The 13th edition of The One Club for Creativity‘s free hybrid Where Are All The Black People (WAATBP) free diversity conference and career fair will take place on October 26-27, 2023 in New York.

WAATBP is an annual gathering that exists to address and correct the lack of diversity within the ad industry, bringing together Black voices from across the ad community – from students to C-suite leaders – to celebrate successes, examine setbacks, and assert their rightful place at the table alongside their allies. 

The annual conference is a hybrid event, with the first day taking place online and the second in person at Convene at Brookfield Place, 225 Liberty St. in downtown New York.  

While other industry diversity events are confined to addressing topics from the stage, WAATBP stands apart by also providing one-on-one portfolio reviews by top agency creatives, and recruiting opportunities for mid-level creatives who want to advance their careers, as well as students looking to break into the industry.  

Virtual panels, portfolio reviews, and recruiting sessions will happen online on October 26.  The second day includes a special keynote speaker to be announced shortly, followed by additional panels, recruiting booths and portfolio reviews.  

Details about other exciting new elements to this year’s programming, including kickoff events and crowdsourced panel selection, will be announced shortly.

WAATBP grew out of a conversation more than a dozen years ago between One Club Board members Jimmy Smith, chairman/CEO/CCO at Amusement Park Entertainment, and Jeff Goodby, chairman, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, about the critical need to create job opportunities in advertising and design for minority students.  The pair spearheaded the initiative for the organization, which held the first WAATBP panel on diversity during The One Club’s Creative Week 2011.

The One Club has a long track record of creating ongoing programs that address the ad industry’s lack of diversity. These include global Creative Boot Camps and mentorship programs for diverse college students and other young creatives; ONE School, the groundbreaking free portfolio program for Black creatives; and ONE Production, a free training program for BIPOC students looking to enter the world of food styling.

Students who are interested in attending can submit a 200-300 word summary with their learnings and takeaway from the conference in discussions for extra credit.