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Eight in Ten Millennials Say Great Recession Taught Them to Save “Now,” Wells Fargo Survey Finds

Published

12 years ago

June 10, 2014

BlackPressUSA Newswire

Media:

Amy Hyland Jones

Allison Chin-Leong

Eight in Ten Millennials Say Great Recession Taught Them to Save “Now,” Wells Fargo Survey Finds

Pronounced Income Gap Between Millennial Men and Women Sets up Differences in Saving and Sense of Financial Security

CHARLOTTE, N.C. June 10, 2014 – As millennial Americans have experienced the effects of the Great Recession of 2008, a strong majority (80%) say it has taught them they have to save “now” to “survive” economic problems down the road. Despite this generation’s reported lesson, 45 percent are not saving for retirement, while slightly more than half (55%) are saving. The savings picture varies by gender with 61 percent of men and 50 percent of women reporting that they are saving. This difference in saving rates may hinge on the fact that the median annual household income reported by millennial men is $77,000 versus $56,000 for women. For college-educated millennials, median annual household income is reported to be $83,000 for men and $63,000 for women. About half of all millennials report they are “satisfied” with their savings at this point in their lives, but the gender discrepancy is pronounced, with 58 percent of men feeling satisfied, versus 41 percent of women. These findings are part of the 2014 Wells Fargo Millennial Study, conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Wells Fargo, released today at a Women’s Institute For A Secure Retirement (WISER®) forum in Washington, DC. The survey was conducted among over 1,600 U.S. adults aged 22-33 (“millennials”), and among over 1,500 U.S. adults aged 49-59 (“baby boomers”).

“The silver lining of the recession that started over five years ago is that a majority of millennials get that saving is a necessity and even equate it with ‘surviving’ tough times. But millennial women are starting out their working lives making far less than men and, as a consequence, are saving less and feeling less contentment at the start of their working lives,” said Karen Wimbish, director of Retail Retirement at Wells Fargo.

The Pressure of Debt

Millennials are struggling under the pressure of debt, with 42 percent saying “it is their biggest financial concern currently.” Four in ten say their debt is “overwhelming” versus 23 percent of baby boomers. Forty-five percent of millennial women feel “overwhelmed” by debt, versus 33 percent of millennial men. Perhaps due to big debt obligations, over half of the millennials (56%) say they are “living paycheck to paycheck,” regardless of gender.

What Kind of Debt?

When asked to rank their number one financial concern after paying day-to-day bills, millennials cite paying off student loans (29%) as their top concern, whereas boomers cite saving for retirement (44%). When asked to estimate certain categories of debt as a percentage of monthly pay, millennials report their debt breaks down, on average, as follows: credit card debt, 16 percent; mortgage debt, 15 percent; student loan debt, 12 percent; auto debt, 9 percent; and medical debt, 5 percent. Among all millennials, 47 percent are allocating 50 percent or more of their paychecks to these types of debt.

“People have to closely examine what they are spending their money on and figure out the best way to comfortably manage debt and savings levels,” said Wimbish.

Retirement and Saving

The progress in accumulating investable assets proves to be another area of difference between the genders, with college-educated millennial men reporting median household investable assets of $58,500 and college-educated millennial women reporting median household investable assets of $31,400.

Of those millennials who have started saving, almost half (46%) are saving between 1-5 percent of their income for retirement; 31 percent are saving 6-10 percent; 18 percent are saving more than 10 percent. The percentage of income saved by men and women greatly varies, with half of women (53%) saving between 1-5 percent versus 39 percent of men. The percentages of men and women who are saving at the 6-10 percent level are both about a third; however, over a quarter of millennial men (26%) are saving at a rate greater than 10 percent versus only 9 percent of women.

Seven in ten (72%) millennials are confident they will be able to save enough to create the lifestyle they want in the future, but millennial women are far less confident than their male counterparts, with 63 percent expressing confidence versus 80 percent of men.

Of the four in ten millennials who are not saving yet, 84 percent say they are not doing so because they “do not have enough money to save right now,” with no difference between the genders. Perhaps as a way to lock down a savings discipline, over half of both boomers (56%) and millennials (55%) favor a mandatory retirement savings policy.

“Millennial men are earning more, saving greater percentages of their income and report having more accumulated assets. Women are lagging behind men in their savings efforts, and this could explain why they feel less satisfied with their overall financial situation,” added Wimbish.

