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Members and Supporters,
September marks a season of momentum and gratitude. As we turn the corner from summer into fall, it’s inspiring to see how our Chamber’s work continues to grow in reach and impact. From powerful conversations and dynamic events to the recognition our members are earning locally and nationally, your involvement is what turns our mission into measurable change.
Looking ahead, we are already setting our sights on a major milestone: the Chamber’s 10-Year Anniversary in 2026. This celebration will honor a decade of building visibility, driving economic opportunity, and creating a more inclusive region—while charting the course for the next ten years of impact.
This month’s newsletter highlights that spirit of progress. Inside, you’ll find:
- Updates on opportunities to engage and connect.
- Big member milestones and collaborations that are strengthening our economic ecosystem.
- Highlights of where the Chamber Team has been connecting with members, partners, and community all across the region.
We also are proudly celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15). It’s a time to honor the history, culture, and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans—and to intentionally support Latino-owned businesses, including many right here in our Chamber network.
Thank you for being an essential part of this vibrant and growing community. Together, we are anchoring in purpose, leading through change, and making Greater Houston a stronger, more inclusive place for all.
Not a member yet? There’s never been a better moment to get involved—your voice and your presence matter. Join now.
In community,
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Tammi Wallace (she/her)
Co-Founder, President & CEO
Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
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From September 15 – October 15, we join the nation in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s a time to honor the history, culture, and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans—and to recognize the incredible impact of Latino-owned businesses in our Chamber and beyond.
These businesses not only add richness to our community but also play a vital role in fueling economic growth and innovation. This month—and all year long—we encourage you to be intentional with your spending and support Hispanic-owned businesses in our Chamber network.
We are highlighting some of our Latino-owned businesses this month and early next month, so keep an eye out!
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👉 Explore our Chamber Directory to connect with and support these outstanding businesses: Member Directory.
Together, we can celebrate our Latino entrepreneurs who help build an inclusive economy where all can succeed.
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2025 Chamber Holiday Food & Supply Drive - YOU Can Make a Difference
The 2025 Chamber Holiday Food & Supply Drive is now set—and we need YOU to help power the impact!
This year marks the 6th year of this annual tradition and we are proud to call Tony’s Place our beneficiary this year. The organization is a Chamber Member serving LGBTQ+ unhoused youth in our community. Through your support this year, you help provide essential supplies, care, and hope during a time of increased need.
This is the year to show up. With more LGBTQ+ youth at risk of homelessness and isolation, we must come together as a community to say: you matter, you are not alone, and we care.
In the video below, hear directly from Carrie Rai, Executive Director of Tony's Place, about why the need is so great this year.
| | ✨ New this year: Host a Power of Pride Collection Bin at your business or organization! Request your collection bin now and start collecting food and supplies. | | | | Sponsorship opportunities now available—show your support, gain visibility, and help drive change. Support the Drive and help us make a difference this holiday season. | | |
Learn more at chamberholidayfooddrive.lgbt.
We need you this holiday season! The need is great. The time is now. LGBTQ+ youth need us more than ever. 💜
| | Anchored in Purpose, Leading Through Change. | | |
Get Ready to Take Your Professional Development to the Next Level. Register NOW for the LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Summit!
The 2025 LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Summit is our annual day-long professional development and networking event for LGBTQ+ & Allied Business/Employee Resource Group (B/ERG) leaders, human resources, talent recruitment, supplier access, and leadership professionals engaged in belonging and inclusion efforts within their companies in Houston and beyond.
Learn more about the Summit, including the lineup of speakers and panelists, at lgbtqworkplacealliancesummit.com.
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Event Details
🗓️ Wednesday, October 29, 2025
🕣 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
📍 Amegy Tower, 1717 W. Loop South, Houston, TX 77027
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Register Now to get the Early Bird Rate!
Plan to attend in person for the full experience, or join virtually for a curated portion of the day. Early Bird rates available through October 10! Register NOW!
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Sponsor the Summit
Last call to sponsor the Summit! Your support helps the Chamber underwrite the event and bring this important content to our Impact Partners.
| | Thank you to our host and generous sponsors! | | |
We can’t wait to come together—Anchored in Purpose, Leading Through Change—on October 29.
Questions about the Summit? Contact Ryan Wilson, Director of Corporate Relations, for more information at ryan.wilson@houstonlgbtchamber.com or 832-510-3002.
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NEW SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Walmart & Sam’s Club Certification Support Program
This NGLCC scholarship is in partnership with Walmart and Sam’s Club Certification Support Program and aims to expand economic opportunities and support diversity in its supplier network. Eligible LGBTQ+ owned businesses that provide services or are in the retail industry can obtain their initial certification or recertify their expired certification through the program.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Revenue under $42M
- Must provide services or produce goods that could be sold by Walmart and Sam’s Club
- At least 51% majority owned, managed, and controlled by LGBTQ+ person/s
- Be certifying for the first time or held a previous certification that has expired
| | | | The Houston Chronicle recently published an article featuring Chamber Member First Christian Church Katy and how it serves LGBTQ+ Christians in the Greater Houston area. | | |
Sponsorship Highlight:
Community Conversations Luncheon
| Sponsor the Last Community Conversations Luncheon of 2025! | |
Sponsoring the Community Conversations Luncheon is a great way to showcase your business or organization while supporting an important community conversation. Your sponsorship support helps the Chamber bring these meaningful and informative conversations to the community. Secure your sponsorship today!
