Step onto the Red Carpet at our BIMA Holiday Gala. Gather your digital media and marketing peers for a night of networking and entertainment.
12/05/2024
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Boston Marriott Copley Place
Join us to explore how AI is driving innovation, and how the business community can harness AI tools for growth and transformation.
12/10/2024
10:00am - 11:00am
Virtual
Attendees will gain insights from Susan Loconto Penta and Caitlin Dodge as they share their vision for the next 30 years of Women's Network
12/17/2024
9:45am - 11:30am
The Langham, Boston
Go deeper than basic DEI training to achieve higher productivity, satisfaction, and revenue growth with our new corporate workshop.
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.
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.
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).
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.
09/14/2024 -
09/17/2024
Suffolk University - Sargent Hall
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 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.
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.
Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.
Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.
Our City Convened, Connected, and Celebrated!
The 2022 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival took place in September and spanned over four impactful days full of engaging events and meaningful connections. In its 5th year, the festival expanded its reach and lasting impact with dozens of events, 28 company hosts, over 2,000 attendees, and 1.4 million people engaged on social media.
Thank you to all who joined City Awake and the Boston Chamber as we gathered diverse, young professionals and created a space for connections that will ignite positive change. For those who may have missed it, read on for highlights from each day’s events.
The festival’s Opening Ceremony featured Brandon P. Fleming, a nationally acclaimed educator, award-winning author, former debate coach at Harvard University, and Founder & CEO of The Veritas School. Fleming spoke to attendees on the importance of changing the narrative through transformative programs that amplify access and equity to minoritized individuals. As an at-risk youth and college dropout turned award-winning educator, Fleming’s story of struggle, success, and service encouraged empathy and created inspiration, emphasizing that “our successes or failures mean nothing unless we make use of them to make someone else’s life better.”
Day one continued with other memorable events like Procter & Gamble’s metaverse experience that explored racial bias, discrimination, and misrepresentation of people of color in America. Attendees also learned networking tips with Columbia Threadneedle Investments; tips for finding and maintaining a mentor relationship with The Capital Network; how to leverage credit with Chase Bank; and much more.
On Day two, attendees had the opportunity to explore and learn about Chinatown’s legacy during a tour, hosted by the Asian Community Development Corporation. The ACDC showcased Chinatown’s public art projects and spoke on the neighborhood’s advocacy and long-term goals. Chinatown and its residents have a history of grit, determination, resilience, and pride. While the tour reminded attendees of the neighborhood’s cultural significance, the ACDC also emphasized the struggles that they wish to ameliorate through affordable housing, advocacy and policy, and community engagement. Some important facts that were shared are:
Other events that took place throughout the day included “Creating Your Personal Brand: From Core Values to Cover Letter,” hosted by Emerson College, which gave attendees great tips on the best ways to present themselves professionally. “Building Community Wealth and Ownership Through the Solidarity Economy,” hosted by Boston Impact Initiative, explored the correlation between community, autonomy, and success. “The Switch Up: Transforming Obstacles into Opportunity,” hosted by Big Sister Boston, held a panel discussion that gave insight into women of color’s unique journeys in corporate America.
View more of day two’s events and highlights!
Day three of the festival began with a powerful conversation on health inequity and how to combat it, led by the Boston Medical Center. The theme of addressing inequity continued with the Boston Chamber’s very own virtual “The Racial Wealth Gap: Housing and Wealth Building” event. During this panel discussion, housing and financial experts explored the varying obstacles that Boston’s BIPOC residents face when it comes to purchasing and maintaining homes. Panelist AJ Barkley, Head of Neighborhood and Community Lending at Bank of America shared: “Home ownership is about shelter. Home ownership is about more than building generational wealth, it is really about health, shelter, and family.” He also emphasized the importance of having financial wellness and exploring solutions available at financial institutions that can assist with saving money.
Other highlights of day three included a behind-the-scenes tour of the State House and an interactive and informative session with Leadership Brainery for those interested in pursuing grad school.
View more of day three’s events and highlights!
Day four closed out the 5th annual Fierce Urgency of Now Festival and included many celebratory events such as “Soulful Bliss: Arts and Music Festival,” hosted by Boston Harbor Now and AfroDesiaCity; “One Day Only Fest,” hosted by KickBack Boston and “Fit Fete,” hosted by Soca Fusion. “Fit Fete” by Soca Fusion was a workout class powered by Caribbean music and culture. The merger of music and culture gave attendees a fun way to pause intentionally for joy and prioritize their overall well-being. The events that took place on day four perfectly encapsulated the overall goal of the festival: more community, more culture, and more impact.
F.U.N. Lives On continues the mission of the Fierce Urgency of Now Festival throughout the year, with a series of events focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion for Boston’s young professionals. The events are held in various locations throughout the city and are curated by different cultural institutions. Participants include artists, performers, activists, and scholars who present their work from a broad range of disciplines. Be the first to register for the upcoming event, “F.U.N. Lives On Bingo: Adulting & Networking” happening on November 7 !
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