Back in June, we made a commitment to equity alongside a number of leaders and executives from regional companies, firms, and organizations of all sizes and across a broad spectrum of industries.

The Chamber is continuing our effort to advocate for inclusive growth and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially for Black and brown professionals in our regional business community and we invite you to join us in our efforts.

We’ve compiled a list of ways you can support DEI in your workplace to uplift and promote a new generation of diverse leaders, board members, entrepreneurs, and much more.

1. Identify a Black or brown young professional at your organization to apply for mentorship through our mentoring engagement program – or become a mentor yourself.

The Chamber’s Pay It Forward program pairs young professionals with executives from Chamber member companies. Identify a Black or brown young leader at your organization to apply to be a mentee and provide them with a way to develop not only their career, but the confidence and skills needed to succeed in a dynamic global workforce.

Alternatively, if you’d like to support a young leader’s professional and personal development and growth, we encourage diverse executives to complete our mentor interest form.

Applications for both mentees and mentors close on September 15, 2020.

2. Learn what it means to be a true ally in the workplace.

Register for our Workplace Allyship workshop and discover why advocating for Black and brown professionals requires active engagement and open dialogues in order to develop the understanding essential for inclusion. Regional leaders will elaborate on the steps required for impactful allyship, including how to create safe spaces for discussion, promote accountability at all levels of your organization, and more. Join us on September 23, 2020.

3. Sponsor a Black or brown creative professional through a leadership development program focused on technology and virtual engagement strategies for arts and nonprofit organizations.

The Arts + Business Council, a Council of the Chamber, has created Digital Drawingboard to provide leaders in the creative economy with the resources and skills needed to enhance their organization’s digital presence and reimagine their offerings for virtual engagement. Provide a scholarship to a diverse candidate and connect them with the opportunity to leverage technology and effectively adapt to the future of engaging audiences online.

Learn more before the October 2, 2020 deadline.

4. Connect a disability-, LGBTQA-, minority-, veteran-, or women-owned small business owner with an established C-suite executive to create mutually beneficial opportunities.

The CEO Access Network matches C-suite executives from Chamber member companies with small business owners from underrepresented populations—particularly disability-, LGBTQA-, minority-, veteran-, and women-owned enterprises—with the hope of establishing economic opportunities for the minority business and a lasting mutually beneficial relationship for both partners going forward.

We are currently accepting applications from minority-owned businesses through October 16, 2020. 

5. Urge a Black or brown young leader at your organization to join our council of young professionals.

With nearly 2,000 young leaders employed in diverse industries and environments throughout Greater Philadelphia, the Chamber’s Young Professionals Council is a valuable resource for young professionals in our region to make meaningful connections through consistent programming, leadership, and service opportunities.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round.