A message from Dave Eslick | MMA is dedicated to being part of the solution

Colleagues,

Over the weekend, many of our communities witnessed mass demonstrations ranging from peaceful protests to violent lootings and riots. From Minneapolis to Atlanta and Los Angeles to Boston, people of all ages and races came out to mourn the death of George Floyd and collectively oppose a long history of racism, inequality, and injustice.

We have all been impacted by George Floyd’s death and tragically, the many other stories of harassment and lethal attacks against unarmed black citizens. For some of our colleagues, there is fear that what happened to Mr. Floyd, could also happen to them or their family members. While we each struggle to make sense of the sorrow, frustration, and anger that we are feeling in light of this tragedy, it is more important than ever that we have compassion for each other.

MMA was created under the mantle of “Better Together,” bringing together the best agencies in the country to become a formidable industry leader. Better Together also implies a sense of unity, a richly diverse community of colleagues from all backgrounds who share a common goal to incite change and make progress. During times like this, we need to remember that our MMA community is a safe place to go to for support, compassion, and meaningful conversation to drive understanding and mutual respect. MMA is committed to being a welcoming place for everyone and supporting the fact that black lives matter.

While the change we are all seeking may not happen overnight, we are dedicated to being a part of the solution. MMA’s National Diversity & Inclusion Council will soon launch a series of webinars to provide education and resources for those seeking them out and to invite all colleagues to the conversation surrounding racial injustice.

Below are actions you can immediately take to get involved, get educated, and help drive change:

• Learn more about organizations dedicated to building an equitable future for black Americans. Here are just a few:
  • NAACP
  • Black Visions Collective
  • Campaign Zero
• Reach out to a colleague and check in.
• Take or lead an Unconscious Bias Training workshop.
• Join your local or regional D&I committee and help develop opportunities for ongoing learning and conversation.
• In communities impacted by vandalism, participate in a local clean-up effort.

Who you are, is who we are. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Regards,

David Eslick and the MMA National D&I Council