Cap City Chamber Ambassador of the Year
Press Release
5 February 2012
Carl Settles Jr. named Cap City African American Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year
Carl Settles Jr., Founder of the Media Communications Council (MCC) and the E4 Youth Initiative, is being honored Thursday, February 9th at the Omni Hotel as the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce (CCAACC) Ambassador of the Year.
“I am honored to accept the Cap City Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year Award and proud to be a member of such a vibrant organization. I look forward to collaborating with the CCAACC’s members as the MCC continues the E4 Youth Initiative working with more than 100 Austin area students to build portfolios and compete for summer jobs”.
About Mr. Settles and the Media Communications Council
Over the past 3 years, the Media Communications Council (MCC) has taken a leadership role on the issues of diversity, education and empowerment in Central Texas. In addressing these issues, the MCC has developed a number of innovative approaches and programs including the social learning platform Media Xperiments, an annual E4 Youth Portfolio Contest, intensive college and career discovery camps called It Could Be Us and the annual E4 Youth Summit. Throughout the implementation of all of these activities, media and exposure to media related careers has played a key role in driving engagement and grass roots support from all parts of the community.
Now, having cemented relationships with the University of Texas at Austin and the Austin Independent School District among others to serve as partners, the MCC has a comprehensive media driven approach that addresses key educational pipeline issues not only for under-served students interested in media careers but virtually any career path. This approach, which we call E4 Youth, takes students through the sequence of Engagement, Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship as they explore careers, build portfolios and contribute to a culture of achievement. The MCC currently operates under the auspices of the Austin Community Foundation a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization.
SXSW Panel – Multi y Mono: A Cultural Advertising Battle
Carl Settles Jr., Founder/Executive Director – Media Communications Council
Multi y Mono: A Cultural Advertising Battle
Saturday, March 10th 9:30am
Austin Convention Center Rm 5ABC
Moderator:
Carl Settles Jr. – Media Communications Council
Panelists:
Kelli Coleman – GlobalHue
Sergio Alcocer – LatinWorks
Leslie Wingo – Sanders\Wingo
With ethnic minorities now representing the largest and fastest growing segments of the consumer economy, the very definition of the general market is being challenged. Multi-cultural agency heads such as Translation’s Steve Stoute are eschewing their parent agencies (Mr. Stoute bought back a majority stake in his agency from Interpublic) in order to compete for a larger share of the marketing pie. In his book, The Tanning of America, Mr. Stoute lays out a compelling case for why he and many other multi-cultural agencies may be better suited to influence general market consumers than their largely mono-cultural counterparts.
This panel explores the unprecedented opportunities for minority owned agencies and minority talent to move to the forefront of the advertising landscape. We’ll hear from key executives from GlobalHue, LatinWorks and Sanders\Wingo ad agencies as they lay out their visions for advertising in the 21st Century and the defining role minority media makers are playing in it.
Kelli Coleman, Executive Vice President – GlobalHue
Kelli Coleman, Global Hue
As GlobalHue’s executive VP, Kelli Coleman oversees corporate communications, and is an integral part of senior management. Additionally she is president and CEO of GHV, an independent venture company that seeks opportunities in media, marketing and advertising to create alternative business for GlobalHue clients. Coleman’s leadership within the advertising industry has led to a number of accolades and honors.
In 2010 she received the Women in Business Award from NV Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine named her one of their “40 Next,” and most recently, Essence Magazine included her in their “Fierce and Fab Under 40” list. In 2008 Coleman was listed in Crain’s Detroit Business top 20 in their 20s; she served as president of the Junior Board for Boys Hope Girls Hope Detroit, a program dedicated to helping at-risk children; and she is a member of the Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan Young Professionals.
Sergio Alcocer, President/Chief Creative Officer – LatinWorks
Sergio Alcocer, President / Chief Creative Office – LatinWorks
“Our objective has never been to do general-market work. It’s to take Hispanic to the mainstream, which is different.”
Sergio Alcocer
Also joining this panel is Sergio Alcocer, President / Chief Creative Office - LatinWorks ad agency. LatinWorks has been Ad Age’s Multi-Cultural Agency of the Year or on it’s A-list for the last 3 consecutive years. They were also the only Hispanic Agency to be Cannes Lion winners in 2011 with two trophies.
Having invested in proprietary research, LatinWorks has developed a tool they call BrandSteer along with an ideas lab that has enabled them to create approaches that go beyond the typical scope of work.
