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Take a Look at Us Now

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“The shoemaker’s children always go barefoot.”

You’ve probably heard this saying at least once in your life. It captures the way we often use our expertise to benefit others but not ourselves.  

In a communication and marketing agency, there’s definitely truth to this idea. We place our clients first, helping them stay fresh, exciting and up-to-date. Yet it’s easy to overlook the advice we spend our days dispensing. 

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since Fenton’s last major branding update. In that time, we’ve helped many clients evolve their brands and identities so they can be better able to change the world. 

And let’s be clear, it hasn’t just been any decade. When Fenton last rebranded, Obama was in his second term as president. Donald Trump was a reality show host. Most people were more likely to encounter the word “pandemic” on a Scrabble board than in the news and were blissfully unaware of now-ubiquitous terms like “coronavirus,” “social distancing” and “X/Twitter-Owner Elon Musk.”

Over the last 10 years, the challenges our world faces have changed, and Fenton has changed to meet them. We’ve grown from about 55 staff to more than 100. We’ve developed into a digital powerhouse, using the latest technology to help nonprofits, foundations and corporations change lives and make a tangible difference on issues that matter.

Now in our early 40s, Fenton has practice areas led by some of the field’s top senior professionals, fully integrated Digital, Creative and Advertising shops, five thriving employee resource groups (ESGs) and dedicated teams for People/HR, Client Services Operations and Finance. And we are the industry’s most diverse and multicultural firm, led by Latina communications pioneer Valarie De La Garza, and our representation in core and leadership positions far outpaces our agency peers. 

After 10 years, it’s time that we took the advice we give to clients: your brand is a promise you make to the world, so it needs to reflect who you are today and who you want to be in the future. 

As we frequently tell our clients, great solutions begin with questions. We surveyed a sampling of our clients and all of our staff to learn their brand. We turned to Bushwick Digital, who we often partner with to produce design and digital tools for our clients, and made ourselves their client. Together, we tried to tease out how to honor our origins, of which we are proud, and what we needed to let go of so that we can advance.

Did we need a new name? Should we keep or change our color palette? Did we need a new tagline? We considered what we needed to capture to represent who we are in 2023 and where we plan to go in the next decade. In our research, we learned that our name still serves us well, but a new graphic identity and tagline would capture today’s vibe. An updated brand with nods to legacy that looks forward with strength was the goal. 

Fenton is a mission-driven organization. We partner with organizations, foundations and brands that share our vision for a more healthy, equitable and just world. Our new tagline, “Strategists for Social Change,” captures that we are not a PR firm that will promote anything or anyone for the right price. Our team brings deep sector experience and expertise to their work to strategize comprehensively for their clients.

When you visit our new website, you will see that we are a people-powered organization, organized to serve our clients in driving progress. We are not corporate, but we understand the high stakes discussed in the C Suite. And, more than ever, we love the power of collaboration to produce impact. 

Our bold color palette is designed to show that we are vocal – but not loud; modern – but not chasing fads; diverse and inclusive. We have a new orange color and an evolved way to symbolize movement forward and upward.

Our logo is at the center of our brand system. The glyph symbolizes our evolution from progress to impact – impact that sparks change. When we see that logo, it embodies everything we do to advance our clients’ mission. When you see that ”impact arrow,” we hope it represents the change our work makes in the world. 

Like anyone facing down their 40s, Fenton took a moment to look back and to look forward. We’re embracing all that we’ve learned and using it to chart new directions, new avenues for progress and new ways to create lasting, systemic change. 

Fenton’s Gun Violence Prevention Messaging Guide

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This upcoming February 14 marks five years since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. And although we’re only in the second month of 2023, the United States has already experienced more than 40 mass shootings — including in Monterey Park, California, Half Moon Bay, California, and Lakeland, Florida. These senseless tragedies are a disturbing reminder of how gun violence continues to threaten the lives of all Americans.

In these devastating moments, it is imperative that we remain authentic when communicating about gun violence. It remains particularly important to recognize how this crisis disproportionately affects Black communities and other communities of color across the country.

Fenton’s gun safety task force, based on our extensive work with a multitude of gun safety and violence prevention clients, has developed the following comprehensive messaging guide to ensure elected officials, community and nonprofit leaders, public relations experts, and others are able to communicate on the issue of gun violence genuinely, factually and respectfully.

