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A change-agent, an influencer, community and civic participation not only describes Urban Influence Magazine and its reader; it also describes "The Covenant with Black America" and its creator, Tavis Smiley.

Just weeks after introducing "The Covenant" at his seventh annual State of the Black Union 2006, held in February to over 5,000 attendees in Houston, TX and broadcast to more than 28 million viewers watching live on C-SPAN, Tavis Smiley granted his first magazine cover story to Urban Influence Magazine. In, "Tavis Smiley - The Making of The Covenant", Smiley speaks on the collaborative effort of this historic book, the initial impact it has had on Black America, the historical covenant signing in Washington, D.C., the tremendous attendance and reactions during a recent seven-city book/conversation tour, and what's next in UIM's annual "Men of Influence" (April/May) issue - on sale now.

Recently reaching No. 2 on the New York Times Bestsellers list, "The Covenant" emphasizes individual African Americans taking accountability for making their communities better. Penned by some of today's most prominent and influential experts and leaders, including National Urban League CEO Marc H. Morial, Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, noted professor and author Dr. Cornel West, civil rights activists Wade Henderson and many more, "The Covenant" presents researched data on 10 key issues facing Black America, and provides practical suggestions for community, individuals, and political leaders to influence change in America.

The annual "Men of Influence" issue continues with articles on a few influential men, icons in their respective fields, holding it down and making Black America proud. In the article, "Robert Townsend: Leading Black Owned and Operated Cable Network", Townsend shares with UIM what motivates him, as CEO and President of Programming of the Black Family Channel, to produce quality entertainment that portrays African Americans in roles seldom illuminated on the big screen.

Townsend shares, "It's all about looking at images of people of color and images that we are missing. We have such a shortage of images whoever comes up with a new vision and releases a lot of new thought will win."

In "Letters to A Young Brother from the Heart of Hill Harper", actor and newly published author, Hill Harper speaks on his passion to provide answers to basic life questions that so many young men seek to learn, through his first book, "Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny".

"I came up with the idea to write the book first because I was speaking in New York at Martin Luther King Jr. High School for IBM's Technology Day. I was asked to sign pictures afterwards and the young brothers were coming up to me asking questions. I was taken back by the fact they did not have anyone in their lives to ask these questions of and I saw an immediate need," Harper explains.

More Influencers...UIM also recognizes 15 African American men who are making significant impacts in their professional lives and the communities they represent. They include men like Bruce C. Carver, Chief Information Officer, Dana Corporation; Grammy Award Winning Artist Bryan Michael Cox; Eddie Glaude, Ph.D., Princeton University Professor and Farrah Gray, author and philanthropist.

And, "Inside the League" continues coverage on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina through its report on the partnership with the National Urban League and National Coalition for Black Civic Participation in Fight for Victim's Voting Rights. With elections on the horizon for Louisiana and no intent from the US Justice Department to provide satellite voting outside of the State, the NUL, National Coalition for Black Civic Participation in Fight for Victim's Voting Rights and the Greater New Orleans Foundation will hold Empowerment Forums for Displaced Katrina Survivors to hear from New Orleans mayoral candidates in Atlanta, New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Houston leading up to the elections.

All this and much more is in the annual "Men of Influence" issue of Urban Influence Magazine. To get a copy, go to http://www.urbaninfluencemagazine.com and subscribe today.

Urban Influence Magazine is a nationally distributed publication targeting progressive African American professionals with a message of building wealth through social change. An official publication of the National Urban League, Urban Influence Magazine speaks to the critical link between individual and community wealth and social responsibility, as well as provides information concerning the latest trends in business, politics, and lifestyle for "urban influencers."