This Women's Network event will offer an insightful conversation with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, the 11th President of Boston University and both the first woman and the first Black woman to lead the institution since its founding in 1869.
06/18/2025
11:30am - 1:00pm
Fairmont Copley Plaza
Join the Chamber and Massachusetts Business Roundtable for a deep dive into employer insights, featuring analysis from McKinsey and a panel of experts.
06/26/2025
11:00am - 12:00pm
Virtual
Join us for our installment of the Pacesetters Doing Business series featuring Mass General Brigham on June 26, 2025.
1:00pm - 2:00pm
This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.
Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.
Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.
Join us on June 12 for a highly interactive virtual workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney.
City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.
We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).
Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.
BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.
For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.
The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.
Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.
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BOSTON, MA–
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) and
City Awake are pleased to announce the third annual Fierce Urgency of Now festival, a five day festival dedicated to amplify the experiences, challenges, and opportunities for young professionals of color in Greater Boston. This year, the festival will feature more than 30 virtual events hosted by organizations and companies.
After the 2017 City of Millennials report identified a divergent experience regarding affordability, economic security, and belonging for millennials of color in Greater Boston, the GBCC and City Awake launched the first Fierce Urgency of Now festival in 2018. The title, “Fierce Urgency of Now,” is attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech: “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.”
Dr. King’s words are still true today. As the region works through a pandemic and a racial reckoning after the murder of George Floyd, the Greater Boston business community must take action to create spaces of belonging and equity. With intention and urgency, the region’s systemic racism and bias can and will be transformed into systemic opportunity. The Fierce Urgency of Now festival events will directly address equity and belonging to create an even more inclusive business community.
Morgan DeBaun, Founder and CEO of
Blavity Inc., the largest network of platforms and brands for young Black professionals. On September 17, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Dr. Karilyn Crockett, the newly appointed Chief of Equity, will discuss how they are making equity a reality and how young professionals can be engaged in the most pressing issues facing the region. Other events include keynotes, day parties, workshops, and workouts. To continue the celebration, GBCC and City Awake will announce during the festival the recipients of the Chamber’s Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Awards, which includes leaders who are breaking barriers and addressing equity to create a diverse and inclusive future.
James E. Rooney, the Chamber’s President and CEO, explains the importance of the festival to this region and retaining diverse talent. “Now, more than ever, it is critical that the business community listen to and uplift young professionals of color. While the region navigates the pandemic and racial reckoning after the murder of George Floyd, we must make it our collective priority to create systemic opportunity for young professionals of color. Participating in ongoing discussions and adopting inclusive practices can help Boston attract and retain diverse talent.”
About City Awake
City Awake empowers the next generation of Greater Boston leaders through programming that builds community and engages young professionals in dialogue about the most pressing issues facing our region. Through this work, we hope to deepen their connections to the broader business and civic communities and recognize their important contributions to our thriving economy. Learn more at CityAwake.org.
About the Greater Boston Chamber
We are the convener, voice and advocate of our region’s business community, committed to making Greater Boston the best place for all businesses and all people to thrive. We help our members and Greater Boston succeed by convening and connecting the business community; researching, developing and advocating for public policies that contribute to our region’s economic success; and providing comprehensive leadership development programs designed to grow strong business and civic leaders. Learn more at BostonChamber.com.
Casey Baines
Director, Policy & Communications
[email protected]617-557-7320
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