Contact: Gillard Jones Agency 917-304-4953

New York - On Wednesday, February 23rd BRAG (The Black Retail Action Group) will host a spectacular Black History Month celebration featuring performer Savion Glover and a book signing of Harlem: Precious Memories ... Great Expectations . The event will be held at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, located in Harlem, from 6-10 PM . Avon, Best Buy, Bloomingdale's, Federated Merchandising Group, Federated Logistics, Macy's, Rocawear, and TJX are companies co-sponsoring the evening with BRAG.

BRAG, a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization, was founded over thirty years ago and is comprised of African American professionals and other underrepresented groups dedicated to promoting the acceptance and participation of people of color at all levels of retail and related fields. It is one of the first organizations of its kind offering guidance to high school and college students and young professionals entering the industry. BRAG also recognizes and celebrates the achievements of African-Americans and other people of color at its Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner held every October. Last year, Sean “P Diddy” Combs was given BRAG's Special Recognition award for his work with Sean John while several others received a Business Achievement Award. BRAG maintains this tradition of recognition during this and every February during Black History Month.

This year's Black History Month event will include a VIP reception and book signing with several individuals depicted in Harlem: Precious Memories . The book highlights influential folks like former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, activist Percy Sutton and the Reverend Calvin A. Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church, who all live in Harlem and have helped to shape that community.

“We are very excited to provide an opportunity for our members and sponsors to experience this great talent and to meet several of the Harlemites featured in this fascinating book”, says BRAG President Gail Monroe-Perry. “Ruby Dee says it so well, ‘Harlem is a language, a rhythm, a symphony, and a state of mind. Harlem is a heart thing'". During the reception BRAG, who recently relocated its offices to 131 st Street in Harlem, will pay homage to its distinguished guests followed by a 2-hour performance with dancer Savion Glover who began a worldwide tour last month.

Savion is one of the youngest men to be nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in “Black and Blue”. He made his Broadway debut as the title character in "The Tap Dance Kid" at the age of 12 and appeared on Broadway, opposite Gregory Hines in "Jelly's Last Jam". In 1988, Savion co-starred in the film "Tap" with Mr. Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr. On television he has appeared in “Dance in America: Tap!” with Mr. Hines and Tommy Tune for PBS and Nickelodeon, The Academy Awards and was a series regular on Sesame Street. In 1996, Savion won a Tony Award for his dancing and choreography in the Broadway smash-hit "Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk” and in 1997 created Not Your Ordinary Tappers, a dance company with which he has performed at the White House.

Sponsored by: Avon, Best Buy, Bloomingdales, Federated Logistics, FMG, Macy's, Rocawear, TJX

For more information visit www.bragusa.org or write to: BRAG, Rockefeller Center Station, P.O. Box 1192, New York New York 10185.