People of Beam Suntory: Jamal Spraggins
People of Beam Suntory: Jamal Spraggins
“I grew up on the South Side of Chicago. I saw a lot of people in my community either not trusting doctors or being misinformed about healthcare. In undergrad, one of my projects in a public health class was asking students at a predominantly white institution (PWI) and a historically Black college (HBCU) the first word or phrase they thought of around a specific health issue. Students at the PWI focused more on hope and understanding. Whereas students at the HBCU pointed more to fear, hopelessness, and inequity. There was a clear disparity. That’s how I developed a passion to help increase the health literacy of people in underserved communities. It’s what led me to pursue a career in communications and get a Master’s in Health Communications. After graduating, I put on a health fair, called The Art of Health, in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. It was sponsored and funded by a Chicago non-profit who also provided me with a few trainings. The experience left an imprint on me, in more ways than one.
One of the things I’ve come to understand is information is power. And access to it can empower people, give them important tools, and sometimes, help solve critical issues. But it’s important that the information is communicated clearly, in a way that people feel connected to the message and know how to act.
At Beam Suntory, I’m constantly challenging myself to consider the message receiver – we have people around the world. Whether it’s to sign up for health benefits or set career goals, I like to find creative ways to communicate and engage employees to act. I like the variety and the challenge. It's not just writing emails or, you know, creating PowerPoints. It's strategizing the best way to roll out important information. And what’s great is I’m comfortable sharing new ideas and have a decent amount of autonomy to test them out, which is something I've never had before.
As part of the Beam Suntory’s Together for Good, I led one of our volunteer events at a local food pantry. We were sorting and packing food like a well-oiled machine. It was surprisingly fun! What I realized through the experience is while I’m no longer in the healthcare industry, I can still have a positive impact. It reignited my drive to get back to my community and serve those in need – and I can do it in the way I want.”
- Jamal Spraggins, Corporate Communications Specialist & Co-Creator of People of Beam Suntory, USA