Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award presented to Dr. Sanjay Gupta by Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

The 2009 NAMIC Conference came to a close this afternoon at the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon honoring this year’s recipient, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta. NAMIC Board of Directors Chair, Mark Garner, introduced Gupta to a full house at the Grand Hyatt’s Imperial Ballroom. Garner’s introduction included video highlights of Gupta’s impressive career and humanitarian efforts, as well as congratulatory messages from former president Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong and Deepak Chopra, among others.

Gupta began his career at CNN in 2001 and received his first high-profile assignment covering the September 11 attacks. In 2003, he was assigned to report from Iraq as an embedded reporter and reported live from a desert operating room where he also served as a surgeon. He later covered the tsunami disaster in South Asia, which contributed to CNN receiving the Alfred I. DuPont Award. He quickly earned a reputation for being fearless, dedicated and hands-on. Most notably, he was instantly recognized for his genuine interest in reporting with humanity, and providing CNN audiences with unfiltered coverage.

The Emmy-Award winning surgeon and journalist is also a documentarian. Among Gupta’s numerous documentaries are “Fit to Lead,” in which Gupta reported on the presidential campaign in 2008 and “Blood Spilled,” about the aftermath of the Pakistani earthquake. Gupta also recently penned his second book, Cheating Death, in which he investigates medical miracles.

A humble Gupta gladly accepted the award, while receiving a standing ovation, and was obviously surprised and honored. An emotional Gupta remarked, “My mom would be really proud . . . my dad wouldn’t believe it!”

Gupta shared various anecdotes from his career with luncheon attendees, including his time reporting on the tsunami in South Asia and his investigative journey to study centenarians in Okinawa. “Seeing people with nothing and seeing people struggling reminds me of the quote, ‘with knowledge comes responsibility. Now that you have seen, you must act.’ I think the media can be used to do good. It can be used for change and to hold people accountable.”

Gupta’s altruistic spirit, medical knowledge, reporting finesse, ingenuity and bravery has made him more than worthy of the 2009 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award and the inspirational, moving luncheon was the perfect finale to a successful conference.

Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

TV Everywhere: How and when will we get there? by Robyn Mayer - NAMIC Blogger

I have been increasingly impressed with the caliber of the participants at this conference. We are witnessing the giants of the communications industry.

The general session on the final day of the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference really impressed me. I was moved by the dynamic energy generated from the talented panel, which featured top authorities in the digital arena representing an impressive roster of networks and corporations.

Until I attended this conference, I did not know the industry was so populated by people with such a focused dedication to their jobs and multi-ethnic inclusion. Seeing these great minds at work, makes me realize that the commitment to foster diversity in communications is resolute…this industry hums with it. The conference has for me, anyway, expanded my perspective of diversity, and what it means to the overall workforce.

Not only is there representation from many cultures, but also from the almost endless wealth of knowledge and varying opinions from these dedicated professionals and business leaders.

And amid the common goal of fostering diversity, there is a unity born of dedication to providing quality content in as many ways as possible in one of the fastest-moving industries imaginable. In addition to their collective goal of promoting greater inclusion, what this illustrious panel has in common is the desire to do their jobs well and to stay at the forefront of digital media and new technology.

Thomas Reed, a former attorney, currently serving as the Federal Communications Commission’s director of Communications Business Opportunities, reminded us that “people want to see themselves accurately depicted” in the media, and that the job of the communications industry “is to seek to give them themselves.” And to do that, we must understand what resonates with our audiences.

Moderator Brian Santo, editor of CED Magazine, said he felt he didn’t merit all the accolades from Mike Lee, vice president, Commercial Services, Time Warner Cable, who introduced him.

“I never feel like I deserve that because I never feel like I’m the smartest person in the room. That’s definitely the case here.”

Santo and the panel discussed the state and goals of the “TV Everywhere” concept. Panelists included Albert Cheng, executive vice president, Disney-ABC Television Group; Jamie Howard, president and CEO, Imagine Communications; Yvette Kanouff, chief strategy officer, Sea Change International, Inc.; Derrick Frost, founder and CEO, Invision.TV, and Mark Garner, senior vice president, Distribution, Marketing and Business Development for A&E Television Networks and chairman of the NAMIC Board of Directors.

Opinions varied widely, and were emphatic across the board. Kanouff repeatedly urged her colleagues to act as quickly as possible to deliver “TV Everywhere,” through one provider on multiple platforms, before someone else beats them to the punch.

She said the technology is there, but issues including content, legalities, business models, security, user regulation and how providers are paid for access, must also be dealt with.

I liked Kanouff’s focus-on-solutions attitude, versus the focus-on-problems stance. Still, the technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum and these issues are real.

“The nature of the content is changing,” Howard noted comparing the way broadband access affects the cable industry to the way color changed the nature of content in the movies in the 1940s and 1950s.

This session persuaded me that the industry is on the right track. Seeing such great communication between different sectors of the industry, despite their varying opinions and viewpoints, gave me confidence that consumers and companies alike will benefit from this conscientious approach to expanding the industry’s digital horizon.

Robyn Mayer - NAMIC Blogger

2009 NAMIC Conference Day Three by Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

Although attendees woke to billowing snow this morning in the Mile High City, everyone is eager to start Day Three and enjoy the remainder of the 2009 NAMIC Conference.

Yesterday wrapped up with stimulating and interactive break-out sessions, including Corporate Diversity and Inclusion - BARNGA , facilitated by NAMIC’s VP of Educational Programs, Jim C. Jones. Session attendees loved this hands-on session as they played five rounds of cards while remaining silent. Participants were instructed to only use hand gestures and facial expressions to communicate with one another during the game. Paired with a different partner each round, participants were challenged to quickly adapt and learn how to effectively communicate with others. The BARNGA exercise was eye-opening for many, as the game revealed participants’ true adaptability, leadership and communication skills.

This morning’s general session kicked off with an engaging panel, “My Content Anywhere: Changing the Rules of Engagement Between Content Providers and Distributors.” Attendees listened as Brian Santo, editor-in-chief of CED Magazine moderated this panel about the dynamics between providers and distributors and challenges each entity faces when working together to create content for diverse audiences.

After a short break, attendees will participate in the last series of break-out sessions before attending the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon featuring CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Dr. Gupta is being recognized for his humanitarian efforts as a medical professional and journalist. Past recipients of this prestigious award include Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Robert L. Johnson, Governor Bill Richardson, Kweisi Mfume, Christina Saralegui, Anderson Cooper, and Soledad O’Brien, among others.

Check back for a recap of this afternoon’s break-out sessions and for coverage of the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon later today.

Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

Modern Tribalization by Robyn Mayer - NAMIC Blogger

Lets get tribal. In the world of social media, users form their own tribes. That was the topic of discussion at the Digital Media session Tuesday morning titled “Tribalization of Social Media.: How to Become a Chieftain.”

One issue that came up frequently was that there are few places where diversity rules as it does on the Internet.

An expert panel summoned the ancient concept of tribalization and applied it to the fluid, modern market of social media. I learned that social media IS tribalization, which was described as one of the oldest forms of government. People use social media to categorize themselves and to carve out their identities online and connect with those who are like-minded or have similar passions. Tribalization on the Internet is like a self-defined target audience.

Is social media the great equalizer? This is one of the most gripping questions asked at the Tribalization of Social Media session this morning. Smokey Fontaine, chief content officer for Interactive One led the session with relevant, sharp questions, such as this.

The panel was equally acute with their quick answers. Every panelist was an expert with deep knowledge of the subject. The lineup included Lisa Hsia, Digital SVP for Bravo Media/NBC Universal; Ed Moran, Director of Insights & Innovation; Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group and Deloitte Services, LP; Gene Pao, VP of New Media and International Development for Fuel TV; and Viveka Von Rosen, a social media coach and consultant.

The audience was so engaged, time flew by, and attendees hardly had time to admire the spectacular view of the Front Range and the Denver Skyline from the 37th Floor of the Atrium Tower.

I like the recurring theme of social media as a democratic organ. Online social interaction is wide open to almost everyone, regardless of income, social background, ethnicity or gender identity. Everyone’s voice can be heard and potentially make a difference. Social media is the voice of Everyman.

So what is the gist of tribalization? How can companies take advantage of such tribes?

Viveka Von Rosen alluded to the saying ‘Find out where the crowd is going and then get in front.’ I think that’s key in social media.”

Lisa Hsia mention a business class she took recently that dealt with the strategies of Napoleon Bonaparte. He knew the history and he always went to the front lines to watch what was going on so he could quickly adjust to what wasn’t working.

That’s why he won so many battles. Adaptability is key.

Being aware of the social media activity of tribes are your customers will make all kinds of companies more responsive to their customers. Companies that use this strategy will improve their business because they can be more responsive to their customers. Ed Moran gave an example he discovered of a gym that did what Napoleon would have done. The gym found out via social networking that women who had just had babies did not want to work out when the hardcore bodybuilders did. Previously the gym’s marketers had targeted that demographic as their key audience. In discovering that other groups, or tribes were staying away, the gym reached out to the women and started groups and offered them what they wanted.

Another topic that came up was that it’s not all about Facebook, or LinkedIn or Twitter. Viveka Von Rosen quoted Twitter’s cofounder, who said that “It’s not about Twitter. It’s about communication.” Those in the business -- and businesses like the cable industry that are intertwined and sometimes driven by social media postings -- must be aware of its Quixotic nature and its ever-changing avenues and technology.

A variable that doesn’t change, though, is that “You have to go where the people are,” in other words, find the community where your topic will be of interest lies, as Ed Moran and other panelist noted.

Even though the users tribalism themselves, companies need to go out and identify the tribes and fans who best identify with their companies.

“My allegiance is to what my viewers are using and what they are doing,” Lisa Hsai said.

Ed Moran agreed, saying “The tool will be different six months from now.”

The attendees were enthusiastic about the session. And not everyone in this session was in the cable industry. I found two nonprofit representatives who were looking for ways to improve their organizations through social media. One, Michael Tipton, of Denver’s urbangreenreport.org, said he has used social networking to identify companies that represent what his organization stands for. He gave the example of Nike, a company he “friended” because he likes their recycling policies … and that’s what his business is about … letting people know how to become more green.

Gene Pao agreed, saying that what companies people buy from, what clothes they wear, what cars they drive help define them … and their business.

Angell Fouther of The Denver Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money and distributes grants to other nonprofits and charities said her organization is very new to social media and came to get new perspectives.
“The biggest takeaway for me is that you have to go where the people are.”

Attendee Kevin McFall, of RedClayDigital, Tweeted on the topic of Tribalization the entire time he was there.

Robyn Mayer - NAMIC Blogger

Multicultural Marketing’s Heroes of the Cable Industry by Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

In keeping with the Diversity Rules theme of the 23rd Annual NAMIC Conference, it was befitting that the co-hosts of this year’s Excellence in Multi-cultural Marketing Awards were crowned King and Queen of the EMMAs ceremony. Presiding over the 2009 awards presentation were NAMIC Multi-cultural Marketing Committee members, “King” Phillip Polk, director of segmentation marketing, Cox and “Queen” Vicky Free, vice president of consumer marketing, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.

Joining Phillip and Vicky in officiating the awards program was Seth Arenstein, assistant vice president and editorial director, Cable Broadband Group and Access Intelligence LLC. Serving as moderator, Seth opened the awards program with a stellar panel discussion featuring Brenda Freeman, chief marketing officer, animation, Young Adults and Kids Media, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.; Sam Howe, executive vice president & chief marketing officer, Time Warner Cable; Katie Lacey, senior vice president, Marketing, ESPN; Lucinda Martinez-Desir, vice president, Acquisitions and Multi-cultural Marketing; and Kent Rees, senior vice president, Marketing, IFC. Seth introduced the impressive group of panelists as “all stars that are willing to take the tough questions.”

Brenda Freeman said that a huge chunk of her network’s recent growth in both the kids and young adult markets come from African American and Latino audiences. Freeman said: “the younger the audience, the more diverse” and a recent study conducted by her network proved that not only is the market eminently diverse, but that kids are surprised that adults might think otherwise. “Kids really do define themselves,” said Freeman.

When Seth asked the panel members if they were redefining the mainstream market, Sam Howe responded: “I think the mainstream is redefining the market. I’m hoping the mainstream redefines what the market does.”

ESPN’s Katie Lacey noted that in sports, geography is really more important than ethnicity, and always has been. Lacey also added that the growing popularity of soccer has added another dimension and multi-cultural sensibility to sports.

Kent Rees said IFC is all about “insurgence stories” – for instance IFC original programs focused on Nelson Mandela and Josephine Baker. Rees touted IFC’s coverage of film festivals from around the world, which he said IFC did “way before multi-culturalism was sexy.”
HBO’s Lucinda Martinez-Desir pointed out that the phenomenon that many programs produced in Spanish are being picked up by English-language networks.


