Today we’d like to introduce you to Damaryan Benton.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I saw early on how our narratives as Black men were rarely authored by us. Whether it was through news cycles, classroom rules, or casting calls, the systems around me painted a picture I never asked for and often fought to unlearn.
By middle school, I had lost my father to gun violence and grew up on a faster timeline. But I didn’t let that define me. I turned my grief into purpose. I started a youth-led campaign against gun violence and eventually won the title of Illinois Youth of the Year in 2019. That platform allowed me to speak on stages across the country and unlock a full scholarship to college.
Today, I’m a Gen Z public speaker and communications professional working at Anomaly, where I help lead culture-shifting campaigns for Starbucks. I’m also the founder of The PR Habitat, a digital-first community of over 20,000 early-career communicators, where we’re reimagining what equity and access look like in the public relations industry.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve faced last-minute funding losses. Speaking invitations were rescinded due to pressure from the Trump administration. Partnerships that disappeared overnight.
As a Gen Z founder, especially as a Black founder, I’ve learned that building something new means constantly proving your vision before it’s fully resourced. Two weeks before one of our biggest national events, a funder backed out. I covered costs out of pocket to ensure The PR Habitat showed up as promised, not just because we had to, but because we deserved to.
There’s a myth that advocacy comes later in your career after you’ve “made it.” I don’t buy that. Gen Z is reshaping every industry in real time. We’re experiencing burnout, job insecurity, and gatekeeping while simultaneously trying to make those same systems more accessible. That’s what makes our perspective so urgent.
I didn’t build The PR Habitat because I had all the answers. I built it because the industry kept telling me I didn’t belong, and I knew others were hearing the same. Every denial, delay, or closed door became more reason to create a new one.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have a 9-to-5 and a 5-to-9.
By day, I’m an Account Executive at Anomaly, helping lead national campaigns for Starbucks across experiential, audio, film, and out-of-home media. From reviving the Pumpkin Spice Latte’s cultural moment to launching protein-based drink platforms and Gen Z-targeted refreshers, I help bring consumer insights to life through storytelling that meets people where they are.
But when the day ends, my purpose work begins.
I’m the founder of The PR Habitat, a fourth space for young people exploring and building careers in communications. What began as a resource for underrepresented early-career professionals has become a movement. Through toolkits, panel partnerships, community research, and appearances from the National Conference on Citizenship to the Speechwriters of Color Conference, we’re building a new standard for who gets to belong in this industry.
I’ve always been that person who brings the Google Doc to life, one who builds community in the comments section and turns big ideas into action. I’m most proud that I didn’t wait for the perfect moment to build The PR Habitat. I started where I was, with what I had. And now we’re changing the face of an entire field.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been the kid with something to say. I was loud, curious, a little goofy, and I loved asking questions. That voice got me teased sometimes, but it also became my superpower. I turned those early labels into a life of public speaking and storytelling.
Growing up, I found comfort in service. Whether it was organizing youth programs, fundraising for my local Boys & Girls Club, or speaking out against gun violence, I knew early on that my purpose was bigger than me. I wanted to be the kind of role model I didn’t always have.
Because that kid who could talk the ears off of anyone who’d listen, he’s still here, and he’s just getting started.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theprhabitat.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprhabitat/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pr-habitat/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePRHabitat
- Other: https://substack.com/@theprhabitat
