Alliance for Digital Equality Elects Mayor Manuel A. Diaz and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors as Vice Chairman

ATLANTA, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Digital Equality (ADE), a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization that serves to facilitate and ensure equal access to technology in underserved communities, announced today the election of former Miami, Florida Mayor Manuel (Manny) A. Diaz to the ADE Board of Directors as Vice Chairman. Diaz is the current President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

A force in local, state and national politics for nearly three decades, Manny Diaz was first elected City of Miami Mayor in 2001, having never before held elective office. He was reelected to a second term in 2005, and was chosen to lead the United States Conference of Mayors as its president in 2008.

"As a globally respected public figure, Mayor Diaz's leadership credentials will be instrumental in increasing ADE's footprint both nationally and abroad," said Julius H. Hollis, ADE Chairman. "Due to his extensive experience on broadband related issues facing the un-served and underserved, Manny will be a tremendous asset in advocating on a variety of policy and economic issues for America's low income citizens."

Mayor Diaz has been recognized with the 2006 Government Award by Hispanic Magazine, the 2004 Urban Innovator of the Year by the Manhattan Institute, 2004 Business Leader of the Year Award by SouthFloridaCEO Magazine, and was named an Outstanding American by Choice by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service.

He serves on the advisory board for the Manhattan Institute's Center for Civic Innovation, the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Urban Research and the Mayors' Institute on City Design, and he was chosen as a judge for the Rudy Bruner Award for excellence in urban design.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Diaz immigrated to the United States with his mother, Elisa, in 1961. Growing up in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, Diaz attended Belen Jesuit Prep School, Miami-Dade College, Florida International University and the University of Miami's School of Law. Diaz is a partner in the law firm of Diaz & O'Naghten.

ADE serves as a bridge between policymakers and minority individuals in order to help the public understand how legislative and regulatory policies regarding new technologies can impact and empower their daily lives.

The Alliance for Digital Equality maintains that the key to expanding opportunities for all communities is through Digital Empowerment. Since its founding in 2007, ADE has launched 7 Digital Empowerment Councils nationwide: Charleston, SC, Houston, TX, Detroit, MI, Miami, FL, Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA and Chicago, IL to examine the impact of broadband access on the local communities in the areas of civic participation, public health, public safety, urban and economic development, and education with 375+ nationwide DEC members to date.

ADE's goal is to educate Americans about the benefits of new broadband technologies and be a voice of underserved communities to raise awareness of the importance of new technologies regardless of socioeconomic status.

About the Alliance for Digital Equality - The Alliance for Digital Equality is a national non-profit consumer advocacy organization that serves to facilitate and ensure equal access to technology in underserved communities. The Alliance also serves as a bridge between policymakers and minority individuals in order to help the public understand how legislative and regulatory policies regarding new technologies can impact and empower their daily lives. For more information on The Alliance for Digital Equality, please visit www.alliancefordigitalequality.org.

SOURCE Alliance for Digital Equality