Avid Fans Of: Barbenheimer

Avid (adjective) – having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something. It’s more than just our company’s namesake. Passion for our work and for the things we love is part of our core values. In this recurring series, we’ll share some of the things we’re Avid Fans of with you.

Barbie and Oppenheimer both premiered on July 21, 2023, sparking “Barbenheimer” – an internet phenomenon that led to countless memes, articles, and even its own Wikipedia page. Whether you’re on “Team Barbie” or “Team Oppenheimer,” one thing is certain: in an age of endless sequels, prequels, and remakes, two well-made, stand-alone films are something to celebrate.

For this edition of Avid Fans Of, the team weighs in on which of the two films they watched and what they thought. Bonus points for seeing both!

Ashley – Barbie

Ashley, wearing a pink outfit, poses inside a large, faux-Barbie box at the movie theater.

I had been eagerly anticipating the Barbie movie since I first heard about it! From Greta Gerwig to the entire incredible cast to the amazing teaser trailers and songs that were released, I could not get enough and was so ready to watch! I have always been obsessed with the color pink and Barbie brings me right back to my childhood.

When the movie came out, I was visiting my parents and my mom planned a special outing for us to see it together. She got us matching t-shirts, made themed treats, and pulled out her vintage Barbies from the 1960s. The movie had such sweet mother-daughter moments that it was really special to have that time together. I watched it again with friends a week later and it was cool to pick out entirely new moments to love!

Ruby – Barbie

A mirror selfie of Ruby Werckman in their pink outfit for the Barbie showing.

My friends and I had been talking about Barbenheimer for months, debating whether to watch them both on the same day, which order to watch, etc. I did end up seeing both films, but definitely not on the same day. I have major respect for anyone who did watch both films in one day, especially since I couldn’t imagine watching anything after watching Oppenheimer but ending on that note would be a bummer so it must be watched first, in my opinion.

Although I was actually a bit disappointed by Barbie, since for me it didn’t feel as provocative as others had made it sound or go any deeper than conversations about girlhood I’ve been having since 6th grade. Putting that disappointment aside, I am still team Barbie. Oppenheimer was good, don’t get me wrong, but at the end of the day it was just a movie to me. The actors were good, especially Emily Blunt, there were some cool shots, and it kept me surprisingly engaged for such a long film. However, it didn’t really do anything many other movies have done before to me, feeling like a bit artsier version of yet another film about genocide from a white man’s perspective, which frankly we do not need any more of. Although Barbie wasn’t as women centered as I had hoped for, it was still incredibly heartwarming seeing so many girls’ positive reactions to the film and walking into a movie theater filled with people dressed in pink. Barbie truly had an impact so what more can you say other than Barbie is everything and Oppenheimer is just Oppenheimer.

Rossana – Barbie

I can’t say I watched Oppenheimer (even though I love Florence Pugh), but I RAN to watch Barbie and it delivered as promised! Within the first 5 minutes, I was crying from just feeling the empowerment. I think I can go on and on about that, but I’ll save you the speech. The vibes were immaculate, and you could just tell who was going to be in the theater with you because in the crowd of Barbie and Oppenheimer folks waiting to buy popcorn, you could see all the pink just highlighted in the sea of people.

Every single person in the full theater room for Barbie was in pink. I used the bathroom before the movie began and saw more folks in pink, and we’d all greet each other by saying “Hi Barbie!” Greta Gerwig, Ryan Gosling, and Margot Robbie did a great job. I could even see moms and dads in the audience proudly wearing pink with their kids. I think the movie did a great job of touching on some very real and very relevant themes while adding comedy and light-hearted touches. AND to add more to the great movie, the hair and wardrobe on Margot Robbie was amazing! I even spotted Barbies I had (including weird Barbie) and accessories (like the pink convertible).

Susan – Barbie

A selfie of Susan Hernandez and her sister in front of the Barbie movie sign.

I was so excited to watch the Barbie movie when I heard it was coming out. I was definitely a “Barbie girl” growing up. I had so many dolls, movies, and a Barbie dream house. I still watch Barbie; I watched all the new Barbie shows and movies on Netflix. So, I was so happy seeing it in theaters.

I thought it was such a great movie, the whole cast was funny and silly. Margot Robbie was perfectly cast for Barbie, she was amazing in the role. My favorite scene was the “I’m Just Ken” musical number. It was just outrageous and random but that’s what made it great. I was stuck singing that song for a week after. On that note, I thought Ryan was great as Ken. I was just a bit disappointed with the Ken they gave us because I know based on my “extensive” Barbie knowledge that Ken would never do what he did in the movie. But it was still fun to watch how they made it work between Ken and Barbie. The last thing I loved about the whole experience was just how excited everyone was to dress up to watch the movie. Everyone was wearing pink or even going all out wearing actual Barbie outfits from the movies or the dolls.

Alex – Oppenheimer

The theatrical poster for Oppenheimer, seen outside a movie theater.

