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          BIMA: Diversifying Your Media Spend 

          In this panel discussion, digital media experts will dive into how brands can position themselves for success with a diversified strategy.

          06/06/2023

          5:30pm - 7:30pm

          Digitas

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          City Awake
          City Awake: 2023 Words of Wisdom ft. Corey Thomas

          Join us as we hear from Corey Thomas, Chairman & CEO of Rapid7, and Andrew Farrington, an advisory board member City Awake.

          06/22/2023

          5:00pm - 7:00pm

          Rapid7

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          F.U.N. Lives On
          F.U.N. Lives On: Live Like A Local Tours Boston

          Join us to celebrate the history, culture, food, and local businesses of Nubian Square, the heart of Black culture in Boston.

          06/28/2023

          3:45pm - 6:00pm

          Tropical Foods - Roxbury

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          Designed for mid-level managers and supervisors, this new certificate program addresses workplace well-being through unique, innovative, and actionable methods.

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          Expand your DEI professional development with a virtual workshop focused specifically on LGBTQIA+ identities and inclusion.

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          Economic Inclusion
          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

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          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).

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          Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          2023 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          09/12/2023 -

          09/15/2023

          Greater Boston

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          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 more than 25 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
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          BIMA
          BIMA: Diversifying Your Media Spend 

          In this panel discussion, digital media experts will dive into how brands can position themselves for success with a diversified strategy.

          06/06/2023

          5:30pm - 7:30pm

          Digitas

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          City Awake
          City Awake: 2023 Words of Wisdom ft. Corey Thomas

          Join us as we hear from Corey Thomas, Chairman & CEO of Rapid7, and Andrew Farrington, an advisory board member City Awake.

          06/22/2023

          5:00pm - 7:00pm

          Rapid7

          arrow-go
          Read More
        • ...
          F.U.N. Lives On
          F.U.N. Lives On: Live Like A Local Tours Boston

          Join us to celebrate the history, culture, food, and local businesses of Nubian Square, the heart of Black culture in Boston.

          06/28/2023

          3:45pm - 6:00pm

          Tropical Foods - Roxbury

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

          • Overview
          • Call for Nominations
          • Resources
        • EQ to Elevate Workplace Well-being

          Designed for mid-level managers and supervisors, this new certificate program addresses workplace well-being through unique, innovative, and actionable methods.

          Read More
          Transformational DEI Certificate

          Join our Transformational DEI Certificate! Our comprehensive learning & development offerings are designed to connect and grow strong leaders who lead both inside and out of the office.

          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
          How to Be an LGBTQIA+ Ally in the Workplace

          Expand your DEI professional development with a virtual workshop focused specifically on LGBTQIA+ identities and inclusion.

          Read More
  • Economic Inclusion
        • Economic Inclusion

          • Overview
          • Economic Inclusion Committee
          • Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          • Pacesetters
          • Resources
        • ...
          Economic Inclusion
          Economic Inclusion

          Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.

          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
        • ...
          Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
          2023 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival

          The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.

          09/12/2023 -

          09/15/2023

          Greater Boston

          arrow-go
          Read More
  • Policy & Impact
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          • Overview
          • Leadership Councils
          • Amicus Advisory Board
        • GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

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

          • Overview
        • OUR NETWORKS

          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 more than 25 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
          Small Business

          We support small business through public policy initiatives, events designed to connect small businesses in Greater Boston to their peers and established business leaders, professional development offerings, and free small business advising.

          Read More
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Chamber Announces Pacesetters Triple Spend with Local Businesses of Color

Press Release

Media Contact: Casey Baines [email protected]

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Pacesetters initiative, a collective effort to use equitable procurement practices to close the racial wealth gap, is pleased to announce that Pacesetters increased their spend with local businesses of color by $99.4 million, a 222% increase year over year, and increased spend with statewide businesses of color by $23 million. Answering the call to action at the beginning of the most recent racial reckoning, Pacesetters utilized equitable best practices to achieve heightened levels of spend, especially at the local level where spend with businesses of color tripled.

“The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is proud of the Pacesetters’ meaningful investments during 2021, most notably increasing spend by almost $100 million with local businesses of color. This is the type of commitment – and action – that moves the needle to close the region’s racial wealth gap. The Massachusetts business community is leading the way into the future of commerce with transformative, collaborative, and inclusive partnerships, and the Chamber urges the entire business community to join us in prioritizing equity,” said James E. Rooney, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

In 2021, 10% of Pacesetters local spend went to businesses of color, 5.2% of their state spend went to businesses of color, and 8.1% of national spend went to businesses of color. This substantial increase in spend marks a significant milestone as the Pacesetters move closer to achieving their goal:

10% statewide spend with businesses of color.

Read the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Pacesetters 2021 Data Collection Report.

The Pacesetters initiative, a cornerstone of the Chamber’s Economic Inclusion portfolio, is leading commerce forward – creating and establishing an inclusive, diverse economy that champions businesses of color. Together, Pacesetters are leading the business community forward with best practices that elevate greater economic opportunity for Black and Brown communities.

About the Chamber’s Pacesetters Initiative

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce founded the Pacesetters initiative in 2018 and expanded statewide in 2020. Pacesetters are large and mid-sized companies and anchor institutions that use equitable procurement practices to close the racial wealth gap by intentionally increasing spend with businesses of color. Learn more about Pacesetters at the website.

About the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

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 learning and development programs designed to grow strong business and civic leaders. Learn more at BostonChamber.com.

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