by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Aug 30, 2011 | CMG News
‘Internet Essentials’ to Provide Families with Children Eligible for a Free Lunch under the National School Lunch Program with Low-Cost Internet Service, Affordable Computers and Digital Literacy Training’
Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell are just a few of the elected and community leaders who came out in support of Comcast and their Internet Essentials program. Today Comcast hosted a briefing and discussion about the best-in-class broadband inclusion programs at the Ben Hooks Central Library.
Comcast Corporate Vice President Payne Brown and Comcast Memphis Vice-President/General Manager Trevor Yant launched a new national initiative called Internet Essentials in the Mid-south, which is being viewed as the most ambitious and comprehensive broadband adoption program in the Mid-south to date.
The program addresses what research has identified the three primary barriers to broadband adoption:
- A lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful
- The cost of a home computer, and
- The cost of high-speed Internet service
Available to low-income families living in Comcast’s service areas with children who are eligible to receive a free lunch under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the goal of Internet Essentials is to help ensure more American families benefit from all the Internet has to offer.
According to Brown, “Access to the Internet has the potential to be a great equalizer and a life-changing technology. Internet Essentials helps level the playing field for low-income families. Access to broadband in student’s homes will help them connect with their teachers and their school’s educational resources as well as enabling parents to do things like apply for jobs online or use the Internet to learn more about healthcare and government services available where they live.”
First Lady Haslam discussed the importance of Internet Essentials and how parents can work with their children with this technology. “A home computer with Internet service creates opportunity for low-income families to access valuable information, connected to helpful resources, and create a line of communication with their child’s school teacher,” said Haslam.
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. echoes the importance of having access to the Internet. “As the world gets more and more technologically savvy, we have a responsibility to prepare the children of Memphis and Shelby County,” said Wharton. “Information is increasingly flowing to the Internet; even to apply for a job, any job, within the City of Memphis, a person has to apply online. Gone are the days when having a computer access or knowledge was optional; now those are essential. This program will help us eliminate the digital divide and better position this county for additional educational achievement and economic opportunities.”
“Computers have now taken the place of the chalkboards in many classrooms,” said Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell, Jr. “Homework often calls for assignments to be done through the Internet. This program will help ensure all students, especially those from families with limited funds, to have the same opportunities. “
“As America increasingly becomes a digital nation, in-classroom learning is being supplemented with digital curriculums and at-home assignments,” said Martavius Jones, President, Memphis City Schools. “Internet Essentials will help more low-income families benefit from the educational resources and assistance the Internet provides.”
Service Details:
Qualified Internet Essentials families will receive:
- Residential Internet service for $9.95 a month + applicable taxes
- No price increases, no activation fees, or equipment rental fees
- A voucher to purchase a low-cost computer for $149.99 + tax
- Access to free digital literacy training in print, online, and in person
Additional benefits include a complementary Norton™ Security Suite ($160 value) for comprehensive online security protection.
Eligibility:
A household is eligible to participate in the Internet Essentials program if it meets all of the following criteria:
- Is located where Comcast offers Internet service
- At least one child who is eligible to receive a free school lunch under the NSLP
- Has not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days
- Does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment
Comcast will sign up eligible families in the program for at least three years, through the end of the 2013-2014 school years. Any household that qualifies during this three-year period will remain eligible for Internet Essentials provided a child eligible for a free lunch remains living in the household.
For general information about Internet Essentials, please visit www.internetessentials.com for English and visit www.internetbasico.com for Spanish. Educators or third-parties interested in helping to spread the word can find more information at www.internetessentials.com/partner. Parents looking to enroll in the program can call 1-855-846-8376 or, for Spanish, 1-855-765-6995.
About Comcast Corporation:
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Aug 25, 2011 | CMG News
The Women’s Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC South), Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW Memphis) and National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO Memphis) will come together for a collaborative special educational seminar, luncheon and trade show on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, at the Fogelman Executive Conference Center, located in the University of Memphis Holiday Inn. This business event, open to the public, is an educational and networking opportunity for women to be better informed on the power and potential of women-owned businesses. Women business owners, corporate and government procurement officers, and guests can register.
