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Member Spotlight: Kira Smelser

In this member spotlight, we’re highlighting Kira Smelser, Assistant to the Founder & Communications Director at Camp Good Days. Learn more about Kira’s involvement in PRSA – including her participation on the Diversity & Inclusion Committee.  

Describe your title and role at Camp Good Days.

I am the Assistant to the Founder & Communications Director at Camp Good Days. I support our Founder and oversee, plan and execute any internal or external communications for our organization.

How and why did you choose to get involved in the Diversity Committee of the PRSA?

After about a year into my PRSA membership, I wanted to become more involved and the Diversity Committee seemed like a great fit. I liked the committee’s commitment to finding opportunities for raising awareness regarding the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, and their passion for educating communications professionals on how to tell inclusive stories. Diversity is an important facet of our society as a whole and I am glad that I get to be involved in spreading awareness about it in our profession.

Describe some of the activities and educational resources the Diversity Committee works on and shares with the PRSA Rochester chapter.

We act as an overall resource for the chapter regarding DEI and host activities and events. In 2019, we collaborated with Causewave Community Partners on their initiative, “Shaping Our Stories,” which looked at how race is represented and perceived in local news media. We acted as coaches to help local nonprofits that serve communities of color to share their stories with the media. We also host the annual “PR Apprentice Program,” which is a two-day bootcamp for local college students. They get to work in small teams to plan communications strategies and tactics for a local human services non-profit and then present their ideas to a judging panel made up of local professionals who select the best pitch. We are also always looking for ways to increase the membership diversity of our PRSA chapter and within the PR profession.

October is Global Diversity Awareness Month, what initiatives are the Diversity Committee doing this month to spread awareness within the community and PRSA?

We have the “Thriving in a Culturally Vibrant Workplace” workshop coming up on Thursday, October 15 from 8:30AM-10:30AM via Zoom. Facilitators from the National Coalition Building Institute will lead participants through a workshop to explore how their own personal experiences can influence how they engage with others. The workshop will act as a safe discussion space where people can share their thoughts, questions, and ideas.

What advice would you share with individuals or organizations right now on how to be more mindful of diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Listen to others. There is a lot of information circulating right now and it can seem overwhelming at times, but broadening your perspective by listening to others who have had different experiences from you is important—it makes you more compassionate, understanding, and open as an individual and as a professional. Read a book, listen to a podcast, and talk to friends, co-workers and family members who have had different experiences than you—be open to new conversations and perspectives. Look at ways that you and your organization can help people to feel more comfortable, represented, heard, and included. Don’t be afraid to take that hard look and see how you can work on yourself. By doing so, you can help your organization as a whole to move forward. Little steps now can help encourage long-term progress.