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US Commission on Civil Rights Celebrates African American History Month The US Commission on Civil Rights is pleased to celebrate February 2003 as African American History Month. "During this month, we celebrate the many achievements and contributions made by African Americans throughout our nation's extraordinary history," said Commission Chairperson Mary Frances Berry. FRENCH ASKED TO INTERVENE AS IVORY COAST PROPOSED PEACE PLAN DISSOLVES The French government and rebel forces on the Ivory Coast cannot seem to pen a successful peace deal. According to several news agencies, the French authored peace deal is moving closer to collapse after a number of new clashes sparked on the coast. ESSENCE CEO ED LEWIS RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Urges industry leaders to promote diversity Ed Lewis, CEO and Chairman of Essence Communications Partners and Publisher of ESSENCE magazine, was honored with the prestigious Henry Johnson Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award by the Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) at a black-tie ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria on Wednesday, January 29, 2003. The award, established in 1964, honors a magazine leader, "who has gained distinction through significant and long-standing contributions to the publishing business, and one who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership. National African American Parent Involvement Day, Monday, February 10, 2003 Plan now to "Take Your Child to School/Visit Your Child in School" on Monday, February 10, 2003 in observance of the Eighth Annual NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day). Celebrated annually on the second Monday in February, NAAPID is a national call to action aimed at creating and maintaining positive parent-school- community partnerships. NAACP GOES GLOBAL: Civil rights organization expands its scope. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is working on increasing its presence overseas. Long a proponent of civil rights and human dignity, the NAACP is also attempting to gain special status with the United Nations.  SPIKE LEE, DANNY GLOVER and WILLIAMS SISTERS TO RECEIVE SPECIAL NAACP AWARDS At the NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon, host Diahann Carroll joined NAACP Image Awards Chair Charles Whitehead in announcing this year's recipients of the special Image Awards, with Spike Lee for the Hall of Fame Award, Danny Glover named the Chairman's Award winner and Venus and Serena Williams as the President's Award winners. SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA DISASTER: The investigation into what happened is underway. On Saturday, the US space shuttle Columbia exploded as it reentered the earth’s atmosphere, spewing debris across east Texas and Louisiana and killing all seven astronauts on board. OTHER NEWS: CHIEF MOOSE SIGNS BOOK DEAL The Baltimore Sun reports that Montgomery County, MD Police Chief Charles Moose has signed a book deal with Dutton publishing company. He has also sold the rights to his life story to two TV production companies.