PRSA-LA HONORS PR TRAILBLAZERS ADVANCING INCLUSION AT 7TH ANNUAL SUNRISE HONORS

The Public Relations Society of America Los Angeles Chapter (PRSA-LA), celebrated PR visionaries who are shaping a better, inclusive tomorrow for the industry and beyond during its seventh annual Sunrise Honors on Thursday, August 14 at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens.

(L-to-R: PRSA-LA board member Leshelle Sargent, Francisco Oaxaca, Monica Trasandes, PRSA-LA President Marisol Barrios Perez, APR, Laarni Rosca Dacanay, PRSA-LA board member Stephen Chavez, Chris Cathcart, PRSA-LA President-elect Tony Ferguson and PRSA-LA board member John McCartney, APR. PHOTO CREDIT: Eddie Sakaki) 

 During the event, PRSA-LA honored PR vanguards:

• Christopher Cathcart, CEO & Founder, Diaspora Group; Adjunct Instructor, California State University, Northridge
• Laarni Rosca Dacanay, Senior Communications Leader, Entertainment & Media
• Francisco Oaxaca, Chief of Strategic Communications & Community Relations, L.A. Care Health Plan
• Monica Trasandes, Senior Director of Spanish-language Media & Latinx Media Representation, GLAAD

During a panel moderated by Amazon MGM Studios publicist Leshelle Sargent, the honorees discussed the role of AI, authentic representation in media, old school PR tactics vs. new school PR tactics, and the importance of clear communication in building trust.

“Sunrise Honors is our special way to shine a spotlight on remarkable trailblazers who advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in public relations. We are extremely proud of our honorees for lifting colleagues, holding companies accountable to their values, and seeing the contributions our differences make in this industry,” said PRSA-LA President Marisol Barrios Perez, APR. “Individuals like Francisco, Christopher, Monica, and Laarni inspire us to be champions for others and pave the way for the next generation of diverse practitioners.”

The sponsors for this year’s Sunrise Honors included L.A. Care Health Plan, Amazon MGM Studios, ChavezPR, Fenton, IWGroup, Inc., JMACPR, and Northgate González Market.

The Sunrise Honors celebration is part of PRSA-LA’s mission to foster and support those who promote diversity and inclusion. The honorees are trailblazers on the front lines in-and-out of the boardroom. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership and influence to advance diversity and inclusiveness within their organization or industry.

To learn more about the 2025 Sunrise Honors honorees, visit here.

Previous PRSA-LA Sunrise Honors honorees include Glenn Osaki, Senior Advisor to USC President, International Communications & Marketing Director at the U.S.-China Institute, USC Annenberg; Gwendolyn Young, Young Communications Group, Inc.; Jose Villa, Founder and President/Chief Strategy Officer  of Sensis; Phylicia Fant, Founder and CEO of The Purple Agency; Amy Grindrod, Public Relations Director of Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD); David C. Magdael, President and CEO of David Magdael & Associations, Inc.; Patricia Perez, CEO, VPE Communications; Valarie De La Garza, CEO of Fenton; Kim Hunter, Chairman and CEO of The LAGRANT Foundation, LAGRANT Communications and Managing Partner of KLH & Associates; Debra Nakatomi, President of NakatomiPR; Steve Roth, executive director for ORAHM – Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration; CBS Entertainment’s Tiffany Smith Anoa’i; Bill Imada of IW Group; Gilbert Dávila of Dávila Multicultural Insights; Alan Acosta with the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center; Rashad Robinson, Amity Paye and Rashid Shabazz of Color of Change; and Zandra Zuno Baermann with We Are UnidosUS.