I was looking forward to seeing Oppenheimer since the first time I saw the initial trailer on YouTube. I hadn’t heard anything about Christopher Nolan’s next film, so the trailer was a complete (and pleasant) surprise! The movie is full of masterful performances. The film’s main characters, J. Robert Oppenheimer and Lewis Strauss, are brought to life, respectively, by the hypnotizing Cillian Murphy and a particularly slimy and villainous Robert Downey, Jr. Several of the supporting characters, like the kind and patient Isidor Rabi, portrayed by David Krumholtz, and the wry, no-nonsense General Leslie Groves, played by veteran movie star Matt Damon, helped define Oppenheimer’s complex life and intense personal journey.

Oppenheimer treats intimate moments with broad, immersive strokes and focuses on large-scale issues with deft stylistic and narrative skill. By the end of this three-hour character study, a massive existential dilemma is illustrated, debated, and finally visualized with striking pathos and visual ingenuity. The events surrounding the creation of the atom bomb are told with drama and tension, buttressed by a moody, electrifying score by Ludwig Göransson. The film’s complicated, at times thrilling, at times somber story is a detailed glance back in time to when the world changed forever. Conveyed through strong thematic threads, as well as some unique surrealist imagery, the film involves the audience completely in its protagonist’s internal conflict, palpably punctuated by equal parts passion, intellect, curiosity, fear, and guilt. As someone who loves biographical dramas and practical filmmaking (Oppenheimer used very little in terms of digital effects, opting for composites of real explosions and in-camera depictions of light waves and particles), the movie provides a deeply humanist view of its subject matter and, at the same time, holds up a mirror to both the beauty and brittle nature of our lives on planet Earth.

Stephanie – Barbie

A Barbie doll held in front of a cell phone camera, with rows of theater seats and the screen in the background.

We waited for a month to enjoy the Barbie movie as a family. My older daughter came home from camp with a choregraphed dance to Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” song and excitedly asked us if we could go that night to see the movie. I took advice from my colleagues, which means we dressed in pink, blasted the soundtrack to the theater and ordered all of the pink snacks available. We even brought my daughter’s favorite Barbie (in blurred picture) to enjoy the dance sequences and suite of Barbie products placed in the movie.

I had high expectations. I’m pleased to admit that this film went above and beyond what I envisioned. It surprised me in many ways. The cast is obviously perfect. The messaging is powerful. I love that the writers/producers/directors weren’t afraid to poke fun at Mattel and our society’s stereotypes. I can’t wait to watch this again with the Barbie lovers in my life and recite our favorite lines. I’m looking forward to many sequels. And Mattel/Greta/Kate McKinnon – can we please get a spinoff of Weird Barbie asap!?

Amanda – Barbie 

I was obsessed with Barbie as a young girl. I had tons of clothes and dolls. Seven-year-old me would have sold my soul for a Barbie dreamhouse. But I distinctly remember the year Barbie fell out of favor with me. I was eagerly opening Christmas presents when I opened a gift from my grandmother, and my eager face fell as the wrapping gave way to a Barbie box. Ew. Barbies are for little kids, my eight-year-old brain probably thought.

In a lot of ways, my experience as a little girl mirrored Stereotypical Barbie’s story arc in the movie—perfectly fine and happy until growth changed her perspective on what makes her happy. To that end, it was a good watch, loved the music, star-studded cast, and made me question the role I play in reinforcing the patriarchy as a business owner, wife and mother, and active volunteer with young children. I would share more on that, but I have to run, Existential Crisis Barbie is knocking at my door.

Striking the Right Tone on Social Media

There is no clear guidebook for how to create social media content in the communications field. This is simultaneously one of the hardest aspects of this career path and one of its best. The lack of a clear guide allows for more individual creativity and expression. But it is not just about finding your own voice.

The biggest lesson I have learned working as Avid Core’s communications intern this summer is the importance of learning how to shift the tone, content, and style of everything you post based off the type of account and potential audience.

A social media post highlighting parks in the Anacostia watershed region, with a small image of each park arranged in a circle over a blue sky background.

I came into this internship with social media knowledge from working with a dance club at my college, American University. That content was in a much more casual context, and more trend and pop culture-based than the social media content I was asked to create for Avid Core’s clients, which include government agencies at the local, state, regional, and federal levels, and nonprofit organizations.

The first project I worked on was creating social media content for the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership’s “Enjoy the Anacostia” accounts. The goal of this project was to bring attention to the ongoing efforts to restore the Anacostia River and the many fun activities you can do within the Anacostia Watershed.

This content had to be slightly more formal, since it was coming from an association of different state and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and private citizens, but still needed a conversational, friendly tone to convince an audience the parks are fun! To strike this balance, I incorporated more fun design elements and created content related to recent social media trends to reach a wider, active audience.

A social media post highlighting the Lotus and Water Lily Festival in the Anacostia watershed region, using cool colors and water lily graphics.

I was also tasked to craft social media posts for a federal agency. Their social media presence was much more straightforward and informative, meaning it was important to have crisp, organized graphics, and to speak in a more professional tone.

It took a bit of adjusting to this new mindset, but I spent time learning and understanding the agency, considering what audience these posts were aiming to reach, and making sure I had a clear idea in my head of the goals of each post to do so effectively.

