Chamber Connection
August 2022
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September is finally here! Our Chamber has been hard at work all summer getting through Pride month across the Commonwealth, our groundbreaking Business Empowerment Excelerator (BEE) program, and preparing for a fall filled with programming. These upcoming initiatives will help our small businesses grow, our corporate partners become even more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community, and continue to strengthen our community across Massachusetts.
As we head into fall, be on the lookout for more opportunities for trainings, grants, job fairs, and our first conference! Stay tuned for more information!
Proudly,
Grace R. Moreno
Executive Director
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FALL LGBTQ+ JOB FAIR
Do you want to join an LGBTQ-inclusive workplace? Come to our fall job fair!
The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce invites job seekers to attend our LGBTQ+ Job Fair at Suffolk University. Attendance is FREE and open to the public! Folks of all identities who are interested in pursuing inclusive workplaces are welcome at this event.
Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Time: 4–7 PM
Location: Suffolk University, 110 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
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Representatives from our partner companies will feature their open positions, discuss how their company supports and welcomes LGBTQ+ employees, and answer any questions you have!
Questions? Contact Jamie Berg, Social Media & Events Specialist.
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SAVE THE DATE: OUR CHAMBER'S FIRST CONFERENCE
Save the date for our Chamber's first-ever conference! The daylong event features a host of programming for both our corporate partners and small business members and concludes with a joyous tea dance to celebrate our community and the work of the Chamber.
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2022
Location: Encore Boston Harbor
Stay tuned for more details!
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
CULTURAL SECTOR RECOVERY GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS
Mass Cultural Council (MCC) has opened applications for unrestricted $5,000 grants to Massachusetts artists, creatives, and gig workers to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and set a path for growth. The agency expects to award a total of $15 million in FY2023.
To apply for this grant, applicants must be full-time Massachusetts residents, 18 or older, and 1) an artist or cultural practitioner in any artistic discipline or cultural tradition; 2) a teaching artist/scientist/humanist; and/or 3) a cultural worker in the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences. In all cases, the individual's work should be independent/self-employed. You may apply for this grant even if art is your side gig! We know there are many part-time artist souls within our membership. For more information and to apply for this opportunity, please visit MCC's website.
Questions? Contact Thais De Marco, Engagement & Membership Director.
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NEW PARTNERSHIPS
BETH ISRAEL LAHEY HEALTH & RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY CARE
Our Chamber is thrilled to welcome two new corporate partners, Beth Israel Lahey Health and Riverside Community Care.
We know that LGBTQ+ folk experience health care disparity, and we look forward to meaningful work with these two organizations, and other partners, to help reduce that inequality for our community.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
GAMUT PINS
On a Mission to Take Assumptions Out of Intros
Introducing yourself is hard enough as it is. Do you tell people your pronouns off the bat? Or do you wait for them to ask and risk having them guess? Assumptions are awkward. Here’s an elegant alternative.
Gamut Pins are high quality enamel pins that can be worn daily. They are designed to be an understated icebreaker that can be read at speaking distance and matched with any outfit.
Gamut Pins was founded in 2016 and donates 10% of profits from all sales to LGBTQ+ organizations.
Shop at gamutpins.com and find resources on the importance of using pronouns in the workplace.
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COLORFUL RESILIENCE
Mental Health For All
Colorful Resilience is a Queer-, Afro-Latina-owned outpatient mental health group practice in Western Massachusetts that provides services to immigrants and first generation, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ folks, both in person and virtually.
The BIPOC, LGBTQ+, first generation, and immigrant communities have been historically underserved due to a lack of clinical cultural competency and minimal representation in the behavioral health field. All members of the Colorful Resilience team are proud representatives of the communities they serve, combining lived experiences and education in the delivery of behavioral health services.
For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit colorfulresilience.com
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OXBOW DESIGN BUILD
Aesthetics, Resiliency, Community, and Sustainability
Oxbow Design Build is a full-service design and construction company in Western Massachusetts that offers design and consultation services, production of highly efficient structures, and environmentally sound renovations and restorations of existing buildings. Oxbow Design Build also designs and fabricates custom furniture, built-ins, cabinetry, and displays using a variety of mediums including hardwoods, plywoods, metal, tile, and glass.
Residential and commercial clients are welcome!
For more information visit oxbowdesignbuild.com or contact Office Manager Charity Zielony at charity@oxbowdesignbuild.com or (413) 527-9000.
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SPOTLESS NEW ENGLAND
Boston’s Eco-Friendly Home & Commercial Cleaning Service
Spotless New England is the premier service for all of your home and commercial cleaning needs. Their thorough, comprehensive, and cost-effective cleaning services allow you to spend your time doing the things you love rather than worrying about those daunting cleaning tasks.
No matter what your business specializes in, from restaurant to retail, Spotless New England can keep it — you guessed it — spotless! The company has multiple locations in the Boston area, Provincetown, South shore, and Worcester and looks forward to working with your business to customize a plan to fit your specific needs. Schedule a no-pressure consultation today!
For more information visit spotlessnewengland.com or contact Owner Nick Dennis directly at nick@spotlessnewengland.com or (617) 513-4095.
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Proud of your business? Let us know! Contact Nerissa J. Fry, Communications & Marketing. | | |
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LGBTQ+ Job Fair
October 12 • 4–7 PM
Suffolk University
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Join us at our Fall 2022 Job Fair where attendance is FREE and open to the public! Folks of all identities who are interested in pursuing inclusive workplaces are welcome at this event.
Representatives from our partner companies will feature their open positions, discuss how their company supports and welcomes LGBTQ+ employees, and answer any questions you have!
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Queer AF: Art+Fashion
September 9 • 8:30 PM
The Palladium
| Presented by Health Care Advocates International (HCAI), this night is centered around queer joy and represents beauty in all forms. The queer community, people questioning their identity, and allies can come together to enjoy a fashion show featuring a diverse group of models and designers and performances including music, drag, and dance. It’s all in support of LGBTQ+ youth, and proceeds will support Love Your Labels programming. | | | |
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Six Flags PrideFest
September 18 • Noon–4 PM
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Register now to be a vendor at the 4th Annual PrideFest at Six Flags New England! (Vendor fee increases after August 1!)
Six Flags has hundreds of visitors each day, so this is a good opportunity for visibility and fun. Let us know if you sign up so we can find your table and say hello!
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Fenway Health is hosting a weekly webinar series called The People's Sex Ed (TPSE), which explores a variety of topics relevant to folks in our communities.
Fenway Health is offering a range of topics aimed at folks from many different backgrounds, knowing that comprehensive health education is a vital community tool. TPSE webinars are engaging, medically accurate, and participants will also learn how to engage their legislators on these issues.
Next up is Overlapping Identities: Autism and LGBTQ+ on August 2!
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