Diversity and Inclusion - Progressions

February 17, 2017

Black History Months Honors Terrie M. Williams, PR Practitioner and Mental Health Pioneer

This article is part of a mini-series celebrating the first-ever Black PR History Month, showcasing individuals of color and the influence they’ve had on the public relations industry. Read more here. This month celebrates the accomplishments of African-American innovators, visionaries and revolutionaries who have paved the way for modern society’s most impactful advancements. Today we pay homage to Terrie Williams, public […]

February 10, 2017

Cheryl Procter-Rogers, APR, Fellow PRSA: A Champion for Diversity and Education

This article is part of a mini-series celebrating the first-ever Black PR History Month, showcasing individuals of color and the influence they’ve had on the public relations industry. Read more here. Cheryl Procter-Rogers, APR, Fellow PRSA, is a leader, advocate, educator and passionate public relations practitioner. As the first black PRSA president of one of the Society’s largest Chapters, PRSA Chicago, […]

February 3, 2017

A View of Debra A. Miller’s Life Full of Inspiration and Mentorship

This article is part of a mini-series celebrating the first-ever Black PR History Month, showcasing individuals of color and the influence they’ve had on the public relations industry. Read more here. As the 2006 Gold Anvil Winner and PRSA 1997 National President, Debra A. Miller, Ed.D, APR, Fellow PRSA, is a public relations leader, strategist, counselor, educator and advocate. As the […]

December 20, 2016

Recap and Reflection: Ketchum Student Diversity and Inclusion Workshop

On Oct. 10, Ketchum’s Washington, D.C. office hosted a student-targeted panel discussion on diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the field of public relations. The featured speakers were Sharon V. Jones, senior vice president, director of human resources and director of diversity and inclusion at Ketchum; Dianne R. Johnson, MPH, vice president of marketing and communications at Providence Hospital; Stella-Monica N. […]

August 29, 2016

Understanding the Role of Diversity

Diversity Month is a month dedicated to celebrating and embracing diversity within PRSA and PRSSA. In an effort to understand more about the role of diversity in organizations, I contacted Dr. Cheryl Jenkins, associate professor and graduate coordinator at the School of Mass Communication and Journalism at The University of Southern Mississippi and co-author of ”Race and Media: Critical Perspectives.” “When […]

August 26, 2016

Why Diversity Is Important

Many of us can agree that diversity is a good thing. Making diversity a goal is, for the most part, a no-brainer. However, we often forget the many reasons why diversity is important in the first place. Here are three reasons why it is important for us to continually encourage diversity. Diversity is more realistic. When you find yourself in […]

August 19, 2016

3 Ways to Avoid the “Single Story”

Public relations is all about storytelling. If we aren’t creating awareness or framing conversations, we’re busy questioning and seeking out answers in preparation to do one or the other. Why not bring this same frame of mind to our personal and professional interactions? We are constantly surrounded by people who are different from us. While there is much to […]

August 15, 2016

PRSA Grant Funds Diversity in Public Relations Initiative

For the third consecutive year, the PRSA Foundation has awarded a grant to DePaul University and Midtown Center for Boys to encourage Chicago minority high school students to pursue a career in public relations or journalism through a seven-week intensive apprenticeship. As part of this program, students produce several issues of a newspaper called the Midtown Voice, which promotes the […]

August 10, 2016

4 Ways Your Chapter Can Participate in Diversity Month

Hold a Diversity Meeting Everyone is different not only on the outside, but also on the inside. Coming together as a Chapter and discussing ways to encourage and express diversity allows each member to feel like they are represented. A great way to let everyone express their diversity is by asking each member to define what diversity means to them. […]

August 5, 2016

Recognize Diversity Through #HumansofPRSSA

Growing up, I remember one of my family’s favorite games to play at the dinner table was “the person game,” commonly known as Guess Who. The game starts with a single player thinking of a person while other players ask yes or no questions to try and discover the identity of the person the player has in mind. As a […]