Substantial Magazine and NC’s Fastest Growing Marketing Agency Partner to Highlight the Impact of COVID-19 and Systematic Racism on Minority Communities
- Release provided by Walk West Media Contact: Sharon Delaney McCloud
Raleigh, NC, June 25, 2020 – Walk West announced a partnership with Substantial Magazineto assist minority communities throughout eastern North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight to end systematic racism. The new June issue educates, informs, and serves and highlights underrepresented populations.
“COVID-19 has amplified the distinctive gap in health care outcomes within underrepresented communities,” notes Jackie Ferguson, Director of Multicultural Programming at Walk West. “Our partnership with Substantial Magazine allows our capabilities and commitment to multicultural communication to be used to share life-saving information across diverse communities. Substantial Magazine represents a trusted source of insights that Walk West is pleased to promote and support.”
The initiative, headlined with the June issue of Substantial Magzine, features a two-prong approach to the “Two deadly viruses killing Americans: Covid-19 and racism,” as quoted by CNN’s Don Lemon. Readers will hear from trusted faces and voices on the front lines who are leading efforts to ensure adequate resources are available to the community.
“All too often minority communities and underrepresented populations are last to receive the necessary information and communications during crisis,” said Greg Hedgepeth, President and Editor-in-Chief of Substantial Magazine. “Substantial Magazine welcomed the opportunity to partner with Walk West and a number of local nonprofits and community leaders in an effort to ensure the minority community of Eastern NC are informed and educated about the impacts COVID-19 has had and will continue to have on our community, we also want to ensure we spread messages of hope and resilience during these times.”
Substantial Magazine is a quarterly, regional publication based in Greenville, NC. Greg Hedgepeth launched the editorial platform in 2014 more as a movement, not just a magazine. Mr. Hedgepeth brings a unique perspective to the collaboration as he is a police officer, an adjunct professor, Communications Director for the Institute for Emerging Issues, and a social justice activist. The focus of the June issue is two parts: one will highlight the real impact COVID-19 is having on the minority community and high-risk factor populations. The second half focuses on amplifying voices of those who marched and peacefully protested the oppression that has long plagued Black communities. From interviews with local leaders in business, education, nonprofit, healthcare and more, the narratives introduce readers to people leading efforts to ensure solutions are available to everyone during these challenging times.
Walk West partnered with Hedgepeth and other community stakeholders to assist in communicating with groups experiencing negative impacts during the pandemic. This work represents a core value of Walk West and its multicultural marketing strategies.
Media Contact:
Sharon Delaney McCloud;
sharon@walkwest.com;
919-810-5085
About Walk West: Walk West is a full-service digital marketing agency that specializes in strategic communications, web design and development, digital media, video production, government relations and content development. Walk West was founded and remains driven by its values of curiosity, adaptability, integrity and collaboration.
About Substantial Magazine: Substantial Magazine is a regional publication that originated in Greenville, NC and serves communities in eastern North Carolina. Under the direction of President and Editor-in-Chief Gregory L. Hedgepeth, the quarterly magazine is in its sixth year. The editorial focus promotes influential and affluent minorities, spotlighting their successes, and discussing relevant issues that directly affect Black and Brown communities.