Creating posts for Avid Core’s socials was a bit of a mixture of these two other projects. These posts had to be fairly professional, since they represent our brand, but they also must be friendly and reach out to the audience. Our goals are to pitch and sell our services, to get users to apply for a new job position, to read one of our blogs, or something along those lines.

A social media post announcing an open Administrative Assistant position with Avid Core, styled with the company's purple and white abstract design.

Talking directly to the reader and asking questions at the beginning of the post can be good ways to draw in engagement and participation. It was also key to keep these graphics within the Avid Core brand theme with lots of purple and white. There are so many different types of social media communication, and even more complex nuances to learn within the communication field as a whole since it expands far beyond social media.

From my experience, it is important to learn to think about how the content you are creating is different from others. Think about the audience you are trying to reach and what the goal of your post is, such as getting the audience to click on a link, attend an event, or even just engage with the post. Explore how you can use the unique elements and expectations for the platform you are using to share your message.

When you think about all these elements of your own media, you can find the right tone and style for your content, just like I did.

Ruby Werckman is a senior at American University studying public relations. Connect with them on LinkedIn.

Around the Table with Scott Talan

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. In this edition, our summer intern, Ruby Werckman, interviews one of their Communications professors. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection.

Name: Scott Talan

Occupation: Professor at American University

Where to Find You: LinkedIn

You have held many different roles working in many different realms. You were the mayor of a small town in California. You wrote for Good Morning America and reported on-air for multiple news stations. You’ve worked with organizations such as the United Nations and March of Dimes and have been a professor at multiple universities across the globe, including as my professor at American University. What influenced your decision to work in so many different fields and organizations before settling into academia?

I think part of it is having a plan, and then being willing to part from that plan. So, my initial plan was to get into politics and I did, then I sort of fell into TV news and got into that field. Then that took me across the country and into grad school, which I hadn’t planned on. But interestingly, every job that I’ve had since grad school has been directly or indirectly related to grad school. And then when I moved to D.C., a grad school classmate was working as a teacher, and I said that seems interesting. So again, I had some plans and then I altered my plan. I think teaching combines all the things I’ve done before into one area and it also forces me to keep learning.

One memorable lesson I’ve learned from you is the importance of cultivating yourself as a brand. How would you describe your personal brand?

At this point, teacher and traveler. Thinker, reader, and coffee drinker.


Is there anything you have been working on recently or anything coming up soon that you would like to talk about?

I’m thinking about going into or learning more about the field of professional coaching…I’ve thought about it for years but recently I’ve been thinking more about it.

But right now, I’ve traveled so much abroad and in America that even though I’m about to get on a plane, it’s not to a new place so it’s sort of like enjoying life without having those “go, go, go, get ‘em” goals right in front of me.

I know you’re a big fan of travel and have worked and lived all over the place. What is the biggest lesson you have learned through your travel experience?

America is great, but there is a whole lot more in the rest of the world.


What is your favorite place you have visited?

Oh boy… Well, I’m headed to Vancouver for, I think, my fifth time. I’d definitely say that’s one of my favorite cities. If you went strictly by data, and this is a little bit of a two-edged sword about data, I’ve been to China about eight times so the data would say, “Hey that’s the country you’ve been to the most.” But part of it sometimes was work, part of it was just circumstance or an invitation. That said, China is such a huge country, with huge forests, and culturally so fascinating, I think it’s a mandatory place to go if you consider yourself any sort of traveler or citizen of the world.


What is the best advice you’ve received in your career?

It’s tough to say, because in high school I didn’t have a career yet. My auto shop teacher, he knew I wasn’t going to be an auto mechanic or fixing engines. And one day, he came to the back of the class where I was standing and watching everyone else working on their cars, talking to a buddy. And he said, “Do you know what I see?” He didn’t look at me, just looked straight out at the class the same way I was looking and said, “I see wasted potential,” and then he turned and looked at me and then walked off. Sometimes you can’t always be sensitive and wrap hugs around every word. Sometimes you have use straight talk, and that was straight talk. And I very much appreciate it, it kicked my butt into gear.


What advice would you give someone just starting to think about their career?

Go for it. Don’t sweat it. If it doesn’t work out, change it into something else.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?

Movies, just saw the new Indiana Jones. I love to watch the Tour de France, I watch it every day when it’s on. I like meeting and talking to people. Reading the news — I subscribe to six different newspapers — and just sitting in a café having coffee.

What is the best movie/TV show you have watched recently?

Well, I just saw, on Netflix, Unchained, it’s a documentary about last year’s Tour de France. I was actually in Paris for the final stage and there were so many riders I didn’t know about, so many backstories. It was an amazingly well-done documentary and I hope they keep doing it. I am also looking forward to seeing the new Mission Impossible. As long as you get what you expect from those franchise movies, it will be okay.

If we were literally around the table right now, what food would you bring?

Coke Zero and pretzels.

Three-peat! Avid Core recognized as 2023 Best Government Contractor in Prince William County 

Avid Core is honored to be recognized as the Best Government Contractor in Prince William County for a third year in a row. 