Crafting Values-Driven Messaging

All messaging on gun violence, regardless of whether it is for a rapid response moment or to acknowledge a previous tragedy, should be structured around four key components:

  • Values;
  • The problem;
  • The solution;
  • Action.

Doing so will allow your audience to feel included in a shared goal and in mutual agreement with thousands of others in the gun safety space. It also pinpoints the issue(s) they’re up against, learn of the solution to said issue — whether it involves specific policies or communal actions — and learn what they can do to help see the solutions across the finish line.

Rapid Response Statements on Mass Shootings

When developing statements to address tragic events like mass shootings, Fenton’s gun safety task force recommends the following:

  • Use trusted news sources: Wait for a trusted news outlet and source to confirm the event before issuing a statement.
  • Cite only confirmed specifics regarding the tragedy: Only report what first responders have confirmed to reporters and news outlets, such as the location, number of those injured, and number of casualties.
  • Offer sincere condolences and sentiments: Use this opportunity to express genuine and authentic sentiments around the tragedy. Audiences have grown weary of simplified and overused language, such as “our thoughts are with…” or “thoughts and prayers to…” Use this moment to speak to the anger, sadness and despair felt in the moment.
  • Address the communities affected: Be sure to address the communities and individuals who have been directly affected by the shooting. Some mass shootings tend to be driven by domestic violence and/or bigotry and prejudice. If an event is known to be driven by such ideals and behavior, be sure to name them as part of the problem. But only do so once the motive has been confirmed by first responders, law enforcement and trusted news sources. Do not make assumptions based on hearsay.
  • Do not name the shooter: Use this moment to focus on the communities affected and to be mindful of how it may impact other survivors in the moment.
  • Acknowledge everyday cases of gun violence: Mass shootings make up a relatively small percentage of the daily cases of gun violence taking place in the country. Encourage your audience to remember and take into account that there are thousands of gun violence victims and survivors whom we’ll never know because their cases did not grab national headlines.
  • Remain consistent: Unfortunately, mass shootings are an all too regular occurrence, and it can be difficult to stay up-to-date and monitor when an incident warrants a statement from your organization. However, it’s important to remain consistent by speaking to the breadth of the gun violence crisis. For example, if there are multiple mass shootings in a month and you only mention one particular instance, it’s important to follow through by at least acknowledging additional instances and everyday cases of gun violence.
  • Learn from and follow the lead of trusted partners: There are numerous organizations dedicated to addressing gun violence; instead of issuing a statement that puts you or your work at the center, it is important to follow the lead of these experts or partners. Your statement can be used to uplift local efforts or resources shared by other organizations leading gun violence prevention work.

The Reality of Daily Gun Violence

Gun violence is a multifaceted issue that affects people from all walks of life. Here are some statistics to keep in mind:

  • 43,000 people in the United States die from gun violence every year – that is more than 100 people per day. (Giffords and Everytown)
  • Gun deaths disproportionately impact historically targeted communities in the United States, namely Black and Brown communities. In fact, Black men make up more than 52 percent of all gun homicide victims while making up less than six percent of the population. (Giffords)
  • Black men face the highest risk of police violence. Unarmed Black Americans are five times more likely to be shot and killed by police than their white counterparts. (Giffords)
  • Gun suicides account for six out of 10 gun deaths in the United States. (Everytown)
    • Access to a gun in the home increases the risk of death by suicide by 300 percent. (Brady)
  • Firearms remain the leading cause of death for children and teens, surpassing car accidents.
    • Black and Brown children are more likely to be shot and killed by others, while white children are more likely to harm themselves. (New York Times)
  • Nearly one million women in the United States have been shot or shot at by an intimate partner. Women in our country are 21 times more likely to be killed with a gun than women in other high-income countries. (Everytown and Giffords)

For a handy guide on statistics about gun violence, download our Gun Safety Task Force Sheet.

To learn more about Fenton’s gun safety task force and possible ways we can support your work on this issue, please contact Valerie Jean-Charles at vjeancharles@fenton.com 

What Worked (And What Didn’t) in Biden’s State of the Union

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President Biden walked into last night’s State of the Union address facing a major communications challenge: persuading the majority of Americans who think he has accomplished “not very much” or “little or nothing” that he has — as his record shows — actually moved a lot of meaningful policies in his two years in office. 

Going too far the self-congratulatory route was not going to be well-received. Despite record-low unemployment, a very small share of voters describe the economy as “good” or “excellent,” or feel like they’re better off financially since he took office. 

