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Member Spotlight: Marie-Adélina De La Ferrière

In this member spotlight, we're pleased to shine a light on Marie-Adélina De La Ferrière, Director-At-Large/Diversity on the PRSA Rochester Board of Directors. When not volunteering her time with PRSA Rochester, Marie-Adélina serves as a Public Relations Specialist for equalpride, the nation’s leading voice on equality with LGBTQ, women and people of color and publisher of award-winning publications that includes Out, The Advocate, Plus, Out Traveler, and the new 24/7 streaming Advocate Channel.

Learn more about Marie-Adélina in the interview below, including tips for PR Pros on how to thoughtfully put principles related to diversity, equity and inclusion into practice as well as a preview of this year's The Pitch program for undergraduate students, presented in partnership between PRSA Rochester's Diversity and Young Professionals Committees. 

Describe your journey to PRSA Rochester. Why did you decide to get involved and what have you found to be the most beneficial?

As a PR Specialist, I think of PRSA as an opportunity not only to continue honing my skills but also the ability to network with fellow Communication professionals.

Every October, PRSA celebrates Diversity & Inclusion Month. How can PR professionals make a more concerted effort to incorporate principles related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into our practice? 

DEI is an ongoing effort. It should never be treated as a goal to make, rather, a lifelong endeavor by individuals and institutions to ensure the most marginalized receive a seat at the proverbial table.

You were recently a featured panelist on PRSA’s webinar, “Diverse Dialogues: Understanding Gender Identity and Intersectionality to Improve Communications;” what is one insight you shared during this event that may be helpful for our chapter and fellow PR professionals?

As much as organizations celebrate their DEI efforts externally, there is a greater need for organizations to work on their internal efforts. If your diverse staff don’t feel empowered to talk about things like microaggressions, or if there is no system to correctly address such issues, then DEI fails an organization completely.

This year, PRSA Rochester is excited to bring back The Pitch program, a one-day brainstorming and networking case competition open to undergraduate students. What can you tell us about this year’s program and how can students and other PR professionals get involved?

This year, PRSA Rochester is working with the Levine Center to End Hate, a local initiative to bring the Greater Rochester community in overcoming hate through education, dialogue, and positive action.

What do you love most about working in PR?

I think some people have a negative, almost cynical, portrayal about what we do. But I love being able to help amplify the authentic stories of individuals and institutions.

What’s the best advice you ever received?

As a Black transwoman, I was not fortunate to find inspiration by someone who looks like me. So, every day, I aspire to inspire those who will come after me.

If you could describe your career/professional life in one word, what would it be?

Marvelous!