Your Chamber at Work - July 22, 2024

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Election season is upon us, and the KC Chamber is hard at work to ensure voters throughout the region feel informed when they head to the polls. One of the ways we represent our members is as a participating member of the Johnson County Public Policy Council. In collaboration with the chambers of commerce in Overland Park, Gardner Edgerton, Olathe, Spring Hill, Northeast Johnson County, Desoto, Leawood, Lenexa, and Shawnee, VoteJoCo.com is a resource developed to share information about candidates running for public office in Johnson County.

The KC Chamber also has KC BizPAC, our Political Action Committee in partnership with the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City. Voluntary contributions from members help strengthen business participation in the elective process at state and local levels in Missouri and Kansas. You can view which Missouri and Kansas candidates BizPAC supported and their districts by clicking here.

I encourage Johnson County voters to visit VoteJoCo.com to inform themselves ahead of the upcoming election season. All registered voters in Kansas and Missouri should make beneficial use of the other voter guide resources available throughout the region, one of which you’ll learn about as you continue to read this week’s newsletter. Elections matter, and your vote is essential to helping our bistate community work to realize the goals that will inspire and sustain progress across the greater Kansas City area.

POWER OF DIVERSITY

Join us for the POWER of Diversity celebration on Friday, August 2, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Muehlebach Tower downtown (1213 Wyandotte, KCMO). The KC Chamber will present Ace Awards and a Champion of Diversity Award. And you’ll be delighted by the “Where Are They Now” panel conversation, which features four past Ace Award winners talking about their leadership journey in the DEI space, and how the landscape has changed since they won their award. Featured panelists include Dr. Andrea Hendricks, of Authentico and Walz Tetrick Advertising; Michael Gonzales of NE&E Consulting; Edgar J. Palacios, of Latinx Education Collaborative and Revolucion Educativa; and Drew Eanes, of JE Dunn Construction and the KC People’s Fund. This panel will be moderated by the KC Chamber’s Board Chair Lisa Ginter of CommunityAmerica Credit Union, the presenting sponsor of this event. Learn more and register here!

ALLYSHIP IN KANSAS CITY: LATINX COMMUNITY

The Latinx community in Kansas City is diverse and rapidly growing. From KCK to Northeast KC to Olathe, Latinx communities are an integral thread in Kansas City's cultural fabric. Despite the diversity, many members of KC's Latinx communities share common concerns. In this session on Tuesday, August 6, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., in the KC Chamber Board Room (30 W. Pershing Rd., KCMO), we'll explore some of these common concerns and ways that we can be better, more active allies to our Latinx colleagues, neighbors and friends. Learn more and register now! 

The Allyship in KC Series is presented in partnership with ALLY LAB. And thank you to all our 2024 Diversity Equity and Inclusion sponsors, including our Presenting Diversity Sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union. 

GENKC DECISION MAKER BREAKFAST

Make plans to attend genKC’s annual Decision Maker Breakfast on August 21, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., in the KC Chamber Board Room (30 W. Pershing Rd, KCMO). You’ll hear from genKC Advisory Board Members and the decision makers of their companies as they discuss the work done over the past year. A panel will share their experiences and expertise, highlighting what they have achieved in their companies and within the community. Register today!

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

Be part of something big and join us for the American Red Cross Camp Do Good Blood Drive. Come to the KC Chamber Board Room (on the first floor of Union Station at 30 W. Pershing Rd., KCMO) on Tuesday, July 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to make a lifesaving blood donation. Make an appointment today!