by | Jun 6, 2025 | Uncategorized
Now, more than ever, standing firm in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion is critical.
This commitment should not exist as lip service but as a tangible, actionable movement — rooted in purpose, not politics. Regardless of shifting government policies or evolving regulations, our role as communicators is to lead with integrity and push for what is right, not just what is safe.
Pride Month is underway, and I would like to invite you to pause and reflect on this question: Are you celebrating with intention or simply participating in a trend?
Today’s audiences—especially LGBTQIA+ communities—are more aware and engaged than ever. They SEE and remember when brands show up in June but stay silent the rest of the year. They know the difference between true support and rainbow-washing. As public relations professionals, we have the power—and the responsibility—to ensure that our campaigns and work reflect more than momentary momentum. They should express our organizations’ values, shape inclusive narratives, and inspire lasting change that doesn’t shift every 5 minutes like the Kansas weather.
Let’s ask ourselves the complex but necessary questions:
Have we created space for LGBTQ+ colleagues to lead the narrative?
Possible responses could look like:
- “Yes – our pride campaign was co-led by an LGBTQ+ employee resource group, from concept to content.
- “Not yet—but we’re working on shifting from representation to participation in campaign creation.”
- “We feature LGBTQ+ stories in our messaging, but realize we need to empower those individuals to tell their own stories in their own voice.”
Are our Pride efforts rooted in consistent advocacy?
Possible responses could look like:
- “Yes—we support LGBTQ+ causes year-round through volunteering, partnerships, and donations.”
- “We highlight Pride externally, but our internal policies are overdue for a DEI audit and update.”
- “We’re re-evaluating how we speak up during moments of injustice and ensuring our allyship doesn’t disappear after June.”
Are we taking real action that outlives the hashtags?
Possible responses could look like:
- “We’ve committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion training, equitable hiring practices, and safe workplace environments all year.”
- “We support Pride on social media, but we’re now exploring how our products, leadership, and partnerships align with our public values.”
- “This year, we’re pledging to listen more, learn consistently, and use our platforms to elevate LGBTQ+ voices beyond campaigns.”
Authentic allyship isn’t performative—it’s participatory, progressive, and personal. It appears in boardrooms, budgets, and brave conversations—not just in branding. Let’s hold ourselves and each other accountable for doing more than posting rainbows.
Let’s lead with courage, communicate with conviction, and take bold action that aligns with our values, regardless of the month or political season.
Here’s to a Pride Month that’s not just colorful but courageous—and a future inclusive by design, not by default.
by | Jun 3, 2025 | Uncategorized
By Ti’Juana Hardwell, Owner & Principal Consultant, Mamarazzi Communications, LLC
“Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.” That quote by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has always resonated with me—not just as a marketing professional, but as someone who serves business owners, organizations, and individuals navigating the power of branding every day.
In public relations and communications, we’re often tasked with telling other people’s stories, crafting messages, and polishing public images. But what about our own brand? What about how we show up?
It’s a message I repeat often to the entrepreneurs and organizational leaders I serve: you are your company’s walking billboard. Whether you’re pitching a service, leading a team, attending a networking event, or simply posting online, people are watching, listening, and forming opinions. Your personal brand is not just part of your business—it’s the heartbeat of it.
Branding Beyond the Logo
True personal branding is rooted in values, character, and credibility. It’s not about having a nice headshot or a perfectly curated social feed. It’s about being consistent in how you show up, what you say, and what you deliver.
People trust brands that align with clear values. They remember professionals who follow through, tell the truth, and bring a sense of transparency to their work. In my own career, building strong community ties and becoming a trusted voice in the field hasn’t happened overnight. It’s taken integrity, communication, and showing up with purpose again and again.
And yes—branding is also about visibility. If you’re doing good work, but no one knows about it, then your brand is incomplete. That’s why your network matters so much.
