Jack Ferguson, the president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) had a word about diversity for Philadelphia Magazine during a speech he delivered Wednesday at the PHL Diversity luncheon: “We are here to help.”

Philly Mag's most recent issue caused an uproar because in a majority minority city, the cover photo for an article on “How to Find the Best Philadelphia School for Your Child” showed seven students, none of them Black. 

This is the second race-based controversy for the magazine in recent years. The “Being White in Philly” cover article, published March 2013, inspired similar outrage.

Here’s what Ferguson had to say: 

“For over 30 years the PHLCVB has had a commitment to upholding the true spirit of diversity and inclusion. We are sensitive to this always, and look for all companies and organizations that share these common values. Through PHL Diversity the CVB strives not only to attract and support diverse and multicultural conventions and tourism to Philadelphia. We also do outreach to our city’s diverse communities and help them become an integral part of the fabric of the hospitality industry. We are here to help educate, promote the importance of truly embracing the full concept of diversity and inclusion and to provide guidance to those who need better understanding and assistance, and wish to support those actions and programs. For organizations like Philadelphia Magazine and others, we are here to help them embrace sensitivity to diversity and inclusion, and not to give up on their commitment to broaden their perspective and continue finding ways to implement changes needed to truly weave diversity and inclusion into the fabric of their philosophy, their corporate culture and their employees.”