At the conclusion of the thought-provoking panel discussion, “King” Philip and “Queen” Vicky presented EMMAs to the 2009 winners. As this year’s best in multi-cultural marketing received their trophies and formed the “royal court,” I watched as the final awards were presented. As everyone delighted in a champagne toast, I was truly impressed by the camaraderie shared by this illustrious group of honorees. And, it became increasingly apparent that the NAMIC EMMAs are not just about the competition – or which cable company, network or supplier places first, second or third. However, at the end of the day after the judges have had their say – the votes have been counted and the awards presented, it’s about this group of colleagues celebrating one another for contributing to excellence in multi-cultural marketing for the collective good and advancement of our industry.




Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon by Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

The L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon was definitely an attendee favorite this year, as James C. Jones, NAMIC VP of Education Programs, facilitated an engaging and lively forum with Sunny Anderson, host of The Food Network’s Cooking For Real.

At 34-years-old, Anderson’s professional journey is both extensive and impressive. After following in her father’s footsteps and serving in the Air Force, Anderson began a career in broadcast as a radio host at stations in New Orleans, Montgomery, Detroit and New York. She was also a host for MTV2, penned her own column, “Belly of the Beast,” in Hip Hop Magazine, and was named “Ruler of the Airwaves” by Vibe magazine.

Luncheon attendees were instantly intrigued by Anderson’s sparkling personality and listened intently as she divulged various secrets to her success, which included one reoccurring theme: mentorship.

Anderson stressed the significance of mentors on young professionals and dreamers and assured the audience that without her many mentors (her grandfather and father, her first base commander, a news station sportscaster at her first internship, and many others) she might not have challenged herself to take risks and ultimately, become a successful media personality.

“A good mentor is someone who sees something greater in you than you see in yourself,” Anderson said. “I always acted on faith, never really knowing if the decision I made would work out. But knowing that someone else believed I could do it made all the difference in the world.”
Anderson’s insight proved to be the perfect presentation for the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon. The program gives NAMIC members a chance to be matched with a mentee or mentor to help young professionals navigate through their new career. As seasoned industry leaders, mentors have a chance to offer their valuable knowledge and expertise to mentees as they begin their careers, while mentees have the opportunity to expand their professional networks and gain insight to the industry. For more information about the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program, visit the NAMIC website: http://www.namic.com/ or to become a mentor/mentee, email mentor@namic.com.

The luncheon received great feedback, with many attendees commenting on the great dynamic between Jones and Anderson, and left everyone eager to see what the rest of Day Two had in store for them.

After more break-out sessions, attendees will have the chance to honor some of the most influential industry leaders at the Excellence in Multi-Cultural Marketing Awards (EMMAs) and will have the chance to network at the conference reception later tonight.

Stay tuned for coverage from the EMMAs and more pictures from Day Two of the 2009 NAMIC Conference and be sure to read our coverage of Day Three’s do-not-miss events, such as the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon honoring CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

Weathering The Storm by R. Thomas Umstead

The National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications kicks off the second day of its 23rd Annual Conference in Denver this morning amidst the potential threat of a major snowstorm that is projected to drop up to a foot of snow in the city.

The diversity-tinged organization is already trying to weather a business storm created by the slow recovering economy and the conference’s move out of New York City for the first time to Denver as part of the industry-backed Cable Connections Fall program that also combined the annual Kaitz Foundation fundraiser dinner and the CTAM, SCTE and ACC conferences into a week-long event.

NAMIC is projecting in the neighborhood of 400 attendees for this year’s conference, a far cry from the 850 members that attended last year’s confab as cable company cost-cutting measures kept many of NAMIC’s core attendee base of lower- and mid-level executives home.

To read the rest of the blog click here

R. Thomas Umstead, Reed Business

CableFax/NAMIC Breakfast was no Mickey Mouse Affair by Patricia Andrews-Keenan "NAMIC's Offical Conference Blogger"

This morning’s breakfast honoring The CableFax Most Influential Minorities in Cable in partnership with NAMIC opened to a packed house. Pretty good for 7:15 a.m. and a testament to the caliber of executive the industry was recognizing. While CableFax annually releases the list, it’s sixth annual, it is the first time there was an event associated with it.

The event kicked-off with welcoming remarks from Debbie Vadenos, publisher at Access Intelligence and Kathy Johnson, president of NAMIC. Lots of love for Carlsen Resources and Ann Carlsen, who sponsored the breakfast. For those who don’t know, Ann is an ardent support of diversity for women and people of color. When NAMIC decided to start the L. Patrick Mellon Mentoring Program Ann provided the resources serving as an incubator to jump start what is now an ongoing 16 year program of the organization. And we of course know her commitment to bringing star talent into the industry.

Lots of networking during breakfast and a shout out to my old Jones family including Jim O’Brien and Kent Rice.

After breakfast, Seth Arenstein, Assistant VP, Editorial Director and Mike Grebb, Executive Editor CableFax Magazine took the stage to moderate a panel of senior level executives on the issue of diversity within the cable industry.

Albert Cheng – EVP, Digital Media, Disney-ABC TV Group

Raymond Gutierrez - EVP, HR and Administration Showtime Networks
Cherise Lillie – VP Community Investment, Comcast Corp/EVP Comcast Foundation

A capsule of their Q&A follows:
On bringing diverse talent into your companies
Lillie – Comcast uses a combination of internal and external tools. Certainly NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development Program and WICT’s Betsey Magness Program provide excellent training that supplements the internal programs at Comcast.

Cheng – Disney too relies on ELDP and Betsey Magness ad training opportunities for its leaders. Also Disney adopted a mentoring program adopted from the former Cap Cities along with other external program.

Cheng went through the ABC mentoring program with Bob Igor, serving as his mentor. Guess that guy had an eye for great talent and according to Seth Arenstein, also for great suites.

Gutierrez – CBS and Showtime believe in a lot of due diligence when making hiring decisions. As CEO Matt Blank requires a diverse slate for top level vacancies.

Impact of the Economy and how Diversity can slip as a priority in tough times

Lillie – Senior leadership has to have a focus to make sure diversity doesn’t fall by the wayside. It’s all about talent management and being able to retain and develop our employees even when we are not actively recruiting new folks.

Ray – our companies will suffer consequences if diversity is not on the agenda. Need to keep it top of mind in the strategic planning process.

Cheng – We need to remember who our consumer is. According to an Ad Age “white paper” there is no “average Joe” Having a diverse employee base helps us understand our diverse consumer.