Three-quarters of millennials are confident they have the knowledge to address any financial problems in the next ten years, with 70 percent of millennial women agreeing with this versus 84 percent of millennial men. While their confidence is high, when it comes to estimating their retirement needs, 40 percent of millennials say they have “no idea” what that amount will be. Nearly a third (31%), say they will need under $1 million while 15 percent say they will need $1 million to $2 million. For boomers, more than half (54%) say they “can’t estimate” how much they will need in retirement. Twelve percent say they will need $500,000 to $1 million, and 12 percent say $1 million to $2 million.

Increased Confidence in the Stock Market

Despite the ups and downs of the market, 59 percent of millennials and 66 percent of boomers say the stock market is the best place to invest for retirement, representing a roughly ten percentage point increase for both groups from last year’s study. However, the genders view the stock market differently, with only half of millennial women (49%), and 69 percent of millennial men agreeing that the stock market is the best place to invest for retirement. A quarter of those millennials saving for retirement are “not sure” how much of their savings are invested in stocks or mutual funds. About one in five (18%) millennials currently saving for retirement say they are invested 100 percent in stocks or mutual funds, 26 percent say they are in a range of 50 to 75 percent in stocks or mutual funds. Thirty percent say they are invested 25 percent or less in stocks or mutual funds.

“I was pleased to see that millennials are warming up to the stock market, yet concerned to see the huge difference in sentiment among women, who should be on par with men at this stage,” said Wimbish. “Still there’s about a third who are underinvested in stocks or all in cash, and a quarter who aren’t even sure what they’re invested in. Optimism doesn’t always translate into investing in the stock market for retirement.”

Millennial Optimism

Millennials feel confident in many aspects of their personal lives, with seven in ten (69%) saying they feel better off financially than others in their own generation. In addition, 68 percent of millennials expect their standard of living before retirement to be better than their parents.

A majority (84%) of millennials feel they have the skills to succeed in their career goals when they are 40. More than three quarters (78%) believe that if they lost their job they could find a comparable one within a year. This is in sharp contrast to boomers, of whom 58 percent believe they would be able to find a comparable job within a year.

There is a difference between men and women millennials in the confidence they feel about building their careers, with one in five millennial women “worried” about their ability to build a career in their desired profession versus one in ten millennial men.

The Value of College

Though college debt makes up a big part of the millennial financial picture, three-quarters (76 %) of millennials who attended college agree that their college education was worth the cost. More than half of millennials (56%) report relying on student loans to finance college versus 35 percent of boomers.

A look at the reported median household incomes of those millennials who attended college and those who did not demonstrates the gap in wages that not earning a college degree may produce.

Household Income and Assets of College Grads vs. Non-College Grads

College Grad	Non-College Grad
Income (Median)	$72,800	$34,700
Investable Assets (Median)	$43,300	$21,600

Advice to Others Starting Out In Their Careers

Since debt is a top financial concern for most millennials, the most important financial advice they would impart to someone starting out is: “Don’t spend more than you earn” (33%), followed by “Get educated about your personal finances” (17%), and “Start saving for retirement now” (16%). This contrasts with boomers, 43 percent of whom would tell those starting out today to start saving for retirement now.

Whom Do They Trust for Financial Advice?

When millennials were asked whom they trust for credible information to help them make financial decisions, a majority cited “family” (57%), followed by “financial institutions” (54%) and “personal finance experts/personalities” (50%). Boomers cite “personal finance experts/personalities” as their first choice (57%), followed by “financial institutions” (45%) and then followed by “family” (40%) as their last choice for financial advice.

While over half of millennials (55%) don’t think they have enough money to have a financial advisor, 16 percent are using a paid professional, up from 8 percent a year ago. Similar to last year, 59 percent of millennials who do not use a paid advisor say they would prefer a “seasoned advisor” with years of experience, but there was a slight rise this year (from 20% to 26%) among those who want an advisor closer to their age, who can potentially better understand their financial goals.

For help understanding how to prepare for and live in retirement, visit Wells Fargo’s My Financial Guide. To find out how much you should be saving for retirement go to My Retirement Plan. Visit the Beyond Today blog to share your financial insight and join the conversation.

About the Survey

The 2014 Wells Fargo Millennial study was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of the Wells Fargo Wealth, Brokerage, and Retirement (WBR) team between April 15 and May 2, 2014. Survey respondents included 1,639 millennials between the ages of 22 and 33, as well as 1,529 baby boomers between the ages of 49 and 59. Oversample completes were collected for millennials and baby boomers in the Charlotte (134 millennials, 151 boomers), Minneapolis (156 millennials, 157 boomers), Atlanta (157 millennials, 160 boomers) and NYC (150 millennials, 158 boomers) markets. Results were weighted, as needed, to represent the most recent U.S. Census data based on: age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income.

