The NJ Chamber Calls Off the 2021 Walk to Washington, and Announces Events - with the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey - That Will Address Economic Inequities in the State
'We will challenge businesses in every corner of the state to do their part to change the status quo.'
—Tom Bracken, President & CEO, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announced today that its Walk to Washington and Congressional Dinner, an annual business event that dates back to 1937, will not be held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 84th annual Walk, the state's largest business networking event, had been scheduled for Feb. 18 and 19, but the Chamber – in conjunction with its partners Amtrak and the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel – saw no way to safely move forward with the event during the ongoing medical emergency.
"Clearly, in the current environment, it is not a good idea to host a networking event that packs together hundreds of business and government leaders on a charter train and then in a hotel for a dinner,” said Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the N.J. Chamber. “Our intent is to resume the Walk to Washington in 2022 – conditions permitting – because it is an important event for New Jersey’s business community.”
Two Chambers of Commerce will Launch a Rallying Call to End Economic Inequities in New Jersey
'The time is now to make New Jersey the most economically inclusive state in the nation.'
—John Harmon, President & CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
The N.J. Chamber and the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey announced today that they are partnering on an initiative in 2021 that will serve as a rallying cry to end economic inequities in New Jersey.
The initiative would include a series of receptions around the state to promote diversity and equal economic opportunity, culminating in a statewide dinner on Sept. 23, 2021.
The receptions and the dinner will honor people, organizations and companies that have successfully created or expanded diversity and equal economic opportunities across New Jersey.
“New Jersey is already one of the most diverse states in the nation,” said John Harmon, president and founder of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. “The time is now to make it the most economically inclusive state in the nation. No issue is more important to New Jersey’s economic health than creating a system where economic opportunity is available for all.”
The two chambers will work to align their activities with related activities of the New Jersey CEO Council, the New Jersey Legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity, and other businesses and chambers of commerce in the state.
“This will be a critical undertaking and something our two chambers envisioned when we signed our memorandum of understanding in August,” said Bracken. “We want to make our joint events a rallying call for diversity and equal opportunity. We will challenge businesses in every corner of the state to do their part to change the status quo."
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About the N.J. Chamber's Partnership with the African American Chamber of Commerce of N.J.
On Aug. 17, 2020, the chief executives of the N.J. Chamber and the AACCNJ signed a memorandum of understanding that sets a framework for the two organizations to work together to address the economic inequities that exist for black citizens and black business owners in the state. The agreement calls for the two organizations to focus their efforts chiefly on creating and enhancing education, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. For more info on the memorandum of understanding, click here.