|
Dear Greater Houston LGBTQ,
Without a doubt, it's been a tough month on many levels. In this issue, you will find links to my recent message post-election as well one from our incoming Board Chair, Stephen Miranda. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read these messages and all of the content in this Chamber Connection issue.
As we reflect back on the past month, we've also been working to support our members and community during this challenging time. A huge shout out to Chamber Member, Sesh Coworking, who worked with us to quickly bring our community together at their space for a Community Support Day.
Speaking of community...thank you to everyone who came together to support the Chamber Holiday Food & Supply Drive. It was a hugely successful day supporting homeless LGBTQ+ youth. But we are not done yet! You can still donate via the virtual Drive here.
Our 3rd Thursday Breakfast was another successful event with over 100 people joining us for our Legislative Outlook. If you're not attending these monthly breakfasts, you are missing out. It’s more important than ever to be with community and seek support from each other. Especially for many in the LGBTQ+ community, the holiday season can be difficult. You are not alone.
We encourage you to join us at upcoming events to be with community. If you need resources, please visit the Chamber Directory here to find inclusive and supportive businesses and organizations.
In Community,
| |
Tammi Wallace (she/her/hers)
Co-Founder and President & CEO
Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
| | |
|
|
Good Times at the First Friday Meet & Eat!
Nearly 40 Chamber members and guests attended this month's First Friday Meet & Eat at new member restaurant Mean Grille.
Delicious food, meaningful networking and a few fun door prizes made for a great event!
| | |
|
|
Connecting Leaders: LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance B/ERG Roundtable at Shell USA
Leaders of LGBTQ+ & Allied ERGs, BRGs or Affinity Groups and DEI professionals from Chamber Impact Partners gathered for the November B/ERG Roundtable at Shell USA's Woodcreek Campus. Speakers from Shell discussed their Supplier Diversity program and the structures of Shell's 126 ERGs. Thank you to Shell USA for hosting!
| |
|
Thank YOU to Our President's Circle Members!
We celebrated our Chamber President's Circle Members this month at the annual President's Circle Lunch at Chamber Member Weights + Measures. We appreciate the generous support of these members and their impact on our work supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Learn more about becoming a President's Circle Member here.
| |
| |
|
|
Connecting Community: Chamber Community Day of Support
Thank you to the Chamber Members who provided support for the Chamber's Community Day of Support after the election, including Michael's Cookie Jar, Pizza Birra Vino, and Sesh Coworking for hosting.
| |
|
Perk'd Up Taking Us to "New Heights"
The Chamber’s November “Perk’d Up”, was hosted at New Heights Coffee Roasters for a great morning of networking and community.
Small pod business connections are amazingly valuable! It's always about connection at Perk'd Up!
| |
| |
|
|
Deck the Trees - Pride Tree Ornament Decorating Party PLUS Vote for the Chamber Tree!
The Chamber’s Second Annual holiday ornament decorating event at Sesh Coworking was a blast. Members and guests created masterpieces that will be incorporated into a fabulous tree design by Chamber member Robert Shipman of Robert Shipman Flowers & Events.
The tree is part of the Alley Theatre’s “Deck the Trees” display at the Alley. Check out the Chamber's Pride Tree at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Cast your vote for the Chamber tree! Vote here!
| | |
|
|
3rd Thursday Breakfast Hosts 100 people! Second largest breakfast to date.
With over 100 people joining us for the 3rd Thursday Breakfast, it was another great morning.
Thank you to Senator Molly Cook, Rep. Christina Morales and Rep. Jon Rosenthal for being part of our panel discussion.
Thank you to our sponsor, BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas for your support.
| | |
|
|
Can you say Drag B-I-N-G-O?
Drag Bingo, along with the Chamber Rainbow Market and Chamber Holiday Food & Supply Drive, was a blast at Eureka Heights. Thank you to Dessie Love-Blake for your bingo host fabulousness!
| |
|
BE A PART OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS!
