Lexington, Ky. – Mississippi business leader and COO of The Cirlot Agency, Rick Looser, was among the group of nationally and regionally recognized leaders in business, education and government at the first-ever Kentucky Summit on Diversity and Inclusion in Lexington.
The more than 100 participants used the two-day summit to discuss plans to create a more inclusive and diverse environment throughout the state. One goal of the summit is to encourage change to fight stereotypes and biases.
Looser, one of the top P.R. professionals in the country, spearheaded The Cirlot Agency’s own Public Service Campaign to fight Mississippi stereotypes, the Mississippi, Believe It!TM campaign. The campaign was created as an economic and educational tool with posters depicting positive aspects of Mississippi and its citizens. Schools across the state continue to use the campaign in the classroom and businesses utilize it in proposals to out-of-state companies.
During his session, Looser and other panelists led discussions on mental models, celebrating diversity and ways to combat negative stereotypes to improve not only the world’s image of Kentucky, but also residents’ own self-image of the state.
Leaders at the University of Kentucky say the summit will be a biennial event, with all Kentuckians invited to participate.