It’s been five years since I have done a blog post. I can honestly say that so much has happened within that timeframe, but I am forever thankful that I am still standing, growing, and making a difference one day at a time. Speaking of making a difference…
My business partner, Erin Smith, and I — yes, we have a business called Maltshop Marketing — had the pleasure of working with the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau (SBCTB) to create a social media campaign for the 2022 Shreveport-Bossier’s Black Restaurant Week. Each year, the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce (SBAACC) puts together a week of festivities celebrating and highlighting black-owned restaurants and their culinary talents within the community. I love this event's concept and drive each year because we are raising awareness for these businesses and vitalizing the economic impact of these local black-owned restaurant establishments in Shreveport-Bossier. Please visit their website if you want to stop in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana, and try some delicious food.
For the social media campaign, we were to develop the following:
A promotional flyer listing all participating restaurant specials
Social media graphics, including save the date and promo leading up to the start of the event
Cover photo for the event page
Erin and I were beyond excited to take the lead in the project and provide our creative spin to the annual event. We decided to go with an avant-garde, clean, modern, and contemporary look with a vibrant color that would make the logo pop. I also wanted to ensure that the overall composition stayed consistent with the color palette of the logo — the Pan-African flag. We must do it for the culture! The SBCTB was impressed with the overall style and execution, so we entered it into the American Advertising Awards in the Shreveport-Bossier area.
We took home two awards! Our first award was a Gold ADDY Award in the Online/Interactive, Social Media Campaign category, but the one that almost brought tears to my eyes was the Mosaic Award. This is a massive award in the American Advertising Federation because it “honors companies and individuals who embody the Mosaic Principles—an action-oriented roadmap to create a more inclusive industry (www.aaf.org).” Displaying an authentic commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through creative work represents a Mosaic Award recipient. I thank my incredible business partner, the SBCTB, and my wonderful friends and colleagues at the SBAACC for giving Maltshop the opportunity.
As I continue to enjoy the moment, especially during this fantastic time of the year — Black History Month, I understand that I have more work to do. This is just the start of something beautiful, seeing my work push for diversity, inclusion, and representation. I hope to continue being a powerful force to evoke change and inspire those who once felt that they could not do it, CAN.