The Chamber calendar is regularly updated, so bookmark it! Our Calendar provides the details and all you have to do is register. We hope you'll join us - as always, we'd love to see you! We have so many ways to engage and be involved every month.
| |
THANK YOU! CHAMBER HOLIDAY FOOD & SUPPLY DRIVE IS A HUGE SUCCESS! | |
|
Last Thursday was nothing short of amazing as the community came TOGETHER to support the Chamber Holiday Food & Supply Drive and help homeless LGBTQ+ youth. The Drive was the biggest yet! We not only met, but exceeded, our expectations!
WITH THE HELP OF COMMUNITY, WE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!
Hundreds of people and companies, like Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Silver Eagle and Sysco, made generous donations not to mention the support of the Drive through the virtual donation link as well as the Tony's Place Amazon Wish List.
Keep an eye out next week for the final impact numbers.
| You can still help! In this week of thanks, you can still help make a difference for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. The virtual Drive is still active and you can make a monetary donation through December 6th. | |
The 2024 Chamber Holiday Food & Supply Drive was made possible because of the generosity of our sponsors: | |
Council Member Jonathan Estrada | |
Chamber Leadership shared some post-election thoughts with our members and supporters. If you missed it, please take a few minutes to read these timely messages. | | |
|
Post-election message from Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace. | | |
|
Post-election message from Chamber Board Member and incoming Board Chair, Stephen Miranda. | |
Now more than ever, we encourage people to get involved with a community organization to be supported and give back during these challenging times. We would love for that to be the Chamber! Don't own a business? You can be part of the Chamber through our Professional Level Membership. | |
|
SUPPORT THE FUND
Individuals and businesses underwrite annual Chamber memberships for minority, trans and women-owned businesses through the Pay It Forward Fund. The Fund provides these businesses the financial means to join the Chamber, where they can benefit from the organization's programs, networking events, and help with LGBTBE® certification.
| |
|
BECOME A FUND RECIPIENT
Are you a diverse-owned business who needs financial support for Chamber membership? Through the Pay It Forward Fund, a one-year membership may be available to eligible businesses.
Underwriting of memberships is subject to available funds at the time the application is submitted.
| |
How about pro-bono consulting to support your business? | |
Out and Allied's (Rice University's Business School LGBTQ+ group) goal is to help queer-owned businesses and non-profits in the Houston community with pro-bono consulting to help organizations grow. The Out & Allied group is currently working to identify companies or organizations looking to be part of the consulting project.
Is your business or organization interested in pro-bono consulting? Complete the interest form below.
| |
What is Out & Allied?
Through Rice University Business, Out & Allied is committed to increasing awareness, understanding, and support of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community. The group of LGBTQ+ and Ally members are proud to represent and support people of all genders and sexual orientations. The group fulfills its goals by sponsoring events and programs in areas such as education, networking, community, and civic involvement. Out & Allied welcomes all students, faculty, and staff of Rice Business to join their mission to create inclusive and welcoming spaces - while having a ton of fun!
| |
|
We applaud Chamber Impact Partner, Amegy Bank, for their recent recognition by the Houston Chronicle as a 2024 Top Workplace! We are not surprised! We have worked with Amegy Bank since year one of the Chamber and their team is passionate about the company, supporting customers and the LGBTQ+ community.
| | |
|
|
Role models are so important for the LGBTQ+ community. Recently, Travis Torrence, U.S. Head of Legal & V.P, at Shell USA, was recognized as a 2024 Outstanding Executives Role Model. Not only was he recognized but at #8 in the world.
| |
|
As he shared..."As a kid, I often cried because I thought I’d die with the secret that I was gay. Thank God, that wasn’t my path! Today, in addition to leading an amazing team of lawyers and legal support professionals at a company that provides an affirming environment and lives its values, I have the opportunity to drive tangible, long term inclusion for LGBTQ+ people across the world."