And with Republicans in control of the House and Kevin McCarthy’s disapproving presence in the background, Biden clearly made the calculation that he needed to deploy a so-called “unity agenda” to appeal to the electorate’s “reasonable middle” with an eye to re-election. Here’s how we progressive communicators think President Biden fared.

A clear understanding that “the people at home” were his main audience. Biden clearly understood his address as a televised exercise and stayed laser-focused on addressing viewers directly, largely side-stepping lawmakers in attendance (with the exception of his masterful back-and-forth with Republicans). He physically leaned on the podium toward the camera, deployed his folksy personality and relatable stories, and repeatedly mentioned the “folks at home” for good measure. It felt far more genuine and casual than any address given in recent memory by his predecessors — and the voters invited as guests did not feel like pawns for cheap political points.

“Finish the job” as a positive take on the work that still needs to be done. President Biden’s first priority last night was changing the perception that he has not delivered for the American people. He couldn’t be too celebratory, but also couldn’t undersell his many accomplishments, either. “Finish the job” was a simple tagline that alluded to the real progress his administration has made without ignoring the real difficulties many voters face while they await *some* relief from policies that have only recently become law.

A surprisingly strong ad-libbing performance when countering Republicans. While Biden fumbled a few words here and there, he scored his best points when reacting to Republican heckling on the spot with both great deft and humor. There were reports of high-fives in the White House following the President’s back-and-forth with Republican lawmakers. We, too, loved seeing GOP members trip over themselves on Social Security and Medicare all while Kevin McCarthy clearly got annoyed at his own caucus for getting rowdy and giving Biden the perfect split-screen moment between the two parties.

What Didn’t

Reproductive rights and gun safety as an afterthought. Both issues got far less air time than they deserved, especially in light of very broad support for both abortion rights and common sense gun measures in blue and red states, and following the recent mass shootings in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park. Glazing over the impact of abortion bans and crackdowns on contraceptives, along with the unchecked flowing of guns and weapons of war across the country, felt tonally off. Particularly when gun violence was mentioned, the tone felt far too celebratory and lacked both the seriousness and true urgency the issue warrants.

The reluctance to forcefully call out extremism. Those of us who worked to protect our elections and democracy against the scourge of election denialism last cycle were bracing ourselves for democracy and voting rights to go unmentioned. While the President did the right thing in calling out political violence and recognizing the attack on Paul Pelosi, he stopped short of naming the MAGA extremists responsible for peddling the very harmful rhetoric and lies at the root of the problem. This pattern of ignoring the root of the problem was noticeable across a range of “controversial” issues where we needed the president to call out these scourges on society and how we are going to fix them. 

A vague take on police reform that left neither side satisfied. When it came to police reform, everyone got a little something to clap about, but nothing substantive was named that will get us on a path to address unchecked police violence and reimagining public safety in this country. “Something good has to come out of this” just wasn’t good enough — and even if Congress is completely gridlocked on police reform, the president should have used his bully pulpit to both show he understands the stakes and give political cover for decision-makers across the country to push for a clear justice agenda.

Special mentions from SOTU night

  • We especially enjoyed lawmakers’ use of pins to bring visibility to their priority issues. Special mention to the many Congress members who not only sported crayons to call out the need for child care, but did a superb job of promoting that call to action on social media.
  • The nod to Vice President Kamala Harris, which was sorely needed in light of the torrent of negative press she has been facing just over the last few days. With that said, the president hasn’t done a particularly good job of elevating his VP over the last two years, so this may be too little too late.
  • Final special mention to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders for delivering one of the most unhinged SOTU responses in recent memory — marrying a forced accent with extreme rhetoric that painted the perfect picture of just how toxic the GOP brand has gotten.

Image credit: @taliaswlcek

André Ory is a Vice President at Fenton, where he serves as a political communications strategist for leading national and state advocacy groups, coalitions, and nonprofits in the progressive space. André has led successful media and integrated communications campaigns to protect the 2020 election and results from President Trump’s attacks, advance democracy reforms to make our government work for everyone, and promote the Green New Deal and meaningful climate action, among others.

