BATON ROUGE, La. (July 11, 2023) — The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) today announced that it will host its second annual Economic Inclusion Symposium presented by DOW on August 30, 2023. Registration is available at brac.org/events.
The full-day conference will feature a keynote presentation by Carmen West, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President Equality of Opportunity Initiative, a BR-POP Vendor Connect Showcase for minority-business owners to connect with contracting opportunities, and a variety of breakout sessions attendees can choose to pick from. The goal of the symposium is to spur discussions on fostering greater levels of economic inclusion within the workplace and the community.
Programming will speak to a wide range of individuals, including C-suite executives, diversity and inclusion practitioners, small business owners, and minority- and women-business owners. Session topics include “Incorporating D&I Into your Strategic Plan,” “Unlocking Opportunities through DBE Certification,” “Communication & Inclusion Strategies,” “Seizing Opportunities: Unlocking Public and Private Procurement,” and more.
BRAC’s Economic Inclusion Council will also announce the recipients of the BRAC Diversity Star Award at the event. With a goal toward highlighting exceptional best practices taking place in the Capital Region, the award seeks to honor and recognize regional businesses that have championed diversity and inclusion at their businesses or in the community. Applications for the Diversity Star are now open through July 28 at brac.org/diversitystar. One small and one large business will be recognized.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Renaissance Baton Rouge. Early-bird registration for the event is $75 for BRAC investors and $85 for non-investors and available through July 28. After the early-bird period, registration will increase to $100 for BRAC investors and $110 for non-investors. Event registration and additional event information including the agenda and speaker list is available at brac.org/events.
Companies interested in hosting a booth at the BR-POP Vendor Connect Showcase can contact Davorio Stevenson, BRAC’s Manager of Economic Inclusion, at davorio@brac.org for more information.
The event is presented by DOW. The Small Business Reception is sponsored by Shell. Supporting sponsors include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, Nexstar, and Turner Industries.
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) is an aggressively ambitious regional economic development organization with a bias for action. BRAC seeks to push Baton Rouge beyond the status quo, unleash its potential, and support a vibrant business community that believes the finish line does not exist. BRAC seeks to accelerate economic opportunity in the Baton Rouge Area, for everyone, through BRING IT! Baton Rouge, its five-year, regional strategic plan. Learn more about BRAC at brac.org.
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