ABOUT BLACK CHURCHES 4 DIGITAL EQUITY

Black Churches 4 Digital Equity (BC4DE) builds a collaborative movement nationwide to ensure that Black communities–communities with the least access–get digital equity. This is a fight for justice and access to affordable and reliable internet. Our communities need to thrive in the digital age. Black Churches 4 Digital Equity (BC4DE) is represented by 50 Black churches and Black church nonprofits representing 13 states in the US and the District of Columbia (DC). The States include Texas, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Maryland, West Virginia, Illinois, New York, and Virginia. We estimate that collectively our 50 Black Church leaders, through their churches, networks, and work touch at least 1,000,000 people weekly.

 

2024 JUNETEENTH DIGITAL EQUITY BIBLE STUDY

Black Churches 4 Digital Equity is launching an inaugural event, the Juneteenth National Digital Equity Bible Study, on June 19, 2024, at Greater Grace: Temple of David in Detroit, Michigan. At this event, we will demonstrate how the Black Church can build a movement for Black Digital Futures in the U.S. by educating their congregations about critical funding coming into states this fall to help end the digital divide. The Bible Study will be a hybrid in-person and virtual Zoom workshop that will include a speech from a Black national  Faith Leader, Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, music, and a closing Zoom and in-person workshop with the White House, State Broadband leaders, NTIA FPOs, and FCC leadership listening to feedback on the digital equity processes from the participants regarding their states. Also, we will partner with several Black faith nonprofits to host this event (e.g. The Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference, Skinner Leadership Institute, Conference of National Black Churches, National Action Network, Rainbow Push Coalition, and The Balm in Gilead).

The event date is on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 10:00 pm CST to 12:00 pm CST in Detroit, Michigan at Greater Grace: Temple of David and online via ZOOM.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Black families, Community organizers, educators, librarians, municipal leaders, State Broadband leaders, economic development officers, scholars, researchers, policymakers, STEM professionals, technologists, tech activists, Black church futurists, black tech ecosystem builders, public interest technologists, and anyone else who is passionate about eradicating the digital divide for Black communities.

WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOMES?

Overall, the event will foster a “thought” space that will catalyze the development of an actionable local policy agenda addressing digital inequities. We will empower Black people to be involved in digital equity policy planning and drive conversations in their communities. Additionally, this event will kick off state tours where Black Churches 4 Digital Equity fellows will host digital equity grant workshops to support Black faith communities with technical assistance to apply for digital equity grants.

 

WHY IS THIS EVENT CRUCIAL?

We are at the precipice of a new digital age. We have an opportunity to build a digital future for Black America that advances equity and eliminates racial tech disparities. To determine this path forward for Black innovation, we must increase access to tech careers for Black people, examine how tech policies affect Black lives, and scrutinize funding opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and researchers.

 

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

DIGITAL EQUITY DREAMER

We invite you to invest in the 2024 Juneteenth Digital Equity Bible Study at the Digital Equity Dreamer Level. This sponsorship includes:

  • Three-minute Live Remarks at the event

  • A special message was emailed to all attendees post-event

  • One two-minute video commercial to be played at each state tour stop

  • Logo inclusion in all printed and online collateral for the event

  • Logo inclusion in all tour-related collateral

  • Four different social media posts announcing sponsorship of the event

  • Two social media posts announcing sponsorship at each state tour stop

Investment: $25,000

DIGITAL EQUITY LEADER

We invite you to invest in the 2024 Juneteenth Digital Equity Bible Study at the Digital Equity Leader Level. This sponsorship includes:

  • One two-minute video commercial to be played at each state tour stop

  • Logo inclusion in all printed and online collateral for the event

  • Logo inclusion in all tour-related collateral

  • Two different social media posts announcing sponsorship of event

  • One social media post announcing sponsorship at each state tour stop

Investment: $10,000

 

DIGITAL EQUITY BUILDER

We invite you to invest in the 2024 Juneteenth Digital Equity Bible Study at the Digital Equity Builder Level. This sponsorship includes:

  • Logo inclusion in all printed and online collateral for the event

  • Logo inclusion in all tour-related collateral

  • Two different social media posts announcing sponsorship of the event

  • One social media post announcing sponsorship at each state tour stop

Investment: $5,000

 

ABOUT Multicultural Media Telecom & Internet Council

The Multicultural Media, Telecom, and Internet Council (MMTC) is the tech, media, and telecom (TMT) industries’ leading non-partisan, national nonprofit diversity organization.  Since opening our doors in 1986, MMTC has worked tirelessly to promote and preserve equal opportunity, civil rights, and social justice in the mass media, telecom, and broadband industries, and to close the digital divide. Widely recognized as the leading policy advocacy organization working at the intersection of communications policy, diversity, and equal opportunity, MMTC’s Broadband and Social Justice and Access to Capital and Telecom Policy conferences, policy salons, and other convenings have attracted members of Congress, federal agency and industry chiefs, and leading civil rights and social justice leaders.

To secure a sponsorship, please email rbranson@mmtconline.org