Creative Spirit, an Australian non-profit organization that creates integrated employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities (IDDs), announced its launch into the U.S. market, marked by a campaign called “The Pitch.” Creative Spirit is committed to creating a global movement, changing the face of what true diversity in employment looks like via advocacy, awareness and, most importantly, action for those with IDDs like Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, to name a few.
Creative Spirit’s mission is to dramatically decrease the unemployment rate among those with IDDs, currently at a staggering 85%, by expertly matching candidates and potential employers through proprietary matching technology and a supportive coaching model. Creative Spirit will begin with an aggressive effort to engage forward-thinking companies in the advertising, media, marketing and technology industries to generate 130,000 fair wage jobs by 2020.
Creative Spirit, along with The Advertising Club of New York, worked closely with partner companies, Rauxa–billed as being the largest women-owned advertising agency in the US– as well as Publicis New York and Marcel Sydney. Creative Spirit already has a backlog of more than 50 companies interested in signing on to provide positions.
Andy Bird, CCO, Publicis New York, stated, “There are few times when you can truly impact the industry status quo. We have that opportunity–right here, right now–with the launch of Creative Spirit, and we are really proud to bring the cause to life in North America.”
“This is a global crisis, and likely the most profound human rights employment issue of our time, yet it goes unsolved,” said Laurel Rossi, co-founder and CEO of Creative Spirit, and CMO of Rauxa. “We believe that if the private sector comes together — with its collective voice — and with the use of technology — that we can solve this problem at scale. There are more than 8 million people in the US who are not employed in integrated settings, and more than a million young adults with autism who will be aging into the job market over the next several years.” The idea was born in conjunction with The AD Club, a prestigious organization with a strong focus on diversity where Ms. Rossi is on the Board of Directors.
The overall campaign includes this spot featuring Deutsch CCO Pete Favat and employee Laura. Directed by Ned Benson via Independent Media, the ad titled “Laura and Pete for The Pitch” is a tongue-in-cheek look at their working relationship and the different creative perspective Laura provides to the agency.
CreditsClient Creative Spirit US Agency Publicis New York and Marcel Sydney Andy Bird, chief creative officer, Publicis NY; David Nobay, co-founder of Creative Spirit and creative chairman, Marcel Sydney. Adrian Flores, executive creative director; Brett Lagoon Simone, sr copywriter; Jaysn Kim, copywriter; Casey Glidden, art director; Lisa Bifulco, chief production officer; Anthony Garetti, executive producer; Klodet Torosian, integrated producer. Production Independent Media Ned Benson, director; Sam Levy, DP; Susanne Preissler, producer. Editorial Cutting Room Chuck Willis, editor; Sebastian Greene, producer.
NHS England, M&C Saatchi UK, Director Tom Tagholm Team On PSA Highlighting The Overlooked Signs Of A Stroke
National Health Service (NHS) England has unveiled a multichannel campaign, “Act FAST,” to raise awareness of the individual signs of a stroke and get people to call 999 as soon as they suspect they may be experiencing any one symptom. The push, which is part of the ongoing “Help Us, Help You” campaign, was developed in partnership with M&C Saatchi UK.
The campaign depicts everyday situations where everything might seem relatively normal, but where there’s the sign of someone experiencing a stroke.
A key component of the campaign is this :30--directed by Tom Tagholm of Various Films--which sets up the idea that initially, a stroke might not seem like much, highlighting key symptoms: from struggling to use a paint roller, to not being able to smile when watching TV, to slurring your speech when reading a story to your grandchild. The PSA emphasizes that time is critical, ending with the line: “Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.”
Jo Bacon, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi UK, said, “We want to ensure people take action on the first symptom, rather than waiting for more conclusive signs. To help them understand that even when everything seems normal, something serious might be happening.”
Matt Lee, executive creative director, M&C Saatchi UK, commented: “This is important work. We wanted to explore that precise moment when your world shifts, quietly yet powerfully, off its axis during a stroke. We highlight how a tiny external moment can actually be seismic—an extraordinary gear change, framed in a really ordinary way.”
Director Tagholm shared, “My Dad suffered a stroke a few years ago and was saved from the worst by acting quickly, and by the work of the NHS. So there’s... Read More