Join us as a sponsor for the Community Conversations Luncheon as we welcome experts from the Kinder Institute for Urban Research to discuss the findings of the 2025 Houston Area Survey—the nation’s longest-running metropolitan study of its kind.
| | Other Sponsorship Opportunities! | |
We have some other great upcoming sponsorship opportunities coming up:
We'd love to talk with you about any of these sponsorship opportunities.
Contact the Chamber Office at 832-510-3002 or info@houstonlgbtchamber.com or complete the sponsor form.
| Did you know sponsorship is a win-win? Brand visibility for your company or organization AND supporting the Chamber's work and mission. WIN-WIN! | | |
This month, we are highlighting the Texas Business Leader Alliance (TBLA), which is a collaborative for business leaders to actively shape our state's economic future through civic engagement. TBLA recognizes that business success and community well-being are intrinsically linked, and the organization connects private sector, government, and community stakeholders to work on solutions to our state’s challenges.
The Chamber is a proud member of TBLA, and our Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, serves on the Advisory Board. Learn more about TBLA at txbizleaderalliance.org, where you can access various research studies that the organization has conducted and compiled.
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🍽️ First Friday Meet & Eat
We had a great time at the First Friday Meet & Eat. Thank you to Chamber Member, KP's Kitchen, for hosting this month!
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LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Fall Mixer at Puttery
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Fall LGBTQ+ Workplace Alliance Mixer at Puttery.
🎯 A huge thank you to our host and sponsor, Puttery, for creating a fun and welcoming space for our Workplace Alliance gathering.
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Member Orientation at Sesh
The quarterly Membership Orientation was a great opportunity for members and guests to learn more about the Chamber.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Sesh Coworking for hosting us. A special shoutout to Chamber Member Stephanie Mier for providing the delicious goodies everyone enjoyed during the orientation.
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🍳 3rd Thursday Breakfast
We were 147 people strong at this month's 3rd Thursday Breakfast, celebrating Houston’s vibrant arts and culture community.
A huge thank you to our generous sponsor and Chamber Impact Partner, Dignity Memorial, for supporting the event today.
We also deeply appreciate our members who participated in the Featured Member Showcase and performing arts organizations who shared their information about their upcoming seasons, and for highlighting the powerful impact of arts and culture on our community.
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BE A PART OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS!
The Chamber calendar is regularly updated, so bookmark it! We are continually updating the calendar with events so check back often. Our Event 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.
| | Congratulations to Julie Lara, Wellness Operations Leader and PRG Houston Pride Leader, with Chamber Impact Partner, H-E-B, who was recently recognized for her 20 years of service at the company! | | | | Congratulations to Desmond Bertrand-Pitts, with Chamber Member Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, on being named a finalist by the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce for one of their Pinnacle Awards. | | |
Join us in congratulating Chamber Member Community Impact on their 20 Year Anniversary!
Make plans to join us at the November 3rd Thursday Breakfast, where we'll recognize Community Impact and a few other members celebrating milestone anniversaries!
| | | 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. | | | | |
International Women's Festival & Awards
Congratulations to our very own Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace, who was recently recognized as Legacy Honoree by the International Women's Festival.
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Fiestas Patrias Parade
A big shoutout to Jill and Pam Straker for providing their fabulous Pride decked out Jeep that helped us roll through the Fiestas Patrias International Parade in Downtown Houston! We appreciate all of our volunteers who showed up to walk with us!
And a special thank you to Bones for showing up and bringing that extra flair! It was a great morning celebrating community.
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Dessert Gallery Celebrates 30 Years
Congratulations to Chamber Member, Dessert Gallery, on celebrating their 30 year Anniversary! We were thrilled to join them at their recent celebration. We can't see what the next 30 years holds for Sara Brook and the team!
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Civic Alliance Dinner
Chamber Leadership participated in the Houston Civic Alliance Engagement Salon Dinner, co-hosted by the Civic Alliance and League of Women Voters. We were joined by several of our Chamber Partners as well. We are proud to call the League of Women Voters one of our members!
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY!
Join Us At The Third Coast Pridefest Parade!
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Get those walking shoes ready and join the Chamber on Sunday, October 19, 2025, as we participate in the Third Coast PrideFest! This year, the PrideFest bursts into full bloom in downtown Galveston for their 3rd Annual Pride Parade!
This year’s theme is “Love Grows Here”, and it's all about planting seeds of love, acceptance, and unity all along the parade route. Walk with the Chamber! If you are interested in walking, please complete the volunteer form.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Let's show our support for the island and help Third Coast PrideFest cultivate a community rooted in love, diversity, and inclusion.
| We are proud to be a Community Partner for the PrideFest and thrilled to call Third Coast PrideFest one of our nonprofit members. Learn more at gaygalveston.com. | | |
NOT A CHAMBER MEMBER? JOIN TODAY!
With over 550+ members, it’s a great time to be part of our growing and thriving Chamber community! Learn more about membership benefits and levels.
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Stay up to date on the latest happenings!
Follow the Chamber on social media!
Are you engaging with the Chamber Member Groups?
Also, check out the Facebook and LinkedIn Member Groups where members 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!
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Baylor College of Medicine
Cadence Bank
UPS
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Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
www.houstonlgbtqchamber.com
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