The Alliance for Digital Equality Hosts 2010 Digital Empowerment Summit at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark

Summit highlights the impact that universal broadband access will have on access to education, jobs and wealth creation opportunities for un-served and underserved communities of color

NEWARK, N.J., April 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Digital Equality (ADE) has announced that the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark will host their 2010 Digital Empowerment Summit themed, "Broadband:  Closing the Economic Divide" on Friday, April 23, 2010.  Following the release of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) National Broadband Plan, ADE will convene a mix of policymakers, thought leaders and the media in New Jersey to discuss the impact that universal broadband access will have on access to education, jobs and wealth creation opportunities, particularly for the millions of un-served and underserved Americans who have the most to gain from this great technology.  The summit will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m.  

Several powerful voices will be heard during New Jersey's first broadband summit including FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker, National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial and Senator Rodney Ellis, who will be delivering remarks.  CNN Contributor, Mario Armstrong, and Actor, Author and Activist, Hill Harper, will moderate the summit's panel discussions to include:  "Jobs & Wealth," "The Wireless Broadband Revolution," and "The State of Broadband in Minority Communities."

"Throughout our history there are numerous examples in which communities of color have been the last to enjoy the full economic benefit of transformative periods, such as those now offered courtesy of the digital revolution," said Julius H. Hollis, Chairman and Founder of ADE.  "Broadband is the bridge that provides a unique opportunity for people of color to achieve economic equality, and as we now work to implement the FCC's National Broadband Plan – designed to deliver access to every American – it is vital that we focus on the millions of un-served and underserved Americans to ensure that these Americans adopt this great tool once they have access."

Opening remarks will be given by Mayor Booker.  Confirmed panelists include:  Manny Diaz (Former Mayor of Miami), David Jefferson (President and CEO, JNET Communications), Willie E. Woods Jr. (Managing Director, ICV Capital Partners), Heather McKay (Director, Innovative Training and Workforce Development Programs, Rutgers), Fateen Ziyad (City of Newark Fire Department Deputy Chief), George Cigale (Founder and CEO, Tutor.com), Eduardo Tinaco (CEO and Founder, Athena Wireless Communications), Ash Shehata (Director, Healthcare Practice, Cisco), Lillian Rodriguez Lopez (President, Hispanic Federation), Dr. Jan Gant, Ph.D. (Visiting Resident Fellow, Media and Technology Institute, Joint Center for Political Studies), Gregory S. Fehribach, J.D. (Attorney, The Fehribach Group), Lorraine A. Cortes-Vasquez (New York Secretary of State), and Dr. Randal Pinkett (President and CEO of BCT Partners).

Members of the community are encouraged to submit questions to the Newark Digital Empowerment Summit Panelists.  Questions will be asked during the live webcast on the day of the event.  Send questions to [email protected].  

For More Information or to register please visit:  www.alliancefordigitalequality.org

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About The Alliance for Digital Equality:  The Alliance for Digital Equality, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, is a non-profit, nonpartisan 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.

SOURCE Alliance for Digital Equality