Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: How the Chamber Continues his Work
January 16, 2024 Georgette Aucoin, Content Manager, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
As the cornerstone of the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought tirelessly to eliminate racial injustice as it presented within our schools, at our workplaces, and deeply within our society. To celebrate MLK Day this week and beyond, and continue to honor his life and legacy, it is important to keep note of his teachings and practice them in our daily lives.
Here at the Chamber, we continue the fight towards racial equality and economic justice through our work. Creating a city and state where all businesses can thrive, we have specific programs created to champion businesses and entrepreneurs of color.
In this blog, we will highlight the ways in which the Chamber ties in the teachings and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and provide insight on how to get involved in promoting equity within our communities.
Pacesetters: Working towards Economic Inclusion
Right now, businesses of color receive less than two percent of corporate and government procurement dollars, two times the rate of loan denials, and less than one percent of venture capital investment. At the Chamber, our Pacesetters network works to develop an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform systemic opportunity for minority business enterprises (MBEs). The Pacesetter’s vision is to close the racial wealth gap in one generation, see ten percent of all business and government contracts go to businesses of color in the Commonwealth in the next five years, and help twenty percent of Massachusetts’ largest MBEs generate revenue of $50M or more within 5 years.
With the participation of large corporations like Liberty Mutual Insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Encore Boston Harbor, State Street and 30+ more, together we are advancing our local economy, closing the racial wealth gap, and creating sustainable supply chains for MBE’s.
If you are a corporation looking to participate in the change towards a more equitable economy and amplify your diversity program, the Chamber encourages you to join Pacesetters. The network will assist you in building your MBE pipeline and enhance your supplier diversity practices.
If you are an MBE looking to gain insights and exposure, we also highly recommend joining Pacesetters, where you can be matched with opportunities within our sustainable supply chains. To learn more about our top sourcing categories and best practices, review our MBE insights hub.
City Awake: Promoting Civic Engagement
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s inspiring leadership of the civil rights movement sparked extensive civic engagement, including the infamous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Dedicated to civic engagement, inclusivity, and access, the Chamber’s City Awake network retains 20-30-year-olds to the region by increasing their social capital and connecting them to personal and professional networks. Through volunteering, networking, and attending City Awake events, members of the network learn the power of their voice while celebrating Boston’s diverse cultures.
If you are a young professional looking to build connections, participate in informative discussions and ignite a positive change in the Boston community, the Chamber welcomes you to attend one of our upcoming City Awake events and follow along on our journey to a more inclusive Boston.
Let us remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings today and bring them with us well into our future. We must remain vigilant to racial injustice and wealth gaps, and actively work towards change in our communities.
It is important to stay informed. Here are some helpful additional resources to explore:
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