Supporting St. Louis Institutions Dedicated to Empowering Youth Through FH4Inclusion - FleishmanHillard

Article

January 15, 2025

By Terry Hoffmann

Al Fleishman and Robert Hillard opened the agency’s first office more than 78 years ago in St. Louis. And from the beginning, supporting the local St. Louis community has been a priority for our headquarters office. Our founder Al Fleishman was heavily involved in the community as a member of the Urban League and the Jewish Federation. He was instrumental in promoting human rights, connecting people from all backgrounds and breaking down communications barriers.

Today, the St. Louis office continues to build on that tradition and commitment through a range of pro bono partnerships and volunteer activities. Launched in 2016, FleishmanHillard’s FH4Inclusion initiative engages our colleagues around the world to lend their time and talents to champion and advance inclusion in their communities. A key priority for our St. Louis office in recent years has been supporting two local organizations focused on empowering youth and giving them the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

Starkloff Disability Institute

We’re proud to partner with the Starkloff Disability Institute, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering people with disabilities and helping them succeed in competitive professions, along with work to improve inclusive hiring practices. Since 2018, FleishmanHillard has participated in the organization’s annual Dream Big Career Camp that helps high school and college students learn about professional opportunities across sectors and inspire them to pursue fulfilling careers.

FleishmanHillard colleagues develop and facilitate annual half-day workshops with the students to spotlight PR careers and skillsets, share tips on building resumes and LinkedIn profiles and explore best practices in accessibility communications and design. We also facilitate breakout groups where students develop ideas for brand campaigns and activations.  

“Our students always have a fantastic time interacting with FleishmanHillard,” shared Lori Becker, CEO, Starkloff Disability Institute. “Youth with disabilities are not always given the same opportunities as their nondisabled peers, but Starkloff Disability Institute’s Dream Big program helps empower them by fostering disability confidence and pride. Through partnerships with inclusive companies, we introduce high-demand careers in various industries.”

Becker noted, “FleishmanHillard does an outstanding job of showcasing career opportunities in the PR and marketing fields. Each year, they challenge our campers to develop a marketing campaign for one of their clients. This provides our students with valuable, hands-on experience, allowing them to collaborate, organize their ideas and understand what it’s like to work in a PR and marketing firm. It’s a wonderful way for our students to gain real-world skills and see the impact of their creativity.”

Jenn Ackels, an account supervisor at FleishmanHillard, shared, “I’ve had the privilege of supporting our partnership with Starkloff’s Dream Big Career Camp for the past three years, and it’s absolutely been a highlight of my time at FleishmanHillard. Engaging with the students and witnessing their creativity as they learn about our industry is extremely special, and I’m grateful to be part of that experience, seeing their confidence grow alongside such wonderful colleagues.”

Cardinal Ritter College Prep

As the only Catholic co-ed African American high school in the United States, Cardinal Ritter College Prep is recognized for academic excellence and preparing the next generation of leaders. The school has a 100% graduate rate and college acceptance rate. Their athletic program has also won 11 state championships in 10 years. Our St. Louis office works with the school to provide communications counsel and PR support. We’ve also hosted a workshop to prepare students for internships in college and beyond.

In 2022, our colleagues helped to amplify and spotlight a viral LinkedIn post from the school’s president. The post featured a photo of all the Black male teachers at the school, making up 40% of their staff compared to the national average of 2%. Our FleishmanHillard team jumped in to help pitch and support outreach, helping Cardinal Ritter secure coverage with NBC News and The Grio. The coverage helped to spotlight the school’s success in recruiting Black male teachers and why representation is so important in education. It also inspired a school in Massachusetts to visit Cardinal Ritter College Prep to learn more about their strategy (KMOV).

“Through FH4Inclusion, I have been given the opportunity to align the work we do for Cardinal Ritter to my passion for storytelling and giving a voice to those making an impact in the St. Louis community,” shared Tiffany Byndom, a vice president at FleishmanHillard. “While visiting the school, I was able to witness the student experience that is defying the odds and addressing achievement gaps for Black students, which brought me closer to this important work. I feel privileged to tell their story on national media platforms.”

Cardinal Ritter College Prep President and CEO, Tamiko Armstead, shared, “We have been so fortunate to work with the great team at FleishmanHillard. Cardinal Ritter has been thrust into the national spotlight from NBC to the TODAY show and many national publications since our partnership began. We are beyond grateful for this opportunity to work alongside FleishmanHillard.”

Advancing FH4Inclusion partnerships is a priority focus for our St. Louis office and we continually evaluate ways to expand our efforts. Engaging with local institutions that are dedicated to creating pathways for inclusion not only helps to strengthen our region but also provides meaningful opportunities for our FleishmanHillard colleagues to connect with their passions, share their expertise and give back to the community.