Cultural Diversity

Austin Ad Fed Cultural Diversity Committee Members (2005-2006):

Carl Settles, Big Daddy's House of Sound, Owner - chair
Tamala Barksdale, Enviromedia - member
Valerie Davis, Enviromedia, Principal - member

The Cultural Diversity Committee continues to find innovative ways to expose students to career paths within advertising as well as stimulate economic and cultural vitality. Over the last few years, the committee has held a series of Job Shadow Days in which Austin area students spend a day at an ad agency or creative dept. These Job Shadow Days have been well received by students, parents, teachers and Ad Fed members alike. They continue to be an integral part of our outreach to Austin area youth.

In an effort to establish more on-going mentoring activities, this year we have adopted the River City Youth Foundation www.rivercityyouth.org. RCYF offers students in the Dove Springs neighborhood after school and summer enrichment opportunities where students learn multi-media skills and help better serve the community. This spring the Ad Fed will be sponsoring a series of Saturday multi-media workshops at their facility. Some of the topics covered will be graphic design, animation, photography and music production.

Also, in the planning stages, is Austin's first ever Urban Media Symposium that will be run in conjunction with the Urban Music Festival www.urbanmusicfest.com and the Texas Relays www.texassports.com/mainpages/txrelays.html. In its inaugural year, the UMF attracted close to 10,000 attendees and the Texas Relays continue to attract 40,000 - 60,000 African Americans from throughout the United States each year.

The Ad Fed Diversity Committee looks forward to vibrant year of activity. If you'd like more information or would like to help as a mentor or organizer, please contact us at diversity@austinadfed.com