Your Chamber at Work - November 15, 2021

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

The child’s small shoe, with a sock tucked into it, taken off as the little one prepared to take a “shower.” The child wasn’t heading for a shower, however. Instead, it was one of the gas chambers at the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

That little shoe and sock are part of the “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” exhibit now showing at Union Station.

The KC Chamber spent Thursday morning touring the exhibit together, and it was a deeply moving experience. If you haven’t seen it – please do.  It provides the history and context behind the Nazi’s efforts to exterminate Europe’s Jewish population, as well as artifacts and testimony from those who managed to survive. Our thanks to Union Station’s President & CEO (and our landlord) George Guastello for inviting us. We also had the privilege of hearing from Pawel Sawicki, Press Officer at ABSM (Auschwitz Birkenau State Museum) and a project leader of the Auschwitz exhibition.

We followed the tour with a staff lunch to discuss and process what we’d seen and learned, as well as a presentation on anti-Semitism by Gavriela Geller, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau, and Sarah Markowitz, Assistant Director, Education and Programs, for the Bureau. Unfortunately, the anti-Semitic attitudes expressed in such a deadly way by the Nazis is still with us. To schedule a presentation for your business or community group, you can contact Gavi at GavrielaG@JewishKC.org. It’s well worth it, as is the Auschwitz exhibit now open at Union Station. More information and a link to reserve tickets here.

134TH ANNUAL DINNER

This is the final week to get your tickets for one of the most anticipated events of the year: the KC Chamber’s 134th Annual Dinner, Tuesday, November 23, 5 to 8 p.m. Celebrate a Kansas City For All as we announce the Kansas Citian of the Year, enjoy a live performance by musician Casi Joy, and welcome our keynote speakers: Davyeon Ross, Co-Founder and President of ShotTracker, and Kansas City, KS native Kalen Allen, rising content creator, actor, and entertainment personality, best known for his recurring guest spot on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Due to COVID restrictions we are limited on in-person capacity. This is the final week to get your tickets for the virtual livestream for $30. Special thanks to our 2021 Annual Dinner Presenting Sponsor,  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City Thank you to our Premier Sponsors Hallmark, JE Dunn Construction, McCownGordon Construction and UMB Bank, and our Executive Sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union.

GENKC'S GENERATIONAL COLLABORATION PANEL

Join genKC for the Generational Collaboration Panel, November 18, 4 to 6 p.m. at The Kill Devil Club, 31 East 14th St. in the Kansas City Power & Light District. Learn how to better collaborate with co-workers, whether you’re Gen Z, a Millennial, Gen X, or a Baby Boomer. Rockhurst University Professor Acey Lampe will moderate a multi-general panel that will cover common issues experienced between current young professionals and their supervisors and company executives. This event is designed to address very real challenges while bringing people together. Space at the Kill Devil Club will be limited so make sure to register now. Registration includes one drink ticket and appetizers.

ECONOMIC FORECAST

Could an economic recovery be on tap for 2022? Register now for the virtual Economic Forecast, Thursday, December 9, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Mid-America Regional Council Chief Economist Frank Lenk brings his unique and expert-lens as he looks at what will follow us into the new year from the 2021 economy. He then joins a panel featuring Chris Kuehl of Armada CI, Niki DaSilva of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, immigration attorney Mira Mdivani, and Angelique Nedved of SchoolSmartKC to discuss the workforce and talent pipeline, how immigration reform is impacting pandemic employment numbers, global supply chain issues, and inflation. Kansas City PBS’s Mary Sanchez moderates. This event is virtual for the general public with a $10 admission. Special thanks to our Economic Forecast Presenting Sponsor, BMO Harris Bank. Additional sponsors include Black & Veatch, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Grant Thornton, and UMB.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION WORKSHOP: UNDERSTANDING POVERTY IN KANSAS CITY – AN INTERACTIVE SIMULATION

They say you can’t really understand someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. Our next Diversity & Inclusion Workshop seeks to begin understanding with Understanding Poverty in Kansas City – An Interactive Simulation, Tuesday, December 14, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Participants will navigate a world of not enough time and resources, and work in small groups to complete a series of budget exercises. The workshop is designed to help participants better understand the situations of families in low-wage jobs struggling to make ends meet, and to leave you with ways to support and empower vulnerable families in KC. Register here for this free virtual event. Our Diversity & Inclusion Workshop Series Presenting Sponsor is Commerce Bank. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Presenting Sponsors are CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Evergy and Hallmark. This event series is in partnership with the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Grandview Chamber of Commerce, the Independence Chamber of Commerce, the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce, the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.