This award is given out each year by InsideNOVA magazine and it is always an incredible privilege to receive such a prestigious title.  

It feels even more special because it represents the community I call home. I am so grateful to the Prince William County community for your continued support of Avid Core.  

In the past year, we’ve donated to local public schools, developed new connections in Prince William County, and worked with several local businesses to host our celebrations and meetings. Attending events hosted by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce has allowed us to learn about our local leaders and identify new opportunities to help the county grow.  

Avid Core team members Rossana Gonzalez and Stephanie Mace at the Prince William County Service Authority’s Supplier Diversity Vendor Expo.

Most recently, we enjoyed exhibiting at the Prince William County Service Authority’s first Supplier Diversity Vendor Expo where we were able to learn about the steps our local government is taking to make processes more inclusive. 

Avid Core team members pose at the Lose It! Rage Room as the team celebrated the firm’s third birthday.

On top of these business-related events, our team has had a blast having fun in Prince William County as well. We loved meeting near the waterfront in Occoquan for our third birthday celebration and breaking things at the Lose It! Rage Room in Woodbridge.   

Thank you to our staff, clients, friends, family, and everyone who voted for us! We are committed to continuing to work hard to be worthy of this title and to provide care and support for our community. 

Avid Fans Of: Beach Reads 

Avid (adjective) – having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something. It’s more than just our company’s namesake. Passion for our work and for the things we love is part of our core values. In this recurring series, we’ll share some of the things we’re Avid Fans of with you. 

If your friends invited you to go with them to the beach or sit by the pool tomorrow, what book would you grab to bring with you?  

This month, members of the Avid Core team are sharing their favorite summer reads with you. With a wide range of genres and styles, from sweet modern romances to stunning, philosophical memoirs, you are sure to find the perfect book to enjoy in the sun this summer!  

Ruby Werckman – The Sun and The Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro

I have been re-reading the Percy Jackson books again recently and they honestly fit so well with a beach trip. It’s so fun to get lost in the mystical adventures of all the different demigods and let your imagination wander. The books are a perfect mix of casual humor as well as intriguing plot and character development. Specifically, there has recently been a new book released within the series, The Sun and the Star, co-written by Rick Riordan, the original author of the series, and Mark Oshiro, a newer, queer author. This new book centers on the characters Nico Di Angelo and Will Solace, following their dangerous descent into Tartarus while touching on themes of mental health and LGBTQ+ identity. It has been incredibly comforting and healing to read a book centered in a world I was so invested in as a child about characters who are like me, so I definitely recommend this book as a perfect summer read for the end of Pride Month! 

Stephanie Mace – Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain 

I used to fall for beach reads based on the trashy book cover, but then one book changed that for me. It was written by a chef that was quickly reaching “rock star” celebrity status with his show “No Reservations.” I loved his dark sense of humor and his storytelling. This book opened my eyes to what happens in restaurant kitchens. I enjoyed the way Bourdain described the flavors, the scents, and the sounds so much that it made me hungry every time I was relaxing on the sand. Every night it made me look at the wait staff, the menu, and the restaurant décor with a new perspective. This book sparked my desire to read a different autobiography every summer.  

Ashley Dobson – Happy Place by Emily Henry 

When I think beach read, I think Emily Henry! For the past few years, she has been consistently publishing beautiful books with fascinating characters, crafting dialogue in a way that makes you actually feel like the characters are falling in love, and balancing sweetness, humor, and, occasionally, some sorrow. This year she released Happy Place, which I have just picked up and am excited to read poolside this weekend! I can also highly recommend her other books: People We Meet on Vacation, the aptly titled Beach Read, and Book Lovers.  

Rashaun Bennett – We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power by Caleb Gayle 

We Refuse to Forget tells the little-known story of the Creek Nation, a Native tribe that two centuries ago both owned slaves and accepted Black people as full members. This unique circumstance changed in 1979 when the Creek Nation expelled its Black members and revoked their citizenship. The book follows the path of Black Creeks suing the Creek Nation to have their citizenship reinstated and adds a new layer to how we perceive marginalization and racial and ethnic identity. As I read through the pages, I found myself drawing parallels between historic and contemporary understandings of identity reclamation, citizenship, and ambition. 

Rossana Gonzalez – On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong 

I’m into darker books and suspense which do not always combine well with the beach, but you can make any book a beach read if you bring it to the right location! I’m currently reading On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. During a wine night with friends where we ended up trauma-dumping, one of my friends recommended this book to the entire group. It’s definitely a sad read, but it’s so beautifully written. It really showcases the struggles of POC families when it comes to generational trauma and communication. I’m definitely going to be reading more by Ocean Vuong, and I’m not even done with this one!

