President Kenneth Adams Discusses Education And Training Opportunities For Careers In Film And Television At NYS Multicultural Creativity Summit; New Partnership Announced By Empire State Development And NBCUniversal

President Kenneth Adams Discusses Education and Training Opportunities for Careers in Film and Television at NYS Multicultural Creativity Summit; New Partnership Announced by Empire State Development and NBCUniversal

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (October 29, 2024) — Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College/CUNY, shared the stage at the New York State Multicultural Creativity Summit with leaders of the film and television industry to discuss career pathways for students interested in careers in this exciting field.

The Summit provided a roadmap for diverse content creators to navigate the film, television, and streaming industry. It featured timely presentations and discussions including, Strategies for Talent Development & Representation in Hollywood, Financing Your Production Panel, Filmmakers Legal Clinic, alongside other presentations and keynote remarks. The event, at 30 Hudson Yards, was co-hosted by the MPA’s member companies: NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

President Kenneth Adams shared his expertise during a panel discussion titled, “NYS Industry Pipeline Opportunities.” He shared insights about LaGuardia’s programs including the Film & Television Production Workforce Development Program and Film Production Accounting. President Adams was joined by Cheyenne Ford, Founder and Program Director of Art Craft NYC, Mitch Gelman, President and CEO of WCNY; Jay Roewe, Senior Vice President of Global Incentives and Production Planning for Warner Brothers, Discovery; and Patricia Bayley, Vice President of Digital & New Media Development at Empire State Development.

During the Summit, Empire State Development (ESD) and NBCUniversal announced a new partnership designed to grow below-the-line career opportunities in the entertainment industry for New Yorkers. Graduates from programs funded by the State’s Career Readiness Entertainment Workforce (CREW) Diversity Grant Program, providing financial assistance in the form of grants for job training programs focused on geographic and economic diversity, will have an opportunity to participate in the company’s Below-the-Line Traineeship and work on NBCUniversal television productions filming in the state. This paid traineeship will give students and early career workforce an opportunity to gain the skills and hands-on experience needed to work on New York productions, strengthening the state’s film and television production industry.

President Kenneth Adams said, “LaGuardia Community College is pleased to be a part of this tremendous partnership with Empire State Development to bring workforce development training opportunities to New Yorkers. This program will support the recruitment and retention of diverse talent in New York’s motion picture and television production and post-production industries while working collaboratively with IATSE Local 52. Partnerships like this keep New York City industries thriving.”

About LaGuardia’s Film and Television Opportunities

LaGuardia’s Film and Television, AA program introduces students to the arts, crafts, and skills of film and television production, including screenwriting, cinematography, editing, computer graphics, and effects. Students will learn about the history of film and mass media, and how the Internet, mobile media, and social networks have transformed the entertainment industry.

In March 2023, LaGuardia received more than $200,000 from the New York Entertainment Workforce Diversity Grant Program which was developed to incentivize job creation and training programs that support efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop, and train a diverse and inclusive workforce for New York’s motion picture and television industry. Funds were used to support the Film and Television Workforce Development Program.
In November 2023, LaGuardia received a $212,584 grant from Empire State Development to launch an accelerated training for Film Production Accounting.
LaGuardia offers a Film Production Grip Training Program through the Adult Continuing Education Division.

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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.

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