An ICONic Experience in D.C.

Written by: Kelsea Clarke

This November, I attended PRSSA ICON in Washington, D.C., for the first time. The event brings together hundreds of students and professionals in communications and public relations for professional development and networking. I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet so many PR students from other Chapters around the country.

From the very start of ICON, I had the chance to form new connections and friendships with other students passionate about PR. Creating connections with your peers is especially valuable since those will be the people you can lean on, bond with, share experiences with, and gain new perspectives from, and they’re the people you will be working with in the future.    

Besides meeting with fellow students, we also had the chance to hear from industry experts and PR professionals through fireside chats, general sessions, and breakout sessions throughout the conference.   

The breakout sessions that stood out to me the most were "Relentless Acceleration: Communications at the Speed of Culture,” "The 24/7 Newsroom,” and “Building Public Image in Entertainment.”  

Here are the lessons and insights I gained from these sessions, along with how you can apply them to your PR journey.   

“Relentless Acceleration: Communications at the Speed of Culture" was presented by Brandi Boatner, Global Influencer Marketing at IBM Corporate Affairs. This session was about how we need to better understand the emotional and social landscape we’re in as communicators. We learned that culture is an undeniable, significant force in communication—it is a multifaceted dynamic that is constantly evolving. The biggest takeaway from this session was that we need to be culturally competent and culturally fluent as communicators, meaning that PR professionals and communicators must prioritize cultural competence as a core skill. This involves understanding cultural trends, values, and aspirations. Being culturally fluent allows us to foster trust, be authentic, and resonate with our audience. Having this skill is especially essential in crisis communication and reputation management, as it’s important to understand cultural intelligence and the environment during crises.   

“The 24/7 Newsroom" was presented by CNN Correspondent Pete Muntean, who taught us about the importance of valuing and understanding the local community. We should always try to meet people where they’re at and sympathize with them. He also emphasized that the key to boiling complex things down is to make them conversational. After his presentation, he offered tips for pitching to the media, as a journalist himself. His advice was to make sure the pitch ties back to the bigger picture, find the emerging trend, localize a big story, and find out what the next big thing is.   

“Building Public Image in Entertainment,” presented by Marketing Strategist and Professor at Howard University, Jasmine Young, “The Hip Hop Professor,” was one of my favorite sessions. My biggest takeaway was that it’s essential to build your story on “purpose and service.” She taught us that through our work, we should leave a legacy, not just a moment. In the industry, we should influence intention and know that our impact matters. Especially in the entertainment industry, impact will outlive fame. One tip she gave us was to define our brand pillars: image, message, experience, and legacy. In her session, we asked ourselves, “What makes you one of one?” and defined what we represent. She also gave us the advice to be ourselves, loudly and proudly, without discounting our values.   

My experience at ICON was incredibly fulfilling, and I hope to use the knowledge and insights I gained as a young PR professional.  

Embracing Life at a City School

Written by: Dahlia Boone

Students have four years as an undergraduate. That is four years in a cultural hub and the birthplace of America. Attending Temple University (or another Philly city school), students not only receive high-quality education but also have the opportunity to embrace city life during their time at school.

Philadelphia offers many parks, ice cream shops, cafes, museums, and more. As for food, the city provides various ethnic restaurants for food. A short distance from campus, students can visit Chinatown and explore the neighborhood. One can find food markets, bakeries, boba tea, art, and take pictures underneath the friendship gate. Another prominent neighborhood is Bella Vista near South Street, the first neighborhood settled by Italian Immigrants. Make sure to stop by Anthony’s Coffee and Chocolate House for the most decadent cup of hot chocolate, Angelo’s for mouth-watering pizza and cheesesteaks, and browse the Italian Market for dinner later that night. Additionally, activities in the city are unlimited: candle making, clay classes, axe throwing, a rage room, Puttshack, cake making, arcades, workout classes, and many more.

It can be easy to get comfortable sticking around campus, in the environment you know like the back of your hand. But it is freeing to escape the bubble we are in each week and venture into the city. The people you’ll meet, places you’ll visit, and memories you’ll make are invaluable and will complete your college experience. Learning not only occurs in the classroom, but learning about yourself internally, how to be independent, and the beauty of learning about others occurs anywhere you go.

As we approach holiday season, here are several events/activities to explore outside classes: LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo, Elf: The Broadway Musical at Walnut Street Theater, Miracle on South 13th Street Holiday Light Display, Winter Funcab Karaoke, Only 21+ The Official Christmas Bar Crawl

A Viral Pay It Forward Movement

Written by: Dahlia Boone

During a typical trip to Target, creator DeNaesha Gonzalez, shared her heartbreak when she spotted a silver chain purse sitting out of place on a shelf in the baby aisle. Her post immediately captured the compassion of many and brought to light the reality of motherhood. The viral post shared a glimpse into what it means to make sacrifices for your child, whether it be large or small. Mothers prioritize their children’s needs above theirs everyday to ensure their child is receiving the best care possible. 

Upon personal reflection, I thought of all the sacrifices my mom made that transformed me into the person I am today. It also made me realize that this is my mom’s first time living too. She deserves kindness, acknowledgement, and grace. As a college student, (and baby adult) I find hardships in refilling prescriptions, managing finances, and processing an amazon return. I give a lot of kudos to moms everywhere for taking care of another life while keeping themselves healthy and happy.

In response to the TikTok community’s devastation, supporters started a trend by leaving gift cards or cash inside baby products on the shelf. Paying it forward to new moms is not only relieving a financial burden, but gives them recognition for their relentless efforts. Many donors encouraged recipients to use the money to reward themselves with a special purchase. We all deserve recognition for simply just existing and being ourselves, but especially taking care of another life is top tier impressive.

P.S. To all moms out there, you are loved, you are appreciated, and you are impressive. <3