Alex Russell – The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac 

Written by my favorite American novelist, Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums is a relatively short book full of imagery and character, as well as wisdom, tenderness, and empathy for the natural world. Loosely based on a trip he took to California, where he met fellow writer and Chinese/Japanese translator Gary Snyder, the story follows the pair’s hiking trips in California, the State of Washington, and their city adventures in San Francisco. An open, honest first-person narrative about individuality and spirituality, The Dharma Bums saw Kerouac apply traditional Buddhist teachings to his own life and work, while learning about Zen thinking from Snyder. A breezy, funny, and at times wistful, even solemn, novel, Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums is a perfect book to read outside, whether on a mountain or by the water. Most of the events take place out in fresh air, where Kerouac felt free to be himself, invigorated by nature and a new, bright friendship.

Sarah Cox – Big Trouble by Dave Barry  

If you don’t know who Dave Barry is, I’m sorry. He’s won a Pulitzer, but what’s most important is that he’s an incredibly funny guy. My introduction to him was via the weekly Washington Post syndication of his Miami Herald column. Back in the day, my blessed parents pointed out that I might like his style… I read his column from elementary school until it ended in 2005. Lamenting at the end of that era, I was whining to my mom, when she told me, duh, he’s authored many, many books. Big Trouble was his first novel, so I started there and was delighted that this outrageous coastal caper contained that same sense of humor from his columns. The characters—a recently-fired reporter, two teenagers, incompetent grifters, a despicable embezzler, the Miami police, FBI agents, Russian arms dealers, and a cane toad—range from silly to sinister. The backdrop is the author’s “beloved” Florida, one of the few places in the U.S. where a smuggling attempt could be thwarted by a python. Big Trouble is meant for the beach—it’s action-packed, teaches important lessons about not being a creep, and will cause your belly laughs to be loud enough to disturb other beachgoers.  

Around the Table with Georgina Dukes-Harris

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection.

Georgina's headshot, superimposed over a designed background featuring two people sitting at a table.

Name: Georgina Dukes-Harris

Company: Unite Us

Where to Find You: My website, LinkedIn

 

What first sparked your interest in the intersection of social justice, technology, and healthcare?

My lived experience growing up with a single mom in a low-income rural community where she worked as a nursing assistant. I saw the power of healthcare to help people heal and wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. However, after working in hospitals and clinics for 10 years, I realized that patients were not getting healed fully and that the incorporation of social justice and technology was needed beyond the four walls of a clinical setting – which led me to join Unite Us.

Are there any upcoming projects or events that you are working on that you can tell us about?

Moments That Unite Us: Amplifying Community Voices; Co-Lab: National Alliance for Cross-Sector Collaboration; and the Social Care Advocacy Agenda.

How do you ensure that your work is rooted in the communities you serve?

Conducting community needs assessments: Engaging with community members to learn about their needs, challenges, and priorities.

Collaborating with community members and organizations: Building partnerships with community members and organizations to involve them in the work – gaining their insights, and creating initiatives that reflect their needs.

Remaining attentive to cultural sensitivities: Understanding the cultural differences that can impact the success of the work and striving to ensure that one’s initiatives and materials are respectful and relevant to the communities being served.

Adapting your approach: Being flexible in adapting one’s work and approaches to better align with the changing needs and interests of the communities being served.

Being available: Making yourself available to listen to feedback, concerns, and suggestions from the communities one serves, and being committed to addressing their needs.

What are the challenges in applying a social justice framework to the world of healthcare?

Addressing systemic inequalities: Healthcare systems often reflect and reinforce existing societal inequalities due to unequal access to healthcare resources, discriminatory policies and practices, and other structural barriers. Addressing these systemic inequalities is a critical first step in applying a social justice framework to healthcare.

Balancing competing interests: The principles of social justice and healthcare equity may conflict with other important healthcare goals, such as cost containment, quality improvement, and patient autonomy. Finding a balance among these competing interests is essential when applying a social justice framework within the healthcare system.

Developing effective policy solutions: Social justice in healthcare requires the implementation of policies and practices that address the root causes of health disparities. Developing effective policy solutions that are culturally sensitive, evidence-based, and acceptable to all stakeholders is challenging, but important.

Addressing social determinants of health: Social determinants of health, such as poverty – employment, housing, education, and access to healthcare – have significant impacts on health outcomes. Addressing these social determinants requires a multi-sectoral approach that involves collaboration with non-healthcare sectors.

Overcoming resistance to change: Healthcare systems can be resistant to change, particularly when it involves challenging existing power structures or practices. Overcoming resistance to change and promoting social justice in healthcare requires strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to equitable health outcomes.

What is the best advice you’ve received in your career?

Pie: Performance. Image. Exposure.  Develop a strong personal brand and market yourself effectively.

What advice would you give to someone looking to join your field?

Build relationships and get involved in your community.

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?

Create content and attend Marvel movie premieres with my son and husband.

If we were literally around the table right now, then what food would you have brought to share? 

Mac & Cheese.

Finding Support for My Internal Struggle

My internship with Avid Core started in April 2022 and when it started, I didn’t have a real idea of what a communications firm did. I had a vague idea that it was to “spread information to others” and once time came to start my role, it was very overwhelming for me. Not necessarily because it was difficult, but because I had another struggle I am constantly dealing with: Bipolar I disorder.

