Toronto, Ontario - Humber College and communications agency Agnostic, have launched The Impression Campaign – aimed at creating scholarships to help attract and retain racialized students to the college’s Bachelor of Public Relations program.
Launching with an initial investment from Agnostic, in addition to support from Argyle, Edelman, North Strategic, MSLGROUP Canada, Proof Strategies, Rogers Communications, and Weber Shandwick, Impression will encourage contributions from all those in the communications field. The Impression Campaign has been created in partnership with Code Black Communicator Network; a resource for the advancement of Black communications professionals, providing inspiration, guidance, mentorship and representation. The collective brought together under The Impression Campaign will work together to increase diversity within the public relations industry in Canada.
“Students who are balancing schoolwork, a job or multiple jobs and personal commitments, have limited time to spend on their studies.,” said Anne Marie Males, Program Co-ordinator, Humber College. “Providing ongoing financial support in the form of scholarships to these students allows them to stay in school, focus on their education, and removes the concerns about how they will pay for their tuition and other related educational expenses.”
Currently, there are no recruitment initiatives at a high school level to encourage access to the communications industry, which needs more diversity. Impression has been designed to address this issue by providing entrance scholarships targeted at racialized high school students and retention scholarships that will support students once they are in the program and working towards graduation.
“For an industry that is very focused on creating impressions for our clients and also measures itself through impressions, we are failing at making an impression when it comes to diversity,” said Sarah Crabbe, President, Agnostic. “The Impression Campaign is a way to actively recruit more potential communicators from racialized backgrounds into the industry and will help elevate the work that the industry can do over the next number of years and beyond.”
Agencies and communications teams wanting to come on board and join Agnostic in this effort, have the opportunity to name their scholarship and develop criteria that reflects their company’s diversity and inclusion objectives.
“The only way to make a real impact on the diversity issue facing our industry today is for industry leaders to work together,” said Crabbe. “We need to create the space and support for racialized persons at the onset of their career and most importantly at the education level. It’s why we’re calling on all agencies to take action and contribute to Impression.”
Impression is part of Unlimited, Humber’s first-ever fundraising campaign. Humber has the bold ambition to ignite discovery and innovation, accelerate student potential and transform the learning experience. Humber has raised more than $42 million towards this $50 million campaign. More information on Unlimited is available here.
For more information on The Impression Campaign and how to contribute, click here or contact Nikolas Tsirgielis at Nikolas.tsirgielis@humber.ca
About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Humber College is focused on our students' future. As a global leader in polytechnic education, Humber students receive in-depth theoretical learning and hands-on experience with applied research and extensive industry connections. Humber provides career-focused education to more than 33,000 full-time and 23,000 part-time and continuing education students across three campuses. A comprehensive range of credentials, including honours undergraduate degrees, Ontario graduate certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships and certificates, prepare career-ready global citizens to move seamlessly from education to employment. More than 86 per cent of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca.
About Agnostic
We are Agnostic and we believe there's always room for better thinking. As a strategic communications agency, we are senior industry experts with an unmatched drive for uncovering better insights, stronger creative and delivering business strategy with impact. We dare ourselves and our clients to seek out better thinking. It's the only way to reach uncharted territory for your business and achieve more. How do we do it? With our personalized, one-style-fits-none approach to communications. Find out more at thinkagnostic.com
About Code Black
We are a Canadian not-for-profit organization serving as a resource for the advancement of Black communications professionals. We exist to provide a safe and inspirational community space for Black communicators; to provide and advocate for the tools and support needed to navigate their careers in predominantly white spaces. Find out more at CodeBlackCN.ca or @CodeBlackCN.
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For further information:
Kate Nishida
knishida@thinkagnostic.com