Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Minnesota chapter is dedicated to providing a welcoming environment to all PR and communication professionals. In 2018, the membership voted to add a Diversity and Inclusion Officer (DIO) to its board. Marsha Pitts-Phillips, APR, served as the first DIO through 2021. Leah Kondes was appointed in 2022. In this role, Leah leads Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) efforts for the chapter including an annual half-day DE&I forum.

The DIO will also:

• Provide stewardship in aligning the chapter with the national PRSA standards and best practices for DE&I;
• Oversee the chapter’s DE&I education, and lead efforts to incorporate DE&I into the fabric of the chapter;
• Serve as an advisor to the board on matters related to DE&I; and
• Work with members to increase visibility of DE&I standards, resources and best practices for the following dimensions of diversity at all levels of the organization – racial, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, culture, skills and mindset.

Questions? Contact Leah Kondes at Leah.Kondes@padillaco.com.

Resources:
PRSA D&I Strategic Plan 2020-2022
PRSA D&I Chapter Toolkit

Upcoming Events:

May 15, 2024:  DEI Chats: Let’s Talk about DEI in the Workplace (Virtual Event) - REGISTER NOW

Past Events:
Feb. 8, 2024: DEI Chats: Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers (Virtual Event)
Oct. 3, 2023: Annual DEI Forum - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: From Awareness to (Affirmative?) Action - Photo Gallery
Feb. 17, 2022: 3rd Annual Diversity and Inclusion Forum with guest speaker Seena Hodges, Founder and CEO of The Woke Coach
Oct. 30, 2020: 2nd Annual Diversity and Inclusion Forum - Recording (Video) & Post-Event Resources
Sep. 17, 2020: "The Intersection of Ethics & Diversity & Inclusion" - Recording (Video & Audio) & Post-Event Resources
Jul. 28, 2020: "The Power of Language" Panel Discussion - Recording (Audio) & Post-Event Resources
Nov. 5, 2019: 1st Annual Diversity and Inclusion Forum - Recording (Audio) & Post-Event Resources

National Recognition:

Minnesota PRSA was selected for first place in the 2023 PRSA DEI Chapter Awards. Minnesota PRSA President Ben Saukko, APR, MBA, accepted the award for the Chapter at the DEI Reception at the PRSA 2023 ICON in Nashville on October 16. Presenting the award were Marsha Pitts-Phillips, APR, PRSA DEI Committee Co-Chair and Minnesota PRSA President-Elect, and W. Patrick McSweeney, APR, Fellow PRSA, PRSA DEI Committee Co-Chair.

The PRSA DEI Chapter Awards are given to Chapters that embody and demonstrate key values in diversity, equity and inclusion. Minnesota PRSA submitted an entry for the award showcasing the Chapter’s DEI work hosting the 2022 Midwest District Conference and its work in 2023 to incorporate the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) within the Chapter Board to expand the Board’s DEI knowledge by building cultural competence.

Thank you to everyone within Minnesota PRSA who played a role in our award-winning DEI efforts!

Photo Credit: Jim Cowsert, Grapevine Photo LLC