Pairing Your Honorees and Your Mission
The honorees at your event are a great opportunity to have someone else tell the story of your mission and champion your organization.
At their Oregonians Against Discrimination Business Leaders Luncheon this year, Basic Rights Oregon honored two local Portland businesses leading the way in recognizing and supporting transgender and LGBTQ-inclusive policies, practices and trainings.
Because of the specifically targeted business audience at this luncheon, BRO ‘s programming angle was to build the business case for inclusive workplaces. What better way to do that than with fellow business owners telling their story about how inclusive policies and changed the face of their business for the better?
The luncheon this year honored international design gurus Wieden+Kennedy and ice cream favorite Salt & Straw. There was a video made for each business and then a representative from the honored business got up and spoke to the crowd.
The honorees were given guidelines for remarks to keep them connected to BRO’s mission and the focus of the lunch. Each stood and continued to make the case that inclusivity is good business, creating safe spaces for employees to thrive and sending the message to the larger community that they are good neighbors where everyone is welcome.
By framing the story narrative in the videos and giving shape to their remarks, the honorees buoyed the message of the day and the program felt cohesive and on point.
photos by Andie Petkus
