Any Ideas?

The first meeting for the diversity committee will be September 10th and I have a slew of ideas for what PRSSA can do to help UGA as well as Grady in recruiting diversity, BUT as a blogger...I want to know other ideas.

If you have any ideas, please do not hesitate to comment or contact me.

This blog is dedicated to increasing diversity...but I need people to help!

It is not about MY ideas...its about a collaborative effort to make the diversity happen.

I am passionate about this topic...yes! I know that, but at the same time... I want this initiative to be a community effort. I want others to be invested in this cause. I know diversity does not happen over night--It happens when people are open to change and are willing to bring their ideas to the table.

So again, if you have a comment on what we can do, please post it! Or email me at debbielobo@gmail.com . I love getting feedback.

Some cliched saying once said that "One person can change the world." ..IMAGINE what more that one person can achieve?

Diversity Research pt.2

First, I wanted to thank Dr. Russel for giving me a few tips on finding diversity research!

I found a research study yesterday from the Journal of Public Relations Research entitled "Diversity Issues and Public Relations" by Linda Childers Hon and Brigitta Brunner from the University of Florida [oh how I shudder at the mere clicks from typing University of Florida--true bulldawg =) but I must admit that it is a good study]. However, the study used qualitative interviews from 28 practitioners and 5 executives and asked them about their organizations diversity strategy.

I am not done analyzing the study, however I wanted to speak about some of the comments from the interviews.
Before I do so, I have to acknowledge something, these people who are interviewed are professionals. Sighs! It is scary reading some of their answers!

One participant mentioned that she had never heard of diversity.

The interviewers had to give her a generic definition before she could even answer their questions.

After the explanation, she stated, "It's old news."

"Holey moley" is what I have to say. These are people who are working in OUR industry,

I have to put my 2 cents in and write about this comment before continuing with my life.

Having diversity in an organization is one way that a company can be sensitive to the issues of everyone. It's true that not everyone will be happy--but at least with a good diversity plan, a company can recognize and begin to understand the spectrum of publics that they are dealing with. A less diverse employee base will result in an organization ignoring potential clients.

Anyway, I will update soon on the rest of the study, but this is quite an interesting topic. Oh my, do I enjoy research...?

Diversity Comittee

Approximately, 2 hours ago (6:30 pm), UGA PRSSA had its first meeting!

WOOT WOOT!

It went off with out a hitch, but in the meeting, the NEW diversity initiative was announced! I was so proud! I think I cried a little.

Anyway, I am heading the diversity committee this year, and I am so excited to get started in promoting diversity in public relations. I feel UBER passionate about multicultural PR so this was a culmination of everything the executive board, Dr. Jones, and I have brainstormed!

I didn't see the entire list of people interested in the diversity initiative, but I saw MILLIONS of people signing up...so WOOT WOOT again!

If you are a UGA PRSSA member, and would like to get more information, please do NOT hesitate to email me at Debbielobo@gmail.com. I heart emails!

Some of the ideas that we may be implementing this year are the following:

1. Workshop for minority organization's on campus about PR and what their organization can do to promote themselves.

2. Minority Scholarships for PRSSA dues.

3. Attend the GSPA conference and speak about diversity and public relations in Grady.

4. SO MUCH MORE!

UGA PRSSA MEETING

UGA PRSSA will have it's first meeting this year at Sanford hall Wed. 6:30 pm and guess who is talking about the new diversity committee?

Hmmmm...if you said me, well...your SO SMART!

I will trying to recruit me in my efforts to increase diversity in PR as well as to spread the wonderful name of PRSSA to multicultural organizations at UGA.

How can you get involved?

hmmm...well, come to the meeting!
Listen to me along with a handful of other great people and if anything peeks your interest, then contact me.

I can't wait to get everyone excited about diversity and PR!