Chamber Connection
April 2022
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Our internal team recently spent three days in retreat together to set goals, hone our mission and programming, and design metrics to measure our success as a chamber. Since shifting to a virtual office model two years ago, it's been important to make time for our entire team to come together in person throughout the year. From my perspective, creating a focused space for this type of team thinking makes us better able to serve our members' and partners' needs.
After some hard work at the retreat, and with Pride quickly approaching, we have an exciting next several months filled with Chamber events and projects to share with you all.
Proudly forward,
Grace R. Moreno
Executive Director
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
PRIDE IN OUR WORKPLACE COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM
This Community Grant Program will utilize PIOW’s sponsorship dollars to provide direct financial support to underfunded nonprofits and grassroots organizations making or aspiring to make an impact on members of the LGBTQ+ community. QTBIPOC-led organizations or those with a mission of serving QTBIPOC communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
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EMPLOYMENT LAW 101 WEBINAR
Brandon Clippinger, founder of Clippinger Employment Law, will provide an overview of foundational employment law concepts to help businesses mitigate legal risk.
When is someone classified as an independent contractor vs. an employee? When should someone be paid a fixed salary vs. hourly pay and overtime? What is employment discrimination and what steps can you take to avoid allegations of unlawful conduct? Find out at this webinar!
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Time: 12–1 PM
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BREAKTIME INFO WEBINAR
Massachusetts nonprofit Breaktime breaks down barriers to job security, financial security, and — ultimately — housing security for their Associates through transitional employment and financial empowerment. Breaktime also catalyzes systemic change through awareness-building and policy advocacy on the local, state, and national level, breaking apart stigmas and breaking into systems that unjustly harm high-potential young people. Register for the webinar and learn more about this groundbreaking organization!
Date: Thursday, May 26, 2022
Time: 12–1 PM
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NEW PARTNERSHIPS
ADVOCATES
The Chamber is proud to announce that Advocates has joined us as a partner! Advocates will be participating in our crucial work to bring economic equity to the LGBTQ+ community, and we look forward to collaborating with them. |
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
KW HOME
Interior Design & Retail Showroom
KW Home, a Hunter Douglas Priority Dealer, offers an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary home furnishings and accessories. KW Home provides complete residential and commercial interior design services from their showroom/studio located in the Keystone Mill in Easthampton, Massachusetts.
KW Home serves Western Massachusetts and New England, and is one of the area’s only stores to showcase competitively-priced, quality home furnishings coupled with award-winning design services.
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ARTI PACHECO
Licensed Agent For New York Life Insurance Company
Arti Pacheco is a financial services professional offering a variety of products to meet your insurance and financial needs, including, but not limited to college funding, retirement, managing costs for extended periods of care, and lifetime income strategies.
“Helping clients understand their options and achieve their goals are what make my job so rewarding. Every client is unique, so together we can develop a personalized approach that meets today’s needs and tomorrow’s as well.”
Neither New York Life Insurance Company, nor its agents, provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or accounting professionals before making any decisions. Arti is licensed in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine.
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GOOD BOSTON LIVING
A Realtor You Love To Work With
Affiliated with Unlimited Sotheby’s International Realty, Melony Swasey founded the Good Boston Living team, regarded for providing intimate, insightful advising to discerning clients buying and selling homes in and around Boston. The team closed nearly $50 million in sales in 2021!
For Melony, the joy in real estate sales is forging genuine, trusting relationships. Since 2010, she’s worked closely with home buyers and sellers of all stages of life, guiding them to intelligent, winning decisions.
With a keen understanding of subtle market dynamics, Melony helps clients clearly define their needs in the context of the Boston area’s fast-moving markets. Always thinking ahead, she loves to champion a clever plan, and her highly competent team attends with thorough, thoughtful service.
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CONGRATS & KUDOS!
RHODE ISLAND SPIRITS
Rhodium Forager’s Gin by Rhode Island Spirits has won a San Francisco World Spirits Gold Medal! The award is their first gold (Forager’s won silver from American Distilling Institute and silver from American Craft Distilling Institute last year). RI Spirits is New England's only LGBTQ-owned spirits brand. Owners Kara and Cathy are married and run the business together. |
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ASG
ASG has been selected as one of the Boston Business Journal’s “Fast 50” Companies for 2022. Each year the BBJ selects 50 private companies that are among the fastest-growing in Massachusetts. The entire ASG team is especially proud of this honor because it reflects their dedication to their mission, community, and clients.
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DOW EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING
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Proud of your business? Let us know! Contact Nerissa J. Fry, Communications & Marketing. |
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NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS
Welcome to the small businesses that have joined us as members since our last newsletter!
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Employment Law 101
May 3 • 12–1 PM
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In this session, Chamber member Brandon Clippinger, founder of Clippinger Employment Law, will provide an overview of foundational employment law concepts to help businesses mitigate legal risk. There will be time at the end of the presentation for an audience Q&A. See you there! |
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Unlocking Business Opportunities with BPDA
May 19 • 9 AM–12 noon
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The BPDA plans and guides inclusive growth in Boston—creating opportunities for everyone to live, work and connect. Through their future-focused, city-wide lens, they engage communities, implement new solutions, partner for greater impact, and track progress.
This event introduces Boston-based businesses, architects, engineers, planners, IT professionals, property managers, and general contractors to opportunities with the BPDA and the BLDC, a lender that seeks to promote job creation in the city of Boston.
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Breaktime Info Session
May 26 • 12–1 PM
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Breaktime is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit working to break the cycle of young adult homelessness through transitional employment and financial empowerment. Breaktime also catalyzes systemic change through awareness-building and policy advocacy on the local, state, and national level. Learn more about this groundbreaking organization! |
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ALKU Scholarships
Apply before July 22, 2022
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The 8th annual $30,000 ALKU Scholarship is now open! In honor of Mass Mentoring Partnership’s 30th anniversary, we are thrilled to announce that this year ALKU will be awarding not one but TWO $30,000 scholarships! The recipients of this scholarship will be rising high school seniors who have been positively impacted by mentoring.
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Corporate Partners Now Hiring! |
Have you checked our Job Board lately? Our corporate partners are posting positions that could be perfect for you!
Positions by partner name:
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There are over 3 million LGBTQ+ parents raising school-age children in the U.S. Teach All Families is a website dedicated to helping parents make schools more inclusive of families with LGBTQ+ parents and other diverse families, including adoptive families. Dr. Abbie Goldberg developed this resource based on her 20+ years of research on the real life experiences of LGBTQ+ families across the country. The website offers practical guidance and helpful downloadable materials to parents, teachers, and school administrators.
Share this website with your network! Dr. Goldberg is available for Zoom consultations, discussions, and/or Q&As about this resource, for small or large groups. Contact her directly at agoldberg@clarku.edu or via the website. |
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