"Britain can benefit from  celebrating the contribution of immigrants to society."
says Patrick Vernon.

To commemorate the success and achievements of the civil rights movement in America there was a major campaign that lasted for several years which eventually made the birthday of Dr Martin Luther King a public holiday on the third Monday in January from 1986.

This resulted from a number of Bills presented to Congress, but it was the petition of six million signatures, and the lobbying by celebrities such as Stevie Wonder, alongside the King Family and their Foundation, that made the day accepted as a public holiday and an opportunity to educate and inform future generations of Americans.

Race Equality Foundation working towards in improving services to BME 

The Race Equality Foundation's Tackling Race Inequalities Programme will provide health and housing practitioners with the tools and knowledge to improve services to black and minority ethnic communities.  On  www.better-housing.org.uk and www.better-health.org.uk practitioners will find evidence based briefing papers, examples of good practice, a forum to explore evidence and the opportunity to network with others to promote race equality in housing and health.

By using the Tacking Race Inequalities Fund (2009- 2011) the Foundation focuses on to 

• promote equality of opportunity for people from black and minority ethnic groups; 
• address inequalities of access to reduce the gaps in outcomes for people from black and minority ethnic groups; and
• work with particularly disadvantaged people within black and minority ethnic (BME) groups.

Further information about the work is available by contacting

• Ronny Flynn - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or
• Tracey Bignall - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or
• by visiting the Race Equality Foundation's website www.raceequalityfoundation.org.uk .