Written by Lindsay Grillet, IABC/Toronto President
These past few weeks have been a sobering experience for so many of us. In the wake of a global pandemic, we have also seen citizens from around the world mobilize to speak up and proclaim, “This isn’t right!” We’ve been reminded that we must not only educate ourselves, but take action.
As a community, as an IABC chapter and as a profession we must recognize that we have a lot of work to do on the road to becoming more inclusive and for those in positions of privilege to be stronger allies. As the conversation gets louder, we can see more clearly how to better support those who’ve been told to be quiet. To amplify those voices who’ve been told and shown that their opinions and struggles don’t matter. To protect and uplift those who suffer at the hands of systemic racism and discrimination on a regular basis, even when we don’t see it.
We can and will do better.
Be heard… or just listen
We are exploring how best to support Black members of the IABC/Toronto community in the short term and the long term. If you’d like to take part in a panel to discuss your experiences as a Black communicator in the GTA, we’d like to collaborate with you on what that would look like. Please connect with me at toronto-president@iabc.to or respond HERE.
Inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) – June 22
If you’ve already registered for our webinar “We are all humans first” on June 22, I encourage you to share this event with your colleagues. Inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) are important topics for Marketers and Communicators. We need to be comfortable advocating for and implementing these concepts into our organizational strategies, operations and messaging. Jefferson Darrell is a skilled presenter who uses pop culture to help illustrate how IDEA can and should impact our duties as communicators. Learn more about his agency, Breakfast Culture at www.breakfastculture.org.
This is an extremely important topic for all communicators across the GTA; therefore, we will be offering this as a free event for both members and non-members.
IDEA Committee
IABC/Toronto has the benefit of a multicultural membership of new and experienced communicators. Recognizing that action items can’t be decided on in a bubble, and that the path forward must be a part of an overall plan, we are forming a committee to help develop and implement a strategy around Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Accessibility. If you identify as being a member of an under-represented group and would like to sit on our Inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility committee please respond HERE.
This team will be tasked with collecting feedback from our members and delivering strategic and tactical recommendations to be implemented at the board level.
Join us in amplifying the diverse voices of GTA communicators. Join us in listening and in sharing. Join us in supporting communicators from across the GTA.