Two D.C. area agencies – Black Digital and The Hannon Group – have joined The Change Agencies, the national network of independently-owned multicultural and LGBTQ public relations and marketing firms that launched in June 2019.
According to a release, The Change Agencies is a national collective of PR firms offering inclusive communications advice, counsel, and outreach to effectively represent, engage and connect with African American, Asian American, Hispanic, and LGBTQ communities. Utilizing a collaborative working approach, The Change Agencies helps businesses and organizations communicate across cultures, ensuring that outreach and marketing to diverse communities are culturally appropriate, sensitive, and meaningful. Every agency owner is either Black, Asian-American, Hispanic, Indigenous, and/or LGBTQ, and 10 of the 14 member agencies are led by women.
“Our dramatic growth should be taken as a sign of two things: First, interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion remains strong despite reports to the contrary; and, second, independent public relations firms led by communications professionals with deep expertise in multicultural and LGBTQ outreach and engagement will be the drivers for these conversations in the years to come,” explained Ben Finzel, president of D.C.-based RENEWPR and one of the Managing Principals of The Change Agencies. “The United States is a multicultural nation and communicators who embrace that fact and commit to celebrating and reinforcing it will be the ones who are the most successful.”
Mike Utaegbulam, CEO of Black Digital, right in photo, said: “It’s an honor to be inducted as a member of the second class of The Change Agencies (TCA). As we face uncertain times, it’s imperative that we lean on community and as a diverse firm, we understand the importance and value of partnering with like minded organizations. With this partnership, I hope to combine the shared expertise and offerings of The Change Agencies and Black Digital to create campaigns where marginalized groups are not only seen and heard but understood and appreciated.”
According to Dr. Sandra Wills Hannon, founder and CEO of The Hannon Group, left in photo, “Communicators can and should be leaders of change, that’s why The Hannon Group is thrilled to join The Change Agencies to accelerate our mutual mission to change the way people and businesses communicate. The Hannon Group, a distinguished minority and woman-owned business, with a team dedicated to cause-driven work, prides itself on creating inclusive, innovative, groundbreaking campaigns for our clients, and this starts by embracing and advancing diversity and inclusivity in a substantive manner.”
The Change Agencies now comprises 14 agencies operating in 12 major markets across the United States.
Source: Capital Communicator