How does working with NAMIC and WICT help the process
Lillie – It certainly augments the work that we do internally. And the organizations are extremely deserving of industry support

Cheng - Each organization brings a unique enhancement to our efforts and serves in a consultative role. Definitely a resource.

Gutierrez – We can’t do it all and no one can say NAMIC and WICT aren’t huge assets to our organizations.

What role has NAMIC and WICT (or other mentors) played for you personally
Lillie – Only in the industry for five years and was adopted by WICT and NAMIC. The meetings the organizations put together are invaluable and offer us an opportunity to network with great industry talent.

Cheng – It’s all the little things you learn in setting like this that help you grow within a company. Ann Carlsen told me to make sure to join NAMIC and I did. Also, being an ELDP alumni was extremely important.

Gutierrez summed it up when he talked about being selected for his job at Showtime. I knew there were others, both inside and outside of the company, who could certainly have done the job yet they chose “someone like me”. And we each have to take a chance and do the same thing for others coming behind us.

And it didn’t hurt that Gutierrez was a snappy dresser with shined shoes, something he learned from another mentor early in his career who he recently reached out to.

A great morning. Congrats to all the winner and thanks Seth for the Disney comic relief.

Patricia Andrews-Keenan
NAMIC Blogger President
The Tallulah Group

Diversity - "The White Man" by Annalisa Burgos

When we talk about diversity, we talk about the experiences of people of color, the LGBT community and women. At this year's conference, NAMIC turned that perspective on its head and offered attendees a look at the white male executive's experience with diversity.

The workshop, part of the Corporate Diversity & Inclusion track, was titled "Diversity in White: Personal Journeys of White Male Executives." The topic generated a lot of buzz from convention-goers, and several dozen people filled the conference room to hear from Bruce H. DeBoskey, regional director of the Mountain States Anti-Defamation League, Chris Fager, president of TuTV and Evan Shapiro, president of IFC tv and Sundance Channel. Trudy Bourgeois, president of the Center for Workforce Intelligence moderated the panel.

Hear reaction from attendees in this video!!

Annalisa Burgos, Scripps Networks

The Breakfast Club by Seth Arenstein

It’s a by-product of stacking several conferences on top of each other. Or maybe it’s the result of too little sleep and too much liquor, but I am having a lot of trouble remembering the NAMIC breakfast this morning—and the event occurred just 8 hours ago.

So let me piece it together. I recall the crowd was enormous and flowing to capacity. At a time when NAMIC attendance is down severely, the breakfast had more than 300 attendees. The room couldn’t hold more.

And surprisingly nobody was complaining about the early hour or looking too worse for wear at 7 am. In fact, NAMIC board member Michael Cooper greeted me warmly, looking fully awake. (I could have sworn Michael was networking into the wee hours of the morning. How does he look so good on 5 hours’ sleep?)

I have to say it, you can talk all you want about diversity, and you should, but when there’s someone at the top of your company who embodies diversity, it makes things much easier. That’s why it was great to see company heads like Starz Bob Classen, Steve and Bob Miron and Nomi Bergman of Bright House Nets, Showtime’s Matt Blank, Josh Sapan of Rainbow and WE tv’s Kim Martin attending the breakfast.

After a generous plate of fresh fruit and some non-cholesterol eggs (I can dream), my colleague Mike Grebb and I took to the stage. Our panel was an all-star group: Comcast’s Charisse Lillie, Showtime’s Ray Gutierrez and Disney’s Albert Chang.

To say they knocked Mike and my questions out of the park would be a gross understatement. And they were eloquent. Charisse spoke well about how Mae Douglas of Cox and other NAMIC members took her under their wing when she joined Comcast 5 years ago. Albert had a similar memory of his own entry into cable. Ray boldly said “nobody in this room” can not say he or she was not helped by NAMIC or WICT.

Of course we had to speak about mentoring, and everyone had a story. Albert told us one of his mentors was Disney chief Bob Iger. Although I asked Albert if he had the name of Mr Iger’s tailor (his suits are impeccable), Albert noted that Mr Iger had been a calming influence on him during his early days at Disney. Albert wasn’t sure if being on the tech side would be the best place for him career-wise. Mr Iger had told him that his determination, hard work and intelligence were far more important than what department he worked in.

Ray remembered his mentor telling him “to clean up your act” and taking him to Macy’s in Herald Square to pick out 2 suits for him. “You also need to have your shoes shined,” his mentor said. Obviously Ray heeded his mentor’s advice. While I’m not sure clothes make the man, they certainly send a message. I’d say Ray sent a message of success with his remarks and his attire.

The breakfast ended on time and we had plenty of opportunity to honor CableFAX’s list of the most influential minorities in cable. We also had plenty of time to schmooze before the 9:15 am start of NAMIC’s opening general session. Now if I can only track down the recipe for those non-cholesterol eggs.

Seth Arenstein - CableFAX Magazine

2009 NAMIC Conference Is Off To A Great Start! by Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

It’s official – the NAMIC Conference has taken over Downtown Denver!
The Grand Hyatt has been buzzing with activity as conference attendees have been flooding into the conference site over the past few hours.

Attendees started the morning with the CableFax breakfast honoring the industry’s most influential minorities in cable. The breakfast was the perfect way to kick off Day Two of the conference and received instant positive feedback. Uplifting and motivational, the breakfast was a great way to recognize some of the most influential industry leaders.

Attendees are now anxiously awaiting this morning’s keynote address (sponsored by We TV) by Chris Hughes, Co-Founder of Facebook and Founder of MyBarackObama.com. At only 25-years-old, Hughes has already proved to be one of the most successful leaders and pioneers in the social media industry. C-SPAN will be covering Hughes’ address, so check back soon for information about when it will air on television.

Hughes’ address will be followed by a series of compelling break-out sessions (attendees are already having trouble deciding which sessions to attend!) and the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon (sponsored by the Walter Kaitz Foundation) with keynote speaker Sunny Anderson, host of Cooking For Real on the Food Network. Learn more about the charismatic Anderson at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/cooking-for-real/index.html

The rest of the afternoon will be filled with additional break-out sessions. To learn more about conference break-out sessions and speakers, see this year’s conference journal, the hard-to-miss, neon green “Breaking News” (aka your one-stop guide to everything conference related). You’ll find a full map and schedule of the conference, as well as sponsor and speaker information and a full list of the NAMIC Excellence in Multi-Cultural Marketing Awards (EMMA) award winners.

