Brauner foundation

The foundation's mission is the distribution of media scholarships, mentoring of scholarship recipients, advising media companies and government entities in administering media training programs that lead to employment for minorities and women in the communications industry.

The Brauner Foundation, is a not-for-profit organization. Headquartered in New York City, it works with media outlets, media-related companies and government agencies to help provide scholarships, internships and mentoring opportunities to women and minorities throughout the United States.

What is a minority that is not a minority? It is the silent mass. Silent not from lack of vocalization, but from lack of voice. With the media woefully under-diversified, women and minorities often find themselves without a voice. Women outnumber men the world around and the "minority" population here in the United States grows daily, to the point where now it is more habit than truth to refer to this population as a minority. The very referencing of such vast populations as those of women and minorities as "minority voices" is indicative of the lack of opportunities afforded, and that these populations are still handcuffed with the title of a "minority voice" is a sign that such lack of voice will continue unless action is taken against the problem.

Betty Elam

Betty Elam is the founder and president of the Brauner Foundation, Inc.

She is special consultant to "America at Worship" series, a Faith and Values program aired on the Hallmark Channel. She is presently on leave from her position on the Board of Trustees of National Interfaith Cable Coalition, Inc.

From 1989 to 2000 Ms. Elam was the founding Executive Director of the Emma Bowen Foundation for Minority Interests in Media, a work-study program that opened career doors for minorities and women in the communications industry.

She was Managing Director of Media Services, National Office of the Presbyterian Church USA from 1983 to 1989. There she planned and implemented the media program for all the governing bodies of the Church. She was executive producer of "Video One", a magazine format program aired on a national cable network.

Prior to that as Community Affairs Manager, WYNY-FM, NBC New York, she developed and produced 13 weekly public affairs programs. She planned and implemented community out reach projects. She compiled reports and gathered ascertainment data for broadcast license renewal.

She started her career in television as a production assistant at the Merv Griffin Production Company. She worked as Program Administration Co-coordinator, College Quiz Bowl" and also at WNBCTV as Station Operations Assistant.

She has received the following awards: "The Donald H. McGannon Award" for helping women and people of color advance in their careers; "The Angel Award" for the production of "Plight of the Homeless"; "Innovator of the Year" Award, National Broadcast Association for Community Affairs; "Hunger Campaign Award", New York State Broadcast Association; "Outstanding Contributor Award" Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Health Fair.

She studied Sociology at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio and also attended Cheney Teachers College in Cheney, Pennsylvania.