Verizon, for a third year was a major corporate sponsor of the Seventh Annual Black Pride NYC celebration.
In conjunction with Black Pride NYC, the company hosted the Verizon Youth Agenda, an event that provides Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Transgender (GLBT) youth with a day of technology and personal empowerment.
The event was held on Thursday, June 24, at the Verizon Education and Technology Center (VETC) in Harlem. The attendees experienced a customized technology seminar, participated in a live web cast discussion with Chicago area GLBT youth and heard from award-winning motivational speaker Willie Jolley.
During the event, 40 GLBT youth leaders from New York and Chicago discussed, via a live web cast, issues that face their community. Participants also received instruction on navigating the Internet to search for career opportunities. The seminar covered topics such as “Music & Movin Around the Net,� and “Site Watch: Viewings of Cultural Web sites.�
GLBT youth from various organizations, such as Black Pride NYC and the Young Men For Community Advocacy in Chicago, were invited to participate in the event based on their activism and leadership in the GLBT community.
“The Verizon Youth Agenda program is important to the GLBT community because many of our youth face low self-esteem and isolation due to their sexual orientation and lack of positive role models,� said Laurence Pinckney, executive director, Black Pride NYC, Inc. “Through this program, these young adults will have an opportunity to express themselves, ignite positive change and learn from credible community and business leaders such as Verizon.�
Members of the Verizon Employee Resource Group (ERG) Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Employees of Verizon and Their Allies (GLOBE) participated in the day’s activities as speakers during the web cast.
“The Youth Agenda serves a vital role in providing youth with tools to enhance their lives and communities,� said Vincent Reed, Verizon group manager, multicultural marketing. “We want to motivate our youth and teach them how to use technology to make progress in their lives.�
Verizon’s Education and Technology Center (VETC) is dedicated to educating the public about advances in communications and information services. The VETC, 148 W.125th St., provides customized seminars and tours to businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations and community groups. The center’s seminars are free and open to the public. For information on courses offered at the VETC, visit www.verizon.com/techcenter or call 866-882-0125.