For any questions about this blog or inquiries about working with Fenton, please contact 

Stop the Black Attack

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Below please find an op-ed written by Fenton Vice President Kamali Burke that ran in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Monday, February 6, 2023

As we enter Black History Month, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to curtail education on Black histories and those of other marginalized people is even more pernicious. The man who recently tweeted a photo and quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s “I Have a Dream” speech did an about-face mere days later by blocking a New College Board Advanced Placement course on African American studies. The course, which was slated to be a pilot in 60 Florida high schools, was rejected on the basis of violating the state laws DeSantis created that censor Black history and culture.

This is not DeSantis’ first foray into the culture war that has used the primary and secondary education system as its battleground. He has poured gasoline on the fires of bigotry, racism, transphobia and homophobia by establishing policies that censor and whitewash education. DeSantis has stated that the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation is grooming. He claims that critical race theory is taught in a K-12 curriculum and that diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public universities are pushing left-wing ideologies.

With the stroke of his pen, he has put these policies into law while proclaiming he is protecting our young people. But these orders are not about the well-being of our children. If they were, our elected officials would be focused on initiatives that truly keep our children safe, healthy and housed, especially amid several dismal state rankings across these metrics.

Florida ranks 35th in the nation for child well-being, according to the 2022 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50-state report of household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that analyzes how children and families are faring. Among the four areas that make up the report, the state ranks 42nd for economic well-being, 35th for health, 32nd for family and community and 13th for education.

As a native Floridian, former high school teacher, a Black woman and a parent, I feel targeted, not protected. I am a proud recipient of Florida’s public education. However, even prior to these rigid and ill-informed restrictions, generations of students have learned from curricula that lacked information on diverse histories and cultures.

These draconian laws are pulling our state and society back in time even as our population grows increasingly diverse. Instead of providing our students with knowledge about the many cultures that have come together to make our nation what it is, we are erasing their histories, telling them they are unworthy, shameful and without merit.

These restrictions on education are an attempt to stifle discussion and undermine the lived experiences of people of color, despite recent studies that show that more than 60% of American parents want their kids to learn about the ongoing effects of slavery and racism. In addition to the direct effects of DeSantis’ laws, these directives have created a chilling effect. Florida educators are fearful, no doubt contributing to the state’s critical teacher shortage and preventing teachers from seeking the resources their classrooms and students need.

Most disheartening is that while these calculated and well-funded far-right ideas have broken through into mainstream discourse, there are limited coordinated counter-narratives standing up to defend diversity and truth. I am inspired by the actions of leaders such as attorney Benjamin Crump, who is willing to take legal action if the AP course does not make its way into classrooms; Karla Hernandez-Mats, president of the United Teachers of Dade, who condemned the rejection of the course; and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who sent a letter to the College Board calling on it to preserve the fundamental right to an education that does not bow to the whims of the governor of Florida.

We must do more and we must do it together. Parents, community leaders, foundations, advocacy groups, racial justice organizations and grassroots organizers who are committed to ensuring our public school systems truly educate our children must lift up a compelling counter-narrative of what we gain when we embed the values of truth, inclusion and respect into every aspect of our education system.

Indeed, these values are the antidote to racism, bigotry and hate. We cannot let them fall to the wayside in this proxy battle. This will only happen if more people come together, stand up, raise our voices in the streets and the voting booths and invest in solutions to safeguard our democracy — a democracy intrinsically connected to the history we are taught in schools.

Kamali Burke is a vice president at Fenton, the largest full-service, public interest communications agency in the nation. She is a strategist for social change using media relations, branding, project management and strategic communications to drive movements and build political will.

 

Book, Film and Podcast Recommendations In Honor of Black History Month

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February is Black History Month, a time to reflect and celebrate the innumerable contributions Black communities have made in the United States and beyond. Following this year’s Black History Month theme of “Black Resistance,” Fenton’s Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) has put together a robust list of its members’ favorite content celebrating Black experiences and stories. It is our hope that these selections will allow you to learn more about Black communities and find ways to honor the talent, contributions and sacrifices they allow all of us the privilege to inherit. And in this moment, as policies are being proposed to erase and rewrite Black history and experiences, it’s more important than ever to share the political, cultural, and social contributions Black leaders have made in the U.S. and the world at large.

Films/Documentaries: 

Podcasts:

Books: 

 

Staff Spotlight: Nhu Nguyen, Associate Vice President, Creative Director

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We’re back with the next installment of our staff spotlight series! The next interview is with Nhu Nguyen, Associate Vice President, Creative Director based in Washington, DC.

