January 17, 2022

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a child of the 60s who grew up on civil rights marches in Milwaukee, I am moved by how much has been accomplished in the years since Dr. King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

We can't celebrate our triumphs without taking a look at the work that still needs to be done. Our amazing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee, led by Dr. Joshua Lederman of Lederman Chiropractic & Sports Medicine, developed "Diversity Matters: A New Mindset for Today's Leaders." If you missed Part I, read below on how to access the video. And you won't want to miss Parts II and III which will give our Wheaton Chamber members some hands-on training to craft your own diversity statement. We owe a debt of gratitude to Innovation DuPage for their sponsorship of this series.

On this day when we ponder the power of speech and the impact of a vision, may I ask, what is yours? What's your vision for 2022? Send me your answers and we'll feature them here in Monday Matters.

To your health and success~

We are delighted that new members continue to join the Wheaton Chamber. Please help us welcome:

Our plans for the year included in-person luncheons, but the recent spike in COVID precipitated some changes, and not just for the Chamber. Like many of your organizations, we are going back to virtual luncheons, just for now, with the pledge to evaluate monthly going forward.

Mayor Suess has graciously agreed to be part of a virtual "Town Hall" which also will feature City Manager Mike Dzugan and some of the city's leadership team. You can register now for this virtual event which will be held from 11:30 am. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 20. We'll network from 11:30 to noon, then begin our Town Hall promptly at 12:00 p.m. The traditional "State of the City" address will be rescheduled.

Please feel free to send your questions in advance to president@wheatonchamber.com. Participants on the luncheon call will also be able to talk with our city leaders directly. While we can't get together in person right now, we're delighted we still can connect virtually.

Thanks again to Mayor Suess, Mr. Dzugan and city leadership for their willingness to be our guests for the luncheon (with a raincheck on that "lunch" part). We'll also have plenty of time for some informal networking for those who would like to connect between 11:30 a.m. and noon. Bring your favorite sandwich or salad and mid-day beverage and we'll see you then.

In case you missed Part I of our three-part series, "Diversity Matters: A New Mindset for Today's Leaders," a video is now available. This series is being co-sponsored by Innovation DuPage and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce.

Part I was held on January 12, you may view the video recording of "Wheaton & DuPage County: Today, 2030 and Beyond," which featured David Roth of the DuPage Federation, Jacob Kniep of OUTSpoken Leaders, Kate Beck of Abilitylinks and Carlos Johnson from DONKA, Inc. Shefali Trivedi from Giving DuPage moderated.

We thank each of these participants for their insights and the 60+ people who attended. Your questions generated new ideas for the DEI Committee's future agenda.

Registration is now open for Parts II and III of the series. Join us for:

This "Diversity Matters" series is free to our members thanks to the generous sponsorship of Innovation DuPage.

We love to #BragandTag about our members, so please send promotions, press releases, member-to-member deals and "Hot Deals." We'll share here in Monday Matters, on our website and on our social media platforms. Please follow us on social media so we can follow you right back.

Wintrust is the premier bank sponsor of the 2022 Chicago Auto Show, and they are offering a Grand Prize Package sweepstakes with prizes that include VIP access to the Wintrust Supercar Gallery and an overnight hotel stay.the website states.

You can enter the sweepstakes here--and good luck! Special thanks to our premiere sponsor, Wheaton Bank & Trust.

The Wheaton Public Library is featuring the work of Wheaton Chamber member Miguel Morna Freitas of Morna Freitas Photography as a featured artist at the library's Arts and Culture Center.

Fine arts portraits from the newly released series "Skin Tones" will be on display at the library from January 14 through January 31. Here's additional information about the exhibit from Arts DuPage. Miguel's work will be up at the library through January 31.

CycleBar of Wheaton is giving healthcare workers the gift of $50 off each month as a way of showing their appreciation for these everyday heroes. Click below for more details about this Chamber Hot Deal. If you have a "hot deal," let us know and post in your Chamber member profile. If you need help getting into your member account, please contact Doris Barrera.

Salon J, one of our newest members, is offering a "New Hair, New You" promotion for our Chamber members. Start off the New Year with a fresh new style--click here for details.

B.R. Ryall YMCA invites you to start off the New Year with some fitness, offering free access to their Y360 library of virtual classes. Learn more here.

Here are some current job postings from our Wheaton Chamber members:

Send us news about your company's open positions--we'll be happy to post them here and promote on social media.