BLACK ENTERPRISE Holds Symposium on The Crisis of College Affordability on the Campus of UCLA in Los Angeles on December 4

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Enterprise, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is pleased to present "Today's Business Crisis: Educating Tomorrow's Workforce," on Wednesday, December 4, at Carnesale Commons on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles. The symposium, which will focus on solutions to the growing crisis of college affordability, is part of a series aimed to cultivate a conversation between top leaders in business, philanthropy and education about the critical challenges facing the American K-12 and postsecondary educational system. The symposium series has been held in Memphis, Tenn.; Charlotte, N.C.; Orlando, Fla.; Columbus, Ohio and Washington, D.C.

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The Black Enterprise "Today's Business Crisis" symposium will focus on the obligations and responsibilities for business leaders, politicians and policy makers on the development of comprehensive education reform that will engage students and prepare them for the 21^st century workforce. Symposium speakers will also focus on how business leaders, policy makers and civic organizations can make postsecondary education more affordable so students can enter and complete college as well as manage debt upon graduation. Film, television and entertainment industry notables who are active on the issue of improving access to educational opportunity, including Robert Townsend, Lamman Rucker and Jeff Friday, will also participate in the Los Angeles symposium.

The Los Angeles symposium is open to the general public. To RSVP, click on the following link: http://www.BlackEnterprise.com/billandmelindagatesla/

Moderators
Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Professor of Law, UCLA and Columbia University
Gene Wade, Founder & CEO, UniversityNOW

Confirmed Speakers
Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder & CEO, Act-1 Group
Deborah Santiago, COO & Director of Research, Excelencia In Education
Robert Townsend, Actor, Filmmaker, Comedian and Producer
Audrey E. Dow, Community Affairs Director, The Campaign for College Opportunity
Blair Taylor, Chief Community Officer, Starbucks
Jeff Friday, Founder & CEO, Film Life/American Black Film Festival
Lamman Rucker, Actor/Co-Founder, The Black Gents
J. Mathew Yohannan, Advisor, SOFI (Social Finance)
Tamika Butler, California Director, Young Invincibles
Mario Middleton, National Director, University of Phoenix
Joe Scantlebury, Senior Policy Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Earl "Butch" Graves, President/CEO, BLACK ENTERPRISE
Derek Dingle, SVP/Editor-in-Chief, BLACK ENTERPRISE

"It is imperative that business leaders' partner with the academic community to ensure that our schools are producing graduates with the skills we desire for our businesses to remain competitive in this global economy," says Earl "Butch" Graves, Jr., President and CEO, BLACK ENTERPRISE. "Black Enterprise has addressed the crisis of college affordability as a major barrier to opportunities for students to gain the necessary preparation and education to lead productive lives. We are proud to have the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to increase the focus on solutions that can ultimately resolve this crisis; and that cannot be successfully executed without business leaders being fully committed to reform education and to make college more affordable." 

BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine provides 4.1 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BE also produces television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web content, and digital media. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, and the authority on black business news and trends. 

SOURCE Black Enterprise