Pauli Murray Center
Project to Preserve and Uplift Historical Black, LGBTQ+ & Women Landmarks
Fenton partnered with the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice to elevate the grand opening of Dr. Pauli Murray’s childhood home and celebrate their legacy as a 20th-century activist and legal scholar. The challenge was to raise visibility for the Center amid growing efforts to erase Black history from American education. Fenton developed a strategic earned media pla focused on securing placements in national and local outlets that cover racial justice, LGBTQIA+ issues, and education. The campaign resulted in media pickups across national and local outlets, including Black Information Network, Discover Durham, WUNC, and CBS 17, reaching 1.86 million viewers. This coverage broadened awareness of Dr. Murray’s legacy and the ongoing relevance of their work in advancing social justice.
What We Did
- Earned Media Plan Development
- Press Release and Media Advisory Creation
- Targeted Media Pitching and Outreach
- Media Asset Creation (photos, captions, etc.)
- On-the-Ground Event Support and Coordination
- Spokesperson Interview Coordination
- Photographer and Media Team Delegation
- Post-Event Media Outreach
- National and Local Media Engagement
- Strategic Placements in Broadcast, Print, and Digital Outlets
- Media Relations with Racial Justice, LGBTQIA+, Education, and Cultural Institutions
- Coverage in Travel, Religion, and Black Culture Media
CHALLENGE
The grand opening of the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice marked a momentous occasion to restore Dr. Murray’s childhood home and sustain Dr. Murray’s legacy and social justice work amid the 2024 crusade to censor and erase Black history and impact from the American education curriculum. Since 2012, the Pauli Murray Center has raised more than $1.2 million to support the rehabilitation of the space that serves as a hub for present-day social justice.
Rev. Dr. Murray’s childhood home was built in 1898 by her grandfather and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2016. As a 20th-century, non-binary human rights activist, legal scholar, feminist, poet, author and Episcopal priest, Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray’s advocacy influenced the historical civil rights movement and expanded legal protection for gender equality. However, Rev. Dr. Murray’s impact is less known than many other leaders they stood shoulder to shoulder with.
Fenton’s challenge was to bring visibility to the grand opening of the Pauli Murray Center and celebrate the legacy of Rev. Dr. Murray’s impact.
APPROACH
Fenton developed a comprehensive earned media plan to showcase the launch of the Pauli Murray Center and build understanding of Rev. Dr. Murray’s legacy, including media assets such as a press release, media advisory, targeted pitches, and a shots and photo captions list. Fenton targeted national and local television and sought placements in racial justice, LBTQIA+, education, philanthropy, travel and leisure news outlets with messages about Dr. Murray’s work in social and racial justice, and the importance of preserving Black cultural institutions, like the Pauli Murray Center. Fenton also provided on-the-ground support for the day of the grand opening event with live media and spokesperson interview coordination, photographer delegation, and post-event media outreach.
IMPACT
Through local, trade and national media engagement, The Pauli Murray Center grand opening broadened awareness of Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray’s legacy and their work to advance contemporary social justice. Fenton successfully secured placements in 20 unique national and local broadcast and print outlets with 30+ pickups in total. Specifically, our efforts led to the securing of placements in national affiliated broadcast media and print outlets covering travel, religion and Black culture, such as Black Information Network, Discover Durham, WUNC, WGHP-TV (FOX), CBS 17, and ABC 11 Eyewitness News, which reached 1.86M viewers alone.
