Jabari Simama
Encyclopedia
Jabari Simama is an educator, public official, and author
. He is currently the Chief of Staff for CEO Burrell Ellis
, where he currently serves. In 2001 he was the chief architect of a large municipal technology program to bridge the digital divide
, The Atlanta Community Technology Initiative where thousands of citizens were taught how to use computers and the internet. Simama also organized broadband
in cities' and towns' summits from 2006-2009 in Columbia, South Carolina
which explored how broadband technology can serve un-served rural and urban communities. Featured in John Barber's book The Black Digital Elite: African American Leaders of the Information Revolution , published by Praeger Publishers, Simama is also the author of Civil Rights to Cyber Rights: Broadband & Digital Equality in the Age of Obama, published in July, 2009.
in Columbia, Missouri
in 1969. He attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri
. He received his BA degree from the University of Bridgeport
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
, his MA degree from Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia
in 1975, and his Ph.D. in 1978 from Emory University
, in Atlanta, Georgia.
). He subsequently moved to the University of Cincinnati
in Ohio
where he taught in the African American Studies Department and became the editor of Studia Africana. In 1979 he took an appointment as an Associate Professor of English at Morgan State University
.
He returned to Atlanta in 1980. He became the first general manager of the Public-access television
program in Atlanta, sponsored by the cable operator, then Cable Atlanta. Through the program five neighborhood-based studios were opened to teach Atlanta citizens television production skills.
At the end of 1986, Simama left the cable company and ran for elected office for the Atlanta City Council
. In 1987, he won and became the first African American
elected in the South with an African name. He served 2 terms as the District 3 council member, before embarking on an unsuccessful campaign for council president.
In 1994 he became a columnist for Creative Loafing
, and as co-author of a series of articles entitled "Outside the Fences" in 1996 he won third place for the Alternative Newsweeklies Association (AAN). He published the weekly column until 1998. During this same period he was a Visiting Professor in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
at the Georgia Institute of Technology
. He taught a course on Race and New Media and conducted research, which was featured in John Barber’s book, The Information Society and the Black Community.
He returned to the City of Atlanta in 1998 in the position of Director of Communications where he was responsible for all communications and marketing for the city. During his tenure as Director of Communications, he negotiated an 8 million dollar deal with AT&T
and Media One to fund a citywide program designed to bridge the digital divide
. The City Cyber Program included multiple sites such as recreation centers, libraries, one historical black college, and a cyber bus that brought mobile broadband technology directly to local communities. In 2003, the cyber bus became the operations center for a forum sponsored for U.S. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) Commissioners Michael Copps
and Jonathan Adelstein
.
In 2005, Simama left government and returned to education as Vice President for Community Development and External Affairs and Executive Assistant to the President at Benedict College
in Columbia, SC
. There Simama continued his work in community technology
, sponsoring 4 annual summits on Broadband in Cities and Towns. The summits attracted participants from around the country and focused on the idea of expanding broadband to unserved and under-served communities.
In June 2009, Simama returned to Atlanta and began working as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Development for DeKalb County, the third largest county in Georgia
.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He is currently the Chief of Staff for CEO Burrell Ellis
Burrell Ellis
W. Burrell Ellis, Jr. is the fourth Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, Georgia. Ellis was elected on November 4, 2008 and assumed office on January 1, 2009....
, where he currently serves. In 2001 he was the chief architect of a large municipal technology program to bridge the digital divide
Digital divide
The Digital Divide refers to inequalities between individuals, households, business, and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies and Internet connectivity and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information...
, The Atlanta Community Technology Initiative where thousands of citizens were taught how to use computers and the internet. Simama also organized broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
in cities' and towns' summits from 2006-2009 in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
which explored how broadband technology can serve un-served rural and urban communities. Featured in John Barber's book The Black Digital Elite: African American Leaders of the Information Revolution , published by Praeger Publishers, Simama is also the author of Civil Rights to Cyber Rights: Broadband & Digital Equality in the Age of Obama, published in July, 2009.
