Your Chamber at Work - August 24, 2020

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

“It’s like the Thunderdome, but with Kansas City nice.”

That’s how one candidate described last week’s Small Business Celebration Candidates Showcase – a two-day virtual marathon highlighting candidates for the KC Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards. Patterned after television’s “Shark Tank,” each of the candidates had an opportunity to showcase their businesses and answer questions from our panel of judges.

More than 16,000 people tuned into our YouTube channel to watch the two-day Showcase. If you missed it, here are the links to Day 1 and Day 2. Like me, I’m sure you’ll come away impressed by the innovation, energy, and acumen exhibited by all our candidates.

The judges are meeting to decide who among the candidates will be our Top 10 Small Businesses of the year – we’ll make that announcement Friday, September 4. On Thursday, October 1, we’ll host the Top 10 CEOs for a discussion where they’ll share their stories, their successes, challenges and advice. Our Small Business Celebration culminates Thursday, October 15 with the announcement of the Small Business of the Year and winner of the Mr. K Award.

KANSAS CITY, MO COMMITTEE WELCOMES DR. KENNY SOUTHWICK AND ANDREA FLINDERS TO TALK EDUCATION IN THE TIME OF COVID

It is arguably the single biggest issue facing KC’s workforce right now: how to still work when schools are going virtual only. The start of the 2020-2021 school year will have an impact on every part of our economy, whether people have school-age children or not. Join us at our next Kansas City, Missouri Committee meeting, August 25 at Noon to hear from Dr. Kenny Southwick, Executive Director of the Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City, and Andrea Flinders, President of the Federation of Teachers of Kansas City. Register here. This committee meeting is open to all Chamber members.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION WORKSHOP SERIES: THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL SYSTEMS FOR RESPONSIBLE RE-ENTRY

Each year, the U.S. misses out on more than $87 billion in lost GDP – because nearly 75% of men and women coming out of prison are unemployed within a year. It doesn’t have to be that way. Join the Chamber’s Workforce Opportunities for Returning Citizens (WORC) Initiative, Reaching Out From Within, and Renaissance Solutions, LLP for The Business Case for Supportive Social Systems for Responsible Re-Entry, August 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free event addresses the needs of justice-involved individuals and why hiring returning citizens is good for business.  Also mark your calendars for September 18, when we host a special pop-up Diversity & Inclusion workshop during Welcoming Week. This will focus on DACA and hiring Dreamers. Thank you to our 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Sponsors, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Evergy, Hallmark, and T-Mobile.

VIRTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: DR. DRED SCOTT, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

The Boys & Girls Club has a huge impact on KC every year. But since COVID hit, they’ve had the challenge of adapting while still fulfilling their mission. Join President and CEO Dr. Dred Scott at our next Neighborhood Networking, Friday, August 28 from 9 to 10 a.m. Dr. Scott shares how COVID has affected the Boys & Girls Club, how the organization is still working to serve KC families, and what’s next. Register now for this great way to connect with fellow Chamber members and other businesses and organizations in Greater KC. Our 2020 Networking Sponsors include Delta Dental, T-Mobile, SS&C, and Mazuma.

LEARNING SESSION: RACIAL INEQUITIES IN HOUSING

Join us on Tuesday morning, September 1, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. as Dianne Cleaver, president and CEO of Urban Neighborhood Initiative, introduces a Learning Session about housing inequities due to race. The presenters include Mikki Anderson, Vice President with Purpose Built Communities, and Tyler Cukar, a KC native living in NY who authored Orchestrated Urbanism: the Race Built City. Each will present on the topic and then you’ll have a chance to ask questions.

Participants can expect to gain an understanding of the historic federal, state and local policies and private practices that blocked access of African Americans to home ownership and to specific areas of our city. Participants will also gain an understanding of how those historical policies set up decades of financial disinvestment and prevented access to jobs, education, and upward mobility for generations to come. The session is free and open to all Chamber members and non-members. Register here.