HAMPTON ROADS ALLIANCE HAMPTON ROADS ALLIANCE
2021 MID-YEAR REP RT ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND GROWTH FOR ALL The Hampton Roads business community created the 757 Recovery & Resilience Action Framework to reactivate the economy and build future economic and community resilience. This coalition, led by the Hampton Roads Alliance, also includes the Hampton Roads Chamber, Virginia Peninsula Chamber, Reinvent Hampton Roads, Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Greater Peninsula Workforce Board, Old Dominion University’s Strome College of Business, Norfolk State University, and the CIVIC Leadership Institute. This Framework is not a plan, but rather an action playbook created by and for the 757’s business community and approximately 5,500 business leaders. The Framework seeks to advance five strategic imperatives: 1) Build Regional Unity
2) Grow New Jobs
3) Grow, Retain, & Attract Talent
4) Build Resiliency
5) Advance Regional Infrastructure
On March 11, the coalition hosted a media briefing to present the 757 Recovery and Resilience Action Framework. This public relations effort resulted in a variety of media articles and editorials in support of this game-changing initiative that is buoyed by tremendous regional cooperation. A microsite, 757framework.com, was built to serve as a digital home for the Action Framework. The site provides an interactive look at the facets of the framework and will feature a dashboard to monitor regional economic indicators and showcase key performance indicators for each of the 30 programs. In addition, a supplier resource platform geared toward minorityowned companies is under development in conjunction with Norfolk State University, Hampton University, and the Urban League of Hampton Roads. The dashboard and minority supplier platform will both launch in October 2021.
THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
Building on the Envision 2020 Regional Branding Initiative, the next generation of leaders have continued the efforts to build pride in the region under the 757 branding. In December 2020, 757 Proud, a non-profit 501(c)(3) launched. It is the first, successful coalition of young professional organizations of Hampton Roads collectively representing more than 2,000 (40 and under) 757 leaders. Together, their energy, consistent communication, and collective voice has ignited the pride-building campaign and other program components of the 757 Framework. As part of the Framework, the Alliance provided seed funding to 757 Proud and serves as the primary convener for the program. 757 Proud’s Board of Directors includes 11 diverse, young professionals who live across the region and five Ex-Officio Directors who lead the five largest local young professional networks to include the Hampton Roads Chamber’s group tHRive and ASPIRE in Williamsburg. In May, 757 Proud launched the 757 Did You Know? Campaign which featured an online, interactive Fact or Myth game where users test how much they know about 757’s incredible history, sports, local famous celebrities, and other fun facts. Monthly winners receive cash or prizes from local merchants. Metrics are tracked on a monthly basis confirming how many games have been played and the number of questions answered correctly or incorrectly. These metrics are used to gauges how many people are gaining knowledge and understanding about everything the region has to offer. 757 Proud has many more initiatives in the works and plans to make presentations across the region about their efforts and how they plan to take the 757 to the next level.
PROUD