Leslie Wingo, Senior Vice President – Sanders\Wingo
Leslie Wingo, Senior Vice Pesident – SandersWingo
“Now, I think being urban is about maintaining personal truths. It’s not ethnicity that separates the urban market from the general market.”
Leslie Wingo
Sanders\Wingo is an award-winning, independent advertising agency that has represented some of the most recognizable regional and national brands, including Peter Piper Pizza, Petro, Fuddruckers, U.S. Postal Service, State Farm, General Motors and AT&T. Sanders\Wingo has offices in Austin and El Paso, Texas, with satellite locations in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and San Francisco.
Podcast: Pecha Kucha on E4 Youth
Pecha Kucha (Japanese: ペチャクチャ, IPA: [pet͡ɕa ku͍̥t͡ɕa],[1] chit-chat) is a presentation methodology in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each, usually seen in a multiple-speaker event called a Pecha Kucha Night (PKN).
-Wikipedia
Download Audio: Stem Council Pecha Kucha.
I’m rarely at a loss for words when it comes to education and this is not one of those times. 20 slides, 20 seconds a slide… A Good 7 Minute Primer on E4 Youth that finishes up with some calls to action.
1. Be a Guest Speaker. Volunteer Form
2. Host a Tour or Field Trip Volunteer Form
3. Judge On-line Portfolios Volunteer Form
4. Hire Students to Work for Your Business or Cause
5. Join the E4 Youth Board Membership Packet
Innovate: Strategies for Building A Creative Media | Business
Entrepreneurs Hajj Flemings, Hassan Johnson and Ashley.
The Capital City African American Chamber, in conjunction with the Media Communications Council, hosted a panel discussion called Innovate: Strategies for Building A Creative Media | Business November 16, 2011 at Austin Details Art & Photo. The event featured entrepreneurs Hajj Flemings (featured on CNN’s Black In America 4), Hassan Johnson – Tha Trunk Inc and Gina McCauley – Blogging While Brown Conference offering their perspectives on what it takes to make viable creative media businesses.
The panel was moderated by Natalie Madeira Cofield – President, Capital City African American Chamber. Hajj and Hassan joined the panel via Skype. The following are some highlights from the event. Click the links below to listen!
Building Your Media Biz -_Hajj Flemings
Building Your Media Biz – Gina McCauley
Building Your Media Biz – ThaTrunk
Building Your Media Biz – Black to the Future
Milestone: Building My Board
Middle School students working with mentor Justin Jefferson to extract DNA from strawberries.
Over the past 4 years, I have been fortunate to have the support of the Texas Diversity Council and more recently the Austin Community Foundation to function as non-profit umbrellas for my social ventures. These organizations have allowed me the flexibility to experiment and hone my approach to social entrepreneurship without the burden of having to maintain my own board and all of the administrative tasks that go with it. So, I am eternally grateful to them and we will continue to look for opportunities to coordinate efforts whenever it is appropriate.
In Austin alone, we serve over 1400 teachers and students through the social learning portal Media Xperiments by providing virtual workspaces, portfolio building, field trips, tours, intern and summer employment opportunities. This platform coupled with teacher training, technical support and now specialized mentors in STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering & Math), Media / Arts and Business provided through a partnership with the University of Texas Intellectual Entrepreneurship (IE) Consortium, make up an eco-system that is poised for exponential growth.
Download the E4 Youth Board Membership Packet
In order to make this ecosystem flourish, it has to be fed and curated. To that end, I am establishing my own board of directors and 501 C-3 non-profit status under the name E4 Youth. E4 Youth, which takes students through the sequence of Engagement, Education, Employment & Entrepreneurship, provides a nexus for business leaders and educators to connect with youth and create double bottom line ventures. By double bottom line, I mean value for both students and local businesses.
The E4 Youth Board will set the agenda and drive the priorities of the organization. There is a limit of 15 members for this inaugural year and a financial requirement as well. Our first official board member is Max Rutherford of GSD&M Idea City and we are looking for folks to fulfill roles in fundraising/finance, research/measurement, events, education and business development. So, if you or someone you know are qualified for such a role, check out the E4 Youth Board Membership Packet or contact me at carl@e4youth.com.
