Urban Influence Magazine Hits Newsstands Nationwide Marking Historical First for the National Urban League

    CHICAGO, April 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Urban Influence Magazine,
 an official publication of the National Urban League, targets progressive
 African American professionals with a message of building wealth through
 social change. As the first publication of the Urban League distributed on
 newsstands nationwide, this occasion marks an historical achievement for
 the 97-year-old civic organization. The Urban League is the nation's oldest
 and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African
 Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream.
     "Urban Influence Magazine has been well received by the Urban League
 family," said Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League. "The
 national newsstand distribution of the magazine will increase its impact
 and awareness, while empowering our communities with positive stories and
 information. The magazine is an important vehicle in providing information
 on the League's five step agenda of economics, education, health and
 quality of life, civil rights and civic engagement for African Americans.
 This launch is a milestone in the National Urban League's efforts to reach
 more individuals and communities in need of our services."
     Launched in 2004, as a partnership between the National Urban League
 and T. Brown Publishing, Urban Influence Magazine speaks to the critical
 link between individual and community wealth and social responsibility, as
 well as provides information concerning the latest trends in business,
 politics, and lifestyle for "urban influencers." The bi-monthly magazine
 empowers, educates and entertains readers like no other publication
 targeting African American professionals.
     "Our objective is to be the voice of this generation of power movers;
 those influencers who are just as concerned about our collective progress
 as a whole, as we are about individual wealth and success. There's an
 entire movement of social entrepreneurs and conscious corporate executives
 that UIM represents," says Tamara Brown, Publisher.
     To celebrate its accomplishment Urban Influence Magazine along with
 partners YUM! Brands, Intel, Allianz and Southwest Airlines will host a
 Newsstand Launch Reception from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, April
 12 at Macy's on State Street in downtown Chicago. Special guests include:
 National Urban League President Marc H. Morial, Chicago Urban League
 President Cheryle Jackson, the Honorable Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., and NY
 Times Best- Selling Author and Television/Radio Talk Show Host Tavis
 Smiley.
     In a short period of time UIM has offered timely and germane editorial,
 tagging some of Urban America's most highly sought after and recognized
 influencers to grace their cover. Examples include: Russell Simmons on his
 role in the Hip Hop Call-to-Action campaign in Vote or Die issue
 (October/November 2004); Patti LaBelle on Managing Life & Diabetes in
 Special Health Imperative (December/January 2005); Men of Influence
 featuring Dr. Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, and Mos Def (February/March 2005);
 Media Leadership and Influence with MTV President and media guru Christina
 Norman (April/May 2005); Emerging Female Leaders with mavens Jacque Reid,
 Marvet Britto, Tonya Lewis Lee (June/July 2005); and, Civic Engagement with
 Michelle Obama on Building Family, Career & Community (August/September
 2005).
     "We've been so fortunate to have the support of the Urban League,
 advertisers and readers across the country. Queen Latifah, Tavis Smiley and
 recently Morgan Freeman all readily agreed to their cover stories which we
 believe is a testament to the need for positive and substantive messaging
 in the magazine marketplace," offers Brown.
     UIM will unveil the inaugural newsstand Men of Influence issue during
 the newsstand launch reception.
     Urban Influence Magazine was created to extend the message of the
 National Urban League throughout its membership and beyond. Previously, the
 magazine used a controlled distribution model distributing through the
 National Urban League Young Professionals chapters, National Urban League
 affiliate offices nationwide, Corporate Partners, Key Influencers, Paid
 Subscribers, Conferences, National Urban League Special Events, and
 Tradeshows. Now, Urban Influence Magazine will reach millions of people
 nationwide tremendously increasing its already solid readership base of
 nearly 100,000 people.
     Since its inception, Urban Influence Magazine has been committed to
 shaping a publication that is as multifaceted as its readers, and to
 providing tools to empower influencers to position themselves to go to the
 next level. And, these efforts do not stop within the pages of the
 magazine; UIM has taken a holistic approach in providing its audience with
 what they need to make that next move. In 2005 and 2006 the magazine
 produced the Influencer Summit within the NUL annual convention; designed
 to recognize and empower future leaders through a mix of plenary sessions,
 luncheons and interactive workshops, the three-day event brought the most
 influential subject experts and emerging influencers together to discuss,
 develop and implement strategies with the goal of personal and professional
 enhancement.
     About Urban Influence Magazine (http://www.urbaninfluencemagazine.com)
     Urban Influence Magazine is a nationally distributed publication
 targeting progressive African American professionals with a message of
 building wealth through social change. An official publication of the
 National Urban League, Urban Influence Magazine speaks to the critical link
 between individual and community wealth and social responsibility, as well
 as provides information concerning the latest trends in business, politics,
 and lifestyle for "urban influencers."
     About the National Urban League (http://www.nul.org)
     Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation's oldest and
 largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to
 enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League,
 headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its
 local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban
 League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct
 services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs,
 advocacy and research.
 
 

SOURCE National Urban League