WASHINGTON — (November 29, 2018),  This semester, Howard University public relations seniors Ashlai Murray, Shykeia Spinks, Teja Williams and Sarai Charles are taking the lead, increasing the community’s interest in the fight for clean energy. Their hardwork supports the needs of their “client,” the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), a nonprofit aiming to pass the Clean Energy Omnibus DC Act 2018 while garnering consistent engagement on communication channels. Prior to the upcoming bill hearing on December 1, they’ve been engaging the community.

“It has been such a pleasure to work with the students at Howard University’s CapComm class,” says Communications Director Denise Robbins, Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “They’re committed, bright, and creative, always bringing fresh new ideas to the campaign for 100 percent renewable electricity. And it’s wonderful to see the students of Howard University engaging with issues like climate change policy that directly affect their communities.”

The CapComm Lab course, offered in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, gives students a chance to gain practical advertising and public relations experience. Students in the course run a strategic communications firm and are paired with local businesses to fulfill goals of planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating strategic communications campaigns.

The students working with CCAN took initiative through spreading the message via live-tweeting of public hearings, crafting additional social media content, posters and blog posts, among other strategies. The Clean Energy DC Act bill is scheduled to be voted upon on Saturday, December 1 and the team is confident CCAN will see promising results.

"Working with CCAN has given us the opportunity to apply the knowledge we have accumulated at Howard to a real client. Our team is equipped with social media experts, visual creatives, and strategic thinkers, perfect for tackling our client's issues,” says Shykeia Spinks, the CapComm account executive.

“Once we accomplish our objectives for CCAN, we plan to leave them with creative tools that will help them effectively engage their audience across all platforms." 

        ###

(Pictured above, from left to right: Ashlai Murray, senior public relations student and CapComm group member, Denise Robins, communications director of CCAN Action Fund, and Shykeia Spinks, senior public relations student and CapComm Account Executive - photo courtesy of CapComm group)

About Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN)

Launched in 2002, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the first grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Our mission is to build a diverse movement powerful enough to put our region on the path to climate stability, while using our proximity to the nation’s capital to inspire action in neighboring states, regions nationwide, and countries around the world. More information can be found at http://chesapeakeclimate.org

Media Contact: Denise Robbins, Communications Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, denise@chesapeakeclimate.org

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu

Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, Office of University Communications,  Imani.popejohns@howard.edu