Your Chamber at Work - June 15, 2020

Jun 15, 2020

Category:

KC Chamber · Diversity, Equity & Inclusion · Newsletters

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

To understand, we first need to listen.

This week, the KC Chamber and the Urban Neighborhood Initiative begin a series of four sessions that will hopefully bring you a deeper understanding of the passion and concern at the heart of the recent protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Please join us this Thursday, June 18, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. online for “Understanding the Black Experience in Greater KC: A Listening Session (Part I).” Our panel will include a variety of people and will be moderated by Bridgette Williams, Executive Director of the Heavy Constructors Association and a member of the KC Chamber Board. Click here to register.

On another but related subject – last week the KC Chamber, Civic Council, and Visit KC issued a joint statement supporting the process underway to rename the J.C. Nichols Fountain and Parkway. Our support comes because, as our statement said, “we reject policies that were exclusionary, racist, and wrong. We feel our public infrastructure should reflect the values of diversity and inclusion to which we aspire and are committed.” To read more, click here.

The last several weeks have been extraordinary, and there seems to be real momentum for change. We need to take advantage of that. At the Chamber, we will listen and then act. Please join us Thursday.

THE CHAMPION OF DIVERSITY

This week is your last chance to apply for the Champion of Diversity Award. This award honors businesses excelling in diversity and inclusion and serving as a role model in the community for their business culture, best practices, and commitment to diversity in every aspect of business. The application is here. We’ll present the award July 29 at the POWER of Diversity Celebration. Save the date for that event and we’ll send you more information soon.

DIVERSITY &INCLUSION WORKSHOP: TAKING ACTION TO HIRE AND RETAIN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The Americans with Disabilities Act turns 30 this year. Our nation has learned so much in that time but still has more to go. Register now for Taking Action During the COVID-19 Crisis to Hire and Retain People with Disabilities, Tuesday, June 23 at 11:30 a.m. This webinar will focus on the positive impact those with disabilities bring to the workplace, effective strategies to support outreach and recruitment efforts, how to inclusively provide performance management, and why creating a dynamic and diverse team will help rebuild your workforce. Register here. Thanks to our 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Sponsors for continuing to support programs like this even when times get tough: CommunityAmerica, Evergy, Hallmark, and Sprint.

ATHENA INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Nominations for the ATHENA Award are now open. This award honors both men and women who have helped women advance in their careers and have achieved professional excellence. You can nominate someone for ATHENA and Young ATHENA here. The KC Chamber has been honored to present the ATHENA and Young ATHENA Awards since 2001. The Award recipients will be announced later this summer and celebrated in the fall. Thanks to our Presenting Sponsors Bank Midwest and KPMG for continued support of this award.

APPLY FOR THE NEXT CENTURIONS COHORT

Reduced tuition. Open to non-Chamber members. No cap on the number of active Centurions an organization can have. These are just some of the changes we’ve implemented. We know it’s a tough environment for nearly every business right now, but we don’t want that to stop KC’s next generation of leaders. The application deadline has also been extended to July 1. Register now for the next online information session, Tuesday, June 16 at noon to learn more about the program. If you’ve already decided to apply but need guidance with your application, register here for the June 23 application workshop. Both are free. Centurions is Kansas City’s oldest and premier leadership program. For more than 40 years, alumni have gone on to become lawmakers, CEOs, judges, community leaders and more.