Events and Outreach
In October, 2012 CBS served as a sponsor of the Annual American Indian College Fund Flame of Hope Awards which was celebrated in Minnesota this year. The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships and other support for American Indian students. The Fund disburses approximately 6,000 scholarships annually for American Indian students seeking to better their lives through higher education. The Fund also provides support for tribal college needs ranging from capital support to cultural preservation activities.
In October, 2012 CBS served as a sponsor of the HOLA 13th Annual Awards Gala in New York. HOLA (Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors) which presents annual awards and recognizes programs highlighting Latino artists and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional success in their craft and advanced the evolution of the image of Latinos.
In October, 2012 CBS served as a sponsor of the Asian American Justice Center Annual American Courage Awards in Washington, DC. Founded in 1991, the Asian American Justice Center works to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans, and build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. The Asian American Justice Center is one of the nation's leading experts on issues of importance to the Asian American community including: affirmative action, anti-Asian violence prevention/race relations, census, immigrant rights, immigration, language access, television diversity and voting rights. Our expertise is widely acknowledged: in the media, by the public and lawmakers at the very highest tiers of government.
In September, 2012 CBS Diversity Institute conducted workshops at The Atlanta University Center (AUC), the largest contiguous consortium of African Americans in higher education composed of Clark Atlanta University (CAU), Spelman College and Morehouse College. The workshops are designed to help actors land roles, while also providing professional assessment and one-on-one critiques. The workshops were held at the CAU Campus and were hosted by CAU Professor Gary Yates, Chair of the Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Division.
In September, 2012 CBS served as a sponsor of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Annual Noche de Gala Awards in Washington, DC. Founded in 1991, the Asian American Justice Center works to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans, and build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts was created in 1997 by actors Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales, Sonia Braga and attorney Felix Sanchez, to advance the presence of Latinos in the media, telecommunications and entertainment industries.
On August 10, 2012, CBS again served as sponsor of the 27th Annual IMAGEN Awards. CBS Vice President of Comedy Development, Edy Mendoza serves on the IMAGEN Board of Directors.
On July 7 - 12, 2012, CBS participated in the 103rd NAACP Convention in Houston. CBS SVP and Chief Diversity Officer, Josie Thomas, is a member of the selection committee for the Spingarn Awards, the highest honor awarded by the NAACP.
On June 20 – 24, 2012, CBS participated in the 2012 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention in New Orleans. A number of CBS Executives participated in panels. CBS News sponsored the NABJ Press Room, the convention’s stop for journalists covering the conference and career fair.
On May 31 and June 1, 2012 CBS Diversity hosted their 5th New York City session of the actor workshops at CBS headquarters. In addition to aiding actors hone the necessary skills to land television auditions and roles the workshops also provide program information about the range of initiatives as CBS. Members of Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, Asian American Film Lab (AAFL), Hispanic Organization of Latino Actors (HOLA), New Federation Theatre, SAG and AFTRA participated.
On May 8, 2012, CBS again served as a sponsor of the APAICS Gala (Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies).
On April 30, 2012, CBS again served as a sponsor of the East West Players Gala.
On April 13 - 15, 2012, CBS Diversity participated at the NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) Conference. Casting participated in the Conference’s ActorsFest.
On March 22, 2012, CBS Diversity met with a French delegation that traveled to New York to learn about the Corporation’s diversity initiatives.
On February 22, 2012, CBS was a sponsor of the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Impact Awards.
In November, 2011 CBS sponsored the Streetlights – Celebration 2011 in Los Angeles. STREETLIGHTS is a nonprofit job training, job placement and mentoring program which provides opportunities for employment in the entertainment industry for economically or socially disadvantaged young minority men and women.
In November, 2011 CBS sponsored the Sundance Institute’s Native Program. The program is housed in Park City, Utah and is designed to build and sustain an Indigenous film community. The focus of their work is to scout for and identify Native American and Indigenous artists bringing them through the mechanisms of support at Sundance Institute to get their work made and shown, then bringing the filmmakers and their work back to native lands.
CBS DIVERSITY CELEBRATES HERITAGE MONTH WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
CBS Cares produced a new series of PSAs with primetime talent sharing personal stories of what Hispanic/African American/Asian-American History Month means to them.
November, 2012 - Native American Heritage Month
Participating talent included: Brandon Routh (Partners)
September, 2012 - Hispanic Heritage Month
Participating talent included: Cote de Pablo (NCIS)
May, 2012 - Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Participating talent included: Julie Chen (The Talk, Big Brother), Tim Kang (The Mentalist), Kunal Nayar (The Big Bang Theory).
February, 2012 – African-American Heritage Month
Participating talent included: Hill Harper (CSI: NY), Nyambi Nyambi (MIKE & MOLLY), Reno Wilson (MIKE & MOLLY), Wayne Brady (LET’S MAKE A DEAL), Shemar Moore (CRIMINAL MINDS)
CBS SUPPORTS FILM FESTIVALS
RED NATION CELEBRATION’S ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL - CBS sponsored the 9th Annual Film Festival in Los Angeles in November, 2012. The Red Nation Film Festival is dedicated to breaking the barrier of racism by successfully replacing American Indian stereotypes with recognition, new vision, arts, culture and economic prosperity by placing American Indian filmmakers at the forefront of the entertainment industry and to introduce American Indian filmmakers to larger global mainstream audiences
LA SKINS FILM FESTIVAL - CBS sponsored the 5th Annual Festival and will again sponsor this year’s festival November 2010. The Los Angeles SKINS FEST celebrates Native American filmmakers in the city of Los Angeles and throughout the country. The L. A. SKINS FEST is proudly meeting its goal of merging the large studio system of Hollywood with the largest urban American Indian community in the United States. The free three-day film festival celebrates Native American cinema and provides access to new movies, entertainment and cultural events and is part of the city’s celebration of Native American Heritage month every November.
AMERICAN INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL - CBS sponsored the 37th Annual festival in November 2012 in San Francisco. The film festival and awards show are the cornerstone of what the American Indian Film Institute does — provide opportunity and a national venue for emerging and established filmmakers, entertainers and performing artists to convene, renew their artistic spirit and share their gifts.
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS Asian Pacific Film Festival - CBS sponsored the 2012 Annual Film Festival in Los Angele in May. The mission of VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS is to promote intercultural understanding through the creation, presentation, preservation and support of media works by and about Asian Pacific Americans. Visual Communications was created with the understanding that media and the arts are important vehicles to organize and empower communities, build connections between generations, challenge perspectives, and create an environment for critical thinking, necessary to build a more just and humane society. The film festival is the largest of its kind of the West Coast.