Our business community’s pledge to combat racism and discrimination and to advocate for racial and social equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
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We have been living through a transformational time. The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor were a catalyst for peaceful demonstrations which we support and important conversations on racial and social injustice around the world. Maine companies, organizations, and communities are part of a global movement to address systemic racism and improve the quality of life, access to opportunities, and economic inclusion for Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
We, as leaders of Maine organizations, understand that when it comes to racial and social justice, silence is not an option. We recognize that we have a responsibility to advocate for positive change and demonstrate our commitment to racial equity in our areas of influence, such as inclusive recruitment practices, addressing barriers to hiring and retaining foreign-trained professionals, and workplace programs to promote cross-cultural understanding. We condemn racism in any form, have zero tolerance for discrimination and pledge to participate in authentic dialogues about race, diversity, equity and inclusion.
As employers in a state where the majority of the population identifies as white, we will advocate for positive change and focus on the critical work of anti-racism.
We commit to continuously evaluate our own practices to ensure they live up to these values and standards and to educating our employees on racism and engaging in programs that advance racial equity. With openness, humility and respect, we can learn from each other and from the communities where we live and work.
We encourage our colleagues, our community partners, and each of our neighbors to join us as we promote racial and social justice throughout Maine.
Our employees, customers, and communities deserve nothing less.
We, as leaders of Maine organizations, understand that when it comes to racial and social justice, silence is not an option. We recognize that we have a responsibility to advocate for positive change and demonstrate our commitment to racial equity in our areas of influence, such as inclusive recruitment practices, addressing barriers to hiring and retaining foreign-trained professionals, and workplace programs to promote cross-cultural understanding. We condemn racism in any form, have zero tolerance for discrimination and pledge to participate in authentic dialogues about race, diversity, equity and inclusion.
As employers in a state where the majority of the population identifies as white, we will advocate for positive change and focus on the critical work of anti-racism.
We commit to continuously evaluate our own practices to ensure they live up to these values and standards and to educating our employees on racism and engaging in programs that advance racial equity. With openness, humility and respect, we can learn from each other and from the communities where we live and work.
We encourage our colleagues, our community partners, and each of our neighbors to join us as we promote racial and social justice throughout Maine.
Our employees, customers, and communities deserve nothing less.
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Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine
Denise McDonough President Bank of America Bill Williamson Maine Market President Bernstein Shur Joan M. Fortin Chief Executive Officer Covetrus Ben Wolin President and CEO Edward Jones Investments Jeremy Urquhart Financial Advisor Evergreen Credit Union Jason Lindstrom President and CEO Hannaford Supermarkets Michael Vail President Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Bill Whitmore Maine Market Vice President |
IDEXX
Jay Mazelsky President and CEO L.L. Bean Stephen Smith President and CEO MaineHealth Bill Caron Chief Executive Officer Maine State Chamber of Commerce Dana Connors President and CEO The MEMIC Group Michael P. Bourque President and CEO Pierce Atwood, LLP David Barry Managing Partner Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce Quincy Hentzel President and CEO Portland Sea Dogs Geoff Iacuessa President and GM |
SMRT Architects and Engineers
Ellen Belknap President Southern Maine Community College Joseph L. Cassidy President TD Bank Larry Wold Market President, Maine University of Southern Maine Dr. Glenn Cummings President Unum Michael Q. Simonds Chief Operating Officer Verrill Dana LLP K.C. Jones Managing Partner The VIA Agency Leeann Leahy CEO WEX Melissa Smith Chair and CEO Woodard & Curran Doug McKeown CEO and Chairman |
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH US
This is more than a statement - it's a call to action.
To add your organization's support and commitment to action, fill out the form below and stay tuned for further information, trainings, and resources.
To add your organization's support and commitment to action, fill out the form below and stay tuned for further information, trainings, and resources.
PLEASE NOTE: Signing this pledge will alert a Chamber staff member to add your organization's name to our Additional Signers page, located HERE.
Please fill out the form HERE (or below) to adhere to the actions outlined in the Standing in Solidarity statement, including training and educating my workforce to ensure that we are operating with values and standards which advance racial equity and social justice:
TRAININGS
The Portland Regional Chamber is providing a variety of training opportunities to help meet the needs of our members regarding racism, unconscious bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Stay tuned for future offerings.
Momentum: A Maine Racial & Social Equity Series
February 1 - June 1, 2021
Thank you for participating in Momentum: A Maine Racial and Social Equity Series with the Chamber, GPCOG, the Portland Public Library, and the United Way of Greater Portland! Your efforts helped continue the conversation of advancing racial equity. Stay tuned for future offerings from the Chamber and our partners
The evergreen resources and recorded events are structured for you to complete on your own time. Thank you for keeping the momentum going!
