Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce

The organization promoted economic growth and opportunities through membership services, education, public awareness, networking and public policy through the following activities: - annual founding member meeting: roundtable discussion and workshop lead by our partners from babson business college with our founding small business members to discuss the diverse needs of their businesses. At this meeting we discussed the core ideas for our value proposition for small businesses. Jennifer bethel, professor of finance at babson college, ran a successful case study to better educate our founding small businesses about best and next business practices when it comes to diversity and inclusion. (continued on schedule o)(continued from 990 page 2, line 4a) - equality and equity: advancing the LGBT community in Massachusetts: board member karen young participated in a panel hosted by the boston foundation to discuss the economic and social status of the LGBT community of Massachusetts. The panel was part of a larger event centered around the release of the boston foundation's "state of the LGBT community in ma" report. Karen took part in the panel examining the report's findings regarding topics such as discrimination against the transgender community and the lack of support systems for elderly LGBT people. - working #outhere panel: grace moreno was a panelist on the working #outhere panel, hosted by out in tech and liberty mutual. The panel brought together notable LGBT professionals and allies and focused on notions of self-identity and being openly LGBT in the workplace. Grace participated as an out-and-proud executive and representative of the ma LGBT Chamber. - corporate roundtable: hosted at 50 milk street, this roundtable focused on and accomplished the following goals. Identifying, engaging with, and communicating the needs of lgbt-owned and allied businesses. Advancing corporate supplier management practices to better include lgbt-owned businesses. And lastly, collectively sharing best practices and establishing practical practices - like job boards - that will enable corporations to deliver their commitment to hiring LGBT talent. - the ma LGBT Chamber of Commerce - public launch: publicly announced the launch of the ma LGBT Chamber of Commerce at the federal reserve bank. This program garnered public and media attention to our organization, and we highlighted the civic importance of diversity and inclusion with a speech from mayor of holyoke, alex b. morse. We also provided a networking opportunity for small LGBT and ally-owned businesses to meet with our founding corporate partners and sponsors. - inner city capital connections conference: three member businesses and the executive director of the malgbtcc participated in the icic cohort of 2022, gaining appreciation and knowledge of the program. The small businesses were able to gain the skills to strengthen their companies and the Chamber found additional ways to partner with the organization.