Chamber
& City Awake Announce 2021 Fierce Urgency of Now Festival
The Greater Boston Chamber of
Commerce (GBCC) and City Awake are pleased to announce the fourth
annual Fierce Urgency of Now Festival, a four day festival that
convenes diverse young professionals together with their peers, business
leaders, and organizations to build connection, advance careers, and ignite
positive change. This year, the festival will feature more than 30 virtual and
in-person events hosted by a variety of organizations and companies from
September 15 through September 18.
In 2018, the GBCC and City Awake launched
the first Fierce Urgency of Now festival to highlight the voices of the next
generation and to inspire action. The title, “Fierce Urgency of Now,” is
attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech: “We have also
come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This
is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing
drug of gradualism.”
As the most recent national reckoning on
systemic racism continues today, the Greater Boston region and the business
community have a responsibility in transforming inequities into opportunity and
abundance. The festival’s opening event on September 15 features Heather McGhee, prominent advocate and
author of “The
Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.” On
September 16, Kahlil Greene, renowned racial equity speaker and writer, will
discuss the most recent racial reckoning and his experience as Yale
University’s first Black student body president. In addition to our powerful
keynote speakers, the festival also includes workshops, workouts, day parties,
and panel discussions.
James E. Rooney, the President and CEO of
the GBCC, describes the significance and impact of The Fierce Urgency of Now
festival. “The fourth year of the festival presents the opportunity to be even
bolder in the pursuit of equity and successfully connecting communities – this
year we have more events happening both virtually and in-person throughout many
Boston neighborhoods. A festival of this magnitude drives the purpose of City
Awake forward. Every day, we hear about the reputation and reality of living in
Greater Boston, and the festival can help us build a new, vibrant region
together.”
“The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival is a
dynamic platform that connects young professionals and amplifies the voices of
people of color throughout Boston. Gillette is proud to be a partner in this
festival and City Awake’s mission to inspire the next generation in Boston,”
said Gary Coombe, CEO, P&G Gillette.
“The Fierce Urgency of Now festival
convenes and connects communities throughout Greater Boston to increase
belonging, and I’m excited that the festival will return for a fourth year,
building on the success of earlier gatherings. The Barr Foundation is proud to support
this work to create the Boston of the future – a city that is more inclusive,
allowing everyone to thrive,” said Kalila Barnett, Barr’s Program Officer for
Climate Resilience.
“It is exciting to see The Fierce Urgency
of Now festival grow in impact and scope, and I’m looking forward to another
year of making game-changing connections with leaders of color throughout
Greater Boston. On behalf of Accenture, I’m proud of the critical work that we
are doing to make Boston more welcoming for young professionals of color,” said
Rutba Shivani, Operations Lead at Accenture and City Awake Advisory Board
Member.
The hybrid in-person and virtual 2021 Fierce Urgency of Now festival is supported by many, including Presenting Sponsors the Barr Foundation, John Hancock, and P&G Gillette; and Platinum sponsor T.D. Bank.
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