Christian Hendricks: How did you get into art and design?

Nhu Nguyen: As someone who immigrated to the U.S. as a child from Vietnam, I had a difficult time finding my “place” in society, especially being at the intersection of so many different subcultures and communities. As a neurodivergent AAPI woman with cleft lip and palate and disabilities, I often isolated myself and never spoke up.

I turned to art as a vehicle to express myself and help let my voice be heard. At a young age, I challenged myself to interact and play with as many different artistic mediums as possible until I felt like I mastered them enough to be able to effectively tell my story. What started as drawing and painting on paper turned into digital mediums like photography and graphic design — performing and singing on stage turned into public speaking and conducting workshops. I have art to thank for helping me find my purpose (I even have a tattoo that says “Art is the answer.”)!

CH: What is the most rewarding part of your job/career?

NN: The most rewarding part about what I do is being able to uplift and amplify the voices of others in a way that I wish someone would have done for me as a child. Having been in a position where I wanted to be heard, I use those lived experiences to guide me in what I do today in helping others share their stories in a powerful way, driving them towards the positive change and results that they need. At Fenton, it’s amazing being able to work with colleagues and clients who share the same passion and commitment in advocating for others.

CH: Tell us about a project that turned out particularly well.

NN: Before Fenton, I had the amazing opportunity to lead a large team in the new endeavor of creating a mini-YouTube series, featuring celebrities like Anthony Anderson and Julie Bowen, in an effort to bring awareness to a new medical treatment that may help those with a specific type of lung cancer. It was the first time the client and the company I worked at had ever done anything like this, so there was a big learning curve. But at the end of it all, all the hard work paid off and the results exceeded everyone’s expectations!

CH: What social causes do you care about deeply?

NN: I am passionate about so many causes but the top of the list for me are equitable mental health awareness and access, eliminating pay/wage disparities and inequality, reproductive rights, and racial injustice. A lot of my passions derive from my own personal experiences, and I want to be able to stand with others as we navigate through these issues together.

CH: What do you like to do outside of work?

NN: Outside of work, I own and operate a creative studio on the side where I run an Etsy shop of designed printed goods, help smaller local organizations with creative strategy and services (including design, illustration, and photography), provide mentorship and coaching, and host workshops and webinars.

Aside from that, I love snuggling with my corgi, Boba, trying out new restaurants and cocktails, karaoke and game nights with family and friends, and planning events and parties — the biggest upcoming one being my wedding later this year!

CH: What inspired you to start photography?

NN: I was obsessed with being able to capture “hidden” beauty in ways that others couldn’t see, so when my uncle gave me his old camera at the ripe age of 10, I started looking at the relationship between light and shadows and how they shaped the environment around them. I started off with inanimate objects but then slowly transitioned to experimenting with portraiture. Eventually, my experimental portraits led me down an exciting path of becoming a beauty and fashion photographer for a handful of years where I got to work with fashion magazines, modeling agencies, and world-class creative teams. However, pretty quickly I realized that I wanted to do something that wasn’t just photography and help others in a more powerful way, so I stepped away from the fashion industry to pursue an education in visual communication design which has led me to where I am today!

CH: What’s your proudest achievement?

NN: I would say it would be having some of my progressive illustration work retweeted and reposted by big celebrities like Simu Liu, Jennifer Aniston, and Alyssa Milano! A lot of my personal illustration work I create mainly serves the purpose of advocating for progressive causes or bringing awareness and education to cultural milestones. It’s been really cool to see such big names organically engage in something that I consider to be a personal passion project.

CH: What advice would you give to others hoping to pursue a career in creative/multimedia work?

NN: Never stop learning and always ask why. So many times, clients may think they know what they want. But as a creative, it is our job to not only make things look nice but also to make sure they are as engaging and captivating as they can be. This often means going the extra mile to truly understand a client’s needs and pushing the envelope to see if there are other creative alternatives that can help achieve their goals more effectively.

Thank you, Nhu! 

Staff Spotlight: Johnson Huang, Controller

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We’re back with the next installment of our staff spotlight series! The next interview is with Johnson Huang, Controller based in New York City.

Christian Hendricks: Can you describe what you do as Fenton’s controller?

Johnson Huang: I am responsible for overseeing Fenton’s accounting and finance functions, which includes everything from billing clients and paying bills to financial reporting and forecasting. I work closely with management to provide key performance insights and data for both operational and strategic initiatives.

