Panasonic Joins with Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and National Action Network to Launch NAN-Newark Tech World

Tech World Seeks to Bridge the Tech Divide by Offering After-School Academic Enrichment Opportunities for Newark Students, Community Members

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Panasonic Corporation of North America

Oct 14, 2016, 10:05 ET

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation of North America Chairman & CEO Joseph M. Taylor today announced that the company would become the anchor funder of the NAN-Newark Tech World, a technology education center, which will operate in the building once occupied by the South Ward Boys' & Girls' Club in Newark. The National Action Network (NAN) is a national civil rights organization founded by Reverend Al Sharpton in New York City.

Panasonic joins Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and National Action Network to launch NAN-Newark Tech World. From left to right: NAN NJ State Director Rev. David Jefferson, NAN Founder and President Rev. Al Sharpton, Panasonic Corporation of North America Chairman & CEO Joseph M. Taylor and Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka

NAN-Newark Tech World will serve as a high-tech community center for the City of Newark. It will offer Newark students courses in web design, graphic design, digital literacy, networking and more.

Panasonic has been a corporate citizen of Newark since 2013 when it relocated from Secaucus, NJ, to a location one block from Newark Penn Station. Since arriving in the city, the company has supported Newark institutions related to education, including refurbishing and enhancing NJPAC's digital broadcast capabilities to enable the performing arts center to become a world-class broadcast center for digital learning. For 25 years, Panasonic has collaborated with Newark's NJIT on the Creative Design Challenge, an annual robotics competition for NJ high school students, to help create a pipeline of science and technology talent essential for industry's future workforce. Panasonic also sponsors the Panasonic Eco Citizenship Program for area middle school students to complement their science studies.

"Newark has become a center of technological innovation and continues to attract cutting edge technology companies as a result of our research colleges and universities, a growing tech-savvy workforce, and one of the nation's most advanced fiber optic infrastructures," said Mayor Ras J. Baraka. "Panasonic is an iconic representative of Newark 3.0. On behalf of the people of Newark, I thank Panasonic for taking the lead in funding a technology education center that will prepare our young people and adults for the jobs of the future."

"NAN-Newark Tech World is an important and historic step for the community in New Jersey and NAN's work to bridge the digital divide. The tech industry has been out of reach for people of color for far too long, but now, thanks to the assistance of Panasonic and Mayor Baraka, students will be able to learn new skills that will enable them to succeed in the workforce for years to come. I am thrilled that the National Action Network can be a part of this momentous progress," said Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of National Action Network.

"Panasonic is delighted to be able to lend a helping hand to NAN-Newark Tech World by becoming the anchor funder in this project which promises to give Newark's students a grounding in the kind of technologies that can make a difference for them as they enter the working world," said Panasonic's Mr. Taylor. "It is an honor to be involved in such a worthy program that has benefited from the leadership of Mayor Baraka and the guiding ideals of Rev. Sharpton. I hope that other Newark-based companies will step up and help to ensure the growth of this important initiative."

"Making the transition to an information technology economy requires new initiatives to ensure there are opportunities for presently underserved individuals to develop skills in advanced technologies needed by industry. NAN-Newark Tech World, a 10-gigabit Internet and computer-based IT training facility powered by Panasonic, is being launched exactly for that purpose," said Rev. Steffie Bartley, NAN NJ Director, and Tech World Coordinator. "As the information economy continues to develop, Newarkers will benefit greatly from efforts made by Rev. Dr. Al Sharpton, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Panasonic Corporation of North America to establish Tech World in the heart of Newark's South Ward."

About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine's 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and doing well by doing good. Specifically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution. Learn more about Panasonic at us.panasonic.com/news.

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SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America