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Symposium Offers Cutting Edge Information

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Created on November 21, 2013
 

The 2013 Rainbow PUSH Coalition & Citizen Education Fund Public Policy Institute & Media and Telecommunications Symposium was held Nov. 15 at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC.

The annual event titled “The Future of Media: Policies, People and Players,” presented cutting edge information about racial diversity in the media landscape and how to think more broadly about media policy. It also covered recent strides in telecommunications and how to bridge the “digital divide.”

“The information shared during this symposium is necessary for all Americans to know, as we seek to change the tide to a multi-cultural, multi-racial progressive agenda,” said Martin King, Chairman, Rainbow PUSH Coalition. “We want those attending to go back to their communities and spread a message of hope and responsibility.”

Kimberly Marcus, Associate Director for the Office of Legislative, Education & Intergovernmental Affairs at the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), was one of the panelists in the “Tele-everything: Broadband and Remote Access to Energy, Health and the Economy,” session.

During this session, the panelists discussed the emerging prominence of remote education and energy management, as well as the burgeoning use of e-commerce. They also shared how innovative, internet-enabled devices are repurposing how individuals engage in the information technology economy that can facilitate more improved efficiencies across these verticals.

Marcus shared the statistics on minority-owned businesses use of internet technology to sell goods and services, as well as some of the problems they face when engaging in e-commerce. She also referenced an online resource, found on the MBDA website, for attendees to learn more about the first steps to conducting e-commerce.

“Because of similar race, ethnicity, culture, and language minority-owned businesses have a competitive edge in serving emerging markets abroad and using the Internet helps them leverage their competitive edge in foreign markets,” Marcus said. “So it’s important for the private sector to partner with government and become more active players in bridging the digital divide.”