President Obama Proclamation!
On September 21, 2012 President Obama proclaimed September 23rd through September 29th, 2012 as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. In light of his proclamation, I want to encourage all of my LinkedIn Professionals & Groups in the media, entertainment and communication industry to remember and source talent from the campuses of HBCUs. For years HBCUs have produced leaders and visionaries who have, as President Obama states, “played an extraordinary role in shaping the progress of our Union by championing equality and changing perspectives through the arts.”
I recently launched, the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program in an effort to bring a consortium of entertainment companies to the campus of HBCUs with a commitment to recruit students for internships and other entry level opportunities.
Next month we are headed to legendary Grambling State University (Oct. 18&19), Florida A&M University (Oct. 23) and Tennessee State University (Nov. 8) with NBCUniversal, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Turner Broadcasting. If you would like to participate in this innovative 21st Century Pipeline Development Program aimed at increasing greater diversity and inclusion, please contact me at info@leveragingup.org
I strongly believe that we will never see true diversity in the industry without a tangible commitment and concentration to source diverse talent for all of those important internships that allows new industry hopefuls access inside of what I call, “Hollywood’s coveted Inner Circle.” For years the industry has sourced talent from some of the most selective schools across the country but have done little to no recruiting on the campuses of HBCUs. For the record, there are 105 HBCUs!
Over the years, the industry has been required by watch dog groups to give a report of talent on screen, writers, directors etc. But I would like to encourage a report on the number of HBCU talent sourced for internships, agency mail room programs and other entry level opportunities that support the very infrastructure of the industry. HBCUs have long produced leaders with degrees in Business, Finance, Engineering, Legal, Communications, TV & Film and today’s all important Computer Science and Technology disciplines critical to the business of the media, entertainment and communication industry.
Statistics show that unemployment for educated African American youth face a staggering 39% unemployment in our nation today and have long been underrepresented in key creative and decision making positions in the entertainment industry. I welcome your thoughts and any suggestions for changing this sobering statistic as it relates to the industry.
Here is the link to read President Obama’s Proclamation.
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