About Nielsen & Harris Poll

On February 3, 2014, Nielsen acquired Harris Interactive and Harris Poll. Nielsen Holdings N.V. (NYSE: NLSN) is a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence and mobile measurement. Nielsen has a presence in approximately 100 countries, with headquarters in New York, USA and Diemen, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.

About Wells Fargo (Twitter @WellsFargo)

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.5 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With more than 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 onFortune’s 2014 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives and stories are also available at blogs.wellsfargo.com and atwellsfargo.com/stories.

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PRESS ROOM: Southern University Just Made HBCU History. The National Championship Is Next.

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Southern University’s competitor, Coby Robinson, delivered the performance that sealed it. Down a game to Indiana University East, Robinson came back to win Game 2 by a commanding 41-21 margin. Game 3 went to overtime, and with the season on the line, Robinson executed a perfect field goal to close it 45-42 and send Southern University to the national stage.

Published

5 months ago

April 20, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Christopher Turner, Director and Head Coach of Southern University EDGE.

BATON ROUGE, LA

For the first time ever, an HBCU has qualified for the ECAC EA Sports College Football Division 2 National Championship, and that program is Southern University, and that moment belongs to Baton Rouge.

This happened by design. Southern University has been building something inside the Esports Innovation Lab that most institutions are still trying to figure out. The Digital Gaming Ecosystem, known as EDGE, was designed from the ground up to develop students who compete at the highest level and carry the institution’s name with distinction. Wednesday night is proof that the investment is working.

Southern University’s competitor, Coby Robinson, delivered the performance that sealed it. Down a game to Indiana University East, Robinson came back to win Game 2 by a commanding 41-21 margin. Game 3 went to overtime, and with the season on the line, Robinson executed a perfect field goal to close it 45-42 and send Southern University to the national stage.

Christopher Turner, Director and Head Coach of Southern University EDGE, captured the weight of the moment: “This is a monumental moment for Southern University and for the entire HBCU landscape. This is about showing the world that our excellence in esports is just as historic as our excellence on the football field.”

The Jaguar community now has one clear assignment, and that is to show up in force.

The championship match is set for Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM CST. Southern University enters as the No. 2 seed, facing No. 1 Bellarmine University in a matchup that the entire HBCU world will be watching.

Watch the full semifinal comeback: Twitch Semifinal Broadcast

Stream the championship live at twitch.tv/subr_esports, and if you are in Baton Rouge, attend in person at the Esports Innovation Lab inside the Southern University Student Union.

Southern University has always competed at the highest level, and now the entire nation is watching to see what the Jaguars will do with this moment.

Championship Match Details Matchup: No. 1 Bellarmine University vs. No. 2 Southern University Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CST Stream: twitch.tv/subr_esports In-Person: Esports Innovation Lab, Southern University Student Union

About Southern University Esports (EDGE) Southern University’s Digital Gaming Ecosystem exists to prove that Jaguar excellence has no ceiling. Through competitive gaming, content creation, and STEAM-based career development, EDGE prepares students for the evolving digital landscape while writing new chapters in HBCU history.

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Revolve Fund to Provide $20,000 to Support Food Access Efforts in Alabama Black Belt

THE AFRO — “Revolve Fund complements its core mission of improving capital access for entrepreneurs by partnering with leading organizations that are addressing critical community needs,” said James Wahls, founder and managing director of Revolve Fund. “Like BBCF, Revolve understands at the most fundamental level, everyone should have access to healthy food.”

Published

5 months ago

April 15, 2026

BlackPressUSA

The Revolve Fund, led by founder and managing director James Wahls, is partnering with the Black Belt Community Foundation partner to expand food access programs in Alabama’s Black Belt amid ongoing SNAP disruptions. (Photo Credit: Jehan Daugherty)

By Revolve Fund | The AFRO

SELMA – As over 40 million Americans grappled with the reality of not being able to feed themselves or their families due to SNAP delays, Revolve Fund is seeking to help. Revolve Fund has announced a $20,000 community grant to the Black Belt Community Foundation as part of the duo’s continued partnership. The grant will increase the foundation’s capacity to execute programs and fundraise to support food access efforts in the Alabama Black Belt region.

