Working Toward a More Diverse Profession
While the practice of public relations in the United States has undergone dramatic changes, a lack of diversity in the communications profession persists. Many studies indicate that the industry still struggles to attract young Black, Asian and Hispanic professionals to pursue public relations as their career of choice.
The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee is devoted to building consciousness by increasing visibility of DEI standards, resources and best practices for racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation and gender differences, as well as diverse skill sets, mindsets and cultures at all levels of the organization.
The DEI Committee commends PR firms and organizations that have established more diverse workplace environments, and those that have established management programs to help minority groups and LGBTQ practitioners move up the corporate ladder.
Co-Chair
William Patrick McSweeney, APR, Fellow PRSA
Managing Director
McSweeney Public Relations LLC
Milwaukee, WI
Co-Chair
Marsha Pitts-Phillips, APR
Public Relations Consultant
MRPP & Associates Communications, LLC
Plymouth, MN
Staff Liaison
Jeneen Garcia
Senior Vice President of Programs
PRSA
New York, NY
D. Parke Gibson Award
The D. Parke Gibson Award is PRSA’s highest individual award presented to a public relations professional that has contributed to the increased awareness of public relations within multicultural communities and participated in the promotion of issues that meet the special informational and educational needs of these diverse communities.
Nomination information will be available in July 2023.
Chapter Diversity Awards
The PRSA DEI Committee will award up to three PRSA Chapters with a Chapter Diversity Award. The awards are given to Chapters that embody and demonstrate key values in diversity, equity and inclusion, and that contribute to advancing diversity as shown by submissions of their best practices and/or case studies. These awards recognize their local efforts, as well as provide further support for continued achievements at the Chapter level.
The 2023 application will be available in late June and the deadline to enter is September 1.
2022 Winners
Tampa Bay PRSA Chapter – First Place
Orange County – Second Place
Dallas Chapter – Honorable Mention
Build a More Inclusive Profession
Support the Endowment of PRSA’s Multicultural Scholarship
PRSA is committed to enabling positive change in the public relations and communications profession in many ways. PRSA has made a bold commitment to creating meaningful change in our profession by empowering the next generation of multicultural communications professionals and leaders.
Since 1989, PRSA has recognized young men and women for outstanding academic achievement and commitment to the practice of public relations.
In 2020 the PRSA Board of Directors, in partnership with the PRSA Diversity & Inclusion Committee, established the first permanent endowment to ensure funding for the annual PRSA Diversity Multicultural Scholarship.
We are storytellers. It is what we do.
Let our story be that we kept a promise we make today. Help us write the story of change.
