​Dirtbags for Diversity Networking Event

 By Breeahna Dobson, PRSSA-LB Ambassador

Photos by Cristal Gomez

Diversity may be an issue in the professional world of public relations, but that wasn’t the case
at the Dirtbag baseball game this past Friday. Students, faculty and alumni of all different
backgrounds gathered together to support the Bateman team and their campaign.

The networking event, called “Dirtbags for Diversity” was hosted by the Bateman team to
promote their campaign and provide networking opportunities to students. When I arrived, there
was an area to the left side of the stadium sectioned off specifically for the event with a great
view of the field from third base. Everyone was gathered around a table of appetizers, munching
on pulled pork sliders and chatting amongst themselves.

I was welcomed to the conversation and catered food with open arms. The weather was on the
colder side, but that didn’t deter us from warming up to one another. We talked about the
baseball team, our hopes for our future careers and took pictures in front of their banner shining
across the scoreboard. The members of the Bateman team shared their campaign details with
me and thanked me for coming to support them.

This year’s campaign is focused on spreading awareness about the lack of diversity in the
public relations workforce. The Bateman team has partnered with the PRSA foundation to raise
funds for their cause by selling a book called Diverse Voices.

A few members of last year’s Bateman team stopped by to show support. I had the chance to
talk to them about last year’s campaign, as well as their hope for this year’s team. Their
campaign, which partnered with a nonprofit for childhood cancer, placed them in third place
nationally.

“We want to see them excel and make it to the top three like we did,” said Bianco Granado, the former Bateman
team captain.

Every person I talked to that evening had a different upbringing and ethnic background, but we
were all able to come together and bond over baseball and Bateman. We all shared a common
interest: to support one other, and in this case, the Bateman team.