2022 Commencement Speaker Honored by the National Association of Black Journalists

Djibril Diallo, president and CEO of the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN) and Webster University’s 2022 Commencement speaker, received the 2022 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Founders Award during the 47th NABJ Convention on Aug. 5.

The NABJ Founders Award annually recognizes an individual who has been a great supporter of the organization.

Diallo has been an active member of NABJ since 1984 and has contributed to the training of the membership in global affairs and the strengthening of ties not only with the media in Africa and the diaspora but also with the United Nations.

“I am greatly honored to receive this award from NABJ," Diallo said. "ARDN and NABJ have been partners for over two decades, and look forward to working closely with NABJ, within the framework of ARDN's Red Card Campaign and Sustainable Development Goal 5, to inspire, empower and bring visibility to, women and girls everywhere, to denounce all forms of gender based discrimination and violence, and to help create a world where no one is left behind."

This year’s NABJ Convention was held jointly with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Up to 6,000 top journalists, media executives, journalism educators, public relations professionals and students gathered in Las Vegas under the theme of "Changing the Game."

ARDN works to support and further the sustainable development processes of the United Nations as they relate to Africa and the African diaspora. ARDN works with government, educators, artists and other groups to help raise awareness of Africa and African issues. ARDN also collaborates with HIV-related objectives of the United Nations on various public health awareness campaigns including the Protect the Goal campaign, which worked with the 2014 FIFA World Cup to raise global awareness of HIV, encouraging young people to commit to HIV prevention, and emphasize the importance of antiretroviral treatment.

Webster University and ARDN formed a partnership in 2017 to collaborate with various awareness campaigns affiliated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These projects allow students to receive hands-on experience with projects pertaining to AIDS in Africa and the United States, including: 

• Communications initiatives and projects involving digital media production, social media and gaming.
• Public health initiatives, including public policy and community engagement.
• Executive leadership initiatives, including thought leadership.

In March 2020, Webster University Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, helped launch ARDN's international “Red Card” Campaign at the United Nations’ New York headquarters. The campaign raises awareness about domestic violence and gathers personal pledges from people around the world to help raise awareness of discrimination and violence against women.

Since then, the University has hosted several “Red Card Day” events, including last year when the City of Webster Groves declared Oct. 11 as “Red Card Pledge Day.”