-Security Systems and its chief financial officer, said the company has a product that’s sorely needed and will help out the nation’s economy. This week, the president released his $3.7 trillion federal budget and recently met with the CEOs of the nation’s top technology companies, seeking their ideas on how to fuel innovation and job creation.

“Look, it’s very simple,” said Hart, former CFO of AMVETS, a veteran service organization who made national headlines last year when she questioned President Obama on the ineffectiveness of his economic policies. “B-Systems offers a tangible innovative technology solution that has a huge potential to create jobs. We’re looking for investors, the federal government – the President himself – to take notice. We’re committed to making sure this business makes a difference, but we need folks to step up.”

The B-System Privacy Protection Method (http://bsecuritysystems.com), in part, offers a more effective and secure means to issue and protect the national use of the social security number. The company has a patent pending for a sophisticated software system idea that will make it more difficult for thieves to illegally use social security numbers and other forms of personal identifying information. The software is conceived to provide the federal government and commercial outlets an innovative method that will effectively deter and dramatically prevent ID fraud and save hundreds of billions of dollars annually in monetary and other forms of loss that is associated with being a victim of ID Fraud.

To contact Ms. Hart or learn more about B-Security Systems LLC, contact Neil Foote, neil@neilfoote.com, 214.448.3765.

Lecture on ‘Connecting Communities through Development Projects’

Rev. Nicholas Richards, president of the Harlem-based Abyssinian Fund, will lead a Thursday evening discussion on how communities in the U.S. can partner with Ethiopian coffee farmers.

The panel, entitled ‘From Harlem to Addis: Connecting Communities through Development Projects’, will take place 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. February 24 at the temporary home of the Museum for African Art, 80 Hanson Place, in Downtown Brooklyn.

The lecture is part of a series entitled, Views of Africa: Conversations with a Continent and its People, produced by The Museum for African Art and Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA).

The goal of the Abyssinian Fund is to provide new technologies and distribution networks to ensure Ethiopian coffee is competitive in the global marketplace.

A gifted speaker, Rev. Richards has always been passionate about international affairs. His leadership of Abyssinian’s international ministry has spawned a series of projects, including development efforts in Ethiopia, humanitarian relief in Haiti and on-going educational services in Kenya. Born in Mandeville, Jamaica, Rev. Richards grew up in Bronx, NY. He completed his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy at Morehouse College and received his Master of Divinity degree at The Union Theological Seminary in New York.

For more information about the seminar, go to the museum’s website, http://www.africanart.org/index.php. For more information about The Abyssinian Fund, go to http://abyfund.org. To interview Rev. Richards, contact Neil Foote, neil@nelfoote.com, 214.448.3765.

(Dallas – April 19) – Dallas’ first health guide targeting multicultural women is launching next month with a special kick off reception to introduce the premier publication to the Metroplex. “Girlfriends Night Out” is the official launch party for the Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color® , taking place 5pm to 7pm May 6 at The Magnolia Hotel, 1401 Commerce St., in downtown Dallas.

Award-winning Gospel & R&B singer Shirley Murdock will share her inspiration through song for guests, including a host of local celebrities, media and civic leaders. Attendees will dine on heavy hors d’oeuvres and be eligible to win giveaways, including designer shoes and a one-night deluxe hotel suite stay, plus receive a gift bag of surprises. Those interested in healthcare and awareness for ‘women of color’ are strongly encouraged to attend. There is no charge.

The quarterly, pocket-sized Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color® in Dallas is the most recent to join the publication’s network already in distribution in Milwaukee, Chicago and Atlanta. Matthew Johnson, founder and group publisher, says plans are in progress to launch Girlfriends Health®, which debuted in January 2007, in additional markets later this year.

“Girlfriends is more than just a publication, it’s a network,” Johnson said. “Dallas is a very important market to us and we’re looking forward to growing this market, providing readers relevant content, and offering sponsors an opportunity to reach the coveted ‘women of color’ market.”

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Circle of Promise is partnering with Girlfriends Health® as the title sponsor to co-host a series of special events around the country, including health disparities conferences.

In the inaugural Dallas edition, read the cover story of how Y. Nicole Payseur left the high-powered, intense life of a New York attorney to refocus her life, her priorities on yoga and her inner peace. Readers will also find helpful tips on finances, “going green” and other stories to help “girlfriends” incorporate a balance of life, work and most importantly, health into their lives.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Sandra K. Samuel, WordOut Communications, at 214.549.5028 or email dallasgirlfriendshealthguide@gmail.com. Reservations are not required but highly recommended.

Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color® currently publishes 250,000 issues quarterly and with The Girlfriend’s Network viral communications model has nearly 20,000 members nationwide. Girlfriends Health® can be found online at www.girlfriendshealthguide.com.

More information can be found online at http://www.girlfriendshealthguide.com