NBC-LEO launched its visit to the Congress of Cities in Nashville, Tenn., with a tour of Nashville landmarks that reflect the rich contributions of African Americans from the formative years of statehood through the civil rights movement and beyond.

The historic black tour of Nashville exposed members to cultural and academic achievements of Nashville's African Americans. During the tour, group members visited historically black colleges Tennessee State University, Fisk University and the Meharry School of Medicine.

The tour continued with a view of the home of James Weldon Johnson, who authored the anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

The tour also highlighted the economic contributions of blacks in Nashville and the opportunities that were afforded by their various entrepreneurial ventures.

The NBC-LEO Membership Luncheon featured Dr. Julianne Malveaux, economist and author. Malveaux spoke about the importance of cities and local governments in the lives of their residents, the current economic crises in local governments, terrorism and the responsibilities that elected officials have to ensure that all citizens have safe communities, affordable housing and access to healthcare.

NBC-LEO also cosponsored the workshop "Expanding Home Ownership in Our Municipalities."

The purpose of this workshop was to provide participants with a keen knowledge on the investment tools and successful partnerships needed to expand home ownership and improve rental housing opportunities for low and moderate income families.

Over the summer, NBC-LEO developed policy resolutions on the subjects of homeland security and the Southern Black Belt Initiative, which affects the economic development of several southern states.

In addition, NBC-LEO, under the leadership of its newly elected president, Marian Tasco, councilwoman and majority whip, Philadelphia, Pa., developed a resolution concerning the use of racially derogatory terms in relation to the present structure of the eBay search engine. NBC-LEO requests that technical modification of the search engine could eliminate the use of racially derogatory terms from the marketing and promotion systems of eBay.

In addition to its program activities in Nashville, NBC-LEO conducted elections for its new Board of Directors.

NBC-LEO's officers are: Marian B. Tasco, councilwoman and majority whip, Philadelphia, Pa. (president); Leo Chancy, Jr., councilmember, Dallas, (president-elect); Felicia Moore, councilmember, Atlanta, Ga. (first vice president); Terry Riley, councilmember, Kansas City, Mo. …