This has been a full quarter for our Advocacy Team! Thank you to our Advocacy Committee, including Sam Yousif and Carly Grant, for your dedicated hard work in helping the Chamber champion for our small business community. With your assistance, we have been able to host stakeholder meetings with the greater surrounding areas with community leaders in healthcare, senior living and government. We have connected our local businesses with the villages, trustees, and other governmental bodies, keeping them abreast of any developments. We look forward to continuing to support the local business community throughout the remainder of this year. | |
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Advocacy Committee Update
What is the Chamber doing for you?
Every month, the Executive Director, Liz Holt, along with the Advocacy Committee, Sam Yousif, Rob Guenthner, Carly Grant and other members of the Chamber Board of Directors are working tirelessly to make sure that your voice is heard. Check out some of their accomplishments below!
If you haven't listened to the podcast, Cocktails & Conversation, be sure to take a listen!
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Professional Development
Taking care of our business community!
As part of the lead-up to this year's Health & Wellness Fair, we are launching two professional development courses, facilitated by Riveredge Hospital. These courses are open to all members of the community and the topics have been carefully chosen to apply to the greater business community.
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Wednesday April 12, 9:00 - 10:00am - Race & Trauma in the Workplace via Zoom
In this evidence based workshop, you will learn to understand and identify racial trauma or race-based traumatic stress, and discuss how this is same/different from other non-racially based traumas. You will also be able to identify strategies to support staff and co-workers in addressing racial trauma in a work-based setting. This will help you to access tangible resilience and coping strategies that can be enacted in the workplace, or accessed through available community resources.
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Wednesday April 19, 9:00 - 10:00am - Stress Management & Coping Strategies in the Workplace via Zoom
This workshop will prioritize learning self-care strategies to reduce stress and improve physical and mental health and well-being. Specifically, you will learn to identify ways to reduce stress both during and after a specific stressful situation, as well as managing consistent, longer-term stress. You will also learn ways to advocate for yourself and others and access tips on how to talk to managers/bosses/coworkers about the stress people feel without fear of repercussions. This will help you to put in place healthy workplace practices to foster a stress-reduced (or stress free!) work environment.
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Plan Your Week!
What is coming up this week?
We know you are busy. To help make it easier and help you to join us at as many things as you would like, we have gathered our events for this week.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Thursday April 6, 1:00 - 2:00pm - NPO Affinity Group: Networking & Collaboration!
Come join the us at Wonder Works Children's Museum for our monthly gathering. This month is all about connections and collaboration! Affinity group co-chairs Cheryl Flinn of the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, and Judy Klem of the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory, will facilitate conversation among attendees about ways that local nonprofits can work together.
Please come be part of the dialogue!
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Plan Your Month!
Like to plan ahead?
Here are some events we have coming up over the next month so you can register now and receive a reminder right before the event.
Join us for these wonderful networking opportunities and
continue to grow your business!
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Tuesday April 11, 5:00 - 7:00pm - Business After Hours at Jeffrey Hines State Farm
Our April Business After Hours (BAH) will be hosted by Jeffrey Hines State Farm and will also feature Leadership Lab, the local leadership development program of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. Join us for your chance to connect with business owners from all over the Oak Park and River Forest areas.
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Wednesday April 12, 11:00am - 7:00pm - Stop & Shop at Civinte Candle Bar
Join us for new monthly program, Stop & Shop, this time at Civinte Candle Bar. At Civinte, their overall mission is to help you redefine elegant living, by bringing the essence of opulence safely into your home. Stop by this Oak Park gem and get your safely made candles or sprays. Make sure to mention the Chamber to get your discount!
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Friday April 14, 9:00 - 10:30am - Women in Business Affinity Group Meeting
The 2023 Women in Business programs continue at The Sheridan at River Forest with a double feature in April! We are launching our annual WIB Tampon & Diaper Drive and we are celebrating National Gardening Day & Earth Month. You don't want to miss this! Stay tuned for more details, coming soon!
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Wednesday April 19, 2:00 - 3:00pm - Chamber 101 via Zoom
In this seminar we will go over all of your digital benefits that come with your membership, including:
- how to significantly increase your SEO
- how to leverage your Member Profile to boost traffic to your own website
- how to track your Member Profile statistics
- how to be sure that your website is linked to your membership
This event is perfect for new members, or those who need a refresher!
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Thursday April 20, 9:30 - 11:00am - #ChamberLOVE Call Campaign!
Love the OPRF Chamber and eager to share your story? Looking for ways to connect with potential referrals and likeminded people? Join us at Grachan Agency for our quarterly Membership Call Campaign!
Haven't done this before or unsure what to say? Don't worry, we will have a script for you.
This is a great way to connect with our members and help them to feel seen, valued and heard!
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Monday April 24, 5:30 - 7:00pm - Stress Management with the BIPOC Affinity Group
Chené Weems of Riveredge Hospital will be speaking on Stress Management. Learn self-care strategies to reduce stress and improve your mental health & well-being while using mindfulness tools and techniques. Chené will be discussing how to identify stressors, how stress affects the body and ways to reduce the stress in your life.
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Health & Wellness Fair!
Vendor & Sponsor Registration Still Available!
The Health & Wellness Fair is just ONE month away! We already have over half the vendor spaces filled, but there is still time for your business to join.
Registration Deadline April 7th!
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With our focus this year being on access and education to resources and healthcare, there has been a lot of interest from not only Oak Park and River Forest, but the surrounding communities as well.
This is your chance to be part of the largest Health & Wellness Fair in the Chicagoland area!
There are still spaces available for both Vendors and Sponsors. Reach out if you have any questions!
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Exclusive Presenting Sponsor | |
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Health & Wellness Insert
There are still spaces available!
This insert will not only be included in all of the papers that Growing Community Media sends out, but also will be handed out to the attendees at the Health & Wellness Fair!
Ad Deadline - April 7th
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In case you missed it...
We've Moved!!!
But, don't worry. We just went upstairs.
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Our New Address:
141 S. Oak Park Ave, Suite 3, Oak Park, IL 60302
Make sure to change this in your accounting software and address book so your checks and notes don't get lost in the mail! Please tell your Accounts Payable Department as soon as possible so there are no issues.
Also, for those of you who need to drop off gift cards, there is a new, locked, dropbox just outside our door. No more sliding your gift cards through a slot in the bottom of the door!
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A Day in Our Village festival is recruiting
Local groups and volunteers are invited to participate in the 49th annual A Day in Our Village, Oak Park’s annual festival celebrating diversity and community involvement. Scheduled for Sunday, June 4, the event features activity and information booths in Scoville Park at Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue and live entertainment. Groups can register for a booth at www.oak-park.us/diovregistration. In addition to participants, volunteers are needed to help with both planning for the celebration and ensuring things run smoothly the day of the event. For more information about participating or volunteering to help with the 2023 A Day in Our Village celebration, call 708.358.5408 or email community@oak-park.us.
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This eBlast was sent out by the OPRF Chamber of Commerce on behalf of a member in good standing as a member benefit. For information about the event described please contact the host. For information about joining the Chamber, click our website below.
STAY CONNECTED TO THE OPRF CHAMBER
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