Speaking of the EMMAs. . .you won’t want to miss this afternoon’s presentation of the EMMAs after the conclusion of the break-out sessions! Come celebrate the winning entries and listen to a panel of senior marketing executives. You will also have an opportunity to ask the panelists any burning questions you might have at the Q&A session.

Check back soon for a recap of Chris Hughes’ keynote address . . . he just wrapped up and we are already hearing great things!

Brianna Hernandez - NAMIC Blogger

Party With A Purpose by Patricia Andrews-Keenan- "NAMIC's Offical Conference Blogger"

Yesterday’s Reception for NAMIC’s Executive Leadership Development Program in the Pinnacle Peak Room of the Holland & Hart Building was turned into a party with a purpose as the alumni of the prestigious program at UCLA’s Anderson School pledged monetary support to the organization.

The most recent graduating class – Class VIII – presented the organization with a $5,000 donation to the NAMIC Foundation. They followed in the footsteps of other alumni (the first being my Class III) in giving back to NAMIC. But the trash talking got under way seriously as each class made their own commitments and pledges. Robin Johnson, ELDP instructor extraordinaire, made sure to identify alumni from each class to put together a challenge as we enter year 10 of the program.

Scripps Networks was, for the fifth year, a host of the ELDP reception and as always they added a little fun to the preceding by stirring up some competition with their new WII game, “Cooked or Be Cooked”, where players actually slice, dice and chop their way through a gourmet meal. Seth Arenstein concocted a multi course meal with Salmon as his main dish. Cindy McConkey, tried her hand at a breakfast of bacon and eggs and NAMIC President Kathy Johnson tried her hand at quesadillas. Ok, I’ll be honest, the reception food was much more appetizing. The specialty martini was to die for.

And as always there was a lot of networking going on, as we welcomed Class IX to the fold. Congrats were offered to Michael Smith, newly promoted GM of the Food Channel. We heard Michael Armstrong, BET, is heading to Africa at the end of the week and we marveled at the comedy stylings of NAMIC VP of Education Jim Jones.

We are waiting with bated breath to see how many of the ELDP alumni make the list for Cable’sMost Influential Minorities today.

Oh, and I told you the weather would change.

Ciao.

Patricia Andrews-Keenan, President, The Tallulah Group

Where Is Your Line? by Reinaldo Llano

It’s 3:50pm, and I am thrilled to report that the first key program of the NAMIC Conference was a tremendous success. Each year, NAMIC puts together a compelling program which includes a session of continuing education for ELDP and Leadership Seminar Alumni’s. This year, we focused on Ethics. As I sat in my chair, I began to think about what would be covered in this conversation. Would it be applicable? Am I ethical enough? Do I have good ethics?

In true NAMIC fashion, we engaged in a creative and compelling simulation regarding ethical situations that were designed to examine our ethics barometers with respect to four characters engaged in five distinct situations. Initially, we were unaware that this was the case, so when our ratings got compared side-by-side our group began to feel uneasy. Thinking that we were all given the same situations as teams to discuss and reach consensus, we were somewhat horrified when not everyone reached the same conclusion.

Once we learned that there were indeed different situations for each character, we still couldn’t feel to comfortable because it was clear that each our of lines of what’s ethical and what isn’t is decided based on various different factors that relate to culture, backgrounds, situations, purpose and so on. For example taking $10 of pens and pencils from the office to donate to the local poor young boys club at the church for a weekend program was clearly very different from shorting an employee $10 from their paycheck due to a payroll discrepancy that would cost the company $20 to fix.

But, what became abundantly clear was that we may need to—more times than less—seek clarity in terms of where the lines are for each situation. The line will be different for each of us based on our up bringing, our work environments, society, and life in general. Being clear on the positioning of that line is the smartest thing that any of us can do—versus assuming that the line is there and being surprised when it’s not.

Reinaldo Llano, Bright House Networks

2009 NAMIC Conference Blog by Carla Moore

Just left NAMIC’s opening continuing ed workshop and I am still mentally downloading information from our passionate, rich discussion! WOW! What a way to kickoff this conference!

I arrived to the workshop early since I didn’t want to miss a thing and I couldn’t wait to see Dr. Robyn Denise Johnson again. The last time I saw her was at my Leadership Seminar in NY in Spring 2007. I still use her leadership training materials from that course!

Once everyone arrived, we opened with participant introductions called “the check-in,” where by everyone updates classmates on the great things that have happened in our lives since our
last meeting.

After intros, we moved into a fabulous lunch and then dived right into our topic on ethics. Dr. Robyn took us on a ride that forced us to think about our own ethical and moral scripts that play as we make our daily business (and personal) decisions. What really moved the crowd was the simulation execise: “Where Do You Draw The Line.” Things got hot and we learned so much, about each other, about ourselves.

Thank you NAMIC for continuing to support people of color in this industry by offering training programs like this.

I loved the diverse conversation, diverse perspectives, diversity of thought. You know what? Diversity Rules!

Carla Moore, HBO

Welcome to 2009 Annual Conference by NAMIC Blogger

Welcome to the NAMIC 23rd Annual Conference blog! This year has already kicked off to a great start and promises to be one of most dynamic conferences yet!

We are thrilled to be in the Mile High City, as Denver’s progressive, creative, and diverse culture serves as the perfect setting for this year’s conference . . .and the gorgeous skyline certainly doesn’t hurt, either!

The Grand Hyatt, the site of this year’s event, is already buzzing with conference activity. Our sponsors are keeping conference attendees more than entertained with numerous prize giveaways from the Food Network, WE TV games and a conference bag (courtesy of BET Networks and Centric) full of great swag.

Early attendees gathered today for the Continuing Education Workshop for Alumni of the Executive Leadership Development Program and Leadership Seminar. This invite-only event featured a thought-provoking ethics simulation.

Alumni will have the opportunity to network and reconnect at tonight’s Reception for Alumni of the Executive Leadership Development Program and Leadership Seminar, sponsored by Scripps Networks. Check back later for Patricia Andrews-Kennan’s recap of the alumni reception here on the official 2009 NAMIC Conference Blog. The National Membership Meeting is also this evening and is open to all attendees.

Tomorrow morning kicks off with registration and breakfast, followed by keynote address from Chris Hughes, Co-founder of Facebook and Founder of MyBarackOmbama.com. At 25-years-old, Hughes has made quite a name for himself and is responsible for two of the most high-profile and successful start-ups in modern history. This is a do-not-miss event!