Thank you for participating in Momentum: A Maine Racial and Social Equity Series with the Chamber, GPCOG, the Portland Public Library, and the United Way of Greater Portland! Your efforts helped continue the conversation of advancing racial equity. Stay tuned for future offerings from the Chamber and our partners
The evergreen resources and recorded events are structured for you to complete on your own time. Thank you for keeping the momentum going!
21-DAY EQUITY CHALLENGE
The Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce developed a 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge for our members and the community to create dedicated time and space for each of us to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege and leadership.
Challenges include - reading an article, listening to a podcast, watching a video, and more! These activities are structured for you to complete on your own time each day (approx. 15 minutes).
Challenges include - reading an article, listening to a podcast, watching a video, and more! These activities are structured for you to complete on your own time each day (approx. 15 minutes).
ADDITIONAL WEBINARS
RESOURCES
Below are an initial collection of resource. Please also see the resources included with our 21-Day Racial & Social Equity Challenge HERE and our Momentum Racial & Social Equity Series HERE.
VIDEOS/PODCASTS
- ‘Intergroup anxiety’: Can you try too hard to be fair? from the Christian Science Monitor (5 min)
- Allegories on race and racism by Camara Jones from TEDxEmory (4 min)
- Dr. Ibram X. Kendi: Creating A More Equitable Society Is In White Americans' Self Interest from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (12.5 min)
- How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race by Jay Smooth from TEDxHampshireCollege (12 min)
- NPR Code Switch Podcast: A Decade of Watching Black People Die (22 min) PLEASE NOTE: This resource contains strong language as it includes quotes from actual accounts of police brutality.
- A Conversation with My Black Son from The New York Times (5 min) Overview: In this short documentary, parents reveal their struggles with telling their black sons that they may be targets of racial profiling by the police.
- A Conversation on Race (Complete Series) from The New York Times (each video is approx. 6 min) Overview: Multiple videos with a range of racial and ethnic perspectives on the lived experience of racism in the US.
- What is the Psychological Impact of Racism? by Mark Brian Hodges-Haynes? from HuffPost Live (30 min) Overview: Little research has been done on the psychological effects of racism, but data reveals that black Americans experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at a prevalence rate of 9.1% versus 6.8% in non-Hispanic Whites. This conversation explores the relationship between racism and PTSD, much of which is linked to the difficulty of talking about racism.
- Why “I’m not racist” is only half the story by Robin DiAngelo from Big Think (7 min) Overview: Robin DiAngelo explains the function of white fragility in maintaining racial hierarchy.
- How to be an Antiracist by Professor Ibram X. Kendi from the Aspen Institute (54 min) Overview: Explore what an antiracist society might look like, how we can play an active role in building it, and what being an antiracist in your own context might mean.
- The difference between being "not racist" and "anti-racist" by Professor Ibram X. Kendi from TED (51 min)
- "A Conversation With Native Americans on Race" directed by Michèle Stephenson and Brian Young from The New York Times (36 min)
- "We Need to Talk About an Injustice" by Equal Justice Initiative founder and executive director Bryan Stevenson from TED (23.5 min)
READING
- Understanding the Racial Wealth Gap, 2017 study by Amy Traub, Laura Sullivan, Tatjana Mescheded, & Tom Shapiro analyzing the racial wealth gap that exists between white, black, and Latino households. (PDF)
- So You Want to Talk About Race (2019) by Ijeoma Oluo. In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life.
- Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor (2020) by Layla F. Saad. This eye-opening book/WORKBOOK challenges you to do the essential work of unpacking your biases, and helps white people take action and dismantle the privilege within themselves so that you can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too.
- Writing with Color: POC & Food Comparisons by Collette. Writing with Color has received several asks on this topic. Everything from “how do I describe my character’s skin tone without being offensive?” and “what’s the problem with comparing my character to chocolate and coffee?” I’m hoping to address all these and likewise questions in this guide on describing POCs’ skin color, from light, dark and all that’s in between.
- "A Latino is a Latino is a Latino?" by historian Alfredo Torres Jr. from My San Antonio.
- Interrupting Bias: Calling Out vs. Calling In from Seed the Way (PDF)
- Being Antiracist from National Museum of African American History & Culture, The Smithsonian
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Do you have ideas for resources, trainings, or educational materials we could provide to our members and the community?
Please get in touch with the Chamber directly to add - or suggest edits - to this list. We know there are many groups and individuals doing important work on these issues and we want to hear from you!
Please get in touch with the Chamber directly to add - or suggest edits - to this list. We know there are many groups and individuals doing important work on these issues and we want to hear from you!
