The PRSA Foundation, an independent, 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to advancing diversity and inclusion within the communications profession, announced the theme of its upcoming Diverse Voices event: Courageous Conversations on Diversity & Inclusion. The event, taking place in the evening on December 11 at Emory University in Atlanta, will be grounded in candid dialogue about the diversity challenge facing the profession, and actions to address them. The chair for this year’s event is Yanique Woodall, Head of Brand Communications at The Home Depot.
The theme of the event was chosen to get at the heart of the most pressing D&I issues impacting the PR industry and provide a framework for professionals to enact change at all levels. Damon Jones, Vice President of Global Communications & Advocacy at Procter & Gamble, will serve as the event’s distinguished keynote speaker. Damon, along with other speakers of the night, was recently featured in the book Diverse Voices: Profiles in Leadership, published by the Museum of Public Relations.
“Addressing D&I challenges in our industry will help us address them for the organizations and customers we all serve,” said Jones. “From brand-led campaigns like ‘Talk About Bias’ to industry initiatives like the Diverse Voices book and events, we must continue to improve awareness and understanding of these critical issues. Our upcoming event in Atlanta will provide a terrific forum to continue the dialogue and provide both seasoned executives and emerging leaders with an opportunity to discuss the tangible actions we need to take to enact positive change within our profession.”
The event will also include a panel discussion moderated Catherine Hernandez-Blades, Chief ESG and Communications Officer at Aflac. In line with the theme of the evening. Executives from Coca-Cola, Porter Novelli and the Center for Disease Control will join the panel to share candid stories of the challenges they’ve overcome and discuss best practices to improve diversity and inclusion within the industry.
“The PRSA Foundation has been instrumental in increasing the overall conversation around D&I within our profession,” said Woodall. “Only through authentic, and sometimes uncomfortable, conversations can we shed light on the challenges many individuals face and create meaningful change.”
Woodall added, “Advancing diversity & inclusion is integral to the future of our profession. This will require united efforts by the industry that inspire others to make conscious decisions that move the needle each day.”
Proceeds from the evening will go to the PRSA Foundation for use in overall diversity initiatives which include scholarships, awards and professional development opportunities for diverse students and mid-level professionals.
For more information about attending, sponsoring or covering the event, contact Susan Belanich at Susan.Belanich@prsa.org, or (212) 460-1442.