Check back often as we provide real-time coverage of the NAMIC 23rd Annual Conference. We’ll provide coverage of the groundbreaking and provocative breakout sessions, luncheons and keynote addresses, including the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon featuring special guest Sunny Anderson (host of Cooking for Real on The Food Network), the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award, featuring this year’s recipient, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and the presentation of the NAMIC Excellence in Multi-Cultural Marketing Awards (EMMAs).

Get ready, because this year is going to be unlike anything you’ve seen before! Always captivating, always relevant and always proving that “diversity rules.”

2009 NAMIC Conference Blog by Patricia Andrews-Keenan- "NAMIC's Offical Conference Blogger"

Welcome to the Mile High City for Cable Connection – Fall and the Annual NAMIC Conference - Diversity Rules! My name Patricia Andrews-Keenan and I am NAMIC's offical Conference Blogger!

While it’s a little chilly and overcast in Denver as we arrive, it’s clear that the sessions will be white hot with keynoters like Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and Founder of MyBarackObama.Com kicking off the conference on Tuesday morning. Be sure to tell all your Facebook friends (and I follow quite a few of you) we will be hearing from the “creator” himself.

Denver holds a warm place for many of us who remember it as “cable capital.” It was the site of all things cable and the home to some of the largest MSO’s in the 80’s and 90’s. Denver is still a force in the evolution of the industry as home to Cable Labs, the Cable Center and of course our favorite search firm Carlsen Resources.

You can keep up with Conference happenings by following NAMIC on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The official hashtag is #NAMICConference. Isn’t technology grand?

To better help you navigate the conference and make the best of this learning experience the sessions are divided into four tracks:

• Corporate Diversity & Inclusion


• Leadership Development
  
• Multi-Ethnic Content/Programming
  
• Digital Media

These sessions will feature a diverse group of industry leaders and visionaries and you should not miss the opportunity to get ahead of the curve regarding the next great thing in the industry.

And just as important are the special events being hosted during the NAMIC Conference including the CableFAX Most Influential Minorities in Cable Breakfast and the EMMA Awards – Celebrating Excellence in Multi-Cultural Marketing on Tuesday and the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Awards Luncheon honoring CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Wednesday.
I can guarantee you this will be a great week in Denver, and despite the gloom today, we all know the deal wait 24 hours and it will change.

Have a great week and remember Diversity Rules!!

Patricia Andrews-Keenan
NAMIC Blogger
President, The Tallulah Group

DIVERSITY RULES!

Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas about the conference and tell us why you think "DIVERSITY RULES!"

2008 NAMIC Conference Blog

“Around Town with Fred Brown”
9.17.08

2008 CONFERENCE IS A WRAP!

With over 800 media professionals in attendance for this last conference in Gotham City, even Superman could not absorb all of the information and resources made available at the NAMIC Conference. It was indeed, the best conference ever. Informative, controversial, substantive and fun, NAMIC once again delivered a top-flight industry event that left participants enthused and thinking.

In 3-action packed days, there was a record-breaking number of panels, attendees, sponsors/exhibitors, media partners and receptions, all supporting the theme: NAMIC is your pipeline to diversity in the communications industry. Overall, “inclusion” was the thrust of the conference. No stone was left unturned regarding serious issues facing people of color in telecommunications, and the conference provided an insider’s glimpse into the challenges and strategies for future growth. From writers’ workshops, to town hall meetings, to star-studded keynote speeches, to a conversation with CNN’s Soledad O’Brien – NAMIC’s conference had it “going on.” Kudos to the small yet highly efficient NAMIC staff, based in the NY office, who made it all happen.

“It is a wrap…and what conference it was,” said Kathy Johnson, NAMIC's President. “We could not be more pleased. NAMIC’s annual conference is an industry staple after 22 years. We are so grateful to our members, sponsors, media partners, our conference co-chairs and committees -- and of course our staff, who worked tirelessly for months to bring the conference all together. “Thank you” is the best expression I can offer in closing, and we hope to take it to the hills next year when we launch the 2009 NAMIC 23rd Annual Conference in Denver. See you all there.”

CALL TO ACTION: We need to hear from you bloggers…what you saw, what you think and your views on the overall conference success. Remember NAMIC’s tagline: EMBRACE Diversity…EMBRACE Success! So post your comments as soon as possible, and let your voice be heard.

This is Fred Brown, signing off.

2008 NAMIC Conference Blog

“Around Town with Fred Brown”
9.16.08

Hot Topics: Humanitarian Achievement and Mentoring

THE QUEEN OF ADVOCACY JOURNALISM CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT PROUDLY ACCEPTS AWARD!

It’s hard to fathom we’re in the last day of the 2008 NAMIC Conference, but the clock is ticking on what will be recorded as “the best conference ever.” The morning general session kicked-off with the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award presented to journalism pioneer Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Introducing her was Alicin Williamson, SVP, Corporate Responsibility & Public Affairs at MTV Networks and NAMIC Board Chair. There was a roaring applause when Hunter-Gault stepped on stage to receive this prestigious industry award for her commitment to cultural reporting in a career that has spanned 40 years.

“I had no idea this was going to be a tear-jerker..but here I am having a moment on this stage in front of all of you,” said the emotional Hunter-Gault. “What I set out to do is to create journalistic reports that help people see themselves as they are. And it’s an honor to accept this award before my industry peers for a Congressman who truly demonstrated his passion for people,” said Hunter-Gault.

“We are witnessing genuine global growth, and this is not the time to turn a face away from diversity. I am still clothed in my suit of armor crafted out of The Movement, and I implore you to wear your armor too.”

Ms. Hunter Gault – NAMIC congratulates you on this much deserved award. After all, it was you who stood on the front lines as the first black woman to attend the University of Georgia. And, when you crossed the picket-line, into the front doors of that school, you broke a barrier and opened the door for future generations of media professionals of color, which NAMIC represents.

THREE CHEERS FOR CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT! In closing, she said, “And I have no problem with my age at 66 years.” Well if you ask me, she’s still got it.

CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHT: MEDIA AND POLITICS..THEY GO TOGETHER

It seemed appropriate that following the presentation of the Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award to veteran journalist/activist Charlayne Hunter-Gault at the conference, that the “doors of the church” would open, so to speak, for a heated debate about the effect of media coverage in politics. And, the panel was hot, moderated by fun-guy John Norris of MTV News, who put on his serious hat to lead the panel discussion.

