Message from Montie: Diversity Archives

Chicago businesses celebrate upcoming release of 'The Princess and the Frog' with mother-daughter Princess Coronation Weekend

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Message from Montie

Shamontiel is the author of two novels: "Change for a Twenty" and "Round Trip." Check her out at shamontiel.com.

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In this film publicity image released by Disney, Princess Tiana, voiced by Anika Noni Rose, left, and Prince Naveen, voiced by Bruno Campos, are shown in a scene from the animated film, "The Princess and the Frog." (AP Photo/Disney)

On December 11, Walt Disney Animation Studios presents "The Princess and the Frog," and Diamonds & Lace EventScaping plans to honor more African-American princesses next Friday too with their Princess Coronation Weekend in Chicago.

"'The Princess and the Frog' was more or less the inspiration for the Princess Coronation Weekend," said Relana Johnson, co-owner of Diamonds & Lace EventScaping. "An affiliate of ours is handling the private screening of the film, and we felt that this was just too historical of an event to just limit it to the private screening. Everyone in the community is excited about it."

The film, "The Princess and the Frog," is about an African-American young lady named Tiana who meets a frog prince trying to become human again. Their chance encounter and a kiss lead them into the lively Louisiana bayous.

"The Disney princess franchise is a billion-dollar franchise, and for them to take note that the African-American buying power of women, children, parents, grandparents is worth giving us a princess that people in our community can identify with makes it a big deal," Johnson said.

Published in African-American business, African-American history, Chicago Events, Chicago Youth, Diversity, Entertainment, Family Bonding, Illinois Events, Movies and tagged Chicago princess, Diamonds & Lace, Diamonds and Lace, Princess and the Frog, Princess Coronation Weekend, Princess Tiana, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Princess Tiana

Photo Gallery: Commonground's 40 Under 40 Chicago Crain's List honoree reception, Chicago adventures

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Message from Montie

Shamontiel is the author of two novels: "Change for a Twenty" and "Round Trip." Check her out at shamontiel.com.

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This past week, I was honored with interviewing two of Crain's 40 Under 40 professionals, Sherman Wright and Ahmad Islam from Commonground, a marketing agency that embraces multiculturalism. I think it's so respectable how they're building a bridge to encourage diversity where there was none. Other marketing companies are jumping on the bandwagon slowly but surely, but I knew about many of Commonground's products before I'd ever heard of Commonground so to find out that they'd achieved the honor of Crain's Chicago list for 2009 wasn't a surprise. I talked with these two entrepreneurs about social networking, diversity in marketing, their advertising and marketing background, and the economy.

And on Monday, Nov. 23, I was flattered to be invited to their 40 Under 40 Honoree Reception at a Chicago bar and restaurant called Clutch, located at 459 N. Ogden Avenue, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Gallery sneak peek (28 images):

View the gallery...

Published in African-American business, Business owner, Chicago Events, Chicago Locations, Chicago Party Spots, Chicago Restaurants, Diversity and tagged African-Americans advertising, African-Americans marketing, Ahmad Islam, Clutch, Clutch bar, Commonground, Crain, Crain's Chicago, Crain's Chicago List, diversity, diversity advertising, Shamontiel, Sherman Wright

African-American visibility in advertising, Chicago's Commonground businessowners discuss marketing

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Message from Montie

Shamontiel is the author of two novels: "Change for a Twenty" and "Round Trip." Check her out at shamontiel.com.

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Ahmad Islam (left) and Sherman Wright (right) at the 40 Under 40 Honoree Reception

A commercial is a food or bathroom break for me. I usually don't pay attention to advertisements, but in the past few months I've noticed a pattern in marketing. It's not just the Walmart or McDonald's commercials. I'm seeing it in Tide, Pine Sol, Sprite, Lever 2000, Crest and the Roomplace commercials too. I'm seeing a boost in advertising visibility with African-American families, especially African-American fathers. Recently I saw an entertaining ad about relationships on the #65 bus after I left an appointment in the Chicago loop. I thought the ad was amusing and refreshing to see such a common moment in a relationship.

Photo by Shamontiel

I wonder if advertising agencies are starting to get the hint about diversity in marketing or did President Barack Obama's family have something to do with the diversity, but either way I love it. It's nice to see multiculturalism on camera. And this year is also an important year for African-Americans in the marketing industry, including Chicago's own Commonground, owned by Sherman Wright and Ahmad Islam.

This two-team, African-American owned marketing company had their success honored this year on Crain's Chicago 2009 40 Under 40 list. I knew about their products and I saw some of their work, like the Sprite Step Off commercial, but I didn't know who the brains were behind these operations. I was delighted to be introduced to the owners of Commonground this week and talk to Wright and Islam about the change in faces, the increase in diversity in the marketing industry, and how Chicago influences the advertising and marketing industry.

Neither owner is from Chicago. Sherman Wright, a Texan who has a bachelor's degree in journalism, came to Chicago from Texas A&M for a diversity program when he was 22 years old. Ahmad Islam, who holds a master's degree in sports marketing and a bachelor's degree in business psychology, came to Chicago after traveling to various cities from his home state of Ohio.

"My family is still from the Midwest," Islam said. "Chicago is probably the only city in the Midwest that I really wanted to live in. It gave me the benefits of being close to my family, being in a city that was great from a marketing and advertising standpoint, and also being able to live the city life."

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Published in African-American business, Business, Business owner, Diversity, Education and tagged African-Americans advertising, African-Americans marketing, Ahmad Islam, Chicago's Crain's list, Commonground, diversity, diversity advertising, multiculturalism advertising, Shamontiel, Sherman Wright, Sprite Green