The 2022 Annual Gateway Cities Leadership Summit

Last year’s leadership summit explored the opportunity to fuel small business growth with the unprecedented infusion of recovery resources and federal infrastructure funds. This July, we will revisit this opportunity with a sharper focus on inclusive contracting and procurement.

MassINC will present findings from new research prepared in partnership with the legal team at Lawyers for Civil Rights, then we will dig into several case studies. We will conclude the summit with a timely review of end-of-session Gateway City legislative priorities and strategies to advance them.

Featuring:

Opening Remarks

Bob Rivers, CEO & Chairman of the board, Eastern Bank

Data Presentations

Ben Forman, Executive Director, Gateway Cities Innovation Institute

Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, Executive Director, Lawyers for Civil Rights

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Carrie Saldo, Award-winning journalist

Daylana Ervin-Parker, Director, Budget and Supplier Diversity, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Kareem Kibodya, Co-Lead of Policy & Advocacy, BECMA

Bill McAvoy, Executive Director, Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office

Natalia Urtubey, Foundation Fellow, Eastern Bank Foundation

Legislative Update

Senator Eric Lesser, Chair, Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies