TO: All Chamber Members
FROM: Aaron Nelson
DATE: February 6, 2020 at 3:20 PM
SUBJECT: Message from Chamber President and CEO, Aaron Nelson, re: Big Bold Ideas
 
Dear Chamber Members,

On Friday, during our 77th Annual Meeting, the Big Bold Steering Committee Chair Creighton Blackwell provided an inspirational update on Big Bold Ideas – the community-wide goal-setting venture that we launched together last year.

I am writing today to share Creighton’s update and invite you and your colleagues to get involved in four ways in the coming weeks and months: 1) Stay Informed, 2) Volunteer, 3) Make a financial contribution, and 4) Spread the word.

Scroll down to learn more and act on these four invitations, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.

For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro,

Aaron Nelson
President and CEO, The Chamber 
ANelson@carolinachamber.org | (919) 967-7075 

BIG BOLD IDEAS: UPDATE AND ACTIONS

 
This short video provides a quick and wonderful briefing on the progress we made together on Big Bold Ideas in 2019. 

 

As you saw in the video, our community galvanized in 2019 around three big bold ideas that will make a substantial and positive impact: 1) Create dramatically more affordable housing; 2) Increase all students’ performance and close the achievement gap; and 3) Accelerate innovation and workforce development.

There is more work to be done, of course, but getting this far is a significant first step, and a big credit goes to the 40 influential and diverse members of the Big Bold Ideas Steering Committee and the seven founding investors who made this progress possible: Atma Hotel Group, Bank of America, Bold Construction, Coastal Credit Union, East West Partners, Fidelity Investments, and ShineBiG.

Going forward, the Big Bold Steering Committee will establish sub-committees for each idea, help establish specific and measurable objectives, and raise funds. We invite you to get involved in the coming weeks and months in four ways:
 

1. Stay Informed: We expect to make great progress and want you to stay informed and engaged. Join our new Big Bold Ideas listserv to get regular updates.
    
2. Volunteer: Success will not be possible without local leaders like yourself dedicating time to the cause. Raise your hand to express your willingness to serve on a Big Bold Ideas sub-committee if asked by the Steering Committee.
    
3. Donate: Coordinating this coalition for greater collective impact takes time and money. Consider making a financial contribution and/or underwriting.
    
4. Spread the word: If you and/or your organization are supporters of Big Bold Ideas, then let others know. Share the video on social media and display this new digital badge in places of prominence on your website and in your e-signature (and have it link to www.BigBoldIdeas.org) to help generate more awareness and keep the momentum going.