CH: What do most people not know about being a controller at a firm like Fenton?

JH: It’s a huge “behind-the-scenes” type of role, and as you can imagine, includes working with A LOT of numbers, data, people and systems. The work affects every aspect of our business, which in turn, requires a great level of detail and accuracy.

CH: What do you enjoy most about working at Fenton?

JH: First, I’m a big fan of Fenton’s mission and progressive work. I think these are areas that a lot of agencies do not pay enough attention to. Second, I really enjoy working with such a talented and diverse group of people. The culture is truly “no-ego” and inclusive at its core. And I love the flexibility to work virtually.

CH: What social causes do you care about deeply?

JH: I am extremely passionate about climate change and the implications for our future generations. For many decades, we took our planet for granted and neglected its resources to its breaking point. I wish previous generations had paid more attention to issues like these, instead of putting it off and letting future generations deal with it.

CH: You’ve lived in New York City your whole life — what are some of your favorite spots?

JH: My favorite spots in New York City are the parks, specifically Prospect Park. I love running there because one loop is exactly five kilometers (about 3.1 miles). I frequent many Brooklyn pizzerias — there’s nothing like them in the world. My go-to’s are L&B Spumoni Gardens and Di Fara.

CH: You’re also a runner who ran the New York City marathon in 2019 — can you tell us about that experience?

JH: It’s a very therapeutic and life-changing experience! Not only is it the greatest test of endurance imaginable (in my opinion), but you learn so much about yourself because you will spend hundreds of hours running hundreds of miles so there’s a lot of “alone time” in your own head.

CH: What are you most looking forward to this holiday season?

JH: I’m looking forward to spending time with my family, especially my six-month-old daughter’s first Christmas! As a father of two, I’m looking forward to creating holiday memories with my kids — everything from holiday songs to photos with Santa to tree decorating.

 

Thank you, Johnson! 

Fighting Antisemitism with Light and Hope

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The ancient Jewish sages Hillel and Shammai disagreed about how to light the candles of Chanukah. Shammai’s disciples believed that we should begin with lighting all eight (nine, including the shamash, the candle we use to light the others) and decrease by one each night of the holiday. Hillel’s followers argued that we should begin with one candle plus the shamash and add one each night. 

Beit Hillel (the followers of Hillel) won that argument. But why is it important? Why don’t we just light all eight candles every night of this holiday that commemorates the Jews’ triumph for self-determination against a tyrant who wanted them to assimilate?

Every night of Chanukah, which begins this year on Sunday night, December 18 (on the Jewish calendar, the 25th of the month Kislev), our lights grow a little brighter. At this darkest time of year (in the Northern Hemisphere, anyway), we bring more light into the world every night with each additional candle. We place our Chanukiah (known to many as a menorah) in the window to publicly affirm the miraculous triumph of the few over the many, and of light and hope over darkness and despair. On the first night, we see the small glow of our first candles and welcome once again our time to celebrate wonders and miracles; on the eighth night, our Chanukiot blaze their brightest, dispelling the darkness and elevating our souls. 

And so too, at this dark time when voices of hatred have been given license by Trump’s presidency to come into the mainstream, we must combat the rise in antisemitism by fighting back and adding light to our society. Fenton and our partners never walk away from the battles we constantly wage against racism and injustice. And we now see that despite Jewish tenacity against 2,000 years of persecution, expulsion and genocide, the age-old tropes and baseless hatred are surging in the U.S. We are seeing once again that when one group is “otherized,” all are at risk. 

When Asians and Pacific Islanders were targeted in the U.S. because COVID-19 began in China, Fenton rallied with Stop AAPI Hate to change hearts and minds. When right-wing legislators targeted Black Americans with voter suppression legislation, Fenton elevated the work of Black Voters Matter and Forward Justice to call out this legally sanctioned racism. And we have partnered for many years with Facing History and Ourselves, an organization established for Holocaust education and that now offers a wide range of resources that use the lessons of history to challenge teachers and students to stand up to bigotry and hate.

While Chanukah commemorates the Maccabees’ military victory over those who sought to eliminate Jewish culture and religion, today we have other battle tools to combat antisemitism and mitigate it. Through our work with myriad organizations, we have learned the value of public education campaigns, mobilization to combat racism, bringing tolerance curricula into schools, and giving no quarter to those who make excuses for bigots. Just as those lessons have made Fenton a leader in taking on today’s toughest challenges, we can apply them to shine a light on antisemitism and elevate the organizations that are calling it out and educating the public about its damaging ripple effects. 