I have struggled with this illness throughout my early adult life. I was initially diagnosed in 2019, late into my sophomore year of college. Then I was diagnosed again this year. I worried how It would affect my career because of how this condition is viewed by others.

It’s very hard for most people to discuss this with their companies, out of fear of being judged. But at Avid Core, they make sure everyone knows it is okay to be different, which made me feel relieved. If I ever needed a day to regroup myself, I had support from my team.

That is one reason I enjoy working here. Avid Core prioritizes our health both physically and mentally, while still prioritizing the firm’s projects and clients.

During my time here, I felt that I have grown significantly as a working professional. The work dynamic here has been amazing. The team focuses on building our connection with each other by having team activities and meetings.

One of my favorite activities are our Avid Core team meetings, which have a theme for that day that allow me to learn a little bit each week about everyone, while they get to learn about me too.

Although I do enjoy learning about others, I would consider myself to be introverted. Being diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder and being introverted has also made me feel that that I was way too different from others, and I have internalized a feeling that I needed to be extroverted to be successful.

I continue to practice and find ways to still feel comfortable and feel like myself while also accepting that I need to speak with confidence to succeed. I have slowly progressed forward and I feel a lot more comfortable giving presentations and hosting interviews. Before, I would almost freeze up just from thinking about speaking to a group. Throughout my time at Avid Core, I have improved a lot.

I began doing these specific tasks because I mentioned to my leadership that I had a public speaking fear that I wanted to overcome, and they supported that goal by assigning me tasks that gave me opportunities to call, present, and interview. At first, I put on a façade to force myself to do what I needed to do, which now no longer feels as forced, but more natural. I do still struggle, but I continue to grow as a professional and as a person.

Now I am working here full time, which has made me feel great about my overcoming my silent struggles. I still struggle sometimes, but I no longer feel insecure or scared. The team here really makes me feel welcome and they are great at providing support when needed. I am very glad and grateful to be here at Avid Core and encourage more companies to follow their lead to empower and support team members who have different challenges.

Ready for My Next Stage

Reflecting on my time at Avid Core, I’ve realized this is one of those experiences that has deeply formed me and prepared me for the next stage of my life. I was provided with an amazing opportunity to produce, create and collaborate on meaningful work in the communications field with a diverse set of clients across many different sectors.  

Members of the Avid Core team celebrate Abi Ingoglia’s internship.

It’s hard to narrow down the lessons I learned here, but here are a few that I know I will take into my early career.   

Be Curious

Act like a sponge and take everything in. I was able to not only connect with skills I had already established and develop them further, but I was able to be curious about new work I had never done before. I wanted to take on projects that I did not have a background in and step outside my comfort zone. I had never worked on the business development side of client relations in the communications field. This was intimidating but I knew that this supportive environment would help me expand my skill set. 

Moving forward into my career I am eager to take on new challenges and different responsibilities that I may have never done before. 

Embrace Learning Curves

With taking on new projects and work, comes learning curves. I was working on new assignments that I had not done before and at times I was hard on myself for not learning things fast enough or understanding things the first time. Yet, this is how humans learn. Instead of crumbling under the pressure, I made a checklist featuring all of the edits I was consistently receiving and used it to doublecheck my work before turning it in. I learned to not be afraid of asking questions. Feedback is invaluable in the learning process and necessary for progress.  

Starting my first job out of college will be exciting and inspiring. I will take the organizational and communication skills I have learned to guide me and my work.  

Trust Your Voice

Having to ask questions and be curious is daunting when you don’t trust your voice. I used to have a deep fear of public speaking. I wouldn’t be able to stand up and do a presentation without shaking and stumbling over my words. Avid Core helped me develop and trust my voice. Any ideas you present to the table are valued and wanted. I felt comfortable speaking in meetings and suggesting ideas because everyone was truly interested in what I had to say. Over the course of my internship, I was able to take the lead on projects that Avid Core knew I was passionate about. The endless stream of support through the “Kudos” channel in Slack and the shoutouts in team meetings helped me to trust my gut and voice.  

Being able to speak up in a new environment will be tasking. With my newfound confidence in my ideas and abilities, I am excited for what I will be able to bring to the team in my first post-grad job. 

Find the Humor

I tend to be hard on myself and get easily stressed when it comes to my responsibilities. The Avid Core team taught me the importance of stringing humor throughout your day. I remember getting ready to go to my first weekly staff meeting, prepping my notes and feeling a bit anxious. When I logged on everyone had a silly background to start the meeting off with some fun banter and ice breakers. It immediately calmed my nerves, and I was ready to participate. Small, seemingly silly things like Teams backgrounds and random Slack channels keep work fun! 

Humor creates connections. I am excited to incorporate the work-life fun and energy I experienced at Avid Core into my new job.  

I feel prepared, excited, and eager to step into the next chapter of my career. I genuinely will miss working with this team and know I will feel nostalgic for many details of the Avid Core workspace. I will be going into the communications and digital media field after graduation and the lessons I have taken from my Avid Core internship will carry me far into my career. 

