PRSA October is D&I Month
Every October we celebrate Diversity & Inclusion Month, but this year’s observance takes on extra significance and sense of purpose in light of recent events unfolding across the country and throughout the world.
Our theme, “Transforming the Landscape,” reflects the need for us to continue broadening and strengthening our commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture throughout PRSA and the communications profession. This means our mission must include more educational opportunities while also recognizing and honoring the inherent value of each person regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Our efforts to date this year have included the launches of PRSA’s 2020-2022 Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan and our Diverse Dialogues webinar series, as well as a new D&I Chapter Toolkit and an initiative to endow our Multicultural Scholarship to support the next generation of public relations professionals.
PRSA is also piloting a mentor program to support new professionals and students from underrepresented groups and have initiated diversity and unconscious bias training with staff, the PRSA Board of Directors and many of you serving in volunteer leadership positions.
Additionally, we have signed on to the Diversity Action Alliance pledge and commit to adopting best practices, championing the cause and tracking diversity data to accelerate progress in the areas of DE&I.
This is only a start and we know there is much more work to be done. We look forward to continuing to implement important new programs and strategies that will help shape the future of the industry and our organization.
For this year’s D&I Month, we are offering a mix of webinars, Twitter chats, special events and editorial coverage in Strategies & Tactics and PRsay, all focused not only on the importance of continually communicating the message of diversity and inclusion, but also putting them into daily practice.
Highlights include:
Twitter Chat - #PRoud to be Diverse: The Importance of D&I in Chapters (in English and Spanish)
October 5, 9:00 PM EDT
Follow along @PRSSANational; @haniyashariff
Diverse Dialogues Session:Communicators: Helping Americans Vote in 2020
October 6, 6:00 PM EDT
Moderator: Felicia Blow, APR, Co-Chair, PRSA National Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Panelists: Representatives from Levi Strauss & Co., the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, the Native American Rights Fund - Voter Action and The Heritage Foundation.
Twitter Chat - Supporting Diversity & Inclusion Through MentorshipOctober 22, 3:00 PM EDT
Follow along @PRSA and use the hashtags #PRSAchat and #PRdiversity
Diversity & Inclusion Celebration and Multicultural Scholarship Fundraising Concert
October 27, 6:30 PM EDT
Join us as we recognize the Chapter Diversity & Inclusion Award recipients. The event will also feature a benefit concert as part of the campaign to support scholarships for years to come.
I would like to especially thank the members of the D&I Committee for putting together this month’s outstanding agenda, and for the important work they do throughout the year. We are working closely with them to finalize our 2020 benchmark survey which will access awareness and perceptions as it relates to diversity and inclusion for PRSA. More information will be coming later this month.
In these uncertain times it is more important than ever to recognize the importance of inclusive growth and collaboration as we strive to improve the well-being of our colleagues and our communities. Thank you again for all you do for PRSA.
Moving PRSA Forward!
T. Garland Stansell, APR
PRSA 2020 Chair