Скачать или смотреть Leader Lunch Break: The Power of Inclusion: Strengthening Community & Commerce

Amanda Cole
Executive Director, Plexus LGBT + Allied Chamber of Commerce

Amanda outlined Plexus' mission to support LGBT businesses and professionals in Northeast Ohio through workplace inclusion and providing marketing and networking opportunities for small businesses. Amanda discussed the organization's evolution from informal networking to a formal 450-member Chamber of Commerce, emphasizing its role in advocating for LGBT entrepreneurs and addressing discrimination. She highlighted the Gay Games in Cleveland as a catalyst for collaboration between the LGBT community and local businesses.

Amanda touched on Plexus' three core pillars: connect, educate, and advocate. She discussed the benefits of certification for LGBT-owned organizations, the LGBT community's economic impact, and the importance of advocacy amid anti-LGBT legislation. Despite recent membership decline due to financial pressures, Plexus remains committed to inclusivity and community engagement. She announced the upcoming LGBT Workplace Impact Symposium, aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and encouraged participation from HR and inclusion professionals.

Recorded from a live Zoom session.