Abi Ingoglia is a graduating senior from The George Washington University earning her degree in political science. She will be entering the field of digital communications upon graduation. Connect with her on LinkedIn. 

Around the Table with Brian Whittaker

Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their industry. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection. 

A collage featuring a headshot of Brian superimposed over a scene of two people meeting at a table.

Name:  Brian Whittaker 

Company: Humans of Public Service (HOPS) 

Where to Find You:  HOPS Instagram, HOPS LinkedIn, Personal LinkedIn

What drew you to the world of government/public service? 

Impact at scale. I started my career in the private sector and the work didn’t really align with my values or interests. I’ve always had an interest in serving others. I’ve watched every member of my immediate family do it as either a teacher, nurse, police officer or in the military. When I had the opportunity to join the government and make an impact at scale, I had to take it! 

What do you think is the biggest challenge public service/government work is facing today? 

The biggest challenge is preparing how we work, our systems and processes for the next generation. We are accountable for critical services and functions that keep our country running. But, while we manage those things, we need to start focusing on recruiting and retaining the next generation of public servants who will maintain or reimagine those services. Finding ways to attract and retain the next generation is critical to the strength of our democracy. We need to find a way to not only be the largest employer in the country but also the preferred employer of the next generation. I want to help the government do that. If you’re reading this and you’re a like-minded government leader, let’s connect. 

What inspired you to start HOPS and what is its overarching mission? 

The murder of George Floyd changed me. That tragedy forced me to think about what was in my circle of influence and what I could do to try to make a meaningful change for people from marginalized communities. Having worked in government as a federal employee and around government as a contractor, I had a decent network in the public service space. I decided to try to make change in government, in hopes of creating more equitable policies that would hopefully keep murders like George’s from happening again. The overarching mission of HOPS is to increase diversity in government leadership and use storytelling to attract the next generation of public servants. 

What has been your most significant milestone so far? 

This month, HOPS is celebrating its one year anniversary! Even though it’s been running for a short time, there have been many milestones. The support has been overwhelming and humbling. I’ve been grateful for the awards, AGA and Federal 100. I do this in service of others and the biggest milestone for me was hearing a member of U.S. Congress read a Humans of Public Service story during a hearing. Nothing has felt better than creating an opportunity for the unseen to be recognized and valued at that level and stage of government. I hope this isn’t the last time and I hope I can make public servants feel valued and our residents feel proud of government employees. 

What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career? 

You should be able to solve any business or technical problem in three phone calls.  

When you aren’t working, what do you like to do? 

I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife and I like watching our toddler learn and try new things. When I’m not with the little one, I’m listening to new albums that get released every Friday, watching mixed martial arts, and/or eating tacos.

  

If we were literally “around the table” right now, what food would you have brought to share? 

I know what you’re thinking but, in my experience, tacos don’t travel well so I wouldn’t bring that. I like to connect with people over coffee and, if you’re really great, we are eating breakfast sandwiches. We don’t share those where I come from, so as a friend I’m bringing you a biscuit breakfast sandwich from Tatte. I’ll add bacon to your order if you’d like. 

 

ADA on Screen: Leveling Up Your Knowledge of Alt Text

Welcome to our series of posts about accessibility in communications. Accessibility is the practice of making information, activities, and/or environments sensible, meaningful, and usable for as many people as possible. This is super-important as persons within your audience all have different needs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1 billion people around the world live with a disability. Imagine how many people would never get your message if you didn’t make accessibility a priority!

Accessibility compliance is essential for organizations required to abide by Section 508 and related policies. More importantly, actively pursuing compliance is part of everyone’s social responsibility as well as a communications best practice. At Avid Core, we are committed to providing equal access and opportunity to people of all abilities, while helping our clients and colleagues do the same.

An Alt Text Guide for Intermediate Users

As a spiritual sequel to Accessibility on Screen: 5 Helpful Tips for Writing Effective and Inclusive Alt Text, here are additional tips for successful alternative text composition and usage, as well as a brief exploration of why a deeper understanding of alt text is so crucial in today’s digitally driven world.

Whether you’re running your own hobby blog or are tasked with creating and posting content online as part of your job, taking the time to dive deeper into alt text – its purpose and its varied applicability – can help you learn new ways to utilize this basic, but indispensable, accessibility tool.

Quick Refresher

Alt text is a way to involve all users with your content. Blind or visually impaired people, as well as people with physical or cognitive disabilities, can use screen reader software that reads the displayed content out loud – capturing visual representation, like photos and graphics, with the help of alt text.

While this article is about alt text, it’s important to understand how screen readers work. According to the American Foundation for the Blind, users press “different combinations of keys on the computer keyboard or braille display.” This instructs “the synthesizer to read or spell a word” or to “read a line or full screen of text,” among many other functions.

Users can adjust the reading speed and use keyboard shortcuts to skip around on a given page, making it easier to get a quick sense of what the content is about and maintain their preferred reading pace.

When scrolling through an article online, alt text helps a visually impaired user understand what the image is supposed to represent and why it’s included. (Alt text provides the same service in case an image fails to load.)