Feature panelists included: Pamela Gentry, senior political producer, BET Networks; Lee Hawkins, CNBC contributor and reporter, Wall Street Journal; Roland Martin, journalist and syndicated columnist; and Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Student affairs, Columbia University School of Journalism and tech reporter for WNBC-TV.

The diverse panel of seasoned journalists engaged in a talk about objectivity, bias and diversity issues in newsrooms across America, and how those factors are reflected in national political coverage --- often filled with personalities, positions, platforms and pundits. This 2008 Election Year presents a stable of new challenges for journalists, whose job it is to report facts about our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, only weeks before the general election in November.

“Timing is everything,” commented NAMIC President Kathy Johnson. “And, we would be remiss if we did not have this panel which addressed the marriage between the media and politics this year, in particular. We know mass media has tremendous influence on decision-making. This panel, which represented a wide array of view-points and ethnicities, was an ideal way of letting the experts speak about what they do best,” added Johnson.

And the experts had plenty to say. Stay tuned for more coverage of the NAMIC 2008 Conference…right after this…

TAKE PEN TO PAPER: 2008 WRITER'S WORKSHOP… WORKED IT!

While the panels were buzzing and participants jaunting from room-to-room throughout the Marriott, there was a quieter track underway – a two-day Writers’ Workshop, led by Veteran TV Executive and Producer Carole Kirschner. The workshop, sponsored by the Walter Kaitz Foundation, was designed for 15 writers of color, who were selected to participate in the intensive education forum. And, Kirschner brought with her tons of expertise, as the chief architect of the CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program.

“Carole and her team of instructors is a tremendous asset to the workshop of budding writers who need to be instructed, coached and guided through the process – not only to hone their crafts as writers, but to gain valuable insight into the business of show business,” said Jim Jones, NAMIC’s VP of Education Programs.


ALLAN HOUSTON- A TOWER OF HOPE!

And speaking of getting it – former NY Knicks and NBA-All Star Allan Houston’s got it. Looking dashing in his suit and towering over the rest of us, Allan had the tall order as the keynote speaker for the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship 15th Anniversary Luncheon, sponsored by the Walter Kaitz Foundation.

Although retired from basketball, Houston’s work is hardly complete. As the Founder of the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation, he heads the non-profit organization that operates regional basketball camps around the country, for father and their sons, as well as innovative programs to develop aspiring entrepreneurs. And while basketball is the medium, mentorship and bonding is the message he delivers throughout the programs. “I believe in the power of mentorship, and NAMIC is right on track with that.”

Allan went on to share his fundamental formula for success, and he scored a slam dunk.
Key ingredients include integrity and faith. According to Allan, trust is the basis of everything, and you have to have pure motives and intents. Leadership by example and leaving behind a legacy are also critical to having a lasting impact.

And it didn’t take long for us to feel Houston’s impact on the audience. Allan is truly an All-Star – as a baller, mentor, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

DIVERSITY IN COMMUNICATIONS CAREER EXPO: YOU’RE HIRED!


A much anticipated element of the NAMIC conference each year is the career fair, which is free and open to the general public of media professionals. After all, jobs are what we need, and the NAMIC Career Expo is where to find them.

This year’s exhibitors included the following:

A&E Television Networks
Black Enterprise
Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News
Cablevision
Charter Communications
Comcast
Comcast Programming Group
Cox Communications
Digitas
Discovery Communications
Disney/ABC Television Group
Edelman
Emmis Communications (Hot 97 FM, 98.7 KISS-FM and WRXP 101.9 FM)
ESPN
Fox Networks Group
Hachette Book Group
Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network
HBO
Hearst Magazines
Lifetime Networks
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
MTV Networks
NBC Universal
The New York Times Company
The Newschannels of Time Warner Cable
PBS (Public Broadcasting Service)
Rainbow Media Holdings
Savoy Professional
Scripps Networks
Time Warner Cable
Transit News Magazine
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
TuTV
World Wrestling Entertainment INC

“The NAMIC Diversity in CommunicationS Career Expo is only as good as our exhibitors who are demonstrating their commitment to Diversity by lending time and resources to participate in the Expo," said Danny McGlone, VP of Fund Development for NAMIC. “And, it’s a win-win event for everybody involved, and we will continue to make this happen.” According to records, over 750 candidates participated in the expo.

Signing off…You’ve been around town with Fred Brown and NAMIC!

2008 NAMIC Conference Blog

“Around Town With Fred Brown”
9.15.08

Hot Topics: The State of the Pipeline

NAMIC DIVERSITY TOWN HALL ROCKS!

Looks like CNN Anchor Tony Harris did his thing again this year, as the moderator/host of the opening Diversity Town Hall Meeting. And, much like the one’s you see during the Presidential Debates, the meeting was interactive, sometimes heated, and mostly informational. With a star-studded panel of the leading cable industry heads, “diversity within” was the hot topic, and the pipeline is only as good as those committed to multi-cultural representation on all employment levels.

NAMIC President Kathy Johnson got the ball rolling: “Our job is to open up the pipeline to diversity. And, accountability is the true measure of our success or failure in the industry. The results speak for themselves,” stated Johnson. Johnson’s comments led into an introduction of Luke Visconti, Co-Founder & Partner of DiversityInc, who presented the results of NAMIC’s survey reflecting findings around corporate diversity initiatives and employment trends in the Cable and Telecommunications industry, from 2006-08. Details of the report are available through NAMIC, but the final analysis is flat growth rates across the board.

Visconti offered this explanation: “We did not see any real progress in the cable industry, but based on the meetings I take in other industries, yours is better than most. But you’ve got to stay on top of that, and the key is the CEO commitment. Just look at the financial industry…who is going to survive and who’s not? Blacks and Latinos were hit hardest by the mortgage crisis. The same is true in the cable industry. But it all boils down to the CEO commitment – that sets the pace.” You’re right on Luke – top down is where it begins!

Next, Tony Harris took back the mic and got the packed ballroom audience involved. In a survey, ala game show, American Idol style, Tony asked questions, and we weighed in with our votes using an electronic gadget that tallied immediate results. Here’s what the audience demographic looked like:

76% percent said race was the focus of diversity initiatives at their companies; 16% said gender.
51% of the audience defined themselves as Black; 24% Caucasian; 13% Hispanic; 5% Asian; and 7% Other.
The audience was 67% female; 95% hetro-sexual; 5% disabled.

And, the panelists had plenty to say about initiatives at their own companies. Special thanks to all panelists for their participation this morning: David Cohen, Debra Lee, John Lansing, Robert Marcus, Kyle McSlarrow, Abbe Raven, Johnathan Rodgers; and David Zaslav.

