Media Contact: 
Alisa Valentin, (202) 418-2500
Alisa.Valentin@fcc.gov 
For Immediate Release

COMMISSIONER STARKS ANNOUNCES PANEL ON BLACK MENTAL HEALTH 
WASHINGTON, July 8, 2020—On July 13, 2020 at 12 p.m. (ET), FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks will virtually host “Thriving While Black: The Role of the Media and Communications Technology in Addressing Black Mental Health.”  The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent protests for racial justice have further exacerbated stress and anxiety in Black communities across the nation.  Media and communications technology offer new opportunities to elevate accurate narratives about Black mental health and new ways to access mental health services.  At the event, panelists will present current research on Black mental health, highlight the importance of authentic storytelling in the media, and discuss policy solutions for reliable and affordable broadband that assist marginalized groups in accessing vital telehealth services.  This hour-long virtual event will be livestreamed at www.fcc.gov/live. 
Opening Remarks 
· U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)
Moderator
· A. Prince Albert III, Technology & Telecommunications Fellow, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights 
Panelists
· Noopur Agarwal, Vice President of Social Impact, ViacomCBS’ Entertainment & Youth Group
· Dr. Kia Darling Hammond, Founder & CEO, Wise Chipmunk
· David Johns, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition
· Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Executive Director, NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research
· Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies and Director of Center of Technology Innovation, Brookings Institution

Advance registration is not required. Audio/video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC's web page at www.fcc.gov/live. The FCC’s webcast is free to the public.
In addition to open captioning, reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). 
For additional information about the panel, please contact Alisa Valentin in the Office of Commissioner Geoffrey Starks (202) 418-2500 or Alisa.Valentin@fcc.gov.

Office of Commissioner Geoffrey Starks: (202) 418-2500
ASL Videophone: (844) 432-2275
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @GeoffreyStarks
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/geoffrey-starks

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974)