April is Celebrate Diversity Month which recognizes and honors the diversity of the world around us. It is a time to acknowledge and understand our differences, be it gender, race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, and other factors, while honoring the common essence of humanity. By appreciating our similarities and differences, the month aims to get people to foster a deeper understanding of others, regardless of who they are, what they are, or how they live.
Throughout the month, the DE&I committee featured Coyners in a social series spotlighting how we view and celebrate diversity here at Coyne PR. We hope their words provide a gateway for an open dialogue and that everyone can foster a deeper understanding of others, regardless of who they are, what they are, or how they live.
Diverse and inclusive spaces in PR allow for excellent work and ideas brought to life by professionals with different backgrounds, beliefs, and mindsets to produce quality work as a team. PR is better when everyone brings their unique backgrounds, ideas and perspectives to the table every day!
How do you celebrate diversity?
 | Gianaly Santiago, Account Coordinator I celebrate diversity by simply being a Latina in an office setting. Not long ago, women like me did not have opportunities to learn, be creative or thrive in a professional environment. I proudly celebrate diversity by succeeding in my field, educating others on my culture and sharing my values with my colleagues. Diversity should always be appreciated and recognized when someone shares a new idea you would have never thought of or offers knowledge on an unfamiliar topic. Diversity is the reason why we grow and improve every day, which is deserving of daily celebration. | |
 | Destiny Powers, Assistant Account Executive I celebrate diversity by learning about other cultures, trying new foods from around the world and keeping myself open to all the possibilities. By understanding other’s traditions, history, and ways of life; I feel more connected to the world and can see the bigger picture. | |
 | Bridget Mackey, Account Supervisor I celebrate diversity by championing the successes of those who come from different backgrounds. I believe that allyship is incredibly important to help others feel seen and it’s vital to celebrate those who may not have the same voice or opportunities as you do. If the only people rooting for a certain group are the members of that group, it can be hard to achieve visibility and equality. | |
 | Amanda McGarrity, Senior Account Supervisor It’s important to celebrate diversity every day, and a way to do that is by staying educated and informed and always being open to learning more from, while supporting, your peers. |
Why is DE&I an important topic of discussion?
 | Leslie Campos, Assistant Account Executive As a proud Latina, I believe it is crucial to accurately represent and acknowledge all genders, races, ethnicities, sexualities, and cultures that make us who we are. Respecting and celebrating each other’s differences while educating ourselves every day will make us more mindful of others and allow us to be more creative. That is why I chose to be a part of Coyne PR’s DE&I committee. To have important discussions daily with friends, family and colleagues to help build a more inclusive future. | |
 | Rena Odette, Vice President DE&I discussions and efforts are critical to ensure that everyone not only has a seat at the table, but can contribute to the conversation without unjust barriers to participation. Our society is elevated – most productive, interesting and harmonious – when people with different experiences and cultures lift up and learn from each other. When you’re exposed to different points of view, your aperture is widened … you gain greater perspective, knowledge and empathy. | |
 | Sara Swantkoski, Senior Account Supervisor Inclusion is an important topic of discussion because it allows us to tap into the full range of human potential. When we include people of all backgrounds, we can come up with more creative solutions to problems and we can build stronger communities. However, learning about and implementing a more inclusive environment is an ongoing process. It is not something that we can achieve once and then forget about. We need to continually work to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. | |
 | Jackie Peskin, Vice President DE&I is an important topic of discussion for me, not only as a professional but also as a mom to two young boys. It’s important to acknowledge differences and model curiosity for our children so they can learn to embrace diversity and inclusion. Empowering future generations to approach the world with empathy, openness, and kindness will give them the confidence to speak up when bias happens, ultimately, making our communities safer and better. |
How do you define inclusion?
 | Caroline Aponte, Assistant Vice President As a Latina working in the communications field, inclusion opens the door for everyone to have a voice and is an incredibly important value that has the potential to shift minds. Personally, inclusion in this industry has allowed me to see people with similar backgrounds in positions of leadership and has inspired me. Professionally, having open discussions with people offering unique perspectives has allowed teams to view campaigns through a different lens and offer valuable advice on DE&I. | |
 | Alexis Magruder, Account Executive I define inclusion as the simple act of accepting and welcoming others regardless of their religion, political preference, abilities, skin color, and many other traits and experiences that make us different to maintain and provide a safe space for everyone. | |
 | Carolina Guerra, Account Coordinator I define inclusion as being able to respect, accept and bring others together, regardless of their backgrounds and beliefs, and providing an equitable and safe space for unity to flourish. Inclusion is the driving force that makes any space a safe space for everyone to express themselves without judgment, exclusion or being dismissed. Everyone deserves to feel that they belong and will be celebrated as they are! | |
 | Courtney Moore-Adoteye, Director, Social Media For me, being able to bring my whole self to work, feeling supported with all that I do, having the ability to lend my voice where necessary, and being a part of something greater are all things that allow me to define what inclusion means, and I am so happy I have all this and more here are Coyne. |
What does Diversity mean to you?
 | Aanchal Desai, Account Supervisor As a proud south Asian female in the PR industry, for me, diversity means including, learning and accepting all backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. Not only do we start to understand certain cultural nuances, but it also helps us utilize what we’ve learned, and execute that in our professional and personal lives.” | |
 | Liz Perdomo, Account Supervisor Diversity means embracing the different types of cultures, food, music, and traditions amongst us. Ultimately, diversity makes us stronger and more resilient as a society. We all must value the uniqueness around us. | |
 | Ana Martinez, Assistant Account Executive To me, diversity means that different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences are not only represented but accepted. The more we are able to celebrate and embrace those differences, the stronger we become as individuals. | |
 | Brittannia Gordon, Account Supervisor For me, diversity is in our ethnic backgrounds, our personal experiences, our professional knowledge, and everything else that makes us unique individuals. Diversity is a positive thing and it should be celebrated because it means that we can learn from each other and grow collectively – while also coming together to discuss what makes us similar. When companies are strong in diversity, I think it helps benefit not only their work but also their employee environment. |
