By: Brother Leon Valentine
This month, we are highlighting Brother Christopher Moore, Director of Education for Sigma Sigma Sigma Chapter, as he shares his experience as Social Media manager in the Office of Communications & Marketing for the Maryland Transit Administration. He shares how being one of the few black men in the organization helps push and enforce diversity.
Being involved with communications, specifically digital communications, allows one to be a voice on how companies want to be recognized socially. The images, videos, post, and brand tone soon through social media, all play a key role in how the company is viewed as well as to who is their core audience. Brother Chris Moore is an expert in media and communications and has been in the profession for over six years, starting as a media producer for a non-profit magazine. He now oversees the digital communications for the entire Maryland Transit Administration. “I’ve had many opportunities in communications and social media that have prepared me for this role. Working with one-time presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, along with the non-profit magazine has allowed me to grow where I understand strategy, tone and how to capture an audience to engage and want to interact more with a brand.”
Being in the role and the communications industry, though diverse, can come with challenges. One of the many challenges Brother Moore has faced is having full representation with vast numbers of black men or people of color being in the room. “Being a black man in this particular field has been a challenge,” says Moore. “It is rewarding, however challenging because it’s not a strong African American presence and at times, it can show a lack of representation on our stories, voice views and presence from a digital perspective. What we see, how we are viewed and even represented plays a huge role based on the voices in the room and while it’s a challenge without strong representation can be impacted.” The Maryland Transit Administration is a large corporation and has a diverse ridership amongst African Americans and all nationalities accessing the transit system. Chris’ role allows him to show the thoughts, messaging and tone of our voices and how we view the administration and how people of color are represented. Brother Moore shared, “This opportunity of being the social media manager allows me to be that voice and represent black men and people of color throughout Maryland and those who use the MTA.”
With more seats at the table and representation, like Brother Moore, it shows Men of Sigma who are on the move to create change in many industries and also be a voice for the views of black men and people of color.