We cordially invite you to be a part of history in the making! After four years of being embraced by communities throughout the nation, National Black Family Technology Awareness Week February 10th -16th is back and we invite you to be a part of the process.

Black Family Technology Awareness Week focuses on the importance of technology in our everyday lives, as well as the opportunities it presents for the future. The week's activities across the country will unite families, churches, civic, organizations, and individuals to:

• Learn how technologies (such as the Internet) reach all parts of the future workforce and the household affecting all generations from preschool children to grandparents.
• Highlight positive role models and celebrate leaders in the field of technology.
• Create and/or expand local programs that train and motivate Black youngsters and adults currently in the workforce to become the technological workforce of tomorrow.
• Outline the educational needs in local communities, so students can learn and effectively compete in the future.
• Recognize the range of resources available locally, nationally, and through industry.

This is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in a community building effort that has the potential to inspire academic, professional, and personal aspirations as well as accomplishments that could enhance the lives of our children as well as us.

• We seek your participation initially by having yourself, your family, your colleagues; staff, organizations and more organization complete the on-line survey. Click here
• From there, we will compile the results, and share them with you and our community. The data will be used to create a snapshot of technology awareness in Bronzeville, Chicago and the nation.

For your review, and to encourage your organization to participate in this event, we have enclosed some speaking points for your use to assist the community to understand more about technology in our lives and its impact on society. Also, please take some time to review the Bronzeville Black Family Technology Awareness Week agenda to get a quick overview of the other planned activities. Then check out the other useful sections.

• Useful Links
• Photo Gallery (to be updated post BFTAW)
• Contacts - various centers in our community
• And more to come!

We look forward to your support in this effort to enhance the lives of our community members through increased technological awareness. Thanks in advance for your support in this endeavor.

Let's make it happen together - as a community!

Kevin G. Smith,
Associate Director, IIT Digital Media Center
Bronzeville BFTAW Planning Committee
dmc@iit.edu

Leroy Kennedy,
Associate Vice President, IIT Community Development

BDPA National Call for Papers Presentation Abstract
(download pdf file)

7 Reason Why African Americans can't live without internet?
(download pdf file)

IIT intergenerational
(download pdf file)

Press Release
(download pdf file)