A CONVERSATION WITH SOLEDAD!

The luncheon was overflow to hear the one and only Miss CNN, who recently won awards and posted highest prime-time ratings for her series “Black in America”. Set in living-room style, Ms. O’Brien was accompanied by her colleague Lola Ogunnaike, Pop Culture correspondent for CNN’s American Morning. Punchy, funny, direct and in-your-face, like the personality we know and love on-air, Soledad expressed pride in the series, an 18-month project she described as “a labor of love.”

Soledad waxed philosophical. She talked about how this project reflects a lot of hard work on a lot of people’s part. It was her primary focus for this series to be right, and accurate. And, according to Soledad, the feedback was tremendous – positive and not so positive. Soledad said, “I mean… my Mom called me after watching and said…’Oh, you can’t do a show about Afro-Cubans?’ But the important thing is that we made it – and people are dialoging, and good stories were told.”

Soledad went on to say they wanted to present the facts that captured a range of nuances in the Black experience, and that she feels good about the series in that they accomplished that. “We shared our stories with the rest of the world, from our lens.” You go Soledad!

TAKE A BOW!

NAMIC’s Excellence in Multi-Cultural Marketing Awards (EMMAs) was last, but not least for the day. And guess who came to dinner? Remember American Idol heart-throb Jared Cotter, who wowed the crowd, and the girls, but was cut by Simon, Paula and Randy? Well, he bounced back quick, as the host of “You Rock, Let’s Roll” and “#1 Countdown” for Fuse television. Jared was on hand for this session to pass out the awards. Ok, ok, he looks even better in person. And yes, he has a great personality. And yes, he rocked a great designer vest I wanted to grab. The right choice for the right occasion where NAMIC’s Multi-cultural Marketing Committee honored the cable industry’s top performers for their creative brilliance.

“The EMMA Awards is always a special moment at the conference – it’s our Emmy’s, and we are excited about this year’s winners, and having Fuse television host Jared Cotter to help make the afternoon fun. We congratulate you all,” said Daphne Leroy, VP of Marketing Communications. Awards were followed by a panel of industry experts who discussed challenges and successes with reaching multi-ethnic audiences in the digital world. Thanks to EMMA sponsors ESPN Deportes and CableFAX.

That’s it for today…action packed for sure, with receptions galor to close. See you for the final day of the NAMIC 2008 conference. So far, it’s sizzling!

“Around Town With Fred Brown”

2008 NAMIC Conference Blog

"Around Town with Fred Brown"
9.14.08

Hot Topic: The Power of “Difference – Know Your Value”

The opening day of the conference was a day to remember, and if you missed it, then you missed it. The afternoon began with a report from NAMIC President Kathy Johnson, who painted a diversity forecast, and provided an overview of the key initiatives regarding NAMIC’s role in fostering corporate diversity and inclusion. The 2008 NAMIC Employment Survey results will be revealed at the Diversity Town Hall Meeting on Monday.





Kathy went on to outline up-coming NAMIC events for 2009, and thanked all of the corporate sponsors who help make the conference happen and on-going NAMIC events year-long. “We absolutely could not do without our corporate sponsors. NAMIC continues its mission because of companies that truly reflect their commitment diversity, in word and deed,” commented Kathy.

Daphne Leroy, NAMIC’s VP of Marketing and Communications announced the winners of the “Discover Africa Sweepstakes,” which generated 300 entries and resulted in a 28% increase in 2008 membership. Mark Walton, EVP of Sponsorship and Corporate Development, presented an interesting overview of The Africa Channel, and introduced Rumit Mehta, Director of Business Development for Safari Ventures, who donated the all-expense paid trip prize. “I’d like to thank Mark and Daphne for bringing this project to us. We’ve been looking for ways to reach an audience that would be interested in promoting a positive picture of Africa, and with NAMIC, I think we found it. We are happy to be a part of this conference.”






Next, Jim Jones, NAMIC’s VP of Education Programs, announced the winners of the “DiversityLive” Diversity & Technology Competition! Congrats to 1st Place Winner Courtney Lidell with NAMIC-New York! Special thanks to Motorola for their support.




Now, to Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. Small in stature, this man is a tall order. As NAMIC’s keynote kick-off speaker, Brother Dyson blew the roof off of the house with his pionent, candid, straight-no-chaser speech about “difference” – translation, diversity. Dr. Dyson laid down the law, touching on corporate America, politics, and what he termed, “le difference.” The hour and a half Dr. Dyson spent with the 200 audience participants is way too much to record in this blog. But here are some of the “Dysonian Nuggets” that emerged from this conversation:




“The French are ahead in terms of articulating “le differance.”

“We need to think about ways to make strategic advantages for those who have traditionally been disadvantaged.”

“We are wonderfully diverse and profoundly complex.”

“Although human beings rebel against labels, we need to be able to show the value of our difference in corporate America.”

“We have created an industry of response which we now define as corporate diversity – a kinte cloth of corporate identity.”

“This is both an exciting time and a scary time to be alive.”

“We are the Czars of diversity within our own companies.”

“We are solders…some working inside the ranks, and others on the outside, but we are all solders.”

“The constrictions that are placed upon us are also teaching opportunities if we choose to see them that way.”

“There is a certain virtue in what you do to help people understand the importance of who you are to the world.”

“How do we help use our diversity as the basis of inspiration?”

“We need to tell our stories of diversity that bring out the gritty – in a palatable way.”

“You have to become comfortable with yourself by getting in touch with the personal sense of ease in knowing the struggle you represent.”

“Your ancestors are counting on you.”

“We must become more intimate and familiar with our own people.”

“You have to be in touch with the broad swirl of information about difference that goes on each day.”
“You have to present added-value, even with the folks in charge who may not understand.”

“Helping people understand diversity is what you’re there for – it’s your extra-curricular activity.”

“We have to get in the fight…put our hats in the ring…and get involved in the cause.”

“Stop for a moment and imagine inhabiting the space of another person.”





Got an opinion about Dr. Dyson’s words of wisdom? Then post them – we need to hear from you!

Oh, and a special thanks to Danny McGlone, NAMIC’s VP of Fund Development and Sandra Girado, NAMIC’s Event and Meetings Manager for coordinating the post-reception. The setting, food and drink were so lovely, like being on a cruise! And we’ll be cruising onto day-2 of the 2008 NAMIC Conference.

See ya around town!

“Around Town with Fred Brown”