Bell Atlantic Celebrates African-American Accomplishments

Bell Atlantic Celebrates African-American Accomplishments

February 13, 1998

WASHINGTON -- From Massachusetts to West Virginia, Bell Atlantic is
celebrating Black History Month with a series of unique, educational
and entertaining events about African-American history.

Several Bell Atlantic work groups, employee organizations and its
union have organized the events to recognize the important
contributions African-Americans have made to the nation.

"I applaud our employees for using Black History Month to recognize the
legacy and magnificent contributions African-Americans have made to
this country," said Jacquelyn B. Gates, Bell Atlantic's vice president
of Ethics, Compliance, Diversity and Organizational Development.
"Without those accomplishments, life would be far more difficult for
many of us. Our goal is to create a culture that allows us to
recognize the rich heritage of all our employees, and to acknowledge
and value our differences. This will be our strength as we approach
the new millennium."

The following are highlights of events across the Bell Atlantic
region:

Boston

The Consortium of Information and Telecommunication Executives (CITE)
and the Career Expo Planning Committee, Inc., are hosting "Career Expo
'98, Partners in Diversity" on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. at the Hyness Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street. The expo
will help locate career opportunities and financial assistance to
junior and senior undergraduate college students of color. Students
may alternate between attending workshops and conducting interviews
with employers. The second day is reserved for students invited back
by employers for more formal interviews. Minority college students
may attend the expo free of charge. The general public may attend for
$500.

Buffalo, N.Y.

On Feb. 23, the Lewis H. Lattimer Association of the Bell Atlantic
Western Diversity Council is hosting a Black History Month program at
5:30 p.m. at 2046 Fillmore Avenue, featuring Jacquelyn B. Gates, Bell
Atlantic's vice president of Ethics, Compliance, Diversity and
Organizational Development as the keynote speaker.

New York

Bell Atlantic is sponsoring KISS-FM's Black Film Festival with the
theme "Defining Moments in Black Cinema." Each Wednesday in February
at 7 p.m., the historic Sony-Astor Theater at 44th and Broadway will
feature a classic, 1970s genre African-American film. Proceeds benefit
the New York-based Black Filmmakers Foundation.

Paul Robeson, Jr., lecturer and the only son of Paul Robeson, Sr.,
will speak about his father's rich legacy of humanism, civil rights
activism and scholastic excellence on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m., at Bell
Atlantic's headquarters at 1095 Avenue of the Americas. Rev. Al
Sharpton will speak about the importance of Black History Month on
Feb. 26 at 375 Pearl Street.

The Bell Atlantic General Business Sales Center (GBSC) is hosting
events from noon to 3 p.m. on Feb. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 210 W. 18th
Street, with songs, dancers, presentations by employees and an
Afro-centric fashion show. The GBSC is also hosting events throughout
the month at 501 N. Ocean Avenue, Patchogue, N.Y. from noon to 2 p.m.
with historical movies about African-Americans. Bell Atlantic Vice
President Jacquelyn B. Gates will speak about black history in the
making and the challenges of diversity at several of the celebrations.

Newark, N.J.

Bell Atlantic employee groups and the Council of Action for Minority
Professionals (CAMP), a CITE affiliate, are planning a number of
activities at 540 Broad Street during the week of Feb. 23 featuring
discussions on African-American culture led by Bell Atlantic
executives, a Kwanza celebration, multicultural luncheons--with foods
of different cultures brought in by employees, an African-American art
exhibit, and a vendor and market day with items for sale from various
cultures. CITE President Carl English will discuss the importance of
Black History Month and will present CAMP's Trailblazer awards to
employees who are setting examples in demonstrating the ideals of
diversity, community service and service to the CAMP organization.

Wilmington, Del.

Bell Atlantic will host an African-American marketplace, with vendors
of art, artifacts, clothing and jewelry on Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. at 3900 Washington St.

New Castle, Del.

The Communications Workers of America, Local 13101, will host a
celebration of family, food, fellowship and fun on Feb. 28 at the United
Telephone Workers of America Union Hall at 350 Gooding Drive. Events
will include a speech entitled "Recreating the Village" and a review of
the history of gospel music and other performing arts in America by a
husband and wife who are Bell Atlantic employees.