Blanca Robinson, president WBEC South, says the event will provide a number of networking opportunities for women who attend, “The event is going to feature four different workshops in the morning being offered concurrently. They will be able to choose two seminars among the four being offered at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.”
“Then, at lunchtime [11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.], we’re going to have a forum with three dynamic speakers Pamela Prince-Eason, president & CEO, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC); Cheryl Kern, director of Global Diversity and Inclusion at International Paper; and Patricia Reed of Renault Nissan,” added Robinson.
“We’re also going to have tabletop exhibits for any women who wish to display any information on their respective companies,” she concluded.
Those who wish to attend should purchase their tickets online at www.wbecsouth.org/gwgt2011 before September 7.
Tabletop exhibitors can purchase two tickets and their exhibit space for $150.
Morning registration for the seminars will begin at 8:30 a.m. The registration fee of $39 includes the seminar and luncheon. The on-site registration fee is $45.
Seating is limited for this event. For more information contact Carol Slone, CREW Memphis, cslone@firstam.com; Nita Black, NAWBO Memphis, nitablack@mapmomentum.com; Michelle Linton, WBEC South, michelle@wbecsouth.org or call (504) 680-1886.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Jul 26, 2011 | CMG News
The National Association of Women Business Owners – Memphis will have local businessman Jon Thompson as the guest speaker for the August 9, 2011 meeting. He will speak on the topic Passion, Persistence and Patience. This meeting will be held at The Crescent Club, 6075 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119.
The networking session is from 11 – 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon presentation is from 11:30p.m. to 12:45 p.m. The cost for NAWBO members, non-members, and late registration is $20, $25 and $28, respectively. Those wishing to attend can register by going to registration link: http://nawbomemphis0809.eventbrite.com.
Thompson is looking for Amelia Earhart’s plane and is very passionate about it. At the same time, he is an inspiration for each of us to follow our dream, no matter how hard it gets. He follows a path of wisdom and research, never giving up. His presentation motivates you to go after things that you want, no matter what and shares that things are not always the way they appear! He teaches having a big vision and then following through with all the details to realize the big vision.
Jon is a local Memphis businessman, civic leader and adventurer. A graduate of West Point, Jon served in Vietnam with distinction. He founded and sold a global construction company, was director of the City of Memphis Wonders Exhibitions, and is a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority. He is widely regarded as a leading expert in historical exhibitions and his exhibition of The Titanic is considered on of the most successful ever. As if Jon wasn’t busy enough, Jon is also President of Lupine Holdings, a holding company involved in undersea recoveries that is based in London, England. Not surprisingly (he has a Masters Degree in Aerospace Engineering), Jon has a tremendous interest in aviation and has spent a great deal of time over the last several years on expeditions in the south Pacific in search of Amelia Earhart’s aircraft
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Memphis Chapter, is one of 80 chapters in the U.S. with the non-profit mission to propel women entrepreneurs into economic, social, and political spheres of power. For more information about the August 9th meeting contact NAWBO Memphis President Natasha Bowen at 901-647-3922 or Gwen Christensen at 901-488-0250.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Jul 20, 2011 | CMG News
University of Memphis Professor Curt Hart is coordinating a visit to The Withers Museum of some of the former players in the Negro Baseball League. Hart who teaches a class at U of M about the old Negro League thought it would be a great idea to invite some of the former players to see some of the pictures that Ernest Withers captured of that era in American sports history.
Joe B. Scott, Ollie Brantley both played with the Memphis Red Sox and James Woods, who played with the Birmingham Black Barons, are participating in the tour. Three other former league members were also invited to take the tour.
The tour will take place today, July 20, at 1 p.m. The media is invited to attend.
