WASHINGTON — The Change Agencies, a network of multicultural and LGBTQ PR and marketing firms, has grown its membership to 14 with the addition of six firms that bring new diversity and geographic reach to the mix.

The new firms (all of which are independently owned and operated) include A.Hale PR in Albuquerque, whose founder April Hale (pictured) is Diné (Navajo) and is the first Indigenous public relations expert to join the group; APC Collective, the network’s first Austin-based firm; Black Digital and the Hannon Group, Change Agencies’ second and third members based in Washington; ZS, the network’s first Nashville firm; and Creager Cole Communications, the group’s second New York firm.

The six new firms join five other agencies that joined founding members  — RenewPR, Mahogany Xan Communications and MuchPR — in January: Siarza in Albuquerque; Avila Creative in Chicago; Bernadette Davis Communications in Plano, Texas; Athena Communications in Milwaukee; and Zaid Communications in Miami.

Hale said that as a Diné woman, her top priority is ensuring Native stories and histories are represented respectfully and appropriately — and working with the Change Agencies will provide the opportunity to help firms without expertise in indigenous culture to do so as well.

“A.Hale PR appreciates The Change Agencies for recognizing the value and impact of indigenous communicators in the public relations industry, and I am honored to join an incredible group of PR experts who stand up for progress and equity and stand by professionalism and principals,” Hale said. Hale said her top priority is ensuring Native stories and histories are respectfully and appropriately represented. “Through The Change Agencies, I look forward to expanding awareness and education on indigenous peoples and communities,” she said.

Creager said CreagerCole joined the network to “transform” the diversity of the communications landscape. She said CreagerCole aims to align itself with “like-minded” firms who aim to amplify the successes of multicultural communities.

“The Change Agencies gives its members a unique opportunity to share our collective DEI expertise with clients who are committed to getting it right when they communicate with, or market to, diverse communities. We’re excited to join forces with these extremely talented changemakers to sharpen DEI communications across the nation,” Creager said.

Launched in June 2019, The Change Agencies provides communication guidance, counsel and outreach services to connect with marginalized communities including the African American, Asian American, Hispanic and LGBTQ communities. All member agency owners identify as Black, Asian-American, Hispanic, Indigenous, and/or LGBTQ, with women leading 10 out of the 14 member agencies.

The network’s offerings include The Change Audit, a process designed to analyze and implement appropriate communications throughout an organization. Another key offering is the It's Not Pie initiative, which focuses on dispelling the misconception that granting equal rights to marginalized groups diminishes the rights of others in the process. That program focuses on strength internal and external support for DEI initiatives, while working with organizations on improving communications around the benefits of DEI.

“Our dramatic growth should be taken as a sign of two things:  interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion remains strong despite reports to the contrary; and independent public relations firms led by communications professionals with deep expertise in multicultural and LGBTQ outreach and engagement will be the drivers for these conversations in the years to come,” said RenewPR president and Change Agencies founder Ben Finzel.

“The United States is a multicultural nation and communicators who embrace that fact and commit to celebrating and reinforcing it will be the ones who are the most successful,” he said.