Following the lead of Beit Hillel, let’s strive to continuously brighten the darkness. While antisemitism is hardly new to us, those of us steeped in the battles against other forms of bigotry are well-equipped to combat its latest incarnation here. 

Chag Urim Sameach: Wishing those who celebrate a joyous festival of lights.

Reflections on Fenton Forward

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New Orleans is where the waters come together. By the time it passes under the Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish, the Mississippi River is the sum total of 7,000 different streams stretching across North America, from Idaho to New York.

I felt that sense of different streams coming together when I landed in New Orleans for Fenton Forward, a four-day retreat bringing our full staff together for the first time since 2020. That morning, we left our homes in New York and California, Washington, D.C. and Washington State and communities in between. Now here we were, more than 120 strong, coming together to connect, celebrate Fenton’s first 40 years and prepare for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m here to change the world.”
Valarie De La Garza, CEO, Fenton Communications

Even now, three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, real, in-person connection feels new. Over and over, I heard the same thing: “It’s so weird seeing everyone in person. Not in little Zoom boxes, but actual people.”

What made it even more novel was that, for many of us, this was the first time we’d ever really met. Teams who’ve worked together every day for years, fighting to protect reproductive freedom, preserve democracy, expand health care access and support racial justice were able to gather around a table, celebrate the impact they’ve created and plan for what comes next.  

To reconnect, recommit and recharge, together, was something gloriously new. It was so normal. How strange.

“I want to know your superpower.”
Mary Moran, Executive Director & Co-founder, Our Voice Nuestra Voz

A lifetime of organizing, teaching and grassroots action taught keynote speaker Mary Moran the power of knowing your story and strengths. As she spoke about her own advocacy journey, Mary challenged staff to share their superpowers. All of us were hesitant at first, but by the end, we shouted them out. 

Over the course of four days, some of the nation’s best social change communicators shared their superpowers with the rest of the team. Nationally-recognized figures like James Marcus and Valarie De La Garza led discussions on values-driven leadership. Meredith Fenton coached staff on how to speak from the heart and present with purpose.

Best of all was the knowledge we shared with each other. Senior staff taught crash courses on strategy, branding, messaging, media, crisis communications and digital engagement. I and others helped team members to hone their writing skills and use storytelling to change minds.

All of these skills will be critical as we look to the challenges ahead.

“We may need a bigger boat.”
Joe Wagner, Managing Director, Fenton Communications

Fenton has served as a progressive social change agency for 40 years. In that time, we’ve led major campaigns and achieved major victories in the U.S. and around the world. But we’ve never been more needed than we are today.

We’re facing a unique moment in history. Progressive movements are expanding, yet at the same time, our fundamental freedoms are under threat. Threats to our civil rights and democracy that once seemed unthinkable are now real — and terrifying.

Fenton has grown to meet these expanding needs. In just two years, the agency has doubled in size, bringing on dozens of talented, committed communicators. It wasn’t until I saw everyone together in one room that the scale and diversity of our team became real to me. 

That diversity, in both staff and leadership, is something that sets Fenton apart from others in this industry, and it’s not an accident. As our CEO said in her state of the agency address, “It is our responsibility to represent the diverse people and communities we serve.”

“Keep telling stories. Keep the light on.”
New Orleans Tour Guide

At the end of Fenton Forward, staff fanned out across the city for a morning of volunteer service with local nonprofits, then flew our separate ways. But even separated by distance, we are more united in our work. The connections forged are still growing; the knowledge shared and insights gleaned are driving new efforts and impact. New Orleans is where the waters come together, and once they do, they can’t be separated.

Staff Spotlight: Rachel Henderson, Executive Vice President, CSG

Posted on by fentonadmin

We’re back with the next installment of our staff spotlight series! The next interview is with Rachel Henderson, Executive Vice President based in Washington, D.C.

Christian Hendricks: Tell us about the corporate social good (CSG) practice at Fenton. 

Rachel Henderson: The CSG practice supports purpose-driven brands dedicated to making the world a better place through its products and services, employees and customers, and the communities they serve. We help our corporate clients unleash the power of their brand’s purpose to accelerate social change and business impact. From program development to stakeholder engagement to disruptive communications campaigns, we ignite the strategic and creative spark that delivers stronger relevance with audiences, greater impact in society and tangible business results for our clients.

