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The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and City Awake are proud to bring forth the 5th annual Fierce Urgency of Now Festival. The festival is named after Dr. Martin Luther King’s march on Washington for jobs and freedom. Dr. King spoke of “the fierce urgency of now” – the pressing need for immediate action and lasting change in the face of racial injustice: “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
“The fierce urgency of now” remains a prophetic call to action. This September, the festival will be a movement and gathering for convening, connecting, and celebrating virtually and in person during the 4-day festivities. Whether you are a newcomer or have joined the fun in the past, here are ten quintessential reasons why the 2022 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival is the festival that you do not want to miss.
Dr. King’s leadership and legacy continues to impact the fight for social justice today. The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival is the place to convene with passionate individuals who share the same vision of building an inclusive, equitable, and safe society for all. Last year, the festival’s opening ceremony keynote speaker was social policy and racial healing expert, Heather McGhee. Heather perfectly detailed the true costs of racism and challenged the idea of the zero-sum paradigm. This year, attend the festival and join thought leaders, like Heather, who are effecting social change and continuing Dr. King’s legacy of leadership and impact.
Studies have shown that having deeper, more transparent conversation improves wellbeing. The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival designs events to spotlight diverse communities and foster space for meaningful dialogue. Last year, the “Shop Talk with Gillette” event powered by P&G/Gillette and hosted by The Confess Project tackled mental health and stigmas in communities of color. The discussion enabled a deep dive into the challenges that compromise mental health and explored how these daily battles show up personally and professionally. The Confess Project prioritizes boys & men of color and grants them access to mental health resources by training barbers to be mental health advocates. This year, events such as “Let Me Be: Natural Hair in Corporate America” are sure to continue the conversation on the importance of identity, self-expression, and authenticity.
Whether they have graduated from the Boston’s Future Leaders Program or are outstanding young professionals, emerging leaders are pivotal to a better future. Today, Gen Z is more focused on social issues than any prior generation. Kahlil Greene is a Gen Z Historian and the first Black student body president at Yale University. He is also an online educator with over 20 million views on his combined social platforms. In 2021, Kahlil led the “Moving Beyond Statements” event at the Fierce Urgency of Now Festival where he echoed the importance of taking meaningful action on issues of injustice. This year, the festival offers events like “That’s Debatable: Using Your Voice to Ignite Change” to center emerging leaders and empower younger generations to own their voice while educating others.
Social action refers to citizens uniting to tackle issues, support others, and improve their communities. It requires people to invest time and resources for the common good through volunteering and community organizing. The festival convenes Greater Boston leaders for events such as last year’s “Be the Change” panel where speakers discussed how businesses impact our region, how people can advocate for change no matter the industry they work in, and what Boston’s tomorrow will look like. This year, join the “Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront Summit & Day of Service” event to learn how to take social action, increase self-efficacy and create longstanding change that positively impacts the surrounding community.
Organized by City Awake, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s young professional platform, The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival provides 30+ events hosted by organizations and businesses across Greater Boston. The festival’s objective is to bring Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations, and their peers to build connection, advance careers, and ignite positive change. Young professionals of varying identities and cultures are encouraged to connect, thrive, and feel included in the greater community. Events such as the “Backyard Bash on Boston Common” celebrate community and encourage the championing of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
With the festival being a decentralized, 4-day affair with 30+ events, attendees get a chance to explore the city. This presents an opportunity to discover and support BIPOC, women-owned small businesses. Creating impact means change at every level, and that includes the power of purchase and funding. This year, you can join in on the festivities all while contributing to the success of businesses that need your support the most.
With dozens of events hosted by Greater Boston organizations and businesses, the festival presents convenient access for cross-industry and strategic networking. College students and people in search of new opportunities can join the “Social Strategies for Networking” or “Entrepreneurship: Mentors & Mentees and Forging Authentic Connections” events to meet corporate leaders, local organizations, and other peers to build connections or get career advice for advancement. This unique opportunity for strategic networking will allow you to enlist support from others who can help you in the pursuit of professional goals and in gaining new perspectives, ideas, and information.
The City of Boston is known for top-tier universities and the best hospitals in the country. In the past year, Bostonians have elected the first Asian-American Mayor who was preceded by the first Black and female Mayor. Boston is a city of heart, grit, and rich history. The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival is an empowering event where all Bostonians can convene as a community of changemakers. The festival is the place to unite and explore neighborhoods, support small businesses, immerse in varying art forms, contribute to important conversations, and connect with the people who make the city culturally wealthy, vibrant, and exciting.
Fierce Urgency of Now Festival attendees are individuals who transform spaces through positive impact. They are students, professionals, business owners, community leaders, and visionaries who consistently challenge social and organizational habits, uproot norms, and provide concrete solutions. The festival serves as a hub for education on social happenings, exchange of ideas, consumption of culture, and the gathering of leaders.
Boston’s future is in the hands of all of us. The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival serves as a blueprint for how Bostonians can continue to create immersive and diverse experiences that include all races, cultures, life experiences, and socioeconomic backgrounds. For an equitable and truly inclusive future, we all must do our part in fostering more intentional and strategic opportunities to celebrate diversity, effect positive change, and champion our city as the pioneering hub of excellence that it is.
The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and City Awake enthusiastically welcome all to the 5th annual Fierce Urgency of Now Festival. With 30+ events between September 14-17, get ready to connect and transform. Visit the official festival webpage and register for a variety of events today.
Sources:
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/characteristics-of-employer-businesses.html
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/05/14/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen-z-so-far-2/
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