Chapter Diversity Award Winners
2008 Winners
The Greater Fort Worth Chapter recognized that understanding the distinction between embracing and accepting differences is key to an authentic approach to diversity. This insight led to the creation of the Chapter’s “Diversity of Thought” program, which helped promote diverse group participation in a citywide AIDS and HIV awareness program. The Chapter increased commitment to diversity from its members by building a committee of diverse persons representing the corporate, nonprofit, medical, and arts communities. Additionally, the Chapter sponsored diversity-themed luncheons, as well as held a series of meetings and phone conferences with area companies to gauge the effectiveness of its diversity initiatives.
The Miami Chapter continues to recognize their impact on the public relations industry as a highly diverse city. The Chapter’s priorities have intrinsically centered on diversity, which is illustrated by its leadership composition, professional development opportunities, and community service. This year’s PRSA Miami Sunshine District Conference allowed the Chapter to expand its key programming to include diversity topics that allowed panelists to discuss marketing strategies to reach diverse segments of the population in today’s changing times. The programming also included an agency roundtable with key executives from three of Miami’s top international agencies.
The Orange County Chapter continues to build upon its strategic partnerships with regional Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and YoPro Chapters for new leader development, diversity, inclusion training, and mentorship. It secured high-profile guest speakers, which drove attendance to diversity events and broadened the Chapter’s diversity message, as well as maintains timely content and resources on its website. This year, the Chapter rebranded diversity with a new logo and leveraged social networking opportunities on such sites as Facebook and LinkedIn.
The Kansas Chapter received the Award of Honor certificate for its energy as a small Chapter making great strides to advance diversity and inclusion by producing diversity-themed workshops for its community.
2007 Winners
The Greater Cleveland Chapter, Award of Achievement recipient, embodies and consistently demonstrates key values in advancing diversity by building commitment across the organization to promote diversity and inclusion. Many initiatives were accomplished, including one that provides significant progress in immersing Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) members into Chapter life while keeping diverse programming in the forefront.
Two Chapters received Award of Honor certificates for their own outstanding efforts in advancing diversity. The New York City Chapter was selected for its blueprint model for student outreach and programming. The Orange County Chapter was selected for its diversity-focused regional conference, enabling a full range of professional development to practitioners in the region.
No awards given out in 2006.
2005 Winners
First Place: National Capital Chapter.
Second Place: Greater Cleveland Chapter.
Honorable Mention: Orange County Chapter.
2004 Winners
Recognized in the large Chapter category (150+ members), was the Miami Chapter. With 43 percent of its membership identifying themselves as representing one or more racial or ethnic minority categories, the Miami Chapter is a perfect example of Chapter diversity. Just eleven years ago, the Chapter's minority representation was only 12 perfect of its total membership. In 1994, the Chapter launched a Hispanic Marketing Section, one of the first in the nation, which now hosts up to three professional development programs annually. This year, the Miami Chapter helped charter a PRSSA Chapter at Florida Memorial College, a historically African-American college located in North Miami-Dade County. The Miami Chapter, which has diversity interwoven into its every day operations, was also the inspiration for National PRSA's Diversity Tool Kit®.
The North Florida Chapter, awarded the Chapter Diversity Award in the mid-size Chapter category (51-150), formed an alliance with the Sunshine Chapter (Florida) of the Black Public Relations Society (BPRS). They held a diversity luncheon program featuring Tony Jenkins, vice president of diversity, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, as the keynote speaker. North Florida also received extensive media coverage of their diversity efforts by reaching out to the local media.
In an effort to diversify their membership to more accurately reflect Arizona's current demographics, the Phoenix Chapter, recipients of an honorable mention, established a Diversity Task Force comprised of multicultural practitioners representing various backgrounds and years of experience within the public relations industry. The task force developed a plan for 2004 which included conducting a baseline survey to determine diversity baselines and to help set attainable goals. In addition, the task force increased awareness of member benefits and cultivated future professionals by introducing public relations as a career option to minority students currently enrolled in Arizona educational institutions.
Also receiving an honorable mention was the PRSA Richmond Chapter. In January 2003, the Richmond Chapter adopted diversity as one of its primary goals and developed a strategic diversity plan. From that strategic diversity plan, the Minority Mentorship program has emerged as the Chapter's marquee program. The mentorship program pairs PRSA Richmond members with minority students studying public relations at local colleges and universities. The mentorship program runs from September to June and has been included in the Chapter’s 2005 strategic plan.
2003 Winners
The Detroit Chapter's diversity program was implemented in April 2002. Since that time, the Chapter has established an annual minority/multicultural recruitment reception, sponsored by the General Motors Corporation. An annual minority scholarship was also created in memory of the late Gerald R. Lundy, APR, Fellow PRSA. Other events include an annual multicultural holiday Chapter luncheon to showcase international holiday celebrations and a half-day workshop held at the Arab Cultural Center for Economic and Social Services.
The Georgia Chapter brought in the largest number of minority members with their diversity program, recruiting 20 new members over the past few months. To further demonstrate their commitment to diversity, Georgia Chapter COO Denise Grant attended the Diversity Leadership Academy, graduating from a five-month training program on diversity maturity. Other Chapter diversity initiatives include joint meetings with the Black Public Relations Society and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a mentoring program catering especially to mid-level practitioners who require mentoring in order to be promoted to the upper levels of management, creating a diversity section on the Chapter website and paying the membership dues of the Clark Atlanta University PRSSA Chapter Faculty Advisor and returning the student Chapter to good overall standing.
The Greater Cleveland Chapter's diversity program was highlighted by their professional development conference, "Facing Change, Changing Faces: A Communicator's Guide to Remaining Relevant," which drew 120 attendees and was held in conjunction with the Cleveland Advertising Association. The conference was held during Unity Week, a series of events and activities designed to promote multiculturalism and diversity in Cleveland and across Northeast Ohio. Dukes served as keynote speaker and also moderated a City of Cleveland-sponsored panel discussion on negative stereotypes.
