Thank you for joining me again this week. I’m willing to bet that most us have already heard of the Geoffrey Owens story but, if you happened to miss it let me give you a quick summary.
Last week a woman named Karma Lawrence took and shared photos of
former Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens (Elvin Tibideaux) working a cash register at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey. The backlash at what appeared to be an attempt to shame the actor has been resounding but even louder has been the support of those rallying behind Owens. Many people, from big named celebrity to everyday individuals, have come to his defense. During an interview with
Good Morning America Owens, while wearing his Trader Joe’s name tag and Yale baseball cap, said this: “There is no job better then another job. It might pay better, it might have better benefits, it might look better on a resume or on paper, but actually it’s not better. Every job is worthwhile and valuable.”
As an immature kid, I grew up often ashamed of what my parents did for a living, especially my father. When we first came to the US neither of my parents had high school degrees so, they often had to take on positions like janitorial work to a make ends meet. My dad in particular worked in a chocolate factory which for a six-year-old with a sweet tooth wasn’t half bad. It wasn’t until I became old and noticed that the parents of my classmates and friends were doctors and lawyers that I became embarrassed of my father’s job. It felt awkward to disclose that kind of information to people whose parents did something so different from my own. The thing about my father though, is that he was never ashamed or embarrassed of the work he did. In fact, he took a great deal of pride in it. He took pride in work that feed his family and kept the proverbial roof over our heads and shoes on our feet. He worked hard at whatever it was that he did because he understood the value and the dignity inherent to work – any kind of work. It took maturity to understand now that hard word is always rewarded when we take pride in what we do.
It wasn’t until I became a father myself that I really understood and appreciated the commitment my father made to his job and to us. For one months before working for the Chamber I worked as an Uber driver. My family and I had just returned to the US after spending the previous 2 years traveling the world. It had been an amazing experience but also a stressful one, especially for my daughter who wanted to finish high school here in the States. We made the difficult decision to come back but the adjustment process wasn’t an easy one. After about six months of being home and still not finding a position I decided to drive for Uber.
I loved it. From meeting Google executives to cleaning ladies and everyone one in between it was a job I really enjoyed – despite being one of the few Tesla Uber drivers out there. Eventually, I found and applied for my current role with the Chamber of Commerce which I also love. Getting to work on behalf of local businesses, advocating for you, talking with you – even if it means occasionally having my words misconstrued – is something I look forward to and take pride in every day.
The Geoffrey Owens story this week reveals that this basic sense of pride in the work that we do is missing in so many of us today. Instead, we’ve placed value in the kind of work someone does. Is it glamorous? Does it pay well? Will it get me noticed by lots of people? I would suggest we spend less time focused on those fleeting aspects of our jobs and instead focus on giving the best of ourselves to the work that we do. Hard work is always rewarded, and I would encourage those of you who are employers to take note of that hard work, value it and value your employees.
As always, I look forward to your thoughts and comments. See you next week Richmond!
I form strategic alliances between communities, corporations, and governmental entities to enact meaningful change for the residents of Richmond, CA and beyond. I’m equipped with 25+ years of executive experience in the fields of nonprofit and for-profit management, organizational leadership, and computer science.
I believe that success is communal: ensuring the health, well being, and comfort of our families, friends, neighbors. I believe that success is best shared: bridging ties between corporations, local leaders, and constituents to create a city that will serve a snapshot into the best aspects of the American spirit: diversity, equity, and a drive to innovate.
Dear Richmond Business Community,
This three question survey will take a minutes of your time and is of crucial importance to the Chamber of Commerce as a partner of a unique project initiated by the City of Richmond.
Promoting Adult Continuing Education (PACE) 4 the Workplace is an innovative one-year project consolidating community, businesses, nonprofits, and municipality aspirations to open up the opportunities for Richmond employees who seek to advance their education. Though there are notable examples of how companies encourage employees to study by providing stipends and using other incentives, no city in the US has taken a systematic and synergetic approach when every stakeholder in a society – community members, businesses, nonprofits, and local government – work together finding most effective ways to promote and encourage adults to go back to school.
We are excited to be collaborating with the Richmond Public Library’s adult literacy program, LEAP on the first step to gather data on workplace programs for adult continuing education.
Your participation in this project will truly be a service to the community, take the survey now!
Results of the survey and project results will be broadly disseminated during upcoming months.
Please feel free to contact me and PACE 4 the Workplace Project Coordinator, Rasa Ciceniene at rasa_ciceniene@ci.richmond.ca.us, if you have any questions.
Thank you for your time,
James Lee, President/CEO – Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Event
Thank you to all the First Responders who serve our city every day to ensure that our community and youth are able to enjoy the City of Richmond.
We hope you will be able to make time to come enjoy a delicious BBQ Lunch in honor of all the hard-working people in Richmond and the surrounding areas!
This is a free event!
However, we are asking for donations in any amount.
These donations will go towards victims of the Northern California fires. Please help the families that have been affected by the fires which continue to devastate local communities.
Join Bridge Storage & ARTSpace for a Celebration, Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!
