Your Chamber at Work - October 30, 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Despite recent progress, women are still paid less than men, and, according to data, the pay gap worsens with age. Women bear a disproportionate burden from family caregiving responsibilities leading many to either reduce their work hours or leave employment altogether. (One of the reasons the KC Chamber works so hard to promote childcare accessibility.) And only 22 percent of board seats and C-suite roles are held by women.

There’s still a long way to go, obviously.

How do women deal with the barriers they face? We’ll try to answer those questions at the Centurions Women’s Leadership Forum this Thursday as we discuss Empowering Women: Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges.

During this happy hour event, you’ll hear from powerful leaders in our community and how they’ve broken barriers and built relationships. Speakers include Deonne Christensen, President & CEO of Mazuma Credit Union; Sarah Tourville, Executive Vice President/Chief Commercial and Community Impact Officer for the Kansas City Royals; and more.

The forum will be held Thursday, November 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the KC Chamber Board Room in Union Station. The event is free to attend, but we kindly ask that you register here.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ALLYSHIP SERIES: ALLYSHIP ACTION PLAN – PART 2

Take your DEI allyship efforts to the next level on Tuesday, November 14 as we make progress on strategic planning in the KC Chamber’s Board Room located at 30 West Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO, next door to Pierponts. Based on our existing, three-hour workshop, these sessions will enable participants to move beyond intention and conversation into practical, strategic action. Each participant will develop a personalized ally action plan to help them work on weaknesses and grow their strengths. This course uses a Cultural Intelligence (CQ) framework and a self-assessment to help participants home in on areas for improvement and cultivation. This event is free to attend though we ask participants to register here. Allyship Series sponsors are Evergy and Hallmark. Our presenting diversity sponsor is CommunityAmerica Credit Union.

THE CHILDCARE CRISIS: IT’S EVERYONE’S BUSINESS

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and United WE invite area employers, legislators, and childcare professionals to join us for an engaging and informative panel discussion on one of the most pressing challenges facing families and businesses today – the childcare crisis. As families grapple with the complexities of finding quality, affordable childcare, many women are forced to leave the workforce. It's essential to come together, share insights, and explore ways to break down barriers to access.

Paula Neth, president, and CEO of The Family Conservancy, will present a childcare tax credit calculator to help businesses understand how much they can save by utilizing the childcare tax credit available in Kansas. An expert panel will be moderated by Cathy Bennett, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Joni Wickham, Wickham James Strategies & Solutions, and will include:

• Wendy Doyle, United WE
• Melissa Rooker, KS Children's Cabinet & Trust Fund
• Dinah Sykes, Kansas Senator, Senate Minority Leader
• Laura Williams, Kansas State Representative

Register online now for this timely event on November 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the KC Chamber Board Room inside Union Station at 30 West Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO. There is no cost to attend.

CAPITAL CONNECTIONS HAPPY HOUR

The upcoming Capital Connections happy hour at Plexpod Westport, 300 E 39th St., is focused on building connections between Kansas City’s lending community, minority businesses, and Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs). We are excited to partner with KCSourceLink to host this social gathering as the closing event of Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 13-17). The event is free to attend but we ask participants to register here by November 4.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING – GOODWILL & KEYSTONE INNOVATION DISTRICT

When you think of Goodwill, you may envision its iconic thrift stores; however, did you know proceeds from the items they sell go to support career advancement programs and services that help change lives? Keystone Innovation District is all about making connections with a goal to catalyze economic development throughout the region by building and supporting a community of innovators, creatives, and entrepreneurs. Join us at 800 E. 18th St., Kansas City, MO, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Friday, November 3, to learn more about the efforts of these two community organizations. You’ll also enjoy networking with other area professionals and a raffle for giveaways. The event is free for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Register online now! Thank you to Neighborhood Networking sponsors Rock CFO, Southwest Airlines & Unbound, and overall networking sponsors Delta Dental and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.