There are many definitions and terms that encompass what we do: corporate social responsibility (CSR); environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG); cause marketing, corporate accountability, and more. We chose “corporate social good” to aim to unify the many terms and keep it simple. At the heart of it all, we are focused on the social good to which our clients contribute.

CH: What are some of the exciting projects the CSG team is working on now?

RH: I believe Fenton leads the industry in authentic social change communications. Arguably the fastest-growing corporate purpose team with 18 new staff in the last year alone, our practice is responding to many of the most critical issues of our time. Just to name a few of our exciting projects, our communications campaigns shed light on frontline health workers’ needs for more resources, mental health care, innovative therapeutics to address HIV, TB, Covid, and more. We support a global Fortune 50 healthcare company’s investments in solutions that address racial health inequities in the U.S. and around the world. We lead communications for the largest CEO-driven business coalition committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. And we design cutting-edge creative for a global Fortune 500 automobile company’s commitment to pediatric cancer.

CH: What is most rewarding about leading this practice?

RH: In my opinion, there is no greater reward than managing people, counseling our clients on how they can best communicate their purpose and their social good commitments and recruiting, hiring and developing the best CSG team in the biz. It’s been an honor watching my team learn and grow together and move the needle on such important issues. This team cares deeply about the work and about each other. 

CH: What social causes do you care about deeply?

RH: I care deeply about women’s rights, and this year has been a year of profound failure in progress on this issue. Women saw their bodily autonomy and right to privacy stripped away by the Dobbs decision. Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are abysmal. Women continue to leave the workplace in greater numbers than men, without proper and affordable health care, sufficient paid leave and child care options, nor enough workplace allyship. Five years after the #MeToo movement ignited, many survivors are still awaiting justice. The Biden administration is still working to bring back Title IX protections that the Trump era stripped away from college students seeking justice from their rapists and abusers. And many states in this country still have a rape kit backlog, delaying the justice so many survivors deserve. It is infuriating when you reflect on this long list.

I’m also really passionate about the power of sports to do great social good, from supporting youth to building stronger communities to inspiring leadership and teamwork. I greatly admire what Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha have done through the Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation and what Under Armour is doing with Curry Brand after we worked together to launch it. I watch with great admiration how the NBA and WNBA address social justice issues and combine efforts to raise awareness of Brittney Griner’s wrongful detention in Russia.

CH: Can you tell us more about your work with RefuSHE? 

RH: I am also deeply passionate about supporting refugees and immigration. I have been for years, when I led communications for the United Nations Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria campaign (formerly Nothing But Nets). I serve on the U.S. Board of Directors for RefuSHE and offer communications and fundraising counsel to its leadership team. Its holistic model serving displaced women and girls is admirable and scalable. Over 100 million people have now been forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of ongoing conflicts and crises. The world is failing them miserably. I really admire the organizations working tirelessly to support refugees, including LIRS, IRC, UNHCR, UNICEF, United to Beat Malaria, and many more.

CH: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

RH: My family and my dogs are very important to me. I got married this year! I am grateful to be done with wedding planning. My husband and I love to travel and have a few trips coming up. I’m a former athlete, and I used to run half marathons and other races, but I have traded in my running shoes for Peloton shoes. I’m still rehabbing a back injury, but looking forward to being back on the bike asap.

CH: As a big sports fan, what’s your favorite team?

RH: I am a really big fan of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry. Long before they were winning championships, I was working with Steph when he was an ambassador for Nothing But Nets. The Warriors are an incredible organization and were great to work with. It’s been a lot of fun watching their success over the years and not at all surprising. As a former Pennsylvanian, I’m also a lifelong Steelers fan. It’s been a tough year to be a fan and I don’t envy the body of work in front of Coach Tomlin; rebuilding is really hard.

CH: What’s your proudest achievement?

RH: I am proud of Under the Net, the virtual reality documentary we launched at Nothing But Nets. It’s a story about Amisa and her family who were refugees living in Tanzania affected by malaria. It was the honor of a lifetime to get to tell her story. Bringing a VR film to life is a massive undertaking and I loved working with all our partners to make it a success. It was a real challenge and I’m proud of all the impact we’ve had with the film.

Thank you, Rachel!