Melissa Vela-Williamson and MVW Communications Named Finalists in Inaugural National Diversity Awards
San Antonio-based MVW Communications can now add “changemaker” to its list of accolades.
PRNews recently announced that Melissa Vela-Williamson, APR, is a finalist for the Latinx Pioneer Award, and its Meals on Wheels COVID Response Campaign is a finalist in the communications and PR campaigns executed by a Latinx-owned business.
Every year, PRNews honors individuals and campaigns in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & Nonprofit Awards. Last year, it added the Diversity Awards division to its program.
The Pioneer award honors communicators who have used their platforms to shed light on issues affecting their communities, made contributions to fostering diversity within their fields, shown a commitment to the value of diversity, and worked toward promoting inclusive initiatives.
“I’m Incredibly honored and proud to be recognized by PR News for doing work that I find so meaningful,” said Vela-Williamson. “Getting a thumbs up at this level validates my team and I are on the right path. And what a kudos for Meals on Wheels San Antonio that their COVID-19 response and communication efforts deserve national recognition! I'm grateful for the trade associations, mentors, peers, team members, clients, and past employers that all shaped my viewpoint on public relations.”
PRNews said, “these finalists represent the communicators who use their platforms for the betterment of their communities and the global community at large. They amplify the voices of marginalized groups and dedicate themselves to social causes. These campaigns, initiatives, professionals, teams, rising stars and lifetime pioneers are helping to usher in a diverse, equitable future and redefine organizations’ role in the fight for global change. PRNews is proud to honor these industry changemakers and salutes them for their contribution to communications and the world beyond.”
In a sense, inclusion was an underlying theme to Meals on Wheels San Antonio’s COVID-response. The elderly can often be forgotten, but MVW Communications helped shine a light on this vulnerable population during the peak of COVID-19 and transform the nonprofit as an essential business and thought leaders in the elderly community. In spite of the pandemic, MOWSA innovated to continue delivery service and grow in capacity in 2020. They added thousands more seniors to their client list and served over 200,000 extra meals from March through December.
The winners of PRNews’ Diversity Awards will be announced April 27 when the event will be virtually streamed. Honorees will be featured in a special issue of PRNews’ awards booklet that will be distributed to industry leaders worldwide.
PRNews is the leading source of information, education, recognition and data for Fortune 1000 professionals, agencies and government/non-profits. With the launch of its weekly newsletter over 75 years ago, PRNews has remained dedicated to supporting the growth of communicators and marketers all while keeping them abreast of the latest news affecting their industries.