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HomeNewsLocal newsActor, Director, Producer Tim Reid Speaks at UVI RTPark Business Attraction...

Actor, Director, Producer Tim Reid Speaks at UVI RTPark Business Attraction Summit

Audience members listen to Tim Reid at the 2022 Business Attraction Summit. (Source photo by Diana Dias)

Emmy-nominated actor, director and producer Tim Reid was the keynote speaker at the UVI Research and Technology Park Corporation Thursday as it launched its two-day Business Attraction Summit that will continue Friday.

Reid has appeared on television shows such as Sister Sister, That 70’s Show, Simon & Simon, Frank’s Place and HBO’s Treme, just to name a few.

Reid opened the discussion by describing how his grandmother thought he would be a great preacher. He recalled that his grandmother said, “Junior, I can see you standing in front of a whole bunch of people. Big shots! To tell them what you believe and what you think.”

“She would be so happy for me to see me standing here pretending to be somewhat of a preacher,” said Reid as the crowd laughed.

Reid discussed leveraging the use of technology within the entertainment industry to empower communities of color as an important theme throughout his work as a cultural activist, producer, and director.

“My fate and the fate of our younger generation are all one and the same,” said Reid. “I ask all of you to join me in this battle to win the hearts and minds of the generation upon whose shoulders we have placed the greatest economic, environmental, and social problems that the modern world has ever seen. They must clean up our mess, they must use technology to help heal this planet. They must bring justice to our system and justice to unjust society.”

Tim Reid (Image provided by the UVI Research and Technology Park Corporation)

Reid recently launched an international streaming service, “lgcytv.com,” which is intended to be an independent source of entertainment content that highlights and shares the history, lifestyles, and culture of the African Diaspora, as it continues to play an essential role in shaping the destiny of mankind throughout the world, according to Reid.

“We’re at a critical point in our history as we witness the dynamic merger of technology and humanity. Technologies will either assist our cultural diversity to flourish and enhance our future or through its formidable power, it will destroy any chance of us realizing our mutual destiny,” Reid said.

“It’s solely up to those who control and program its power. Those of African diaspora must become cultural programmers or continue to be programmed.”

The RTPark’s executive director and CEO Peter H. Chapman, who joined Reid on stage at the event said, “Embracing the full breadth of the RTPark’s mandate allows the corporation to attract business not only in information technology and agriculture but also in sectors that hold great economic potential for the Virgin Islands, such as the entertainment industry.”

“Mr. Reid’s perspectives add momentum to the work we are doing to create a more sustainable economy for our community,” Chapman said.

The event is a free two-day virtual seminar and was offered to attendees both in-person and remotely. The RTPark Business Attraction Summit was provided to rapidly growing and established tech companies from around the world, emerging tech entrepreneurs, high net worth investors, and key influencers in the tech and economic development industries who are interested in learning about the benefits of living and working in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

To learn more about the UVI Research & Technology Park visit: uvirtpark.net.

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