Case Study: Hoover’s Cooking – A Double Bottom Line Partner
One of the more notable examples of our Double Bottom Line Partnerships is our on-going relationship with Hoover’s Cooking. Over two years ago, we started working with local philanthropist Hoover Alexander through a media boot camp in which our students worked directly with advertising professionals from firms such as GSD&M and Sanders Wingo to develop a media strategy for his restaurant chain Hoover’s Cooking. In addition to a handsome, functional and easy to maintain web site, we have continued to partner by providing among other things, high school students working directly with professionals in mechanical engineering and biology to develop an irrigation system for the Greater Mount Zion Community Garden (See the video above).
Students build portfolios and become pre-qualified for internships and paid summer employment opportunities. Business leaders are able to invest in these students’ learning, strengthen community relationships and leverage this pre-qualified talent pool to accomplish their goals.
Hajj Flemings
Hajj Flemings Chats via Skype
I had the pleasure of attending a viewing party of CNN’s Black In America that was organized by the Capitol City African American Chamber this past Sunday. This segment focused on African Americans in Silicon Valley. Among the folks featured was Hajj Flemings, an entrepreneur that joined the accelerator program shown in the television special.
After the show, he joined us via Skype and had some great reflections on the experience along with some words of wisdom for other people of color looking to flourish in the tech world.
It’s a little lo-fi but the substance makes it a worth while listen. The discussion is moderated by by Cap City Chamber CEO- Natalie Cofield.
Hajj Flemings Talks Tech Start Ups via Skype
The Education Borg – Update
The Education Borg
But this is not a pity party. We’ve come too far already for that. I know that we have a sustainable and scalable business model for educational empowerment in place. In fact, now that we have this model in place, we also know that there are other potential partners better suited for what we have to offer.
I went to the mat for our current major funding source and came up short. But now, with the proper infrastructure in place and taking students through the E4 Youth sequence of Engagement, Education, Employment & Entrepreneurship, our students will measure up by whatever standards we impose on them – standardized testing or otherwise.
Steve Stoute: The Tanning of America
Over the last several years I’ve been very impressed with Steve Stoute and his forays into advertising. He’s been able to take his vast network of connections in the hip hop world and combine it with a great acumen for trendsetting to build an advertising agency. I love what he is doing in that he is flying the face of what “traditional” ad agencies have done for years. His agency having been bought by a larger general market firm, he has decided to buy back majority ownership and not settle for being marginalized as only an “African-American” or “multi-cultural” shop. He believes that he can have a great impact on the general market and I believe that is more true than ever.
Based on demographic changes in America, the general market, by definition, is multi-cultural. It’s only going to get more diverse in the coming years and Mr. Stoute understands that hip hop culture has a disproportionate mindshare in America and indeed across the world. So, while general market agencies continue to become less diverse, they do so at their own peril. It’s going to get more and more difficult for them to say to their clients that they can be effective at communicating with their customers when so few of them actually look like the audiences they need to reach.
I hope that Mr. Stoute’s move into the general market waters is followed by many more. After all, this a huge opportunity for those willing to make that leap.
Facebook Investor Says Social Is Over
VC guy and musician Roger McNamee lays out 10 very intriguing hypotheses about the future of social media, advertising, and content creation. Some interesting points from the original article at :
http://www.businessinsider.com/roger-mcnamee-video-2011-7#ixzz1T5rACmsH
Microsoft’s share of internet-connected devices has gone from 95% to under 50% in 3 years;
“Apple will sell a hundred million internet-connected devices this year. That’s two thirds of the PC market.” If you add the other non-PC internet devices, that’s more valuable than the PC market.
E4 Youth Initiative
We are building Vertical Teams made up of entrepreneurs, professionals, UT graduate and undergraduate mentors along with our youth who collaborate on special projects centered around the four broad fields of Media Communications, STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering & Math), Entrepreneurship and the Arts.
The FREE morning break out sessions of the summit will provide info for entrepreneurs and professionals on how they can serve as mentors, host tours and employ local youth as well as teachers and organizations who serve youth.
During the 2011 – 2012 school year, the Media Communications Council is offering up to $1000 stipends, training and technical support to teachers willing take students through the E4 sequence!
The afternoon sessions will feature a Non-Profit Roundtable and interactive discussions with professionals from music, entertainment, media, advertising and film about what it takes to build careers in the creative fields.
Check the Agenda for details http://e4youth.com/agenda/.
Sign up for Morning Breakout Sessions and tickets are atwww.e4youth.com.