The Congressional Black Caucus, a caucus made up of mostly African-American members of the United States Congress, has named Career Communications Group (CCG) an organization with a Diversity Inclusion Plan and an African American Inclusion Plan. CCG has been recognized as an organization that is taking measurable steps to increase the recruitment and retention of African Americans in the technology industry.

Almost a decade ago, the Congressional Black Caucus launched its Tech 2020 plan to chart a path forward to increase diversity and African American representation in tech. Organizations named to CBC’s list have fulfilled several action items, including defining the mission and capabilities to help increase diversity in tech.

In addition, through its foundation for educational development and partnership with top employers that support historically Black colleges and universities, Career Communications Group (CCG) is actively involved in training tech professionals, hosting training sessions and tech job fairs during its annual conferences providing links to online training and scholarships to people seeking advanced training.

During Black History Month 2023, Career Communications Group’s STEM City USA got an honorable mention in a CBS Baltimore report on the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center.

When completed, the new center in the city’s Upton neighborhood will feature an interactive space with various exhibits, including the STEM City metaverse. STEM City is designed to bring educational, health, and career success as a digital resource into one place. In addition, it aims to close the economic divide that plagues underserved communities.

In related news, a research report from the Under Secretary of Defense (USD) for Research and Engineering (R&E) gave significant props to  STEM City. According to the defense department website, the USD(R&E) champions research, science, technology, engineering, and innovation to maintain the United States military’s technological advantage.

STEM City was mentioned in “Policy Options to Promote DoD-Defense Industry Collaboration in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Workforce Development Programs, Actives, and Outreach.” The study was sponsored by the USD (R&E), and the principal investigator is Dinesh Verma, with co-principal investigators Ruth David, Jeff Wilcox, and the Stevens Institute of Technology.

The report said the STEM City USA metaverse, “already garnering attention from both DoD and the DIB, should be tracked for potential future applicability.”

The report looks at how national security, including the Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Industrial Base (DIB) organizations, other governmental agencies, and nongovernmental organizations could establish a virtual environment to expand the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM talent pool for defense missions. For example, DIB organizations enable research and development and design, production, delivery, and maintenance of military weapons systems, subsystems, and components or parts to meet US military requirements.

The DoD-Defense Industry Collaboration research project resulted from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which directed the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to commission a study to develop collaborative defense department-industry activities relevant to creating a technical workforce to meet defense missions, support educational opportunities for defense sector personnel in both government and industry and increase educational opportunities for veterans and military dependents.

The study also focused on activities based on metrics and educational best practices to ensure maximum effectiveness. The report, which the Systems Engineering Research Center issued, was published in the summer of 2022.

Major props for STEM City USA

During the spring of 2022, Career Communications Group announced that STEM City USA was a finalist for XR Today’s “Best Metaverse Solution” award, along with wireless tech innovator Qualcomm and metaverse building platform, Cavrnus. XR Today is a global awards event celebrating virtual, augmented, mixed, and metaverse technology innovation and industry success.

In October, the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts selected two Career Communications Group (CCG) products for the 2022 w3 Awards. The awards honor creative excellence and recognize people behind award-winning sites, marketing programs, social content, mobile site/apps, and online video.

The w3 is sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), an invitation-only body consisting of professionals from media, interactive, advertising, and marketing firms. AIVA members include Comcast, Disney, Microsoft, and Wired executives. The w3 Awards honor outstanding websites, marketing, video, mobile, social, and podcasts created by some of the best digital content creators across the industry.

STEM City USA came up second in the General Websites-Community for Websites category and will receive a gold award. High-Tech Sunday, ranked third in the General Series-Technology for Podcast category, received a silver award. CCG’s award-winning metaverse, STEM City USA, and High-Tech Sunday launched with little fanfare during the pandemic and the tremendous racial reckoning in the United States.

Founded and powered by Career Communications Group, STEM City USA provides education, training, and infotainment content. Content is distributed through different communities within STEM City USA. They include the STEM City Chicago, Kansas City STEM City USA, STEM City Public School, STEM City Health and Technutrition, STEMulating Lounge, The Hall of Fame, The Tribute Hall, STEM City Career Center, STEM City Seminars, STEM City Auditoriums, and High-Tech Sunday.

The High-Tech Sunday Podcast looks at professional development in technology through spiritual philosophies. In a time when digital information is critical more than ever, this weekly program is produced by and for CCG’s community of alumni and professionals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, thought leaders, and aspiring students to bring a robust discussion around technological advancements and achievements based on universal moral principles.

STEM City USA combines the physical and digital worlds by creating unique digital in the moments (DIM). These DIMs are designed with rich content that delivers an immersive experience where all lives intersect and blend into a diverse digital community.

Founded and powered by Career Communications Group (CCG), STEM City USA builds on the successful best practices and proven content of the Black Engineer of the Year and Women of Color in Technology conferences, both operating in digital twin environments.

Career Communications Group, Inc. (CCG) publications target students actively pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. CCG publications promote STEM as integral to global competitiveness and America’s advancement. CCG magazines aim to reach, engage, and retain diverse readers by exposing them to job horizons, professional life, and forward-thinking role models.