COMMITTED TO A JOURNEY TOWARD A DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): It’s a journey we’ve been on for quite some time now at the Boulder Chamber. While we have always been aware of the demographics of Boulder County and the Boulder Chamber’s own challenges to diversify membership, staff, and leadership, we began a more explicit journey of internal exploration in the mid 2010s. Like many organizations, we were spurred by the #BlackLivesMatter movement and murder of George Floyd to accelerate our efforts and evaluate our role in advancing DEI.

Many Black and brown residents in Boulder have spoken up about their experiences and an atmosphere that makes it difficult to feel welcome, including incidents of clear racial bias, microaggressions, and a lack of services that meet the needs of BIPOC residents.

Historically, many policies and practices have existed since our community’s establishment, and the Boulder Chamber’s founding as an institution, that have created and perpetuated systemic inequality. The pandemic, racial reckoning, and fragile economic recovery — all of which disproportionately impacted vulnerable community members and people of color — further exacerbated these inequalities.

“Our businesses understand the urgent need for greater diversity in their workforce,” says John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber. “If we do not evolve into a place that is welcoming and inclusive of the full diversity of our residents, we will not succeed as businesses or as a community.” We need the talent, creativity, and innovation that each resident can offer.

The vision of a community where everyone is respected and supported is an economic imperative. As a hub for our local businesses, we saw our opportunity at the Boulder Chamber to be stewards of change in addressing systemic issues.

Looking Inward at the Boulder Chamber

“The foundation of our work was making sure that our own house was in order and responsible — making sure we were supporting all voices to be heard — before sharing our values with a wider audience,” shares John. A natural beginning was assessing the inclusivity of our hiring practices and the diversity of the leadership we elevate. “As a staff and Board, we committed to learning and practicing together,” says Carly Hare, Equity Amplification Advisor at the Boulder Chamber. “This included training, shifting policies, establishing a DE&I Board Committee, and diversifying our Board of Directors.”

Additionally, our Board approved a new Community Agreements Policy last October, and staff are currently building the procedures and processes for implementation. It will challenge members, event attendees, speakers, and our team to live our values so that every individual feels welcome and safe at Boulder Chamber events and programs. We look forward to sharing it with you!

Learning from the Experts

Exploring our relationships and partnerships with the Latino Chamber of Commerce, NAACP Boulder County, and LGBTQ Chamber has significantly enriched our programming. Alongside our partners, we’re in the early design stages of a regional conference about best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion. “We’re envisioning an event that hosts a space for human resources leaders and local business owners to shift from a compliance-based relationship to one that champions inclusive organizational cultures,” says Carly. We’ll bring in experts in the space to help lift our business community with knowledge, information, and the sharing of experiences — so that we can all do better. Stay tuned!

Amplifying Blackowned and Black-led Businesses

Support for Boulder’s Black-owned and Black-led businesses is critical to our collective economic vitality. “The Equity Amplification Program provides special marketing, engagement, and programming opportunities for Black-owned and Black-led businesses,” explains Carly. Launched in March 2021 and developed collaboratively, it’s a way to amplify the voices of Black business leaders who have historically been marginalized and underrepresented.

A wide range of products and services are represented by the 27 businesses currently participating, from restaurants and wellness to childcare and the arts, plus home improvement and professional services. The benefits include a sponsored, no-cost membership, two free tickets to events, features in Boulder Chamber marketing materials, individual businessto-business relationship-building support, and invitations to quarterly networking gatherings. If you or someone you know may be interested in the Equity Amplification Program, reach out!

A Convener for Future Leaders in our Community

Each cohort of emerging leaders who participate in our Boulder County Leadership Fellows program represent a wide array of sectors and backgrounds. The goal is for these leaders to act upon their new skills by taking on leadership roles in our community, such as serving on nonprofit boards (which 81% of participants go on to do), joining a government commission, or working on a local campaign for a candidate or issue.

Curriculum topics throughout the 11-month program include “Local Government 101,” “critical human needs,” and “arts and culture,” as well as roundtable discussions on issues ranging from affordable housing, immigration, and criminal justice.

Past participant Eliberto Mendoza reflects, “If you’re interested in becoming a leader in Boulder County, if you’re interested in having a significant role in the crucial conversations that are happening, if you want to really understand what’s happening outside your own office and your own passions, and if you want to learn what it means to achieve true inclusivity… this program is the key.” The next round of applications for the Fall 2023 cohort will open on May 1. Consider applying!

Our Promise Pursuing a More Vibrant, Thriving Community

On the journey toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion, there is reason to hope for change and a more welcoming community here in Boulder. Our tagline, “We build community through business,” reflects our promise in that journey. “Much more than just an economic imperative, a community that truly embodies these values is one that is healthier, happier, more resilient, and more complete,” says John. That is what we want for our community, and that is the commitment of your Boulder Chamber.