Acknowledgments

Dear Reader:

The Human Genome Project is one of the most important undertakings of our times. The changes which human genome research will make in our lives in the 21^st Century will be significant.

The National Educational Foundation of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has been privileged to have the opportunity to bring to minority communities information on the Human Genome Project (HGP) on the ethical, legal, and social implications of HGP research and findings.

The Foundation has planned and conducted two informational conferences on the Human Genome Project: one in April, 1999, at Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and the second in July, 2000, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both conferences had, as the primary target audience, members of the minority communities. These conferences provided information on the status of genetic research, avenues for greater involvement of minorities, and a vehicle for input by the minority communities on their issues and concerns.

The publication of the proceedings of the Philadelphia Conference is provided as a community service, for greater dissemination of this important information. The Foundation is grateful to the United States Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health for grants and other support, and the March of Dimes and Merck Research Labs. It also wishes to thank the many presenters, panelists, and facilitators who were conference participants, and members of the community who served on the Conference Advisory Committees.

Special thanks to the following cooperating institutions: Xavier University of Louisiana, the New Orleans District Office and the Philadelphia District Officer of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Directors Patricia Bivens and Marie Tomasso, respectively. Finally, our special thanks also to the Project Director of each conference, Dr. Rosalind Pijeaux Hale and Dr. Kathryn T. Malvern, and to Dr. Barbara West Carpenter, National President of Zeta Beta Sorority, Inc.

Sincerely,

Issie L. Shelton-Jenkins
Foundation Chair
July 1995 – July 2000