Dialogue on Diversity is a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating creative conversations among men and women of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. As part of this mission, the organization often hosts conferences and symposia around entrepreneurial advancement, and the skills and policy policies that will facilitate that advancement. Today, the Dialogue on Diversity gathered leaders on IT, business productivity, marketing, and supply chains, to share their expertise on Capitol Hill. AT&T and Verizon were among the sponsors of the event, which both inspired and informed.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) delivered the Congressional Overview for the conference. The Congressman urged for ensuring that government contracting opportunities reach women and minority owned businesses in order to help the digital divide and avoid a green divide. “Let’s not look at diversity as something we have to do, but change our thoughts philosophically, and look at diversity as an integral part of rebuilding our economy.”

Link Hoewing, Vice President of Internet Technology and Policy for Verizon Communications, spoke about the role of broadband in the economy, jobs, and small businesses. Hoewing echoed the sentiments of both Rep. Grijalva and fellow panelist Ana Harvey, Assistant Administrator of the Women’s Business Owner of U.S. Small Business Administration, on the growing importance of technology globally. He added that continued investment in broadband networks can help power the economic recovery and that addressing challenges to broadband adoption, like digital literacy and computer ownership, will help to bridge the digital divide. Hoewing is extremely optimistic about tapping even further into the power of broadband. Currently broadband is primarily powering communication. But in the future, broadband will be vital to our health, education, and so much more.

You can watch Hoewing’s speech in its entirety below.

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