Our Commitment
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Greentarget is dedicated to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that fosters belonging in the workplace and beyond.
We believe that diversity strengthens our workplace culture, creates better outcomes for our clients’ businesses, and helps create thriving communities. We strive to build an environment where diversity of every kind — race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, disability, religion, age and more — is valued and celebrated.
We know this takes work. Equity requires investment. Diversity requires commitment. And fostering an environment of inclusion and belonging is an ongoing project. That’s why we’ve established five major pillars to guide our efforts and help us meet our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging goals.
Diversifying Our Talent Pipeline
The public relations industry has a diversity problem. According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession—like many other types of professional services sectors—is more than 80% white. Changing that starts by creating new pipelines for talent, which is why we’re committed to:
· Expanding our internship program network with new and expanded partnerships with HBCU Bowie State University, the Emma Bowen Foundation and Chicago Public Schools
· Creating apprenticeship pathways for people with non-traditional agency backgrounds
Investing in Our Communities
We’re also doing what we can to support our communities and the business leaders of tomorrow through our pro bono and community service projects. We focus on organizations that serve communities in need in our backyard.
Greentarget’s community investment team has organized service events with food banks and community gardens, designed week-long educational programs for students in low-income and immigrant communities, and collected much-needed supplies for non-profits serving the terminally ill and those in need. Because we recognize the power of PR for non-profit organizations, we also provide pro bono services to organizations supporting our community, including:
· Building Peaceful Bridges, a non-profit that assists in refugee resettlement and support, in addition to educating others on the challenges refugees face.
· Cabrini Green Legal Aid, a historic organization that provides legal and support services to low-income individuals negatively impacted by the criminal legal system while advocating for systemic change.
· Doughnate Pizza, an organization that partners with small business to provide meals for the homeless and hungry.
· Greenlight Family Services, which provides crisis counselling and legal assistance for children and young adults in need.
· Ignite, an organization that provides programs and services designed to meet the immediate and long-term needs of unstably housed youth.
· The Nora Project, an organization that trains educators and offers a variety of student and community programs to foster disability inclusion.
· SafePlace International, an organization that provides stability, healing, and growth to displaced LGBTQIA+ people.
· Women in Medicine, a network of lesbian, sexual minority women and gender expansive physicians that offers continuing medical education, family-oriented community building activities, and professional mentorship.
· And more!
Supporting Diverse Businesses
We put our money where our mouth is (literally). In 2018, we formalized our ongoing commitment to maintaining and investing in minority and women-owned businesses across our vendor relationships.
Our first pledge was to support innovation hub 1871’s ChiBuys, a since-sunsetted program that helped businesses spend their food budgets with local, minority or women-owned restaurants and catering services in Chicago. For nearly a decade since its inception, we at Greentarget have expanded that list getting to know dozens of small, independently–owned restaurants and retailers as we celebrate a range of heritage
months and holidays throughout the year as well as for all of our internal events and investments.
Our hope is that by voting with our wallet, and making intentional investments in organizations whose philosophies align with our core values, we’ll be able to foster diversity and inclusion not only in our offices, but in our communities broadly.
Collaborating With Clients & Colleagues
We want to help our clients direct smarter conversations around the value of DEIB, which is why we and other DEIB leaders within the PR Council came together to create Better Together, guidance that identifies specific actions and commitments for clients and agencies to build and nurture inclusive teams including through recruiting and onboarding, staffing, and the Request for Proposal (RFP) and pitch process.
We work closely with our clients to help them navigate DEIB communications as the landscape continues to shift socially and politically.
Promoting DEIB Learning & Development
Finally, because we are never done learning and growing, we also provide a wide range of fun events and informative trainings to promote genuine inclusion and belonging at Greentarget. These include everything from a tour of Chicago’s DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, an online history experience with Unexpected Virtual Tours and a Greentarget DEI book club.
Even more resources are available to everyone at Greentarget through our open DEIB channel, where we share thought-provoking external articles and insightful blog posts written by our colleagues.
