How the Chamber’s Fierce Urgency of Now Festival Works Towards a Better Boston
October 9, 2024 Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
On September 17th, Suffolk University was filled with excitement as the 7th Annual Fierce Urgency of Now Festival, organized by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s City Awake network, welcomed young professionals from across the region. This highly anticipated festival offered a unique opportunity for young professionals to unlock invaluable tools, resources, and connections, and empowered them to shape Boston’s future.
With a lineup of insightful speakers, ample networking opportunities, and thirteen sessions exploring diverse perspectives on building connections, fostering empowerment, promoting professional growth, and raising awareness of critical social issues, attendees left this year’s festival equipped with actionable strategies to enhance both individual and community well-being.
In case you missed it, here are a few key takeaways. Together, let’s build a better Boston.
Addressing Barriers to Retaining Boston’s Young Talent
The festival kicked off with our Opening Ceremony led by key leaders: Jim Rooney, President & CEO of the Chamber; Lauren Jones, Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development; and Nikko Mendoza, Undersecretary for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
Their discussion underscored the urgent housing crisis, marked by vacancy rates below 2%, and the need for comprehensive workforce development. Undersecretary Mendoza emphasized the ongoing housing challenge affecting residents across Massachusetts, noting that rising costs and limited availability are key barriers for young professionals.
Additionally, Secretary Jones introduced the new Workforce Skills Fund, designed to reduce barriers to employment by financially supporting job-training participants. She also addressed broader structural challenges, such as affordable caregiving and reliable transportation, which are critical for workforce stability.
Rooney highlighted a key finding from City Awake’s Young Residents Survey: that 1 in 4 young adults between 20 and 30 plan to leave Greater Boston within five years. To gauge attendees’ sentiments, he invited them to raise their hands if they were planning to stay or considering leaving. The rise of hands reflected similar percentages to the survey results.
This opening dialogue set the tone for the Fierce Urgency of Now Festival, underscoring the importance of addressing issues that impact our quality of life, and ensuring proactive, unified efforts to make Greater Boston the best place for all people and all businesses to thrive.
Prioritizing Personal and Community Wellness
In an inspiring session titled “Connecting Wellness to Community,” Nika L. Hollingsworth, Founder & COO of Nilanjo!, emphasized that wellness extends beyond just physical health; it encompasses various interconnected factors. Attendees explored eight dimensions of holistic wellness, crucial for both physical and mental health:
- Physical: Focus on sleep, nutrition, and disease prevention.
- Emotional: Address mental health, stress management, and emotional intelligence.
- Spiritual: Seek purpose beyond oneself, including connections to nature or meditation.
- Occupational: Evaluate career fulfillment and maintain work-life balance.
- Intellectual: Engage in lifelong learning and mentorship.
- Environmental: Ensure quality living and working conditions.
- Financial: Achieve security through effective budgeting and planning.
- Social: Build communities based on shared interests, fostering a sense of belonging.
This session highlighted the essential role of community in promoting wellness and how access to resources and support fosters empowerment, healthy relationships, and sustainable habits. There’s always room for improvement and being open to new conversations and connections can lead to meaningful, positive change.
Inspiring Growth & Professional Development
As one of several sessions focused on growth and professional development, “The Networking Advantage: Elevating Your Personal Brand and Career Through Inclusive Strategies” was led by Colette Phillips, President & CEO of Colette Phillips Communications and Founder of Get Konnected, Boston’s premier cross-cultural business network organization. Recognized for the fifth consecutive year in Boston Magazine’s 2024 Best of Boston, Phillips is celebrated as “Boston’s Great Connector.”
Her session delved into the transformative impact of in-person networking and strategic cross-cultural connections, giving attendees an in-depth look at how inclusive networking practices can amplify their personal brands and propel their careers or businesses forward.
Participants discovered they are the CEOs of their own lives, starting with understanding their personal brand. The session outlined a step-by-step approach:
- Know Your Brand: Self-perception is crucial for defining your brand.
- Brand Statement: Develop a personal tagline and a brand toolkit that includes your brand statement, resume, network, and online profiles.
- Positive Work Ethic: Demonstrate a strong work ethic—make tough tasks appear easy and avoid mistreating others on your way up. Balance work with self-care and be prepared to sacrifice time with friends and family.
- Under-promise and Overdeliver: Set realistic expectations and then exceed them to build credibility.
- Career Strategy: Emphasize planning, both short- and long-term. Prepare for future opportunities while excelling in your current role and remain open to unexpected paths that may lead to growth.
- Networking: Build strong relationships through networking, leveraging both social and professional connections. Remember, “your network is your net worth” and endorsements from your contacts can be powerful. Having a diverse network can enhance understanding of various cultural sensibilities, enriching your professional interactions.
As young professionals become more empowered in their careers, they’re more likely to stay in the city and invest in its future. This creates a stronger community, drives innovation, and enriches Greater Boston’s cultural scene, ultimately paving the way for a city where diverse voices and ideas can thrive.
Strengthening and Expanding Your Community
Throughout the day, a variety of community-building events emphasized the importance of collaboration and connection. One standout session, “Building Community,” brought together community leaders, designers, and infrastructure experts from organizations like Arup, CoEverything, and the Sasaki Foundation, to discuss how our environments shape our communities. Participants networked while gaining insights into available design programs.
Another empowering session, led by Boston Young Black Professionals, focused on fostering a sense of belonging among young professionals in Boston. Attendees connected, shared experiences, and built meaningful relationships in an inclusive and supportive environment. This gathering offered a unique opportunity for participants to celebrate unity and find camaraderie with those on similar journeys.
By convening diverse voices and experiences, the festival fostered mutual learning and valuable exchanges, with 98% of attendees confirming they made at least one new connection and 62% indicating they made three or more. This strengthened individual growth and attendees’ connections within the Boston community, as 84% of participants noted that attending the festival improved their ability to build community relationships. Together, these outcomes demonstrate the power of collaboration to create a more connected and thriving city for all.
Moving Forward Together for a Better Boston
The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival was more than just a one-day event; it was a call to action for young professionals to engage, connect, and advocate for a better Boston. The focus on empowerment, community, and cultural richness resonated deeply, laying the groundwork for future initiatives that will shape the city’s landscape and enhance the quality of life for all its residents.
We’re excited to see how these connections evolve in the coming months and can’t wait for next year’s festival!
You May Also Be Interested In
F.U.N. Lives On
F.U.N. Lives On: The Art & Cultural Landscape of Greater Boston
Nov 07, 20245:30pm – 7:30pmBoston Ballet
Join us to learn more about the art landscape in Greater Boston and how it is fueling the creative economy.
Economic Inclusion
Economic Inclusion
Our Economic Inclusion Committee provides strategic support around research, policies, and programs that are focused on building equal opportunity.
Thought Leadership
What Young Adults Really Think About Quality of Life in Greater Boston
In this blog, the Chamber explores key findings of the survey conducted by City Awake, the young professionals network of the Chamber Foundation.