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          06/16/2025

          9:45am - 11:00am

          Boston Marriott Long Wharf

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          A Fireside Chat with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, Boston University

          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

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          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

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          BIMA

          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.

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          Women’s Network

          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.

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          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          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.

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          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

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Bostonchamber
Boston Chamber
  • Events
        • Events

          • Overview
          • Events Calendar
          • Chamber Awards
          • New Chamber Event Series
        • ...
          Limited Series
          Transportation First | State of the Airport

          The Transportation First Series offers a platform to discuss the challenges faced by our region, with the input of experts and changemakers.

          06/12/2025

          2:45pm - 4:30pm

          Hybrid | Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Public Policy
          2025 Government Affairs Forum | Senator Edward J. Markey

          Hear from Senator Edward J. Markey, a consumer champion and leader on energy, environmental protection, and telecommunications policy.

          06/16/2025

          9:45am - 11:00am

          Boston Marriott Long Wharf

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Women's Network
          A Fireside Chat with Dr. Melissa Gilliam, Boston University

          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

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Learning & Development
        • Learning & Development

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Insights
        • Transformational DEI Certificate

          This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.

          Read More
          Women’s Leadership Program

          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.

          Read More
          Boston’s Future Leaders

          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.

          Read More
          Authentic Professionalism for Early Career Professionals

          Join us on June 12 for a highly interactive virtual workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          Small Business
          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
        • Policy & Impact

          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

          Business Climate
          Read More
          Climate & Energy
          Read More
          Health Care
          Read More
          Housing & Development
          Read More
          Talent
          Read More
          Transportation
          Read More
  • Our Networks
        • GBCC’s Networks

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          Small Business

          Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.

          Read More
          City Awake

          City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.

          Read More
          BIMA

          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.

          Read More
          Women’s Network

          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.

          Read More
          Massachusetts Apprentice Network

          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.

          Read More
          Pacesetters

          We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).

          Read More
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          • Membership Benefits
          • Membership Levels
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The Racial Wealth Gap: Housing and Wealth Building

September 16, 2022 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Virtual

Event Details

  • Thank you for joining us for the fourth event of the Chamber’s new series, The Racial Wealth Gap.
  • The Racial Wealth Gap series convenes national and local economic experts and community leaders to revisit The Color of Wealth, a 2015 research report that outlined the extensive racial wealth gap that impacts communities.

Tickets

  • Free & Open to the Public
  • (Advanced registration is required)

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  • Overview
  • Speakers
  • Sponsor

The Racial Wealth Gap Series: Housing and Wealth Building


In partnership with The Boston Foundation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, The Barr Foundation, and Eastern Bank Foundation, the Chamber is a founding funder and partner in relaunching this critical research to discover economic, policy, and community solutions that will successfully address the barriers that hinder the creation of generational wealth for communities of color.

This event highlighted stable, long-term strategies for building home equity in Massachusetts. The informative discussion explored current high-impact work and investments and how the business community can lead the charge in urgently closing the racial wealth gap.

ABOUT FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW

The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings together more than 1,000 diverse, young professionals of color and allies for 30+ transformative events. Organized by City Awake, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s young professional platform, this is the ultimate festival to build connections, advance careers, and ignite positive change.

This festival is inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s. speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where he described “the fierce urgency of now” — the pressing need for immediate action and lasting change in the face of racial injustice. Today and every day, we are answering this call to action to forge a more equitable, inclusive future for Greater Boston.

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce encourages persons with disabilities to participate, and engage fully, in its programs and events.
If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, including but not limited to, listening devices, closed captioning, large print, wheelchair access, allergies and environmental sensitivities, or if you have any questions about the venue, event format, or virtual platform, please contact us at [email protected]
.
Read Now

