Media Consultant Hired for LGBT Campaign

Media Consultant Hired for LGBT Campaign
February, 2008

The 41/26 Venture, a project of Cream City Foundation’s Joseph R. Pabst LGBT Infrastructure Fund, has hired Media and Marketing Consultant, Denise Cawley, principal, Circore Creative. Denise Cawley will help create a media campaign around Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender issues, in particular those represented through the Shall Not Be Recognized, an exhibit featuring same-sex couples who have been together for seven years or more.

The media campaign will include billboards in southeastern Wisconsin, a media kit, as well as an expert’s guide for responding to media that will be made available to all interested LGBT organizations and leaders. Additionally, the consultant will respond to LGBT related stories in the news that reflect the goals of the campaign and coordinate responses to media coverage on behalf of the 41/26 Venture.

“The media campaign was developed after a year of stimulating discussions,” said Angie Guerra, a member of the 41/26 Venture Committee and interim Director of Communications for the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. “I am very excited about the work Ms. Cawley will do provide visibility a presence for LGBT people through outdoor advertising.”

“The committee obviously put a lot of time and thought into this project, and the hiring of Denise Cawley,” said Tim Clark, President of the Cream City Foundation. “Ms. Cawley knows how to tailor marketing goals the resources of the organization with impressive results. Plus she has been an advocate for our community for more than a dozen years; from her public relations and media work while on the first Board of Directors for the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, to her work in LGBT arts, and parenting issues, Ms. Cawley has shown her commitment to LGBT rights and interests.”

Photographer, Jeff Percy, one of the creators of the Shall Not Be Recognized, states, “Denise is a natural choice for this media consultant role. She has been a cheerleader for this project from the start.” Denise Cawley, her partner of 12 years, and their son appear as subjects in the Shall Not Be Recognized exhibit.

41/26 Venture members include Joseph Brooks, formerly with AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin; Maria Cadenas, Executive Director of the Cream City Foundation; Patrick Flaherty, former Director for Center Advocates; Angie Guerra of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center and Lesbian Fund of the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee; and Michael Johnston, writer for Outbound magazine.

Cream City Foundation serves as a catalyst for social change on behalf of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities in southeastern Wisconsin. Their work includes strategic grant making, education, and media outreach. Find out more at www.creamcityfoundation.org. To find out more about the Shall Not Be Recognized exhibit visit www.shallnotberecognized.org.