November 13th, 2022

There is a rise of the voice of Native Americans throughout this country, and in honor of this November, and National Native American Heritage Month, join me in acknowledging the traditional landowners of this land on which our Villages sit: the Kickapoo, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Potawatomi, Myaamia, and Ochethi Sakowin. And if you are a Native American owned business, we want to hear from you! You are most welcome as part of our business community.

Liz Holt

Executive Director

Join our BIPOC Affinity Group!

Why should you join?

Welcome to our minority business owners! This group was created to support the Black, Indigenous and People of Color business owners in the Oak Park and River Forest communities and provide valuable resources and networking opportunities to best support your business.

Join us each month to connect with other business owners who are part of the BIPOC community.

Thursday November 17, 8:00 - 9:30am - New Member Breakfast at Oak Park Arms

Join us at our New Member Breakfast at Oak Park Arms to tell us all about your business, meet Chamber staff and board leadership, learn about all of your benefits, and find opportunities to get involved. Board members and staff are on hand to meet new members and answer any questions!

This is a very popular event each quarter and seating is limited, so be sure to register now. 

Friday November 18, 11:30 - 1:00pm - Sit Down Lunch at Papaspiros

You asked, we answered. Join us for a Chamber sit-down luncheon at Papaspiros! A business lunch in a casual setting, with a little group networking. Come enjoy the food while you connect and get to know Chamber members.

We'll get to meet the owner and get to know other local businesspeople at Papaspiros - a classic Oak Park destination. 

Monday November 21, 12:15 - 12:45pm - Meditation Mondays at CrossFunction Flexible Workspace

Join us for the Chamber program aimed at taking care of you, our small business community. Welcome to our monthly Meditation Mondays! All it takes is half an hour (that's only 30 mins!) for us to help you put your to-do list aside, empty your head of all the chatter and truly look after yourself.

We are thrilled to partner with the Kadampa Meditation Center in Oak Park to bring you this monthly meditation.

Monday November 28, 5:30 - 7:00pm - BIPOC Affinity Group Meeting at Niravadhi Services

We will be gathering at Niravadhi Services to network with other folks from the BIPOC community. Connect with Latinx, Asian-American, Black and Indigenous peers from the OPRF business and nonprofit community! 

Join us to make connections and strengthen your network.

Wednesday November 30, 4:30 - 5:00pm - Ribbon Cutting at Estillos Barber Studio

This time we will be gathering at Estillos Barber Studio, a newer barbershop in Oak Park. They provide a luxury barbershop experience for men for both hair and beard trims.

Come meet the staff, check out their space and enjoy this great networking opportunity!

Friday December 2, 12:00 - 12:30pm - Takeout Stakeout at sweetgreen

Come join your fellow Chamber members for our next Takeout Stakeout, this time at sweetgreen Oak Park! In this event, we convene at a designated restaurant to pick up our takeout lunch choices, and get to see each other for a bit while we're at it. Lunch is a flat $16 including tax and tip. 

Thursday December 8, 8:30 - 10:00am - Young Professionals Holiday Meetup at Great Sip Cafe

This month is our annual holiday breakfast meetup and white elephant gift exchange! Bring a wrapped gift for the swap. This is your chance to pass along the world's most hideous candle or that singing wiggling fish thing - or if you opt to go classy and buy something, please keep the value under $25. But a singing mechanical fish is way more fun than a chain coffee store gift card, right? ;-)

Friday December 9, 9:00 - 10:30am - December Women in Business WinterFest at The Sheridan

We are thrilled you will be joining us! WIB is closing out 2022 with Anti-Stress WinterFest! Get ready to get your jolly on as we celebrate another successful year of supporting the phenomenal women in the OPRF Chamber. If this time of year has you stressed and feeling disconnected, please join us for a morning of fun, food, laughter, conversation, and raffle prizes. 

Tuesday December 13, 5:00 - 7:00pm - Holiday Business After Hours at Oak Park Bank

It's that time of year again! Join us this year for our annual Holiday Celebration. Our Holiday Business After Hours (BAH) will be hosted by Oak Park Bank. Join us for a night of networking and hors d'oeuvres, and see how they have repurposed this gorgeous space, while making connections for your business or organization! 

Join us to end the year with your amazing business community!

Host a Takeout Stakeout!

Would you like to invite the business community into your space?

Every other Friday, we hold a Takeout Stakeout in a different location. This is a great opportunity to invite the business community into your space and have them try your food! We gather outside your business, do some networking and take home your delicious food. As the business owner, there is also time for you to tell us your story, your why. Let us know who you are and how you started your restaurant.

Want to learn more or host one of these events? Reach out to our Program Manager, Mark Walden at [email protected] or click on the button below to learn more!

This benefit is only open to our Chamber Members. Not yet a member? Keep scrolling to learn how to become a member!

With over 440 other local businesses, we would love to help you survive these trying times, grow your business and get you more connected into the community.

Our Chamber is all about Community - plain and simple. And this Community knows that "a rising tide floats all boats"...and right now our boats need some float!

We are dedicated to embracing diversity and equity, providing marketing opportunities when you need them, and having a Board of Directors and Staff who reflects our business community and who work tirelessly for you, our small business owners. 

Want to learn more, click on the button below, or email us directly!

There is only one issue of Wellness Wednesday left for this year!

• December 7, 2022 - "Protect Your Peace: How Not to Kill Your Family or Yourself During Obligatory Gatherings"

How do I get involved?

In order for your Health & Wellness business to be featured as a Vendor Sponsor in an edition of the Wellness Wednesdays e-newsletter, you must:

• be a member in good standing of the OPRF Chamber.
• have products/services/information specifically related to the monthly topic.
• sign-up and pay fees at least one week before publication.
• provide your content materials (name, logo, contact details and text) at least one week before publication.

Only $100 per issue!

Premium Sponsors

Share your opinions about Oak Park via survey

Oak Park residents are being asked to share what they think about safety in Oak Park, the economic health of the community and much more as part of the National Community Survey. Village officials plan to use feedback from the survey to help make decisions for the future. The survey is open to all residents through Nov. 16. Click here to take the survey. The current open participation window is being conducted about one month after the survey was sent to a random sample of Oak Park households. Residents who received the survey in the mail are urged to respond by following the instructions provided in letters sent in October. More information about the initiative, including links to past survey results, is available on the Village website – click here to view.