Give the gift of employment.

This issue marks five successful years of the BLACK ENTERPRISE Wealth Building Initiative, our campaign to help African Americans adopt the principles necessary to create multigenerational wealth. Since we began our crusade in the January 2000 issue, we've made hundreds of wealth-building presentations and inspired thousands of people to commit to the 10 principles of the Declaration of Financial Empowerment (www.blackenterprise.com/investing/20.htm). We've also awarded more than $100,000 and more than 50 free consultations with financial advisers to winners of our monthly Financial Fitness Contest. As you'll read in our feature article "Taking Steps Toward Financial Independence" in this issue, the DOFE principles are making a positive difference in the lives of our subscribers and readers.

However, we have a long way to go to achieve our long-term mission: closing the wealth gap facing black America. A recent analysis of Census Bureau data reveals that the disparity in net worth between white families and black families grew even larger after the most recent recession. Moreover, the economic recovery that began in 2001 failed to restore the wealth lost by black families as a result of the recession. While the value of assets, such as stocks and real estate, rebounded when the recession ended, African Americans (still too often the last hired and the first fired) who counted on a corresponding increase in employment opportunities have been left high and dry by a "jobless recovery." (A glaring example of this is New York City, where 51.8% of all black men between the ages of 16 and 64 are unemployed.) This means that we must redouble our efforts to spread the wealth-building strategies--including homeownership, disciplined saving and investing, and estate planning--necessary to insulate black families against an uncertain job market. In addition, I am calling for each one of us to do even more to push our wealth-building agenda on all fronts, including employment.

I challenge each of our more than 500,000 BE subscribers to commit to helping at least one person land a job in 2005. BE readers are among the most connected, successful, and influential people--black or white--in the country. Many of you are entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals with the direct authority to hire, train, and/or refer people for positions. And those of you not in such a position know at least one person who is. Do not procrastinate or leave this task to others. If anyone can make a difference, you can. You are our best and our brightest. If not you, who? If not now, when?

If you know somebody who is unemployed--a laid-off professional, a high school or college graduate, a recently discharged member of the armed forces--don't wait for him or her to ask you for help. Offer your assistance. Volunteer to help circulate a resume. Agree to serve as a reference for at least one person whose skills and work ethic you can vouch for. Circulate information about job openings. Share job training and career preparation resources via e-mail, at family gatherings, and through your church. If you can, offer to help update a resume and polish a cover letter. And if you can't help, provide a referral to someone who can.

If you are not a subscriber (yet) but are one of our more than 4 million readers, I urge you to join in the effort as well. And whether you help someone get a job or you gain employment thanks to the assistance of someone who accepted this challenge, keep me posted on your efforts by writing to us at our offices in New York or e-mailing us at [e-mail].

Let's make a resolution to give the gift of employment in 2005. On behalf of the Graves family and all of the employees of BE, I wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous, fulfilling New Year.