Mission

The committee shall explore, research, and recommend to the executive board potential policies resulting from the impact of technology, automation, and artificial intelligence on our minority community by making our community better aware of both the benefits and challenges that new technologies bring to daily life.

Watch for the Tech Survey

The Technology Taskforce has prepared a survey to gauge the opinions of Branch Members concerning technology as it affects the minority community. It is short and should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Please follow the link below and help us focus on the issues most important to you:

<link coming soon>

Resources

Want to know more about technology and its impact on our community? Here are four resources to help you, help us engage this important issue.

Here is what the HR community is saying about workforce transformation:

• Workforce Transformation 2020: 12 Steps to Mastery
• The Future of Work, Robots, AI, and Automation, Darrell M. West, The Brookings Institution, ISBN 9780815732938
• How Race hurts Business in America
• Bridging digital divides between schools and communities by Nicol Turner-Lee

Policies Impacting the Community

Portable benefit accounts

It allows individuals to manage the inevitable disruptions in their lives caused by job loss, retraining to adjust to technological change, relocation spurred by regional economic shock, local market collapses, or by diminished economic growth. This concept is championed by policy analysts: Bedford and Roger Burkhardt.

Government-run benefit exchange packages

Enables the government either in collaboration with or outside the private sector to expend benefits and coverage. An example is the affordable care act

Independent worker policies

Bridges the gap between full-time employees with regular benefits and independent contractors with no benefits. It allows businesses to provide benefits and protections that employees currently receive without fully assuming the legal costs and risks of becoming an employer. This type of package is championed by economists Seth Harris and Alan Krueger.

Paid family and medical leave

Some proposals have been developed by A E I – Brookings working group. This provides at a minimum that Americans should have eight weeks of pay at 70% of their regular salary, with a cap of $600 per week. The rationale is that 60% of US children now live in households in which all parents work. Researchers involved in developing this type of plan include Aparna Mathur and Isabel saw Hill.

Expand the earned income tax credit (E IT C)

Such policies are championed by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee. Details may be found in their book “the second machine age: work, progress, and prosperity in the time of brilliant technologies.”

Expand the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) program

Such programs provide that when someone loses a job as a result of a trade deal, that individual qualifies for job retraining, income support, and job counseling.

Portable retirement support

The best-known example is the 401 (K). The proposal is designed to boost retirement savings. Such a proposal suggests that enrollment in retirement programs be made mandatory and the companies are required to improve their matching gift programs in all such programs.

Universal basic income

Provides that each citizen receives a basic income that would guarantee access to basic necessary goods. Prominent economist Philippi Von Parijs is a proponent critic of such programs worry that it diminishes the value of work and it diminishes work incentives.

Job licensing requirements

Professional licenses may be an inhibitor for individuals transitioning to the new digital economy. Some level of public assistance to ensure individuals ability to obtain appropriate licenses would be required

Lifetime learning

Ensure the ability of individuals to upgrade skills and to learn new skills in a disruptive economy beyond the traditional PreK – 12, community college and/or university

Improve distance learning options for individuals

General curricular reform

This involves the complex tasks of insuring basic skills such as the ability to follow instructions, execute defined tasks, etc. with the need for individuals in the new economy to be substantially better at negotiations, providing compassionate care, motivating teamwork, the ability design and create, and next-level problem-solving. This type of curricular reform is often champion by a common and must Andrew McAfee

Greater collaboration between and among community colleges, private businesses, and the public education system.

Advances the concept of lifelong learning.

STEM education

Finding balance associated with the new digital/gig economy along with the needs for social and cultural understanding in the public education system

Committee Chairs

Michael Butera