Midland Chamber of Commerce’s Post

We believe that true heroes are often the ones who don’t make it to the headlines. As we approach the annual Amandla Awards Night, we are calling on you, our community, to help us recognize and celebrate the individuals who make a profound impact on our lives and communities, often behind the scenes. Nominate Someone Today! Do you know someone who fits this description? If so, we invite you to nominate them for one of our prestigious Amandla Awards: Community Champion Award: For those who tirelessly support our community with their strength and resources. Ken & Iris Flamer Service Award: For individuals or groups standing up against injustice. Eleanor Toliver Distinguished Leader Award: For leaders advocating for young children and families. Our Children’s Champion Award: For those showing a steadfast commitment to improving the well-being of Black and brown families. Young Afro Genius Award: For young leaders who are making significant impacts through innovative service and leadership. How to Nominate: 1)Visit Our Nomination Page: https://lnkd.in/e3ac5QPW 2)Fill out the form with details about your nominee and why they deserve the award. 3)Submit your nomination by 5:00pm May 3rd, 2024. Your nominations not only honor the nominees but also shine a light on the incredible work being done in our community that might otherwise go unnoticed. #TogetherWeWill #AmandlaAwards #PowerOfCommunity #CelebrateUnity #CommunityChampions #CharlotteEvents

Here it is: the full list of the state's Most Influential Native American leaders -- leaders in both tribal and state governments, higher education, the nonprofit sector, finance, food and lots more!

Read more on the wonderful work Ghida Dagher does at New American Leaders!

Discover how Lisa Gardner, a #UMGC alumna is honoring her grandmother's legacy of leadership and fighting injustice. Read more below!

🎉Introducing Rachel Aarons, Vice President of Community Partnerships, our next highlight on our series 'Get to Know the Faces of CAUFP’! Stay tuned for exciting facts about our board members and dive into the heart of our community. 1.What inspired you to join CAUFP, and what event are you looking forward to being a part of this year? The welcoming, family-oriented and progressive nature of the CAUFP community. I was happy to join a group of professionals driven by a passion to foster personal career growth and sustainable change within the Black community. I wanted to be part of a movement that I believed would craft an economy where persons who look like me are more active and influential leaders. I am looking forward to the Thought Leadership Event on June 13, 2024. As a sneak-peek, this event will feature Hazel Claxton, CPA, CA, ICD.D and Lianne Hannaway, CPA professionals who will share best practices for charting a senior-level career and a corporate board appointment.  2. What are your top three favourite places you would like to travel to this year? A) South Africa B) Greece C) Hawaii 3. What is your favourite pastime activity?  A long run and working at a coffee shop! 4. If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and what would you serve?  Historical figure: Michael Manley - former Prime Minister of Jamaica.  What would I serve: A Jamaican dish known as Ackee & Saltfish with Yellow Yam!

"Hi, I'm Mike and I'm a serial board member...But there could be a break in service soon." I just realized that for the first time in nearly 20 years, this September, I'll term off the only board in which I currently serve (as chair) with no immediate future board requests or commitments in sight. If I've not been on multiple boards over the past 2 decades, I've always had one overlapping with another. Why have I done that and why is my head empty of opportunities today? While the majority of the boards and committees I've served on have been with nonprofits attempting to make positive impact on complex issues that have no real boundaries, their service areas have, making them central to the community in which I lived. Serving in leadership roles with organizations like Leadership Rhode Island, The Avenue Concept, Rhode Island Historical Society, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, Veterans Memorial Auditorium Foundation, and the Center for Living & Working were opportunities to contribute my strategic thinking strengths to a place. Now, that I'm physically moving from Rhode Island to DC, shall I serve the place? More recently, and for the past 12 years, national level issues around the military and veterans, though not exclusively, got much of my attention through service to Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR) and, currently, The Overwatch Project | FORGE . I have enjoyed the national level impact and the challenge of putting my strategic thinking and influencing strengths to the test at a much different scale around issues that matter to our nation at large and to me personally. In a nod to Simon Sinek, I think I'm going to spend less time focused on the "what" and more on the "why" of my past board service to identify my future public service. One selfish "why" for me has been reinforced by my knowledge of Gallup research that has identified COMMUNITY as one of the Five Essential Elements of Well-Being. Turns out, service is good for me... and good for you. Shall I consider community my physical locale or the connectivity with others who share similar values? Can I find both in our nation's capital? #boardleadership #boardservice #boardmember #community #wellbeing #serialboardmember #fiveessentialelements #publicservice #servantleadership #fulfillment #simonsinek

Last call to register for Leading People Who Are Different From You, a non-credit workshop presented by Wake Forest Executive Education. Facilitated by Patrick J Sweeney, Ph.D., this 1-day program will be held at Wake Forest Charlotte Center in Charlotte, NC and equips participants with the tools to lead diverse teams, shape a culture that fosters authenticity, and bring out the best in everyone. Key takeaways include: -The importance of emotional intelligence in leading others who are different -How to use social perception to accurately access others while reducing potential biases -How to reduce prejudice in teams -Various leadership styles to effectively lead people who are different from you -Deeper understanding of the nature of the various areas of diversity (culture, gender, sexual orientation, and age) Learn more and sign up today via the link. Registration deadline is this Thursday, October 10th. https://bit.ly/4e6fOuN

205 Leaders, 30 Scholars, 100 Voyagers; spanning public, private and nonprofit sectors; representing 70+ nations and territories—meet the 2024-25 cohorts of Obama Foundation changemakers working to build a fairer, greener, more democratic world:

I am always honored when asked to participate and or speak in DC. I am very patriotic and love been a citizen of the United States and take my citizenship as a responsibility and as a privilege. I always feel unworthy and a little bit of the imposter syndrome. I just keep saying to myself, I may not be the best person but I keep showing up and thats galf the battle. I show up so my ethnic community has visibility, has a voice and has some advocacy in DC. I invite Pacific Islanders to join me in DC, we need more people involved. May 13 I will be on a panel that will address that the Biden-Harris Administration is redoubling its efforts to support Black, Latino, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, Native American, women, and veteran small business owners. From international matchmaking and business counseling, to direct funding for communities across the United States -- there is exciting work underway to help support new and existing AA & NH/PI entrepreneurs. For instance, in Fiscal Year 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration delivered $52.4 billion in capital, disaster relief, and bonding to small businesses and disaster-impacted communities across America, with expanded funding for minority- and women-owned businesses. Over the past year, the U.S. Department of Commerce has expanded offices and staffing in the Indo-Pacific, which has already helped U.S. AA & NH/PI companies expand sales and build commercial partnerships. Three million businesses are owned by AA & NH/PIs employing five million people with annual revenues of more than $1 trillion. This panel will explore opportunities and challenges for AA & NH/PI small businesses, despite record levels of funding, support, and services. It was moved to Walter E. Washington Convention Center because VP Kamala Harris will be attending.

Today is #Juneteenth and our #NEOPartner, The Leadership Conference Education Fund reminds us that, "Juneteenth is not just a celebration of freedom; it's a call to action. We must ensure that all voices are heard in our democracy. The fight for the freedom to vote is crucial for safeguarding our rights and building a more just society. For democracy to work, it must include us all." Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gy-hMtJG