“Revolve Fund complements its core mission of improving capital access for entrepreneurs by partnering with leading organizations that are addressing critical community needs,” said James Wahls, founder and managing director of Revolve Fund. “Like BBCF, Revolve understands at the most fundamental level, everyone should have access to healthy food.”

“BBCF is deeply grateful for the Revolve Fund’s grant to underwrite direct food support in the Black Belt during the current disruption of SNAP benefits, continuing high food costs and unprecedented strain on our local food banks,” said Christopher Spencer, president and CEO, Black Belt Community Foundation. “As BBCF mobilizes resources and community partners during this time, Revolve is one of the first philanthropic organizations to step forward to support our Food for Families in the Black Belt Campaign. We look ahead to our productive, continued partnership with them to positively impact and transform the Black Belt region of Alabama.”

“While our communities need and deserve so much more, we hope our contribution will support the foundation’s ability to work with other philanthropic partners, individual donors, charities, and public partners,” Wahls added.

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PRESS ROOM: PMG and Cranbrook Horizons-Upward Bound Launch Journey Fellowship Cohort 2

NNPA NEWSWIRE — With this program, I was able to see that my peers were more than the narrative I had given them,” says Alan Carlisle, 10th-grade student at Cass Technical High School and 2026 Journey Fellow. “I learned the difference between critique and criticism, and I’ve grown as a young man alongside my peers.”

Published

7 months ago

March 6, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Photo of PMG Journey Fellowship participating students courtesy of PMG Agency.

Detroit, MI — PMG Agency has launched Cohort 2 of the PMG Journey Fellowship in partnership with Cranbrook Horizons-Upward Bound (HUB), supported by the Flagstar Foundation, which has funded the fellowship since its inception. The Journey Fellowship equips students with tools to understand how narratives shape perception, opportunity, and identity, with post-program evaluation showing measurable growth in media awareness and discernment.

Building on HUB’s college access mission, the program examines how repeated messages influence judgment, reinforce bias, or attach limiting labels. Fellows are challenged to question assumptions and define themselves by their values and aspirations rather than inherited narratives.

Through structured dialogue and creative storytelling exercises, students strengthen critical thinking and confidence. They study how stories are framed in media and culture and learn how story functions not only as expression, but as strategy. Education and youth development professionals rated the PMG Journey Fellowship five out of five stars, with 100 percent reporting that the intellectual depth of the youth elevated or shifted their perception.

“With this program, I was able to see that my peers were more than the narrative I had given them,” says Alan Carlisle, 10th-grade student at Cass Technical High School and 2026 Journey Fellow. “I learned the difference between critique and criticism, and I’ve grown as a young man alongside my peers.”

The Journey Fellowship was designed and is led by Ken L. Porter, Executive Producer and Chief Visionary of PMG Agency. “When youth understand how narratives take shape, they move differently,” says Porter. “They become more thoughtful about what they accept, what they repeat, and how they define themselves.”

“It was powerful to partner with PMG Agency to bring the Journey Fellowship to HUB and introduce students to storytelling in a way that affirmed and strengthened their own narratives,” says Dillon A. Brown, Director of Development at HUB.

Katherine Morgan, President of the Flagstar Foundation, adds a call to action to future funders, “The PMG Journey Fellowship is the right type of program that you should be funding. This is important work.”

Cohort 2 also received support from the Wayne County Sheriff Youth and Senior Education Fund, with additional partnership from Project Boss Up and collaboration with Detroit CARES, an affiliate of The National CARES Mentoring Movement.

PMG Agency is a Detroit-based narrative change and experiential storytelling firm focused on elevating aspirational and authentic narratives through its Journey of Stories film series, the Black Excellence Impact Dinner series, and the PMG Journey Fellowship.

For more information, visit pmgjourneyfellows.com.

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PRESS ROOM: From Congress to Corporate America: NNPA Spotlights Visionaries in New Video Series

NNPA NEWSWIRE — For the next six weeks and beyond the “Leadership Matters” video series will be repeatedly broadcast on the NNPA’s www.BlackPressUSA and on numerous NNPA member publishers’ social media channels across the nation in addition to being highlighted in NNPA print and digital publications.

Published

7 months ago

March 3, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore (left) joins National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. as part of the NNPA’s “Leadership Matters” Video Series. Photo by DC Events.

Washington, DC: The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, is pleased to announce the launch of our 2026 “Leadership Matters” video series.

