HPRA broadens cooperation with Public Relations Society of America.

The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) is expanding its affiliation with the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), having agreed on a framework for greater cooperation and reciprocity on a broad range of member and industry initiatives.

HPRA and PRSA will cross-honor member rates for national events and reciprocate on guest articles, blog posts, speaking opportunities, web links and memberships for each organization’s Executive Committee. HPRA’s Executive Committee also will have the opportunity to take part in PRSA’s annual Leadership Rally.

“There’s much work to be done on the diversity front to meet the growing demand for Hispanic and multicultural communicators,” says Lourdes Rodriguez, president of HPRA-LA and account supervisor at VPE Public Relations. “HPRA is committed to working with PRSA to help advance diversity in the field. Our collaboration not only will fortify the industry, but strengthen our respective organizations.”

“Achieving greater racial, ethnic and gender diversity within the public relations profession is a major focus of PRSA’s,” says PRSA Chair and CEO Rosanna M. Fiske, APR. “An alliance with HPRA aligns directly with PRSA’s own diversity mission,” says Fiske. “We started by reorganizing our resources and plotting a defined course to involve more of our community, and we’re continuing by looking for targeted opportunities, such as our affiliation with HPRA, that will complement our efforts in these areas.”

PRSA partnered with HPRA and the Hispanic PR Blog last year to sponsor the first Hispanic PR & Social Marketing Conference. The organizations will partner again this year to present Hispanicize 2011, the 2nd Annual Hispanic PR and Social Media Conference, taking place April 6 – 8 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and Spa in Los Angeles, Calif.