FleishmanHillard Helps Spark Creativity and Inclusion in the Marketing and Communications Industry With Support for the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective

There is strength in working together to achieve a common goal. FleishmanHillard is lending its expertise to the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC) through FH4Inclusion, the agency’s global pro bono and volunteer initiative, at the 2023 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

CC:DC was founded by Adrianne C. Smith, now FleishmanHillard’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, in 2018 with a vision for moving the needle on inclusion and diversity in the industry. As such, FleishmanHillard will provide in-kind support to sponsor and drive forth the two organizations’ shared vision to directly pour back into the next generation of industry leaders and work to make the communications, marketing, advertising and creative industry more inclusive. The agency’s support for CC:DC includes media relations, social strategy, event management, ambassador logistics and branding to help with its continued success. Additionally, the agency has partnered with CC:DC to rebrand its signature Inclusion Awards to the AYA Inclusion Awards. The AYA is an adinkra symbol for endurance, independence, defiance against difficulties, hardiness, perseverance and resourcefulness; this award illustrates why inclusion is good for the world and good for business, underscoring the idea that you must include the world to have world-bending ideas. FleishmanHillard is the presenting sponsor of the AYA Inclusion Awards, which celebrate culture-shifting creativity across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, neurodiversity, age and body diversity.

The activation focuses on the intersections of DE&I, innovation and creativity. This year’s Inkwell Beach theme is “Expect the Unexpected: Moving DE&I from WOE is me to WOW is me.” Programming includes:

Juneteenth Celebration – Bridging the Gap of Information Dissemination. 

Opening night party (featuring a special musical guest) and the annual AYA Inclusion Awards. 

“Day of Disruption” (featuring bestselling author, speaker and entrepreneur Luvvie Ajayi Jones; and stand-up comedian, bestselling author producer, actress and publisher Phoebe Robinson), where we explore forward-focused ways to implement revolutionary change in the creative industry. 

“Daily Cultural Updates” featuring the 2023 cohort of CC:DC ambassadors.

Also onsite with CC:DC will be FleishmanHillard’s Cheyenne Cameron-Pruitt, senior manager of DE&I programs, and Kira Nielsen, senior account executive, who were both selected as members of the 2023 CC:DC cohort.