African-American Women to Be Saluted

Black Women of Achievement will salute four trail-blazing African-Americans at a June 11 luncheon at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.

Guests of honor at the ninth annual luncheon will be former Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-Tex.), singer-actress Diahann Carroll, Spelman College President Johnnetta Cole and Los Angeles attorney Melanie Lomax.

The noon luncheon, which celebrates the professional achievements and community service of its honorees, is the major fund-raising event for Black Women of Achievement, which supports the Western Regional Office of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

“These women are positive role models for women across the nation,” said chairwoman Pat Johnson in announcing this year’s honorees and their achievements:

* Jordan, who holds the Lyndon B. Johnson Centennial chair in national policy at the University of Texas, gained national prominence for her depth of questioning of witnesses who appeared before the House Judiciary Committee during the 1974 Watergate hearings.

* Carroll, a Tony Award winner for her Broadway starring role in “No Strings,” was the first African-American woman to star in a prime-time television show--”Julia,” which was introduced in 1968 and ran for three seasons.

* Cole, the first African-American woman to lead Atlanta’s Spelman College for women, has initiated such projects as a mentorship program with the Atlanta business community and maintained Spelman’s position as one of the nation’s best liberal arts colleges.

* Lomax, who will receive the AT&T; Entrepreneur Award, founded the law firm of Lomax & Associates in 1984 and was a key drafter of the NAACP’s Fair Share Program for economic development in African-American communities. She is also a former police commissioner.

In addition, 14 outstanding Los Angeles black women will be honored at the luncheon, which is open to the public. Tickets are $65. Information: (310) 473-3443.