Peggy Conlon
Peggy is President and CEO of the Ad Council. During the past 10 years, she has championed the organization’s important mission among various non-profit organizations and government agencies to use the power of PSAs to improve some of the nation’s most pressing issues.
Posts by Peggy
Going Hungry in an Obese Nation
Originally published on The Huffington Post on March 23, 2011
How is it that 17 million children in the U.S. live on the brink of hunger while, at the same time, 9 million American children are obese?
It’s certainly a troubling paradox. And it’s one of several reasons why many Americans don’t quite believe or understand the urgency and extent of hunger in the United States.
Misconceptions about hunger fall into two broad categories: Hunger is overwhelming, unsolvable, and “here to stay.” Alternatively, a prevailing view is that hunger can’t possibly exist in the U.S. — it’s a developing-world problem. (With one “small” caveat: It occurs among the homeless.) After all, just look at the obesity problem we have.
Let’s first address the paradox. Yes, hunger and obesity co-exist. Not surprisingly, however, most of this correlation is linked to poverty. As the Food Research and Action Center explains, low-income families face the same hurdles as anyone else — they’re not eating right and they’re too sedentary.
But they also live in neighborhoods — called “food deserts” — that lack full-service grocery stores, where healthy food like fresh produce is often more expensive and of poorer quality. And they creatively stretch their food budget by purchasing cheap, calorie-dense foods that will keep their children’s stomachs filled longer. There’s also a “feast or famine” situation at play — if you have to eat less or skip a meal, you may overeat when food does become available. And that can contribute to weight gain.
Filed under: Campaigns, Communications
Tags: Campaigns, changing behavior, Child Hunger, Feeding America, Matt Damon, Obesity
Devastating Spill, Devastating Feelings
Originally published on The Huffington Post on January 28, 2011.
“I didn’t know what to do with myself”
“I have to make house payments and boat payments”
“I worry about myself and my wife. I don’t know how we can make it.”
“What can I do to survive?…I have a thousand questions and no answers…this problem is the worst of my life!”
These poignant quotes are from Gulf residents who were profiled in the final report released by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill two weeks ago. Led by Co-Chairs Senator Bob Graham and Bill Reilly, the Commission was charged by President Obama to determine the causes of the disaster and recommend reforms.
The gut-wrencher for me was Chapter Six. It delves into the impact of the spill — not just on nature and the economy — but on human health (both physical and mental). Shortly after the spill, many coastal residents reported being stressed, worried and sad. Reports of domestic violence increased. And in one study, parents reported that more than one-third of their children were suffering mental or physical health effects.
And the long term impacts? The report acknowledges that many of the long-term psychological effects of the oil spill remain unknown. But we do know from other disasters –including Katrina — that depression, substance abuse and psychological disorders can disrupt people’s lives for years to come.
Filed under: Campaigns, Federal Government Communications, Uncategorized
Tags: Campaigns, Gulf Oil Spill, Mental Health, U.S. Surgeon General
What Can We Learn from Tyler’s Tragedy?
Originally published on The Huffington Post on October 1, 2010.
By now we’ve all read the headlines about Tyler Clementi. Tyler, a freshman at Rutgers, told his RA he was being bullied by his fellow students. He then posted a cry for help on Facebook, telling his friends that he planned to kill himself. And then Tyler, a shy, brilliant violinist and gay teen, ended his life on Wednesday.
Sadly, this isn’t a random tragedy. A pattern is occurring and we need to shine a light on it: Gay teens are up to four times more likely to end their lives than straight teens, according to a 2007 Massachusetts youth risk survey. Why? Partly because they are being bullied relentlessly at their schools—whether it’s middle school, high school or college. In fact, nine out of ten gay teens report being bullied, according to a survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
This is staggering. And unacceptable.
From a communications perspective, what can we do?
First, let’s flesh out what’s going on: Anti-gay bullying has a lot of layers. Some of it comes from a place of true hatred or homophobia. But our research shows that a lot of it is unintentional: Most teens don’t realize that their words (such as “that’s so gay”) are hurtful and can escalate a situation, leading to more overt verbal and physical bullying. Our PSA campaign with GLSEN—Think Before You Speak—aims to combat the unintentional use of anti-gay language. But it has to be finessed: you can’t tell teens what to do by lecturing. The PSAs try to convey that their seemingly mindless words can make someone feel degraded or far far worse.
Teens aren’t the only problem here. We all have a role to play. We—as educators, parents, peers, co-workers and friends—need to intervene. Somehow, we have collectively created a culture where Tyler felt he had no choice but to end his life.
Suicide and bullying are incredibly complex interrelated problems and we can’t solve this overnight. But we can all make a difference by not tolerating hurtful words. By talking about it with our friends, families and yes, even strangers, the next time you hear someone say “that’s so gay.” In fact, why not take it a step further and sign the pledge or get materials to help share the message.
Filed under: Campaigns, Social Media
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