Thank you Travis for all you do to be an OUTSTANDING role model!
| |
Shout out to Chamber Member, Jha Allen, with Endless 8 Marketing, who was announced as part of the AccelerateHER Houston 2024 Cohort with the Texas Women University-Center for Women Entrepreneurs. | |
|
Do you have some good news to share? From time to time, the Chamber highlights significant accomplishments, big milestones and other good news about our Members and Corporate Partners. Please submit news about your member business via the form below. | |
This month, our Featured Member is Meow Wolf, one of our newest President's Circle members. Meow Wolf opens portals of possibility and redefines the paradigm of art and storytelling to make a positive difference in the world. Visit their newest location in Houston at 2103 Lyons Ave., Houston, TX 77020. Thank you to Meow Wolf for your support of the Chamber and the LGBTQ+ community! | |
THANK YOU RENEWING IMPACT PARTNERS AND CHAMBER MEMBERS | |
HOSPITALITY & TOURISM PLU MEMBERS | |
|
Community Rally Hosted by the Montrose Center
The Montrose Center hosted a Community Rally to bring the community together post-election. Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, shared remarks at the Rally.
| |
| |
|
The Chamber was proud to attend the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy Heroes Awards. The Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy (MOAL) partners with organizations across the Greater Houston area to provide digital, functional, financial, environmental, and health literacy programming. Congratulations to all of the honorees, which included Chamber Impact Partner, Comcast. | |
Chamber Leadership joined the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for America's Table Breakfast. The event highlighted individual stories of coming to America and the many faces of Houston. | |
| |
|
Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace was at IAH to help Impact Partner United celebrate their inaugural flight to Medellin. Congratulations to United on this new route! Did you know that Houston continues to be a growing hub for United? | |
How fun to celebrate with the British Consulate Houston to recognized the 150th birthday of Winston Churchill! Thank you to Consul General Sujeevan Satheesan for the invitation. | |
|
|
Chamber leadership had a wonderful time at the Comcast Workforce Development lunch connecting with their other non-profit partners and learning about open career opportunities.
Learn more about open roles
here. We are proud to call Comcast one of our inaugural Chamber Impact Partners!
| |
| |
|
Earlier this month, Ryan Wilson, Director of Corporate Relations, participated on a panel at the 2024 Employee Resource Group (ERG) Symposium hosted by Houston Methodist alongside Tiffanie McDonald from Chamber Impact Partner Hess. Shout out for Chamber Impact Partners Memorial Hermann, Hilton Garden Inn/Home 2 Suites Houston Medical Center, Sysco and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, who were also in attendance. | |
Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, participated as a panelist as part of the Greater Houston Partnership's One Houston Together, as part of the Inclusion Solutions program, a focused conversation on advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace. The conversation centered on ways to support and engage LGBTQ+ employees with actionable strategies and practices. Tressa Consuegra, with Impact Partner, Amegy Bank, participated as well and the conversation was moderated by LaTanya Flix, who is the Senior Vice President, Inclusive Leadership and Opportunity at the Partnership. | |
Chamber Impact Partner bp America hosted their annual Community Partner Fair at Westlake Campus. We were proud to participate and connect with other nonprofit organizations. | |
|
Congratulations to Chamber Impact Partner, Comcast, on the launch of their Flagship Lift Zone Launch at Ser Jobs. Chamber Leadership joined them for the launch of this groundbreaking community support program. | |
|
|
NOT A CHAMBER MEMBER? JOIN TODAY!
With over 500 members, it’s a great time to be part of our growing and thriving Chamber community! Learn more about membership benefits and levels.
| |
|
Stay up to date on the latest happenings!
Follow the Chamber on social media!
Also, check out the Facebook and LinkedIn Member Groups where member can post information about their organizations. Are you a new Chamber Member? Post up an intro video and let us know about you and your member business or organization!
| |
ADP | Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas | |
|
Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
www.houstonlgbtqchamber.com
| |
| | | |