Philadelphia

On Feb. 27, CITE affiliate Telecommunications Excellence for
Associates and Managers (TEAM) will sponsor African-American
storytelling, a display of slave artifacts and African memorabilia,
and a live presentation of the Buffalo Soldiers and the Civil War 3rd
Regiment Colored Troops, beginning at 10 a.m. at 1717 Arch Street.

The week of Feb. 16, Bell Atlantic will sponsor a series of radio
spots on KYW news radio in Philadelphia featuring profiles of
African-Americans in the arts.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

TEAM will present several events at 201 Stanwix Street from 5:30 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m. The organization will feature an exhibit of slave
artifacts and memorabilia, and discuss Pittsburgh's role in the
Underground Railroad on Feb. 20. Children and students are invited.

Dr. Velma Scantlebury, the only female African-American kidney
transplant surgeon in the country, will speak on Feb. 27.

Baltimore

Bell Atlantic is joining the AFRO-American, the nation's oldest
black-owned newspaper, and five other Maryland businesses in
sponsoring "Education Campaign 1998." The Afro-American is producing
a special Black History section of its newspaper each week this month
featuring the accomplishments of African-Americans in business. The
special section will be distributed to all eighth graders in Baltimore
city, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's
counties.

The project is designed to educate and inspire African-American
youngsters to join the ranks of those they read about in the
Afro-American.

The Association of Telecommunication Managers and Associates (ATMA) -
Maryland, another CITE affiliate, will celebrate Black History Month
with events at 1 East Pratt Street. The organization will sell Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative items, such as posters and mugs,
on Feb. 13 and will celebrate the Negro Baseball League (NBL) on Feb.
20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mamie Johnson, the only surviving member of
the NBL Indianapolis Clowns and Jimmy Dean, of the NBL Philadelphia
Stars, will share their experiences and sign autographs. A vendor will
also sell NBL memorabilia such as T-shirts, caps and posters. The Paul
Lawrence Dunbar High School Jazz Band will highlight African-American
Jazz greats during a performance Feb. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Washington

CITE affiliate ATMA - Metro will sponsor a historical portrait of
brothers Matthew and Josiah Henson by their nephew James Henson on
Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m., 13100 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Md. Matthew
Henson was the first black man to reach the North Pole. Josiah Henson
was a slave who came to be known as "Uncle Tom," but the name had a
far different meaning than it does today. Following Henson, the
performing arts group "Pinpoints" will present the fast-moving play
called "1001 Inventions." The play depicts African-American
inventions and what life would be like without them.

Bell Atlantic work groups throughout the Washington metropolitan area
have also scheduled events such as civil rights workshops, a
"brown-bag" luncheon with one of the Tuskegee Airmen, "Fact Fridays"
during which employees are quizzed on African-American history and
ethnic dress days when employees will wear clothes reflecting their
ethnic heritage.

Richmond, Va.

Bell Atlantic is presenting documentaries on historical events and
classic African-American movies during Feb. 9-13 at 3011 Hungary
Spring Road. The company sponsored a seminar, "Designing With
African-Inspired Art and Textiles" Feb. 12, at the Virginia Museum of
Fine Arts auditorium, 2800 Grove Avenue. The event included a
workshop and book signing with the authors of "The Spirit of African
Design." Several Bell Atlantic work groups are sponsoring a "Straw
Market" featuring displays of African-American Art and wares on Feb.
20 in the Richmond Forum, 6966 Forest Hill Ave.

Charleston, W. Va.

Bell Atlantic and ATMA - West Virginia sponsored a show by a theater
group called "History Alive!" on Feb. 5. Three performers portrayed
renowned educator and Tuskegee Institute founder Booker T. Washington,
activist and journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and author and American
Historian Carter G. Woodson. Both groups are also sponsoring an
education project with the Charleston Gazette and Daily Mail
newspapers, featuring a Black History quiz and other activities for
250 classrooms, and an Internet site with activities and links to

Bell Atlantic - formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX -
is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and six million
wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier
providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders
in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's
largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with
operations and investments in 21 countries.