About The Withers Collection Museum and Gallery
The Withers Collection Museum and Gallery is a non-profit organization created to share the historic photographic work of renowned photojournalist Ernest C. Withers. His work captures the Civil Rights Movement beginning in 1955; the Memphis Music History from the 1950’s-1960’s; and the Negro Baseball League. The museum is located at 333 Beale Street, just west of 4th Street in the Historic District. The website is www.thewitherscollection.com.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Jul 18, 2011 | CMG News
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. will file to run for re-election on Monday, July 18, 2011 at Noon at the Shelby County Election Commission. Wharton, his family and supporters will convene at the Election Commission office, located at 150 Washington Avenue – Suite 205, where he will submit qualifying papers to make his candidacy for re-election official.
The petition filing serves as a precursor for the week’s events in anticipation of Wharton’s Campaign Headquarters Grand Opening on Saturday, July 23 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. The headquarters is located at 1460 Union Avenue. For this event, everyone is invited to come out and share in Mayor Wharton’s vision for Memphis as he kicks-off his bid for re-election. The public/attendees will also have an opportunity to sign-up to volunteer for campaign activities.
For more information on either event, please contact Deidre Malone, Campaign Manager, at (901) 278-0881.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Jul 12, 2011 | CMG News
A new website to help gather and provide information in the development of the new regional long range transportation plan, Direction 2040, was launched this week. The website is www.Direction2040.com. The Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the local agency responsible for the development of this plan. The MPO is seeking input from residents in Shelby County and Fayette County, Tennessee and Desoto County, Mississippi.
“Public input is vital to the creation of this new plan,” said Pragati Srivastava, MPO Administrator. “We are coordinating and participating in community workshops, stakeholder meetings and seeking information through our new website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. Our project team lead by Kenneth Monroe, with Kimley Horn & Associates, is constantly looking at ways to engage the community in providing input for the Direction 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan.”
Along with the new website, we are placing www.Direction2040.com posters in public libraries in English and Spanish across the region. Also, on the website is an online survey for the public to give their input.
The Direction 2040 plan is looking into transportation needs for motor vehicle, air transportation, mass transit, water transportation, railway and alternative forms of transportation such as bike and pedestrian ways.
For more information about Direction 2040 contact either:
Kenneth Monroe – Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc
Phone: 901.374.9109,
Email: Kenny.monroe@kimley-horn.com
Pragati Srivastava – Administrator, Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Phone: 901.576.7190
Email: Pragati.Srivastava@memphistn.gov
This report/document was prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and the Tennessee and Mississippi Department of Transportation.
The Memphis MPO is committed to the value of equal opportunity, which ensures non-discrimination in the access to, the benefits of and opportunities to participate in the activities of our program.
by The Carter Malone Group LLC | Jul 11, 2011 | CMG News
In response to the recent passage of the Tennessee Senate Bill #16, the Political Action Committee of the Memphis Branch NAACP will hold a meeting for concerned citizens on Sunday, July 17 at 4 p.m. at Mt. Olive CME Cathedral Church (528 Linden at Lauderdale).
The committee will share its thoughts on the bill which changes voting requirements for all Tennessee residents.
Invited guests include, members of the State Election Commission, the Shelby County Election Commission, State Rep. Curry Todd, State Sen. Dolores Gresham, State Sen. Brian Kelsey, State Sen. Beverly Marrero, Department of Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons and Shelby County Commission Chairman Sidney Chism.
“We are concerned about how Tennessee plans to provide accessible photo identification for all of its citizens, especially the indigent, disabled and less than able and to ensure that the community is fully informed of the changes in voting procedures,” said Madeleine Taylor, Executive Director, Memphis Branch NAACP.
The NAACP is working with the Memphis Urban League to host this forum to engage the community and elected officials in a discussion around this issue.
About the Memphis Branch of the NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the nation’s oldest civil rights organization. The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights for all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. The Memphis Branch is the second largest chapter in the organization.
