The U.S. public relations industry is homogenous — and I’m doing something to welcome diversity in PR.

I’m launching Tracks Public Relations to provide paid job training for refugees and immigrants and introduce diversity into PR

Incubated by Mixte, Tracks offers digital communications powered by public relations, and through exclusive partnerships with nonprofits, we will provide paid work-based training to New Americans to help them break into the communications field.

I’ve been working on this concept for two years, and I’m happy to announce that Angela Rivera, formerly of Mixte, accepted the challenge to lead the agency. And, Karim Bouris, known for his workforce development background, heads our partnerships and workplace readiness programs to prepare our candidates – and the employers ready to hire them – to benefit from diversity inclusion.

The PR industry is 83% white – and I’m doing something about diversity in PR. Why start with New Americans?

Our world is more connected than ever. The demographics of America have changed. The PR industry must evolve, too; it needs the perspectives of all Americans to form the connective tissue to the issues, brands or experiences it promotes. But opportunity is not created equal in our industry, and I knew that we could change that.

My vision for Tracks Public Relations will bring industry-wide change.

It’s a long path ahead to shake that 83% statistic. We will measure our success in happy clients, of course, but more powerfully in lives changed and businesses impacted:

• We’re working through our local industry associations to bring actionable diversity initiatives to their memberships
• We’re designing curriculum with a local college consortium to help English as Second Language learners prepare for a communications career
• We’re designing a partnership with a national nonprofit staffing agency for New Americans to test and measure the effectiveness of our program

Some cool people have already supported our vision to bring diversity into PR

Thank you to Less + More for creating our brand, Diamond + Branch for building our website and our clients who have invested in our vision:

• The Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans hired us to conduct a voter research project in El Cajon, California, to learn how to improve voting habits within the Arab community
• Eastside for All in Seattle, Washington, is currently working with Tracks to brand and build a website for the new foundation
• Youth Will in San Diego, California, hired Tracks to create its brand and communications strategy to build youth power
• MANA de San Diego hired us to lead its PR campaign to lift Latina voices in the professional sector
• RISE San Diego works with us to amplify its stories, as the organization heads into its fifth year
• Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center and Scoop San Diego just kicked off with us

Please share the news or hire us for your next project

Please be a part of our vision to bring diversity to PR and hire Tracks, recommend us to your network, and share us on LinkedIn. And, of course, come to us for your next communications hire. If you want to celebrate, chime in here, or let’s connect personally to talk more about this work.

Jamie
CEO and Founder
Tracks Public Relations + Mixte Communications, Inc.