Chamber Partners with U.S. Chamber for Inequality Initiative
June 9, 2020
National townhall event to take place June 25
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to address inequality of opportunity, with an initiative to kick off with a national townhall event June 25.
During the townhall, business and community leaders will discuss concrete actions that can be taken by government and the private sector to address inequality through education, employment, entrepreneurship, and criminal justice reform. As a partner on this initiative, the Chamber will host local dialogues to continue to move the discussion forward.
“As business leaders in our community, we must strive to make West Alabama a place for economic prosperity for us all,” said Jim Page, President and CEO of the Chamber. “The benefits of diversity and inclusion for our workplaces and our community at large cannot be overstated, and we are excited to partner with the U.S. Chamber to develop a plan to further this important work.”
The Chamber has long worked to provide opportunities for minority entrepreneurs through the organization’s Diverse Business Council, which works to foster the growth and competitiveness of minority-owned businesses in West Alabama, including providing a network of support for advancement, educational opportunities, and financial resources. The Chamber’s regionally-recognized workforce development initiative, West Alabama Works, promotes diversity and inclusion by helping West Alabamians find meaningful, competitive jobs. Through community outreach events in rural and inner-city areas, West Alabama Works directly serves individuals by providing job training and tuition assistance.
U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark said the organization was proud to partner with the Chamber. “The moral case for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace is indisputable, and there’s overwhelming evidence that greater diversity benefits the economy, businesses, communities, and employees,” Clark said. “We are proud to partner on this initiative and help develop a robust plan of action.”