LOS ANGELES) The BBA in collaboration with the National Women’s History Project will present its 2011 Salute to Black Women Business Conference & Awards Luncheon on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at the Sheraton Gateway LAX, in Los Angeles, California in recognition of National Women’s History Month.

 The mission of the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) is to provide information and programs that help people recognize and celebrate the many diverse and historic accomplishments of multicultural American women.  Every year, during the month of March, hundreds of thousands of events are held throughout the country to acknowledge and recognize the amazing accomplishments of women.

National Women’s History Month’ 2011 theme is “Our History Is Our Strength” and in keeping with the NWHP’s objectives our 2011 Awards Luncheon will honor local prominent women whose strength of character, dedication and sense of purpose has created our history.  Our 2011 Honorees are leading our nation in advancements ranging from achieving great success in the business world, breaking the glass ceiling in corporate America to vast contributions in the arts, politics and social & gender equality.  Our 2011 Salute to Black Women Honorees are as follows:

 Yvonne Burke: Lifetime Achievement Award; Political Trailblazer and Public Service Icon and former Los Angeles County Supervisor, 2nd District

Alice Huffman:  Advocate Award; President and Chairperson, California NAACP

Nichelle Nichols: Legacy Award; Actress, Singer and Voice Artist, best known for her groundbreaking portrayal of the television Star Trek’s Uhura

 Brenda Wright: Corporate Excellence Award; Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of California Community Development, Wells Fargo

  Lula Washington: Artistic Vision Award; Founder and Artistic Director, Lula Washington Dance Theater

  Chef Marilyn Cole: Outstanding Community-Based Business Award; Owner, Soul Food Express

 The Kwanzaa Foundation: Outstanding Organization Award; A fund-raising & charitable organization comprised of  African American women in the entertainment industry.

Our 2011 Business Conference is designed to assist African-American women navigate the current economic environment by offering workshops focusing on business & personal financial security, improvement and empowerment.  For workshop information, please go to www.salutetoblackwomen.com

For event details, tickets, sponsorship & advertising opportunities, and/or vendor opportunities contact us at 323-291-9334 or log onto http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.salutetoblackwomen.com%2F&h=77482

About the Black Business Association (www.bbala.org) 

Since 1970, the Black Business Association (BBA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, has contributed to and supported the development, progress and expansion of more than 15,000 African-American businesses.  Nationally, we have access to and influence with more than 50,000 African-American owned and women/minority-owned businesses (WMBE) through the formation of strategic alliances with trade associations and organizations nationwide.