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From the President

John TayerIt starts with values, punctuated by the Boulder Chamber’s economic vitality mission.

The Boulder community has a legacy challenge, rooted in history and present-day circumstances - a low representation of BIPOC residents. This same deficiency is reflected in the diversity of our business owners and their workforce. As we all recognize the richness of an environment that enjoys the benefits of cultural and economic diversity, this is an issue that touches our soul. In a day and age when businesses have come to recognize the critical importance of diverse perspectives to building a sustainable business, the difficulty recruiting diverse workforce talent also is an economic concern.

It is out of respect for both these core values and economic interests that the Boulder Chamber began its journey in the diversity, equity and inclusion space. It began with outreach to better understand the barriers to achieving our goals of a more diverse business community, including constraints that our own organization perpetrated. We then began to take action to remove the barriers. It began with internal steps forward that have evolved into the highest level strategic goals for our organization and encompass numerous DE&I programs, as outlined below.

We invite you to learn more about our actions and, always, to test us against our core “Inclusion” value: “Supporting opportunities that foster belonging and connection.” Your thoughts on how we can help build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community are always welcome.

Programs

Goals

New CRM

Collects Chamber Members basic demographic data to track participation and improve programming.

New Signature Event

Leading Change: Harnessing the Power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Business was held on November 20, 2024

Internal DEI Training

The staff undergoes regular professional development, reinforcing DE&I values held by the Chamber.

Expand Business Partnerships

Hold quarterly meetings to expand engagement and outreach within the business community.

Solidfy Partner Relations

Build connections with other chambers and affinity organizations; the NAACP Boulder County, the Latino Chamber of Commerce, and the Black Colorado Chamber of Commerce.

Safe, Respectful Engagement

Include community agreements across public engagements, including, signature events.

Resources

Signature Event

Leading Change:

Harnessing the Power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Business

 

The Chamber DEI Signature Event was held on November 20, 2024, in Boulder at the University of Atmospheric Research. The daylong event featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Reiland Rabaka, Professor of African, African American, and Caribbean Studies in the Department of Ethnic Studies and the Founder and Director of the Center for African & African American Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The daylong conference featured presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities. To learn more, click on the link below to review presentations provided by our incredible presenters. The Chamber thanks the generous sponsors who made this inaugural event possible.

Workshop Presentations

Interested in sponsoring an event?

We have several opportunities to get your business out front.

DE&I News

Boulder Together: A Legacy of Achievement

By courtney.warford | December 19, 2024

And with the closing Roundtable of 2024 . . . we bring to a close this second chapter in our Boulder Together legacy of achievement.  It was back in 2018 when we first launched our platform for, in the words that still hold true today, “addressing the highest priority areas of Boulder’s economic and community…

Defend Transit Funding: Support the RTD’s TABOR Override Measure

By courtney.warford | September 25, 2024

Written by John Tayer, President and CEO.   For six years, from 2007 to early 2013, I served on the Regional Transportation District’s Board of Directors.   There, I said it, and I wouldn’t blame you for thinking I’m part of the problem. Rest assured, though, that during my RTD Board service, I had plenty of…

Boulder County Takes Input on Bikeway Overpass Design

By courtney.warford | September 16, 2024

By Dana Cadey, Daily Camera Bikers, drivers and pedestrians came together on Tuesday to give feedback on the planned bikeway overpass along Colo. 119 between Boulder and Longmont, also known as the Diagonal Highway. The Colo. 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project is a collaboration between Boulder County, the Regional Transportation District, and the Colorado…