Working in collaboration with Events DC and PKB Enterprises, with corporate support, the NNPA produced 6 exclusive thirty-minute-long video interviews featuring some of the nation’s most effective and transformative leaders.

For the next six weeks and beyond, the “Leadership Matters” video series will be repeatedly broadcast on the NNPA’s www.BlackPressUSA and on numerous NNPA member publishers’ social media channels across the nation, in addition to being highlighted in NNPA print and digital publications.

The following are the national leaders who have been videotaped for the NNPA “Leadership Matters” series: The Honorable Congressman James Clyburn and Rhonda Mims, Executive Vice President of AmeriHealth Caritas; The Honorable Congressman Troy A. Carter and Fred Humphries, Corporate Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs for Microsoft; The Honorable Congressman Steven Horsford and Dr. Steven Johnson, Executive Vice President of Events DC; The Honorable Senator Alsobrooks, D-MD, and Mamar Gelaye, Vice President of Amazon; and The Honorable Governor Wes Moore of Maryland.

The NNPA is grateful for the support and sponsorship from Amazon, Microsoft, Events, DC, AmeriHealth Caritas, Bayer, and the PKB Enterprises whose generosity enabled and made possible the production and distribution of the “Leadership Matters” video series.

Black History

PRESS ROOM: NBA Hall of Fame Nominee Terry Cummings Joins 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to Launch Victory & Values Initiative

NNPA NEWSWIRE — NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th.

Published

7 months ago

February 27, 2026

BlackPressUSA

NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings (left). Courtesy image.

Cummings becomes an honorary member, joining other role model sports stars

NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings has officially become an honorary member of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, marking a powerful new chapter for the 100 Black Men and youth development across the region.

Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th. The moment signified more than membership — it marked the launch of the organization’s transformative new platform, the Victory & Values Initiative.

The Victory & Values Initiative is a groundbreaking youth development program designed to empower elementary and middle school students through a dynamic blend of sports, mentorship, and STEM exposure. The initiative focuses on building health, discipline, character, leadership, and access to opportunity — creating pathways for long-term academic and personal success.

“This is about more than sports,” said Cummings during the ceremony. “It’s about using the platform of athletics to teach life lessons, create access, and build the next generation of leaders.”

The induction ceremony also featured notable guests including NASCAR’s newest Star Driver, Lavar Scott and NASCAR Director of Athletic Performance, Phil Horton, who joined Cummings for a powerful Victory & Values Town Hall discussion. The Town Hall was moderated by renowned Sports Emcee John Hollins and focused on leadership, resilience, discipline, and the importance of mentorship in shaping young lives.

A “Day at NASCAR” for 75+ Youth

Cummings wasted no time getting to work. On his first full day as an honorary member, he joined his new brothers of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to host a “Day at NASCAR,” escorting more than 75 youth to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at EchoPark Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).

The youth participants received behind-the-scenes access including: an exclusive tour of Pit Row, access to the Garage Area and exploration of the interactive Fan Zone.

The experience culminated with a surprise meet-and-greet and Q&A session with NASCAR Superstar Bubba Wallace, who shared insights on perseverance, preparation, and breaking barriers in professional sports.

The day served as a living example of the ‘Victory & Values’ Initiative in action — exposing youth to new industries, expanding their vision for the future, and connecting them directly with high- level mentors and role models.

Building Leaders Through Access and Mentorship

The 100 Black Men of DeKalb County – a chapter of the largest, national mentoring organization in the county – continues to expand its footprint with programs focused on academic excellence, economic empowerment, leadership development, and health & wellness.

The launch of ‘Victory & Values’ represents a strategic expansion of the organization’s impact

intentionally integrating athletics and STEM to engage youth at an early age while reinforcing core principles such as integrity, accountability, teamwork, and perseverance.

“Our mission has always been to mentor the next generation,” said Vaughn Irons, President-Elect of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County. “With Terry Cummings joining the brotherhood, along with partners in NASCAR and professional sports, we are creating unprecedented access and exposure for our youth. Victory & Values is about turning inspiration into structured opportunity.”

By connecting elementary and middle school students to professional athletes, executives, STEM professionals, and community leaders, the initiative aims to:

Increase youth exposure to careers in sports business, engineering, and performance science
Strengthen mentorship pipelines
Promote physical wellness and mental resilience
Build character-driven leadership at an early age

Open Invitation to Youth and Families

All youth are invited to participate in the Victory & Values Initiative, along with the other countless, impactful programs offered by the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County.

