Chamber Connection
January 2023
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Hello 2023! And goodbye January! It's hard to believe we're one month down already, but it goes to show how busy we've all been across our community and how fast we have gotten to work implementing our 2023 goals.
This is going to be an exciting milestone year — our fifth in operation — and I'm thrilled to share some highlights of what's ahead for the Chamber:
Our Chamber began with 44 founding small business members who invested $1,200 each to help us get off the ground. Their financial leap of faith was a testament to their confidence in what we could achieve together.
Since then, our small businesses have thrived! Some highlights include:
The best news is that we have grown to 415 small business members across the Commonwealth. Our goal is to close this year with a membership of 600! Help us reach this benchmark by referring businesses you know that are LGBTQ+ owned and could benefit from our Chamber.
At our launch five years ago, we also had corporate support from 32 founding partners. These Massachusetts-based companies believed in our vision and mission, and gave us $25,000 each to build our team and to help them, in turn, become outstanding LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces. The first two of our founding corporations were Eastern Bank and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare (who has since merged with Tufts Healthcare to become Point32Health). Both Eastern Bank and Point32Health remain fervent supporters of our work, and both are represented on our Board of Directors, dedicating even more time to our cause. Today we have 52 corporate partners continuing to fund us at various levels so that we can continue to serve our community.
In 2023, we will serve our members — one by one — as we always have, in whatever ways they need to be served. Our BEE program has opened back up and we are taking applications for participants; see video of our last year’s cohort here. Our newly-launched Research and Education department will do individualized training with our corporate partners and conduct groundbreaking research on issues that directly affect our community. We will also be holding our first PowerGrid Conference and Tea Dance this spring (stay tuned for details) — and so much more!
Thank you for being part of this amazing journey! Let’s make 2023 the best year yet!
Proudly,
Grace R. Moreno
Executive Director
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LGBTQ+ JOB FAIR AT FIRST EVENT
Thank you for joining us at the LGBTQ+ Job Fair in conjunction with Trans Community of New England's annual conference First Event! We are thrilled to have had 37 employers who participated, and over 450 job seekers who attended.
The First Event Conference was a tremendous success! The Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce is honored to partner with Trans Community of New England and to have been a part of this incredible event.
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
NGLCC COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANT PROGRAM
Applications are now open for local businesses to receive grants as part of the NGLCC Community Impact Grant Program, in partnership with the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Grubhub Community Fund.
To be eligible for the Community Impact Grant, applicants must:
- Be an LGBTQ+-owned or LGBTQ+ ally-owned restaurant, bar, or café that serves food.
- Provide proof that you are an LGBTQ+-owned or allied establishment.
Grants are expected to range from $10,000 to $25,000. This round of applications closes on February 14, 2023.
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Begin your application by contacting Thaís De Marco, Engagement & Membership Director. | |
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OUR GROWING CHAMBER
Please join us in welcoming Nidhi Yadalam and Clare Thomsen, interns for our Research and Education Department under the direction of Dr. Jo Trigilio.
Nidhi (she/her) is a political science senior and accelerated master's student in international relations at UMass Boston. At the Chamber, she is working on research projects related to LGBTQ workplace discrimination, LGBTQ brand loyalty, LGBTQ economic welfare, and LGBTQ ERGs.
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Clare (she/her) is a first-year graduate student at the Heller School at Brandeis University, earning a Master of Public Policy focused on women, gender, and sexuality. She is working on Chamber initiatives relevant to corporate allyship, LGBTQ workplace discrimination, and socially responsible corporate donations. | |
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NEW PARTNERSHIPS
SANTANDER
Announcing our latest corporate partner — Santander! We are thrilled to develop this partnership and work together towards LGBTQ+ economic equality. Thank you for supporting our mission!
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
CLIPPINGER EMPLOYMENT LAW
Navigating Legal Issues in the Workplace
Clippinger Employment Law is dedicated to helping Massachusetts businesses and employees navigate legal issues in the workplace. When working with companies, Attorney Brandon Clippinger acts as a business partner with a legal perspective, offering creative and goal-oriented solutions.
Areas of expertise include:
- MCAD position statements and representation
- Sexual harassment and non-discrimination training
- Review of employee handbooks
- FMLA and ADA compliance
- Employment termination
- Separation and non-competition agreements
- Wage and hour law
- Internal investigations
- Hostile work environment
- Retaliation
Visit clippingeremploymentlaw.com or call Brandon at (781) 636-5251 to learn more.
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FRENCH PRESS BAKERY & CAFE
Small Batches Made from Scratch
French Press is an independent coffee shop, bakery, and all-day eatery serving high-quality products made in-house. In addition to their diverse food menu, French Press offers craft beer, unique wine selections, catering, and wholesale products.
Launched in Needham, MA in 2015, French Press embodies the essence of NYC, London, and Parisian cafes, embracing the laissez-faire culture and tradition of taking time within your day to relax, reflect, and socialize with beverages and food.
French Press attributes their success to premium products and exceptional customer service — enjoy this sophisticated space in person or order online at frenchpressbakery.com!
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FOREVER FREE ALPACA FARM
Once You Go Alpaca You Will Never Go Back(a)
Owned and operated by Jared and Jeff Rindler-Jordan, Forever Free Alpaca Farm raises and humanely shears alpacas for their luxurious fiber. Warmer than wool, Jared and Jeff's alpaca fiber is turned into the softest hats, scarves, gloves, socks, teddy bears, and sole inserts. These items are available in multiple sizes, styles, and colors — both natural and vibrant hues — and can be purchased online. Alpaca fiber is also hypoallergenic!
Visit foreverfreealpaca.com to learn more about the farm and upcoming events. Forever Free Alpaca Farm is open to the public several times a year — meet the alpacas and shop the store in person!
Certified LGBTBE®
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CONGRATS & KUDOS!
BOSTON CHOPS
Thirty-three months after its pandemic closure, Boston Chops Downtown is open once again! New Culinary Director Corey Carter is using his Boston roots and wealth of culinary skills (most recently as executive chef at Mastro’s Boston) to create fresh menu items that complement Boston Chops’ tried-and-true steakhouse classics.
Our Chamber is thrilled to see small businesses resurrecting after the challenges of the past few years. We were lucky enough to hold our December Holiday Party and Pitch Competition at Boston Chops Downtown and can attest to the deliciousness of the menu!
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Proud of your business? Let us know! Contact Nerissa J. Fry, Communications & Marketing. | | |
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UMass Amherst Scholarship
Apply before December 9, 2022
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The UMass Amherst Offshore Wind Professional Certificate program is pleased to announce that the scholarship period for Spring 2023 is now open. Their Career Access Scholarship is designed to empower students from diverse backgrounds — typically underrepresented in energy — to successfully prepare for and join the offshore wind workforce to contribute professionally to mitigating climate change.
The Offshore Wind Professional Certificate consists of three graduate-level online courses culminating in a Graduate Certificate from UMass Amherst. Several Career Access Scholarships will be awarded to eligible applicants and cover the full cost of tuition for the certificate. The application period is now open and will close December 9, 2022.
Please see here for eligibility details.
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Stalled or Stellar: Helping Managers Navigate DEI Initiatives
February 1 • 6–7:30 PM
Suffolk University
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Suffolk's Managing from the Middle Series kicks off with this free event!
Grace Moreno takes her place among an expert panel exploring the challenges that managers face as they attempt to implement their organization’s JEDI goals. How do managers navigate DEI expectations? How can they intentionally and authentically implement these initiatives?
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