EMS & FTC Co-Host Conference on Scams in Louisville — Showcasing City's Diverse Populations and Ethnic Media that Serve Them

 

This week, Ethnic Media Services (EMS) organized a roundtable for the Federal Trade Commission on fighting scams that rob billions from rich and poor communities alike nationwide, especially communities of color. The event brought together over 45 community stakeholders and 13 media serving African and Latino audiences, as well as Burmese, Vietnamese, Haitian, Chinese, Baptist, Evangelical and student audiences.

Louisville has become a resettlement site for new immigrants, asylees and refugees. "One out of six Louisville residents is now an immigrant or person of color. But most Louisville mainstream folks don't know we're here," remarked one Latino leader. Which helps explain why there was such enthusiasm about exchanging ideas with the FTC and meeting local consumer fraud law enforcement and civic leaders.

"Eight weeks ago we could count on one hand the number of people we knew in Louisville," the FTC regional director told EMS. "Today EMS connected us with over 50 individuals and groups. This is the communications infrastructure we need to fight fraud with the only weapon that works—information." – Ethnic Media Services