At the launch event…
Tour the new amenities
Get to know local arts and culture organizations at our Richmond Community Expo
Get wowed by our live Taiko drummers
Raise a glass to our new venture at our formal ribbon-cutting ceremony
Enjoy a mini film festival in the film studio showing shorts from local filmmakers
Enjoy food and drink provided by local R&R Coffee
With shared office space, artist studio, woodshop, and metal shop as well as private meeting rooms and studios-a Bridge membership offers the space to design, create, and build, with perks similar to those offered by more conventional co-working spaces. A professional film stage and 2200 square foot gallery space are also part of the compound. A catering kitchen, ADA-accessible restrooms, music rehearsal spaces and a yoga/dance studio are all in the works.
Chevron STEM Zone & Oakland Athletics Activation Station
Sponsored by Chevron
For more information call: (510) 215-4555
This event will be taking place at:
Nevin Park
5th Street & Macdonald Avenue
Richmond, CA 94801
Voted “Best Outdoor Music Festival” by Best of the East Bay!
Concerts are held on the second Friday of each Summer month through September, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. The LAST CONCERT of the summer will be September 14th!
Local restaurants are open on concert nights, offering a wide array of cuisine. We feature face painting for children and dancing in the street.
Festival-style seating is available with a limited number of chairs provided, and concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own festival/lawn chairs.
Point Richmond outdoor concert venue is at the corner of Park Place and Washington Avenue in historic downtown Point Richmond
PRM hopes to see you there!
A true celebration of Downtown Richmond!
10th Annual Spirit & Soul Festival
LIVE MUSIC ON 2 STAGES!
Main Stage: Salute to Soul Legendary Tribute Lineup –> 1st Avenue Revue (Prince), Ray McCoy (Luther Vandross), Nicole “But-tah Buttafly” *Aretha Franklin) and fresh pop rock by 2morrows June
12th Street Stage: Young performers from Richmond, presented by MA Hays & Youth Committee
BEVERAGE PAVILION: Main Street Margaritas, East Brother Beer Co., Benoit Casper, Wine
There will be Food Trucks & Booths, Artisan Vendors
Youth Zone, Info Booths & Drawing Prizes!
Enjoy this is event taking place between
MacDonald Avenue & Harbour Way
to 13th Street, Richmond, CA 94801
2018 Shoreline Yacht Tour
Thursday, September 20th
1:00-1:30PM Check-In
1:30PM On-Shore Program
1:45PM Board Yacht
5:00PM Return to Shore
Council of Industries is excited to announce the 20th year of their premier networking event on the Richmond shoreline! Thank you to past sponsors, and welcome new sponsors to our annual event. The program begins with recognition of all the sponsoring businesses. The Yacht Tour then leaves from the Marina Bay Yacht Harbor and slowly winds its way around the Santa Fe channel during which time the sponsoring businesses are recognized and representatives provide a brief overview of their business and community support.
This is the key event of the year to network and mingle with other business representatives, City Council Members from Richmond, El Cerrito, Pinole, San Pablo, Hercules, Rodeo; County Supervisors and elected officials; City of Richmond department managers, Richmond Planning/Design Review Board/and Economic Development Commissioners; local, county, regional and state elected officials; neighborhood council representatives, regulatory liaisons, community and neighborhood leaders, etc.
To ensure another successful year, we need the support of our sponsors who will be noted in the event brochure, on sponsor Boards and during the opening remarks. Any sponsoring company may bring marketing material to be displayed on the yacht.
(Enter on South side of mall, entrance next to Richmond PD satellite office just west of Walmart and adjacent to bus stop- next to where JC Penny was. When you enter mall, take elevator on left side.)
2200 Hilltop Mall Road
Richmond, CA 94806
Join the Richmond Police Activities League for the 37th Annual Scramble Golf Tournament for a day of FUNdraising!
Friday, October 5th
at 11:30AM
There are several packages available for sponsors looking to play:
RPAL Mentor Package $150
Golf for 1, Range Balls, 1/2 Cart, Gift Bag, Lunch, Dinner and Fun!
RPAL Computer Lab Package $600
Golf for 4, Range Balls, 2 Carts, Gift Bags, Lunch, Dinner & Tee Sign Sponsorship and more fun…
RPAL Sports Package $1000
Golf for 4, Range Balls, 2 Carts, LOADED Gift Bags, Lunch, Dinner and 2 Tee Signs Sponsorship, Dinner Beverage and more fun…
RPAL Internship Package $1500
Golf for 4, Tee Sign, LOADED Gift Bags, Sponsor Signs on Carts, Special Hole Sponsor, Reserved Dinner Table, Dinner Beverage and lots of fun!
RPAL Scholarship Package $2500
Golf for 4, 2 Tee Signs, Sponsor Cart Signs, Sponsor of Special Event Hole, Reserved Signature Dinner Table, 4 Pre-Game Players Packages and on-cart personal beverages and priceless fun!
Or if you’re not looking to play, other sponsorship opportunities include:
Sponsor Special Event Hole $350
Tee Sign Sponsorship $100
Putting Contest Sponsor $1000
Sponsor Teen Golfer for 2019
General Program Donation (any amount)
Do you have questions about sponsorship options? Or are you ready to reserve your spot?
Contact Marsha Tomassi by phone 510.215.6133/510.323.3403
IS LOOKING FOR FULL & PART-TIME TAILORS/SEAMSTRESSES
Design Veronique is an equally opportunity employer. We are looking for full-time and part-time tailors/seamstresses to join our production department.
Benefits for full-time employees include:
Competitive Salary
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Time
401K Retirement plan
To apply, please pick-up an application at Design Veronique, Mon-Fri, 7am – 4pm:
