New National Network Launched For Black Communicators

By Michael L. Van Cooten
Publisher/Editor

TORONTO, Ontario (Tuesday, May 10, 2022) — The Ubora Network — Ubora meaning ‘excellence’ in Swahili — was recently originated, and launched, by five Black-Canadian female communications specialists, providing an important — but missing — success-facilitating component for Black communicators, aimed at enhancing their careers’ advancement.

Meant to be more than a platform for discussion about problems facing the industry, it was envisioned and created as a pathway to new opportunities for all of those Black communicators, who have ever been pigeonholed into lower level positions, because of their skin pigmentation.

The Network’s founders are:
Sharlyn Carrington, Director of Events and Awareness, who is an entrepreneur, strategic communicator with 13-plus years experience in the public and private sectors, DEI speaker and advocate, and founder of Content Strong Communications.

Kimberly Brathwaite, Director of Mentorship and Education, an award-winning, seasoned communications professional, who has worked in the education and energy sectors with expertise in strategy, marketing, and campaign creation. A Certified Marketing Specialist, she has certification in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Gail Strachan, Director of Partnerships, is an award-winning executive at a global management consulting firm. A community advocate for the social determinants of health and, with over 20 years of experience, she has provided strategic advice to leadership teams in employee experience, across the dimensions of power structures and privilege.

Safiya Abbadi, Director of Outreach, is a marketing and communications professional, who is passionate about creating meaningful impact through inventive campaigns, events, and initiatives. That passion has followed her through her career, where she has lent her expertise to national and international corporations in North America and the Middle East.

Danielle Norris, Assistant Director of Mentorship and Education, is an award-winning, certified communication professional, with 15 years of experience in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. Her love of education extends to a globally-recognized book club she founded in 2017, which she leverages for Ubora’s outreach and engagement efforts with post-secondary and high school students.

“The public relations and communications industry in Canada, has long been acknowledged as ‘the last of the lily-White professions’. Although post-secondary institutions seem to be churning out an increasing number of identity-diverse and skilled graduates, leadership roles and PR teams continue to skew homogeneously White,” the Network points out on its website.

“This is unfortunate, because increasingly, businesses are understanding how critical communications and public relations are to their bottom line.”

While opportunities in the communications industry seem endless, parents often undervalue, or are completely unaware, when encouraging their children to pursue communications as a career path, the organisation posits.

“African, Black Canadian and Caribbean parents, in particular, tend to neglect the industry in lieu of traditional fields such as law, medicine, education and accounting. While these professions have their challenges as well, the world needs Black professionals in communications,” it adds.

Open to professional communicators, students pursuing education in the field, and corporate partners, Ubora welcomes Black communicators looking for that missing element, enjoyed by many of their White counterparts – connection with Black professionals like themselves.

Not only is it meant to serve as a supportive community, the Ubora Network also intends to provide a place for resource sharing, professional development events, and mentorship.

It boasts having the inside scoop on job opportunities and positions from partners and employers, who realize they have a diversity problem, and are actively trying to recruit the best and brightest Black communicators, with expertise in a variety of core business skills.

But, claims Ubora, what sets it apart from other networks, is its database of Black communicators that it collects, maintains and constantly updates.

This database — the first of its kind in Canada, according to Ubora — is designed to be an expertise-chocked showcase for all of those companies seeking to diversify their teams, and looking to scout the right communicator, with the right skills to strengthen their business.

“As the go-to network for excellent Black communicators, our mission is to cultivate a widespread culture shift in the practice of communications, by elevating and empowering our members,” claims Ubora on its site.

Its founders see the organization as a complement to other professional PR networks that have existed for decades, but don’t necessarily meet the needs of Black communications professionals.

“We want there to be as many resources for support and career progression as possible. Why? Because it’s about time the pathways to our success are clear,” says Strachan, the organisation’s Director of Partnerships.

When asked what barriers stand in the way of Ubora’s success, co-founders reiterate their need for corporate sponsorship and funding to maintain their promise and value to members.

“Students and professionals already face barriers of unpaid internships, lack of professional connections, and more. Adding a lofty membership fee, as seen from some of our counterparts, detracts from our goal,” explains Brathwaite, Ubora’s Director of Mentorship.

“We want to diversify and strengthen this industry, and that starts with uplifting Black communicators to better roles, roles that help more businesses reach and engage the diverse audiences they serve.”

Ubora Network’s co-founders reinforce their commitment to making membership as barrier-free as possible, but want future members to see value in our organization as well. Consequently, it is offering affordable membership for students and professionals at $25 for students and $50 for professionals, respectively — a cost it says, exists to fund the upkeep of operational expenses.

For more information on membership, partnerships or attending one of Ubora’s regular events visit, www.TheUboraNetwork.com.