Lowcountry agencies aim to advance racial equity

August 20, 2020

Trio Solutions Inc. (TRIO) founder Jessica Munday and Obviouslee Marketing founder Lee Deas will discuss ways leaders within the creative field can work together to address the lack of diversity and inclusion within the marketing and advertising industry. This Friday, Aug. 21, the Lowcountry business owners will discuss a new initiative called Agencies Act in Solidarity. The conversation will take place on TRIO’s Instagram account at noon during TRIO’s regular Leveraging Lunch series.

The initiative was created by Deas and Katie Kern, partner of Media Frenzy Global in Atlanta. The two industry leaders came together after the murder of George Floyd to issue a challenge to agency leaders across the country to publicly voice their support to advance racial equity within the marketing field.

“This is a critical conversation,” says Munday. “Agencies need to come together and take ownership of the fact that our field has struggled with diversity, equity and inclusion for years.”

More than 30 agency leaders from across the nation have signed the pledge. According to research, 88% of the PR industry is white, revealing a stark disparity in the industry which becomes painfully pronounced as business professionals climb the corporate ladder.

“It is important to not just stand in solidarity, but to act in solidarity,” says Deas. “There is a lot of work to be done in our company and in our industry, and we are encouraged to see how many other marketers want to also be a part of this change.”

Agencies, regardless of size, are invited to sign the pledge to eradicate racially systemic roadblocks and positively impact opportunities for Black industry professionals.

For more information and to join the pledge, interested agencies can visit https://www.actinsolidarity.com/.