PRSA

PRSA

National Capital Chapter

March 2021 President’s Message

Dear PRSA National Capital Chapter Members and Colleagues:

A year ago, our world changed forever as we faced furloughs, layoffs, loss of loved ones, health challenges and the impacts of working from home. What matters most to our chapter is and always has been supporting our community as professionals and as people. 

The PRSA NCC Board of Directors and chapter leaders are committed to ensuring the communication, resources and support we provide to you is meaningful and useful as we continue to navigate through these challenging times and look forward to a hopeful future. Empathy is needed and change is continuing.

This is a pivotal moment in time for the public relations/communications industry and our efforts reflect that.

Pandemic Resources

  • In our free online COVID-19 resource library, you can find organizations’ statements, reports and communication, as well as professional, state and federal resources. We’ve also added information about businesses and public health groups that launched an education coalition for employers with educational resources and training tools related to coronavirus and vaccines. 

Supporting Women

  • This month is Women’s History Month and as such, PRSA NCC is featuring female leaders, current or past, to share via our social channels. Please use this form to recommend Washington, DC-area’s diverse female communication professional(s) to showcase. 
  • Additionally, PRSA NCC is teaming up with WWPR to celebrate women in communications today from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET with a virtual discussion with Ashley Etienne, Communications Director, Office of the Vice President of the United States. This discussion, moderated by Lisa Nicole Matthews, President of the National Press Club and U.S. Video Assignment Manager at the Associated Press, will explore Etienne’s insights on the broader moment of generational change and how an all-woman White House communications team signals and inspires diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in all workplaces. Proceeds from the event will be allocated to mentoring programs and DEI initiatives at both PRSA NCC and WWPR. We appreciate Vanguard Communications’ sponsorship of this event.

Enhancing Your Professional Development

  • PRSA provides lifelong learning opportunities and access to a variety of resources to prepare you for every stage of your career. If you’re new to the industry, or somewhere in between, and interested in learning more, PRSA is offering a discount to join or renew with the promo code SECWINTER2021. Gain access to thousands of peers, member discounts and free webinars, and get a 1-year FREE section membership.

Coffee and Conversation

  • Missing your connections? Join PRSA NCC for its first virtual coffee and conversations member event on Wednesday, March 24 from 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. ET. This informal networking event is designed to allow members to connect with communication colleagues from the comfort of their homes. Bring your caffeine and chat with fellow creatives and collaborators. This will be an ongoing event so be sure to mark your calendars for the next one on Wednesday, April 28.

Civility Enhances Credibility

  • The time of incivility we now live in is polarizing, frustrating and exhausting. PRSA NCC is partnering with PRSA National to build the direct relationship between civility and credibility per the PRSA’s Code of Ethics. As professionals, we need to develop a healthier climate for the organizations and larger society we serve to advance and their relationships and reputations, and achieve organizational outcomes that are good for our employers and clients, and the environments in which they operate. I encourage you to view Voices4Everyone, the newest site dedicated to disinformation, diversity, equity and inclusion, civility and civic engagement.

We also recently revamped our committees page. Our committees provide support and plan programs for our members and the broader community. These committees have flexible models for volunteers in terms of time commitment. If you are looking for ways to get more active in a professional sector of interest, advance a personal passion or hone a professional skill, joining one of these committees is a great opportunity to do that. Many current and past NCC members have secured jobs and references, business, speaking and leadership opportunities; and have even developed genuine friendships through these committees.

We remain dedicated to supporting local communication professionals by fostering collaboration, enhancing knowledge and skills, and creating connections through robust, innovative and inclusive educational, networking and professional growth opportunities, with these resources and those to come. 

We are in this together and we are here for you.

Leading with integrity and passion,

Lauren Lawson-Zilai
PRSA NCC President