Your Network is Your Net Worth
One of the most overlooked elements of branding is your network. Relationships drive referrals, opportunities, and growth. A strong network gives you access to conversations, collaborations, and resources that can take your work to the next level.
That’s why I always encourage professionals to accept the invitation. Go to the conference. Attend the mixer. Join the association. Not because you’re collecting business cards—but because you’re welcoming connections. And those relationships often become your greatest advocates when you’re not in the room.
Avoiding the Pitfalls
While building a personal brand can unlock powerful opportunities, there are common pitfalls that quietly erode trust and credibility. Inconsistency in messaging or behavior, not honoring your word, and becoming complacent in how you show up can all diminish the impact of your brand.
It’s not about perfection, but about alignment. When your actions reflect your values—and your values are visible to others—you build a brand that lasts.
Protecting Your Brand
If you want to safeguard your personal brand, start by taking inventory of your values. What do you stand for? What are you known for? What would you want someone to say about you when you’re not in the room?
Next, be mindful of how you show up. Everything—from your email tone to your social presence to how you engage in meetings—tells a story. Be intentional about who you surround yourself with, how you communicate, and what energy you bring into a space.
Personal branding isn’t about performance. It’s about presence. It’s about purpose. And most importantly, it’s about people.
Branding That Speaks for You
Having earned recognition in my field, I’ve seen firsthand how a consistent, credible brand can open doors—not just for professional accolades, but for real relationships, trust, and long-term success.
Whether you’re working behind the scenes or leading from the front, your personal brand matters. You don’t need a massive platform to make an impact—you just need clarity, consistency, and intention.Because at the end of the day, you are your brand—and your brand is always speaking, whether you realize it or not.
by | Mar 17, 2025 | Uncategorized
We’re already three months into 2025, and PRSA Kansas continues to build on the momentum from the past with new energy focused on the organization’s mission to help communications professionals become smarter, better prepared and more connected throughout their careers.
Our board consists of nine returning chairs and seven new chairs who are all committed to working together to evolve the organization and promote the value of public relations, communication excellence and professional development.
Here are just a few areas PRSA Kansas is focused on this year:
1. Growing membership
We’ve hovered around the same number of members for the last two years. By increasing efforts to recruit and retain members, it would be a great achievement to get back to where our membership was pre-Covid. Our board has a variety of ideas for enhancing the PRSA Kansas membership experience and we look forward to rolling those out with everyone from seasoned pros to young professionals over the coming months.
2. Communicating the value of PRSA membership.
Membership in PRSA is so much more than attending local monthly programs and networking with local professionals. Membership also includes access to free and discounted national webinars, on-demand programs and workshops, PRSA’s APR credential and certificate programs, and connections to other PR pros through online community forums. We plan to communicate these offerings regularly to enhance the PRSA membership experience and value.
3. Hosting accessible and enriching programs.
Last year we diversified our programs beyond the monthly “Lunch and Learn” to include “Rush Hour” programs near the end of the day at various locations around Wichita. This has made attending programs more accessible for those who can’t get away over the lunch hour and gives participants an inside look at businesses around town. This program is growing in popularity, too. We hosted the first Rush Hour of 2025 at Intrust Bank Arena in February and experienced record attendance for this 4-5 p.m. program. We look forward to continuing a mix of both programs – as well as an occasional virtual meeting – so that we can continue to offer accessible programs that work for all schedules. We are also committed to evaluating every program so we can continue to refine and improve our program offerings.
The communication landscape is rapidly evolving, and PRSA Kansas is committed to staying ahead of the curve to ensure our members are equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to succeed in this ever-changing environment.
No matter where you are on your journey as a PR and communications professional, PRSA Kansas is here to support your career and development.
Thank you to our dedicated board, members, and the communications community for your continued support. Let’s make 2025 another year of growth, learning and success for the public relations profession in Kansas!
Carrie Lindeman
PRSA Kansas president
by | Jan 10, 2023 | Featured, Uncategorized
Congratulations to PRSA Kansas’ most recent APRs!
