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By CBM Staff --
With a resounding impact, the power of the black press came down like a hammer May 21 at the 2nd Annual California Black Media (CBM) Summit and Green Economy.
The full-day event began at the state capitol building where CBM publishers took on issues from race and equality to economic development and environmentalism. There, publishers convened with state department officials representing the Department of Corrections, the Department of Business Transportation and Housing and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
The publishers in attendance expressed notable concerns on how decisions made at the state level in today’s ailing economy trickled down to communities of color. Economic stimulus funds were a hot topic since many communities are hopeful that some of the federal money will be divvied up and spread around. Secretary Dale E. Bonner of the Department of Business Housing and Transportation emphasized much of the economic stimulus funds where already appropriated but shared sentiments with the publishers that Black communities need revitalization – soon. “I am concerned about unrest … it’s going to be a long hot summer,” Bonner said.
Although they were committed to issues that affect Black communities now, the publishers also showed a forward-thinking approach at their environmental forum where more than 100 guests gathered for the green economy panel featuring Craig Keys, Executive Director of the Green Valley Initiative, Leonard Robinson, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Toxic Substance Control and host of ‘Going Green’ on KDEE 97.7, Barry R. Sedlik, Chairman, CA Green Collar Jobs Council, and V. John White, Executive Director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. The panel was moderated by Tommy Ross, chairman of the Research & Policy Institute of California and advisor to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.
The green panel fielded several questions from an audience eager to find answers that would help empower their communities to be leaders in the green economy and preserve the environment using resources that are available.
CBM capped the events with a reception honoring its newsmakers of the year, awarding Dr. Bill Lee, Sr. , publisher of the Sacramento Observer, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, California Black School Boardmember Association President Virniecia Davis and Assemblymember Sandré Swanson. The event was organized by BPC MediaWorks, a strategic communications firm in Riverside on behalf of California Black Media, a statewide initiative of the Black Voice Foundation for Media History & the Arts.
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