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OVERVIEW OF THE SUMMIT
OveRview Of the suMMit
The sessions ranged from content production to financing and distribution as well as emerging media. We live streamed select presentations to allow public participation, but the summit was primarily conceptualized and executed as a gathering where seasoned media industry professionals and colleagues could share reflections on current challenges create new strategies for supporting diverse Black stories, and forge partnerships that offer new direction in the production and distribution of Black stories that matter. The summit brought together a diverse range of professionals, including Black thought leaders from across the nation and an array of social issues (i.e. mental health, women’s health, immigration, environment, mass incarceration, technology, diversity, LGBTQ viewpoints etc.) to draw critical connections between powerful Black storytelling and the ability of media professionals to address community concerns in ways connected to work being carried out on the ground.
The Summit was unique in offering an open space where funders and others could discuss systemic problems freely without being solicited for financial and other support. Panels were able to move beyond the typical focus on the empowerment of individual content makers (i.e. advancing their careers, professional development for entry-level creators) to sharing ideas that could lead to systemic change through collective action. By inviting a unique mix of stakeholders, BPM has returned to its organizational roots by looking to
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