Encouraging young, talented people of diverse backgrounds to the field of communications

Television commercials, highway billboards, social media buys, community event flyers, magazine ads, talking points, videos, speeches, and even the words chosen in news headlines and stories…just a snippet of what the field of communications produces. The business can infiltrate young mindsets, drive needed change, and spin any story left or right.

Kobii Spruill, a rising junior at the historic Howard University in Washington, D.C. and a Providence native, already has her foot in the door after a summer internship with the RDW Group Inc., a leading marketing agency in Providence since 1986, and as a recipient of its RDW Group Communications Scholarship for People of Color, administered by the Rhode Island Foundation.

Another scholarship recipient and intern, Estarlyn Hiraldo, also learned a great deal during his time with RDW in 2021.

“My internship opened my eyes to what being a creative in a corporate setting could be,” said Hiraldo in a recent interview. “It prepared me in the profession as well as with presentation and outreach.”

“My father and founder of RDW Group, Michael Doyle, established the RDW scholarship in August of 2000 with $25,000,” said Martha Doyle Lindman, RDW partner and Senior Art Director. “He recognized the lack of diversity within our organization and the advertising world at large. Over the course of the program, we have been able to award 44 scholarships. I began overseeing the program in 2016, and I love being able to continue this extremely important work.”

Increasing the representation of people of color in all businesses, especially leadership, to achieve equity in Rhode Island continues to be a strategic initiative for the Foundation, evident in signature programs like the Equity Leadership Initiative, as well as grants, investments, capacity building, and scholarships.

Read more about the RDW Scholarship, and recipients Kobii and Estarlyn, here; click here to learn more about all the Foundation’s scholarship opportunities. Applications for the 2024-25 academic year will be available after January 1.