Parents and guardians seeking mentorship, leadership development, academic enrichment, and transformative exposure opportunities for their children are encouraged to connect with the organization.

As NBA Legend Terry Cummings’ induction demonstrates, Victory & Values is more than a program — it is a movement designed to build champions in life, not just in sports.

For more information about the Victory & Values Initiative or to enroll a student, contact: 100 Black Men of DeKalb County at Phone at 404.241.1338, [email protected] or Tee Foxx at 404.791.6525,

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PRESS ROOM: Civil Rights TV Launches in Selma as the World’s First 24/7 Civil Rights Television Network

ARIZONA INFORMANT — Civil Rights TV operates continuously on the Connect To Your City OTT platform powered by Connect2OTT, offering documentaries, news analysis, live discussions, educational programming, global civil rights coverage, and cultural storytelling. The channel functions as both a historical archive and a living platform addressing contemporary civil rights challenges.

Published

7 months ago

February 25, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA.

Arizona Informant

SELMA, Ala. — Civil Rights TV, the world’s first 24-hour television network dedicated exclusively to civil rights history, education, and future equity, has officially launched on the Connect To Your City OTT platform powered by Connect2OTT.

The network debuts from Selma, Alabama — one of the most historically significant cities in the American civil rights movement — marking a new chapter in how civil rights stories are preserved, amplified, and carried forward for future generations.

Civil Rights TV operates continuously on the Connect To Your City OTT platform powered by Connect2OTT, offering documentaries, news analysis, live discussions, educational programming, global civil rights coverage, and cultural storytelling. The channel functions as both a historical archive and a living platform addressing contemporary civil rights challenges.

Civil Rights, Technology, and the AI Era

As technology and artificial intelligence increasingly shape access to information, media, and opportunity, Civil Rights TV launches at a moment when access to digital infrastructure itself is emerging as a civil rights issue.

Media fragmentation, misinformation, and uneven access to technology continue to reshape public discourse. While on-demand platforms have expanded individual content access, large-scale live broadcasting still faces challenges related to congestion, latency, and energy consumption.

Civil Rights TV leverages broadcast-efficient OTT architecture designed to reduce bandwidth usage and energy requirements, enabling continuous global distribution without placing added strain on network infrastructure.

Why Civil Rights TV Matters Now

Civil Rights TV is not only a media launch—it is a signal.

The network underscores the importance of preserving civil rights history using the most accurate and comprehensive sources available. For generations, the Black press has maintained some of the deepest and most reliable documentation of the civil rights movement, currents events, news and critical Black history, much of which remains underrepresented in modern digital media archives and inaccessible to artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

As a result, Civil Rights TV will rely heavily on national Black press for news, historical archives and independent voices. Prominent digital news platforms, podcasts, and broadcasters—will play an instrumental role in shaping continuous coverage, historical interpretation, and public discourse.

About Connect2OTT

Connect2OTT currently manages more than 250 live 24/7 television and radio channels streaming to audiences in more than 190 countries. Civil Rights TV joins this ecosystem as a flagship channel, designed to foster global conversation while demonstrating how media distribution, energy efficiency, and AI readiness can coexist responsibly.

About Larry Witherspoon

Larry Witherspoon is a technology entrepreneur and founder of Phoenix-based Connect2 Technologies, LLC, including Connect2OTT, Connect2AI, and Connect To Your City OTT Platform.

In 2006, Witherspoon launched FaithFone Wireless, the world’s first Christian-owned and operated mobile phone company—years ahead of today’s fintech and mobile banking platforms. As a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), FaithFone introduced mobile banking, digital tithing, live television and radio, content downloads, and branded debit- card-based person-to-person payment functionality before mobile commerce was widely understood by major telecom and financial institutions.

That early convergence of mobile, media, and financial technology laid the foundation for Witherspoon’s current work across AI, energy efficiency, broadcasting, and infrastructure optimization.

Community Content Submissions

Civil Rights TV welcomes article submissions from trusted community voices, journalists, and verified organizations. Content may be submitted through an official upload portal or via email for editorial review.

Submissions approved for broadcast will be scheduled during the network’s community programming window from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., with select pieces considered for prime- time airing based on their significance, accuracy, and value to the broader civil rights dialogue.

Media Contact Tina Michelle
Connect2OTT / Civil Rights TV Phone: (480) 740-7777
Email: [email protected] Website: CivilRightsTV.com