It’s a “must do” for PR pros.
Written by Akeam Ashford, APR and Rachel Bell, APR
That’s the sentiment of PRSA Kansas’ two most recent APRs.
Akeam Ashford and Rachel Bell have worked in communications for 15+ years, and they both agree that earning the APR accreditation is a great way to reinforce the value of communications, leaving you inspired and motivated.
We caught up with these two PR superstars and asked them about their APR journey.
Why did you decide to pursue APR accreditation?
Akeam: The APR designation is more than an acronym for me. Personally, it’s a symbol of achievement and commitment.
Rachel: I am on the leadership team of a public organization and one of our stated values is to always be improving. Getting my APR accreditation is one of the ways I could honor and live those values.
What is something you learned during the process?
Akeam: What was really eye-opening for me was the idea that PR professionals have strategic skillset that can help businesses grow revenue.
Rachel: The role of Public Relations has evolved over the years at my organization. During the APR process, I was reminded of how fortunate I am to work with people who see the value in what my team brings to the table. We have a voice in the planning and strategy phases and aren’t brought in later, as is the case with others who were going through the process with me.
What advice do you have for PR pros who are thinking about pursuing accreditation?
Akeam: In the words of Nike, “Just do it!” You will find the most difficult part of attaining your APR is filling out the paperwork to apply for the designation. The process can be difficult to navigate, but PRSA national is there to help, as well as other chapter APR’s. The material is interesting and you’ve done it in some form or another; studying for your APR is really about understanding a systematic way (RPIE) of working through communication campaigns. You will feel motivated and empowered going through the process.
Rachel: It’s never too late to become accredited, but I wish I’d done it earlier. We all get busy “doing” and sometimes we can lose sight of the “why”. Going through the process made me re-focus on the bigger goals of our public relations efforts.
According to the PRSA website, APR preparation ensures you have the tools to navigate challenging responsibilities, the vision to execute a larger strategy, and the expertise to be a thought leader. Once you indicate your interest in accreditation and have been accepted as an appropriate candidate, PR pros have one year to complete a written test and conduct a panel presentation.
Receiving this recognition demonstrates your proficiency and alignment with the cutting-edge PR practices and knowledge that will take you to the next level in your career.
If you are interested in pursuing your public relations APR accreditation contact Cynthia Wentworth, APR, PRSA Kansas’ accreditation chair at cynthia@greaterwichitapartnership.org.
by | Feb 6, 2020 | Food for thought, Uncategorized
Written by Rachel Bell
Director of Business Services and Customer Relations
Kansas Turnpike Authority
My daughter just turned 14 which means she’s eligible to take the test for a learner’s permit. To help apply what she’s learning to real life, I’ve been pointing out driving behaviors whenever we are in the car. As I’ve been teaching her, it has occurred to me that driving is like good communication.
- Be clear about your intentions. In driving, we use our turn signals and brake lights to tell other drivers where we are heading. In communication, we must clearly state what we need the audience to know. In this fast-paced society, most audiences do not have time for the prose and no one wants to hear corporate speak fluff.
- Use your tools wisely. Don’t leave your blinker on or honk your horn unless absolutely needed. In good communication, we must choose the tools that are effective to get our message out.
- Anticipate the actions of others. On the roadway, this is called defensive driving. In communication, it helps shape key messages and reflects positively on you and your organization. What do you want your audience to know and, more importantly, what do they need to know?
- Agree upon rules (goals). We have traffic laws that are mutually agreed upon or you won’t receive a driver’s license. Good communication also involves clearly understanding and agreeing upon the rules (goals) within your or your clients’ organizations. What are you trying to accomplish? On the roadway, you want to get to your destination safely and on time. In communication, you want to avoid being blindsided.
In communication and public relations, you’re never done learning. Join PRSA Kansas to accelerate your learning, network and advance the PR profession. Learn more on the PRSA Kansas membership page.
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