Ad Industry To Address Lack Of Diversity

College/university students, young professionals, educators, leading advertising agencies and top recruiters from throughout the U.S. will converge next month on New York City when The One Club hosts its third 'Where Are All The Black People?' conference and career fair Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at the New World Stages in Manhattan. 

 

What began in May 2011 as an impassioned conversation among ad industry leaders including Jeff Goodby and Jimmy Smith, past and present members of The One Club's Board of Directors, the one-day Where Are All the Black People? since has evolved into a highly anticipated annual multicultural ad industry event. The day lends support to the next generation of advertising creatives, offering them an opportunity to 'kick start' their careers with portfolio reviews, live talent pitches and meeting and networking with industry leaders.  It also provides an industry call to action to discuss, debate and implement real world solutions to the lack of diversity that remains in creative positions.

 

Last year’s Where Are All the Black People? event netted students and young professionals 11 job offers, 14 internships, many newly-established mentor/mentee relationships and countless other career changing connections for attending students who traveled from across the country. The event also includes testimonials from key advertising creatives, workshops on how to best position your self for the job market, and sessions with agency recruiters.  Again this year, selected participants will be giving 3-minute elevator pitches, telling industry professionals why they should 'Hire me'.  The event is open to ALL multicultural college/university students and young professionals.

 

"With many of the top agencies and recruiters returning, and with new agencies, students and young professionals signing up daily to attend, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever,” said Tiffany Edwards, education and diversity director at The One Club.

 

The One Club Education and Diversity Department offers several programs throughout the year in addition to its award-winning Creative Boot Camp. They include the College Competition, Annual Student Exhibition, seasonal Portfolio Reviews that connect premier industry creatives with aspiring students and young professionals for invaluable one-on-one critiques, and the much talked about Where Are All The Black People? conference and career fair.

 

According to Ms. Edwards, while some may find the ‘Where Are All the Black People?’ title provocative, it is meant to be: "The One Club’s goal in continuing use the title, originated by Jeff Goodby, is to catch peoples’ attention and spark dialogue on the lack of diversity within the industry,” continued Ms. Edwards.  “While we have received an abundance of agency support, the fact that this issue remains shows us that we're on the right path, but we still have lots more work to do to ensure that more people of colour have both the opportunity to interview—and the chance to be hired."