Black Advocacy Nonprofit 600 & Rising Names Inaugural Board of Directors

Advertising & Agency Daily July 9, 2020 By Adweek Agencies Team

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Black Advocacy Nonprofit 600 & Rising Names Inaugural Board of Directors   It hasn’t even been a month since Nathan Young and Bennett D. Bennett formed 600 & Rising, an organization dedicated to the advocacy and advancement of Black professionals in the advertising industry. What they’ve managed to accomplish in that amount of time is impressive. Not only have they secured a partnership with the 4A’s, but they’ve also convinced dozens of agencies, including Wieden + Kennedy and R/GA, to publicly share their U.S. diversity data. Holding companies, including Dentsu Aegis Network, IPG and Publicis Groupe, have also shared this data. Today, 600 & Rising revealed its inaugural board of directors. It’s made up of seven industry leaders, all of whom are Black, save for Red & Co. executive creative director Mira Kaddoura, who was born in Lebanon. Others on the board include VCU Brandcenter executive director Vann Graves, Deutsch chief technology officer Husani Oakley (a recent Adweek Creative 100 honoree) and Chris Witherspoon, president of DNA Seattle. In other news, Adweek’s consumer engagement reporter Ian Zelaya spoke with Chuck and Nandi Welch, the husband-and-wife duo leading brand consultancy Rupture Studio, about racism in the industry. “You’re tasked with making sure all of your non-Black counterparts are always comfortable with who you are, what you have to say and how you look, all while you’re made more and more uncomfortable, and frequently for less pay,” said Nandi. Plus, this week’s D&I TBD podcast from Adweek features a conversation with Love Malone, founder and CEO of The Gradient Group, a platform that connects talent of color to the advertising and marketing industry. And FCB New York has a new chief talent officer. Minda Smiley Agencies Team, Adweek minda.smiley@adweek.com The world's biggest brands trust Adweek to deliver the stats and insights they need to stay on top. Level up with an Adweek Pro Subscription.