Watch the Event Here

Speakers

Dr. Karilyn Crockett

Professor of Urban History, Public Policy & Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Karilyn Crockett’s research focuses on large-scale land use changes in twentieth century American cities and examines the social and geographic implications…Read more
Dr. Karilyn Crockett’s research focuses on large-scale land use changes in twentieth century American cities and examines the social and geographic implications of structural poverty and race. Karilyn’s book “People before Highways: Boston Activists, Urban Planners, and a New Movement for City Making” (UMASS Press 2018) investigates a 1960s era grassroots movement to halt urban extension of the U.S. interstate highway system and the geographic and political changes in Boston that resulted. In 2019 this book was named one of the “ten best books of the decade” by the Boston Public Library Association of Librarians. Previously Karilyn co-founded Multicultural Youth Tour of What’s Now (MYTOWN), an award winning, Boston-based, educational non-profit organization. MYTOWN hired public high school students to research their local and family histories to produce youth-led walking tours for sale to public audiences. During its nearly 15 years of operation, MYTOWN created jobs for more than 300 low and moderate-income teenagers, who in turn led public walking tours for more than 14,000 visitors and residents. In a White House ceremony, the National Endowment for the Humanities cited MYTOWN as “One of ten best Youth Humanities Programs in America.”

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Chrystal Kornegay

Executive Director, MassHousing

Chrystal Kornegay currently serves as Executive Director of MassHousing which lends over $1 billion annually to produce and preserve affordable rental housing and…Read more
Chrystal Kornegay currently serves as Executive Director of MassHousing which lends over $1 billion annually to produce and preserve affordable rental housing and create homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income borrowers. Under Chrystal’s leadership, MassHousing launched a highly successful Down Payment Assistance program; secured over $80 million to expand its Workforce Housing initiative; and developed a nationally recognized program for homeownership production in communities of color.

Before joining MassHousing, Chrystal served as the Baker-Polito Administration’s Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development where she successfully advocated to increase state capital dollars for affordable housing by almost 18%; partnered to increase rental subsidies for low income families by 42%; and collaborated to dramatically reduce the number of homeless families in motels.

Prior to her work as Undersecretary, Chrystal was President and Chief Executive Officer at Urban Edge, one of New England’s largest community development corporations. She is credited with leading the organization’s financial transformation, resulting in a $3 million increase in the Agency’s net asset position.

Chrystal serves on the boards of the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), the National Housing Trust, the Bipartisan Policy Center Advisory Council, and is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Advisory Committee. Chrystal holds a Master’s Degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College.

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John Smith

Executive Director, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative

John Smith is the Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. Prior to that, he was the Director of Programs at TSNE MissionWorks. John brings…Read more
John Smith is the Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. Prior to that, he was the Director of Programs at TSNE MissionWorks. John brings extensive experience in the nonprofit, government, education, and advocacy fields to his role at DSNI. He served as the Policy Analyst in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development for the City of Boston, where he managed major economic development policy initiatives. Before his government experience, John also worked at the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston, the Hyams Foundation’s Youth Policy Initiative, the Tennessee Department of Health, and at several universities, managing service learning and other student-centered programs.

AJ Barkley

Head of Neighborhood and Community Lending, Bank of America

AJ Barkley is the head of Neighborhood and Community Lending for Bank of America, leading the bank’s work to ensure broad-based and equitable access to lending…Read more
AJ Barkley is the head of Neighborhood and Community Lending for Bank of America, leading the bank’s work to ensure broad-based and equitable access to lending and capital for individuals, families and small businesses across the economic spectrum.

A recognized leader in financial services, Barkley works with nonprofits, community advocacy groups, real estate professional organizations and industry leaders, advocating for housing stability, affordability, and generational wealth creation for under-represented groups.

Barkley is a long-time champion of affordable and sustainable homeownership and is responsible for the bank’s Community Homeownership Commitment, a $15 billion program to increase homeownership, particularly among first-time homeowners, underserved communities and multicultural borrowers. Barkley has been recognized as a HousingWire Woman of Influence for her work in this area.

Barkley joined the company in 1996 and has held leadership roles in Retail Sales, Merrill Lynch and served as the Area Executive for the Dallas/Fort Worth Market.

She is the co-executive sponsor of the bank’s Black Executive Leadership Council, supporting strategies that empower and improve career and leadership opportunities for Black professionals. Barkley also serves on the boards of Trinity Park Conservancy and Plano Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Division.

Barkley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Morgan State University and lives in Texas with her husband. She has five children and five grandchildren.

Sponsor

Putnam Investments
265 Franklin Street
Suite 1701
Boston, MA 02110
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