I welcome you to what we hope will be one of the most exciting times for the New York Association of Black Journalists. You join an outstanding group of journalists who work to help students fulfill their dreams of joining our profession while continuing their own mission. Work that I believe is vital to the preservation of free societies and to recording the inequities of oppressed ones.

The theme for this years is "Diversity: Don"t give up the fight." It is a phrase we hope to ingrain in all of our colleagues who believe in a world of journalism that should reflect the communities we cover. There is an untapped well of experience and wisdom that NYABJ wants to find and share, made up of reporters, producers, editors, photographers, technical operators, and anyone else who contributes to the process of bringing stories and issues to the masses. You are all important to that work and we need all of you.

The board of NYABJ is a group of exciting yet thoughtful cast of leaders. We believe the best way to foster growth in our profession is through what we call "Institutionalized Mentoring": a process that allows skills and experience to be replicated by sharing it with those who are following in our footsteps. This way, as we approach the end of our careers, there are 5, 10 or even 20 people in the next generation ready to step in.

The opportunities we have today were not created in a vacuum, but rather by the sacrifice of so many people who came before us. What better tribute can we pay to those who paved the way for us, than by contributing to the success of others?

In keeping with their legacies, our goal at The New York Association of Black Journalists is to continue to evolve into an organization that reflects the status of being a journalist in New York, the media capital of the world. In my new role as president, I have a vision of NYABJ turning into the largest, strongest, most cohesive and professionally beneficial chapter that New York has ever seen. It starts with a team of board members who share not only the same vision, but who also possess the energy of executive boards twice their size. Together, with your help we will raise our profile and membership numbers as well as secure more money for scholarships and programs.

I am asking all of you to Join the Evolution of the NEW NYABJ. The best days of this chapter are ahead of us.

Gary Anthony Ramsay