Trenay Perry Bynum Training the next generation of strategic communicators
My classroom is wherever I am.
Lessons Beyond the Lecture: How I Became My Own Case Study
This is my story—a personal and professional journey toward belonging as an educator, first-generation college graduate, and Black woman in a field that didn’t always feel made for me. From Assumptions to Belonging: A Nashville Journey of Identity and Inclusion is not just a case study (publication forthcoming); it is a testimony—a reflection of the internal battles and external systems so many of us navigate in silence. It is also a call to create intentional spaces where every person feels seen, heard and valued.
But this isn’t only my story. It’s actually everyone’s story. We all deserve a safe space to express who we are and do the work we love. My classroom isn’t confined by walls—it’s wherever growth is possible. That’s where learning begins—in brave spaces where truth-telling, acceptance of what requires more understanding and purpose-building are the norms.
Too often, DEI&B is treated as a corporate checkbox rather than a foundational commitment—especially in industries like public relations, where Black professionals hold only about 3.5% of management roles (Recognizing Black PR Pioneers Can Ease Difficult Conversations). As DEI&B efforts are increasingly stripped from formal systems, the foundation that once affirmed the presence and promise of diverse strategic communicators in our field is being eroded. But we are communicators and we wield a mighty power—our voice, our keystrokes.
Setbacks and hard-won lessons marked my entry into public relations, but I persevered to tell the tale. We don’t have to wait for permission to build a strong culture within our creative agencies. We already have the tools—we use them masterfully on behalf of our clients every day. We must use our tools in every environment in which we find ourselves working, i.e., onboarding new hires, employee recruitment, event planning, youth development programs.
From heart-to-heart mentoring to standing before the masses on the podiums, my message remains the same: growth is the assignment, and purpose is the goal. I speak to empower, equip and remind others—especially students and aspiring professionals—that their stories, voices and presence matter.