Education
Simama graduated from Hickman High SchoolHickman High School
David Henry Hickman High School is a coeducational public secondary school in Columbia, Missouri, United States, serving students in grades 10–12. The school is one of three high schools in the Columbia Public School District, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
in 1969. He attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
. He received his BA degree from the University of Bridgeport
University of Bridgeport
The University of Bridgeport is a private, independent, non-sectarian, coeducational university located on the Long Island Sound in the South End neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The University is fully Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges...
in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, his MA degree from Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in 1975, and his Ph.D. in 1978 from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Career
In 1974 Simama began his career as a college professor at Atlanta Junior College (currently, Atlanta Metropolitan CollegeAtlanta Metropolitan College
Atlanta Metropolitan College is a State College in the University System of Georgia.Located along the Metropolitan Parkway corridor in southwest Atlanta, Atlanta Metropolitan College is now a four-year urban, commuter campus providing an affordable education to students who primarily come from...
). He subsequently moved to the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
where he taught in the African American Studies Department and became the editor of Studia Africana. In 1979 he took an appointment as an Associate Professor of English at Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
.
He returned to Atlanta in 1980. He became the first general manager of the Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
program in Atlanta, sponsored by the cable operator, then Cable Atlanta. Through the program five neighborhood-based studios were opened to teach Atlanta citizens television production skills.
At the end of 1986, Simama left the cable company and ran for elected office for the Atlanta City Council
Atlanta City Council
Atlanta City Council is the main municipal legislative body for the city of Atlanta, Georgia. It consists of 15 members elected from districts within the city. The Atlanta City Government is divided into three bodies: the legislative, executive and judicial branches. The Atlanta City Council serves...
. In 1987, he won and became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
elected in the South with an African name. He served 2 terms as the District 3 council member, before embarking on an unsuccessful campaign for council president.
In 1994 he became a columnist for Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing Atlanta
Creative Loafing is a U.S. city newsweekly serving the Atlanta metropolitan area covering local news, politics, arts, entertainment, food, music and events. Its weekly print circulation is 100,000, and its cumulative readership over a four-week period is 608,636 according to the Dec. 2009...
, and as co-author of a series of articles entitled "Outside the Fences" in 1996 he won third place for the Alternative Newsweeklies Association (AAN). He published the weekly column until 1998. During this same period he was a Visiting Professor in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at the Georgia Institute of Technology has gradually evolved to contain a wide variety of liberal arts subjects at a school known predominantly for engineering...
at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
. He taught a course on Race and New Media and conducted research, which was featured in John Barber’s book, The Information Society and the Black Community.
He returned to the City of Atlanta in 1998 in the position of Director of Communications where he was responsible for all communications and marketing for the city. During his tenure as Director of Communications, he negotiated an 8 million dollar deal with AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
and Media One to fund a citywide program designed to bridge the digital divide
Digital divide
The Digital Divide refers to inequalities between individuals, households, business, and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels in access to information and communication technologies and Internet connectivity and in the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use the information...
. The City Cyber Program included multiple sites such as recreation centers, libraries, one historical black college, and a cyber bus that brought mobile broadband technology directly to local communities. In 2003, the cyber bus became the operations center for a forum sponsored for U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) Commissioners Michael Copps
Michael Copps
Michael Joseph Copps is a Commissioner on the U.S. Federal Communications Commission , an independent agency of the United States government. He has served as one of the commissioners of the FCC since May 31, 2001, and took on the additional role of acting chairman on January 20, 2009...
and Jonathan Adelstein
Jonathan Adelstein
Jonathan Steven Adelstein, the Administrator of USDA's Rural Utilities Service, is a former Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission....
.
In 2005, Simama left government and returned to education as Vice President for Community Development and External Affairs and Executive Assistant to the President at Benedict College
Benedict College
Benedict College is a historically black, liberal arts college located in Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 1870 by northern Baptists, it was originally a teachers' college. It has since expanded into a four-year college.-History:...
in Columbia, SC
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. There Simama continued his work in community technology
Community technology
Community technology is the practice of synergizing the efforts of individuals, community technology centers and national organizations with federal policy initiatives around broadband, information access, education, and economic development....
, sponsoring 4 annual summits on Broadband in Cities and Towns. The summits attracted participants from around the country and focused on the idea of expanding broadband to unserved and under-served communities.
In June 2009, Simama returned to Atlanta and began working as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Development for DeKalb County, the third largest county in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Books
- Civil Rights to Cyber Rights: Broadband & Digital Equality in the Age of Obama, (2009) ISBN 0-615-29662-9
- The Information Society and the Black Community, "Race, Politics, and Pedagogy of New Media: From Civil Rights to Cyber Rights" ed. John Barber, 2001 ISBN 0-275-95724-1