28.06.2022 By Virginia Devlin, co-CEO

DEI Progress Update: Current Global North America.

The events of 2020 demanded we further prioritize our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion commitments at Current Global. As passionate communicators and problem-solvers, we know we have a responsibility to create an inclusive workplace that uses our talents to positively change culture.

Our client promise is centered upon influencing behavior where real life happens – in the moment. And we believe no moment is more important than the one we are in. Over the past year, we continued to prioritize diverse hiring, strengthen our DEI consulting offering, and foster an environment of belonging – supporting employees and providing a safe space to openly discuss important matters and critical moments in society.

Where We Are

We are building a team of people more reflective of our world through measurable strategies, policy development, inclusion initiatives, professional development, and sponsorship and recruitment of diverse talent.

As an early signatory of the Diversity Action Alliance pledge to impact diversity, equity, and the culture of inclusion at our agency, we agreed to publicly share the number of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) talent in our organization. Below are our 2020 and 2021 numbers:

Time Period	Total Number of Employees	Total Number of BIPOC Employees	% of Total Employees Who are BIPOC
As of December 31, 2020	86	21	24%
As of December 31, 2021	105	28	27%

We are inviting and embracing important dialogue, especially when that dialogue is difficult. Discussing the complexities of race, racism, systemic inequities, and different lived experiences is not always comfortable. However, growth often comes from uncomfortable situations. And as an agency, we are willing to get uncomfortable to allow growth.

We are driving change through our work by advising clients on how to authentically, responsibly, and meaningfully address and support these critical issues both internally and externally. From navigating COVID-19 to elevating commitments to HBCUs to celebrating Black culture, we provide client counsel, content, and campaigns that resonate with people of all backgrounds. In 2021 we enhanced our ground-breaking and award-winning Accessible by Design initiative to ensure that our work is accessible to people with disabilities. We now have a first-of-its-kind training developed by our team that we hope will encourage other communications professionals to make the same commitment. We have shared our DEI best practices with organizations such as The Female Quotient, Disability:IN, Public Relations Society of America, Public Relations and Communications Association, PR Council, and others.

We are supporting NGOs focused on impacting societal change, specifically those addressing racial inequality and injustice. On average, we annually donate over $250,000 in agency fees to various organizations. Our pro-bono work has included the Chicago Public Library, Marygrove Conservancy, me too, Ryan Banks Academy, and Start Small, Think Big.

Where We Are Headed

We understand that prioritizing DEI in the workplace will never be a short race to the finish line, but we are committed to an ongoing journey of continued growth and opportunity. In 2022, we will:

• Continue to hire.
• Partner with HBCUs to help train tomorrow’s communications professionals.
• Create a culture of belonging for all employees.
• Champion accessible communications in our industry and beyond.
• Offer clients strategic DEI consulting that is of the moment, impactful, and authentic.
• Donate our time and talent to non-profits impacting societal change.