Advertise With Purpose
REACH FOR INFLUENCE YOU CAN'T BUY AT SCALE.
Partner With a Journal Trusted by Black Leaders, Alumni, and Institutions Shaping Communities Nationwide
DRAKEVINE™ is a biannual print journal created by Black alumni of Drake University. With a highly engaged, multigenerational audience and deep ties to leadership, education, and civic life, advertising in DRAKEVINE™ isn’t about impressions—it’s about presence where decisions, values, and influence converge.
In our Fall 2025 issue, we invited six Black alumni of Drake University to answer the question "Where Do We Go From Here?" They are experts in medicine, law, faith, education, business, and social impact. This insightful discussion was moderated by veteran journalist and Emmy-nominated producer, Sherry Sissac.
Lisa Bennett
Bernie Frazier
Art Johnson
Dr. Terre Quinn
Kim Slay
Jeffery Smith
Why Traditional Advertising Falls Flat
VISIBILITY IS EASY. TRUST IS RARE.
And Trust Is What Actually Drives Influence
Most advertising reaches people in motion—scrolling, skimming, forgetting. But the audiences shaping policy, culture, education, and capital don’t move that way. They read carefully. They remember who showed up, and they notice who understands the difference between access and alignment.
DRAKEVINE exists in that quieter, more consequential space. This is not mass media. It’s meaningful proximity.
Beyond the Page
DESIGNED
TO BE READ, SHARED, & KEPT
Not skipped. Not swiped past. Not forgotten.
Stories in DRAKEVINE are long-form, reflective, and human.
The design is museum-quality—meant to live on coffee tables and office shelves. Each issue anchors around lived experience, leadership, and impact—not trends.
For advertisers, that means your message is placed inside a context of depth, credibility, and care.
The Audience
A SMALL COMMUNITY WITH OUTSIZED REACH
Leaders Don't Always Look Large From the Outside
DRAKEVINE reaches Black alumni across generations who now serve as physicians, attorneys, educators, executives, entrepreneurs, public servants, and nonprofit leaders across the country.
They are trusted voices in their cities.
They are decision-makers in their fields.
And they are deeply connected—to each other, to students, and to what comes next.
This is an audience built on relationship, not reach alone.
Our Approach
ADVERTISING AS ALIGNMENT
Not Interruption.
We work with a limited number of partners per issue to ensure placement feels intentional—not crowded. Advertising in DRAKEVINE is about alignment with values, leadership, and long-term impact.
Many of our partners are not looking for immediate conversion. They’re investing in credibility, trust, and cultural presence. And that distinction matters.
Opportunities
WAYS TO PARTNER
Curated. Limited. Purposeful.
Availability is limited by design. Opportunities may include:
Premium Placements
High-visibility placements designed for brands that want a trusted, thoughtfully curated editorial environment.
Positioning
Strategic adjacency to stories, themes, and voices that shape how your brand is perceived—not just noticed.
Sponsorships
Integrated opportunities to align your brand with an issue, section, or experience that reflects shared values.
Custom Partnerships
Tailored collaborations built around your goals, the journal’s editorial focus, and opportunities for meaningful connection.
TELLING OUR STORIES. SHARING OUR LEGACY. INVESTING IN WHAT'S NEXT.
CONTACT [email protected] | ADVERTISE [email protected] | CONTRIBUTE [email protected]
DRAKEVINE™ is independently produced by Drake University alumni of the Black Student Organization and friends and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Drake University, the Drake Black Alumni Reunion, or the Drake University Black Alumni Association.