The One Club says that WAATBP, which is now in its 14th year, is the leading annual gathering to address and correct the lack of diversity within the ad industry.

The event brings together Black voices from across the ad community — from students to c-suite leaders — to celebrate successes, examine challenges and assert their rightful place at the table alongside their allies. 

The conference is a hybrid event, with the first day taking place online and the second in person at Convene at Brookfield Place, 225 Liberty St. in downtown New York.  

In order to make the event as accessible as possible, WAATBP is free for job seekers and students to attend. Partnership opportunities are available for agencies and brands looking to help promote industry diversity, according to the One Club. 

"GUT is proud to sponsor Where Are All The Black People, and we'll keep doing so," says Anselmo Ramos, cofounder, creative chairperson of GUT and a member of The One Club Board. 

"Since day one, our mission has been to become one of the most diverse, creative and influential agencies in the world. We believe the more diverse you are, the more creative you're going to be. And the more creative you are, the more influential you're going to be. It all starts with diversity," Ramos adds.

According to The One Club, while other industry DEI events are confined to addressing topics from the stage, WAATBP stands apart by also providing one-on-one portfolio reviews by top agency creatives and recruiting opportunities for mid-level creatives who want to advance their careers, as well as students looking to break into the industry.

Virtual panels, portfolio reviews and recruiting sessions will happen online on Thursday, 26 September. The next day includes a special keynote speaker to be announced shortly, followed by additional presentations, panels, recruiting booths and portfolio reviews. Other programming elements will be announced shortly, including kickoff events and crowdsourced panel selection, says The One Club.

The One Club says WAATBP grew out of a conversation more than a dozen years ago — between One Club Board members Jimmy Smith, chairperson / CEO / CCO at Amusement Park Entertainment, and Jeff Goodby, chairperson of Goodby Silverstein & Partners — about the critical need to create job opportunities in advertising and design for minority students.

The pair spearheaded the initiative for the organisation, which held the first WAATBP panel on diversity during The One Club's Creative Week 2011.

"We support Where Are All the Black People each year because we're committed to ensuring that efforts that have proven themselves to be meaningful gateways to the industry remain vibrant and able to do the work the industry has committed to doing," says Chandra Guinn, executive director, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging at McKinney. 

"We've had success in sourcing talent during the career fair, and found insights and inspiration by attending the sessions. The keynotes have been fire. Connecting with industry veterans and newbies is life-giving, and we are grateful for that," Guinn adds.

The One Club has a long track record of creating ongoing programmes that address the ad industry's lack of diversity, says the organisation. These include:
  • global Creative Boot Camps and mentorship programmes for diverse college students and other young creatives
  • ONE School, the free portfolio programme for Black creatives in the United States and United Kingdom, and
  • ONE Creator Lab, a free training programme to bring diverse creators into the industry.
Other DEI initiatives from The One Club include:
Nicole Cousins and Dante Carlos at COLLINS New York developed WAATBP branding, concludes The One Club.

For more information, visit www.waatbp.org. You can also follow The One Club on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram or on TikTok. 

*Image courtesy of contributor