NEW YORK — As part of its effort to boost diversity throughout the industry, the PR Council has awarded fellowships to five minority-owned firms, giving them access to the organization’s resources and programming.

The firms are: Boden, which is based in Miami; The Boreland Group and Egami Group (founder Teneshia Jackson Warner pictured), both New York agencies; and Chicago’s Fetch Integrated Marketing Communications and Flowers Communications Group.

The firms receive access to the council’s business-building, talent development and networking initiatives and are encouraged to participate in the committee work that furthers the organization’s agenda on behalf of the PR industry.

The one-year fellowships were presented to firms with three or more practitioners that have been in operation for at least one year.

“Diversity and inclusion are core to the mission of the council and its members,” said Weber Shandwick president Gail Heimann, chair of the PR Council board. “I know that what we learn from the impressive leaders of these firms will add enormous value and meaning to our efforts and help to accelerate the change we need in our industry.”