• by Steve McClellan , February 23, 2021

600 & Rising, the Adland advocacy group for Black professionals is looking for an executive director to lead the organization.

The group was formed last June in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. It demanded and received commitments by the major holding companies and agencies to create more diverse and equitable work forces within their ranks.

Some holding companies earmarked millions to do so and for the first time, released data detailing the percentages of Black and other minorities within their workforces. The numbers showed what many believed—that despite earlier efforts the industry remains overwhelmingly white.

The group said it is looking for a “leader who is experienced with the goal of dismantling systemic racism for the most marginalized groups within the Black community and can drive forward 600 & Rising’s wage equity and representation priorities.” It also said it has launched a fundraising effort with proceeds to be used to hire the new executive when the search is completed.

The group was co-founded by Nathan Young, a strategy director at Minneapolis-based agency Periscope. He served as president of the organization until resigning last August.  

He subsequently left Periscope and recently resurfaced as head of strategy for Deloitte Digital in Chicago.

The group has also launched a new newsletter and upgraded its website where people can go for more information on its activities and donate if they choose.