Everyone deserves the same user interface considerations, like speedy maneuverability, consistency, and accuracy. Alt text is one of the several ways to ensure this is so.

Caption: Director David Cronenberg, known for pioneering the “body horror” genre in film, on set. (Image Credit: Bloody Disgusting.)

Above is a photo of Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg, on the set of one of his productions. Effective alt text for this image would look something like this: “Film director David Cronenberg looks through a handheld viewfinder on set, surrounded by his crew.”

This example does three key things when it comes to good alt text: 1) it highlights the central person or thing within the image, in this case David Cronenberg, 2) it explains the main event or action – i.e., what is taking place or who’s doing what, and 3) it relays the general idea of the image in a concise way.

As underscored in “What Is Alt Text & Why It Matters for SEO” by Kelly Lyons, “screen readers and other assistive technologies usually stop reading alt text at the 125 character mark.” Therefore, it’s best to keep alt text well-contained and to the point.

It’s also a best practice to avoid starting your alt text with “A photo of” or “An image of,” because the screen reader will recognize that section of the page as an image.

(For future reference, here’s a free character counter tool that you can save to your browser’s favorites tab; it provides character and word counts for free, helping to streamline your overall creative process.)

As a general rule, naming well-known places, people, or things is okay to do – such as in the example above. Plus, including a keyword, like David Cronenberg’s name, adds sufficient context and can help boost SEO (Search Engine Optimization). As Lyons underscores, “Google reads alt text to help understand what images are about. Without alt text, your images are much less likely to rank on Google Images.”

Here’s another example:

Caption: Director John Singleton, known for films like Boyz n the Hood, Four Brothers, and the 2000 remake of Shaft. (Image Credit: The Los Angeles Times.)

The alt text for the image above would read: “American filmmaker John Singleton poses in front of a Panavision movie camera.”

Not Just For Pictures

People generally think of alt text as something just for images or photos. This is not so! As explained by TechSmith in their article How to Create Alternative Text for Images for Accessibility and SEO, alt text can (and should) also be used for various diagrams, like charts, tables, and graphs.

TechSmith does point out that “unlike images, most tables are accessible to screen readers. A user is able to move through the table to get the…information if they choose.” In addition to using a caption – which can accurately describe the graph, table, or chart’s data and how it relates to the overall article or story – effective alt text can briefly relay an overview of the diagram, helping a user choose whether or not they want a closer look.

Additionally, since graphs, tables, and charts usually pack a lot of information, it’s important to make the caption work in tandem with the alt text, so that the two components support each other on the page – and not needlessly overlap or copy each other. (Keeping in mind the typical 125 character limit, there’s no way that describing a given graph or table can be accomplished solely through alt text.)

In this case, “your alt text could then just describe the chart’s title and note that a full description of the content is available in the caption” or body copy. Ultimately, the alt text, the caption, and the surrounding text need to “provide all of the relevant information” as a unified whole, so that people using screen readers can understand and navigate a page “in the same way as someone who can see it.”

Below is an example I found in an article posted by Penn State, titled Image ALT Tag Tips for HTML. This example includes a table, a caption for the table, and its accompanying alt text.  

As stated in its title, the chart reflects the ten states with the highest number of Pennsylvania German speakers. For the sake of this example, picture that you’re writing a short blog post about these findings. Naturally, you’ll include the chart, a caption (as below), and some alt text for the chart itself.

Caption: The chart shows the 10 states with the highest number of Pennsylvania German speakers based on recent U.S. Census data.

In this case (as provided by Penn State), the alt text reads: “Chart of top 10 states with Pennsylvania German speakers.” The specific states and the number ranges (and where on the table both sets of data are located, the left and bottom or the y and z axes) should be expressed in the surrounding body text.

Putting this information in the caption would also work, but including it in the alt text would definitely exceed the character limit – making it an unnecessary impediment for someone using a screen reader.

Don’t Forget About Decorative Images

Harvard University’s Write good Alt Text to describe images has some great information about decorative images, another kind of visual that people will often find online. Specifically, decorative images are those that “don’t really need further explanation.”

“There’s no need to include alt text for decorative images like icons, horizontal line page breaks, a magnifying glass icon in a search bar,” or anything else along those lines. “Those using screen readers don’t need to know what these images look like to understand the page, and Google doesn’t need further information or additional context in order to rank the webpage.”

Images with Links

TechSmith’s article on alt text also briefly talks about images with links. “All hyperlinks should describe to the user where it will take them.” Links that say “Click Here,” for example, lack the considerations needed for visually impaired people (since “here” doesn’t impart any useful or specific information).

“If you have a button on your page that reads, ‘Download a free trial,’ your alt text should read something like, ‘Link: Download a free trial.’” That way, you’re informing your readers that 1) there is an active link present and 2) where it will take them or what it will do.

Parting Thoughts

Remember, alt text is about making sure everybody gets to understand a given page or article. It’s more than just a facet of one’s accessibility checklist or a way to improve one’s SEO. Alt text is a small but lasting way to foster both accountability and inclusion in today’s fast-paced, digitized world.