Welcome to our March Newsletter. Check out details on upcoming events, volunteering and more below.
Ensuring Safety for the LGBTQ+ Community Panel
April 17 - Dewitt Center in Roxbury
Legal Protections & Risks
Ricardo Martinez, Executive Director, GLAD Law
Government & Community
Justice Williams, Community Relations Specialist, Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA2S+ Advancement
Shaplaie Brooks, Executive Director, MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth
Healthcare & Well-Being
Jordina Shanks, CEO, Fenway Health
The Black Transgender Experience
Chastity Bowick, CEO, Chastity’s Consulting & Talent Group
Moderator: Dallas Ducar, Executive Vice President of Donor Engagement and External Relations, Fenway Health
Mark your calendars!
In today’s increasingly polarized political climate, LGBTQ+ individuals face rising threats to their safety—both in their workplaces and the communities in which they live. From workplace discrimination and legal rollbacks to the emboldened rhetoric of intolerance, ensuring security and belonging for our community has never been more urgent.
Pride in Our Workplace (PIOW) and the Boston LesBiGay Urban Foundation invite you to join a critical panel discussion that will explore the challenges of LGBTQ+ safety from multiple perspectives. This session will bring together thought leaders in law, government, healthcare, and advocacy to examine the systemic risks facing LGBTQ+ individuals today and the actions we can take to protect our rights.
📍 Location: Dewitt Center 122 Dewitt Dr, Boston, MA 02120 ⏰ Time:April 17, 6:00-8:00
We've arranged an amazing lineup of experts you won't want to miss!
We can’t wait to see you there! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to info@piow.org.
PIOW ERG Leadership Summit at Boston Spirit Networking Night
May 14 at Marriott Copley Place
Join Us for the PIOW ERG Leadership Summit at Boston Spirit’s Networking Night!
Calling all ERG and DEI leaders! Pride in Our Workplace (PIOW) is thrilled to host the ERG Leadership Summit in partnership with Boston Spirit’s Annual LGBTQ+ Networking Night on May 14 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.
This exclusive pre-event gathering (5:00–6:30 PM) is designed for ERG leaders, DEI professionals, and workplace inclusion advocates to connect, share best practices, and strengthen their impact. After the summit, attendees will join the main networking event and keynote panel, where 1,000+ LGBTQ+ professionals and allies will come together for an evening of networking and inspiration.
ERG Leadership Summit 5:00-6:30, followed by Boston Spirit Networking Night
🎟 Tickets: $75 + fees - includes admission to Networking Night
(PIOW sponsor members receive a $25 discount. Promo code will be shared separately)
Boston Spirit event sponsors receive a limited number of complimentary tickets to the summit.
⚡ Capacity is limited to 150 — register early to guarantee your spot!
For more details on sponsorship opportunities, contact publisher@bostonspiritmagazine.com
We can't wait to see you there!
Volunteer with PIOW
Missed Our Volunteer Info Session? Watch the Replay!
Thank you to everyone who joined our recent PIOW Volunteer Info Session! We had a great discussion about the many ways to get involved and support LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.
Whether you're interested in marketing and communications, fundraising and grant writing, project management, web and technical support, or event support, there are plenty of opportunities to make an impact.
If you’d like to volunteer, email volunteers@piow.org with your areas of interest—we’d love to have you on board! 🌟
February PIOW Networking Mixer
Is it spring yet? We're looking forward to warmer days ahead, but we got lucky with some spring-like temperatures for our Feb 25 Networking Event. We had a full house with over 80 RSVPs, including a waitlist, and over 50 attendees joining for great food, drink, and conversation. A sincere thank you to Cathy Burgess, of Wells Fargo Advisors, for hosting this great event.
Ibis idea+ Launch
Tuesday, March 19, at 2:00 PM ET
Last year, PIOW partnered with Ibis to deliver an incredible immersive experience through Interactive Theater to celebrate Pride month. This year our partnership is continuing, with Ibis having a very exciting update.
For nearly 40 years, Ibis has worked with leaders across industries and around the globe to navigate an ever-changing workplace. One challenge consistently stands out: leaders need practical skills to engage, develop, and retain top talent.
Now, Ibis is introducing idea+, a dynamic platform designed to equip leaders with the tools they need to navigate today’s workplace challenges and they want to give the PIOW community an opportunity to be among the first to experience it.
idea+integrates Interactive Theater, One-on-One Coaching, and Digital Tools into a structured, three-stage approach – Awareness, Application, and Practice – helping managers turn insights into action and build the skills that strengthen teams and drive performance.
Join for the exclusive idea+ Launch Event on Tuesday, March 19, at 2:00 PM ET to get a firsthand look at idea+ in action and participate in a live Q&A with the development team, coaches, and partners.
Community Partner Announcements Check out the latest information and upcoming events
We'd like to welcome our latest Community Partners: BAGLY, Greater Boston PFLAG, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), Trans Resistance MA, and OutStandingLife.
YW Boston’s Academy of Women Achievers (AWA) Luncheon will be held Tuesday, June 17 from 11:30-1:30 at the Westin Copley Place. AWA is our largest annual fundraiser; it supports crucial work to build a more inclusive Boston, where women, people of color, and especially women of color can thrive.
BAGLY has two upcoming events to be aware of:
Trans Youth Summit is only a few weeks away! It will be Saturday, March 22nd 2025 from 9am-4pm at Florida Ruffin Ridley School in Brookline. Register today!
There's Still Plenty of Time to Join us to March at Massachusetts Youth Pride. Registration is open!
Mass Transgender Political Coalition. Check out MTPC's 2025 Advocacy & Organizing Framework to learn more about priorities and focuses for 2025 and beyond. We've updated our Quick Reference Guides for Legal Name and Gender Marker Changes for both adults and youth in to incorporate changes at the federal level over the past month.
The History Project invites you to attend two upcoming events:
Verna Felton - Celebrate your Mom in style by coming to "Mother Knows Best: A Mother's Day Drag Brunch Fundraiser for Verna Felton"! Join us at Blend for a fabulous event celebrating all the amazing moms out there. Sit back, relax and indulge in a fabulous brunch, refreshing cocktails and enjoy entertaining performances by the most talented drag queens in Boston. Please check our events link above for registration going live soon.
Support LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion – Make a Difference Today!
At Pride in Our Workplace (PIOW), we’re building a future where LGBTQ+ professionals can thrive. Through community events, ERG leadership support, and advocacy, we’re driving real change in workplaces across Massachusetts and beyond.
🌈 But we can’t do it without you. Your support helps us expand programming, provide resources, and amplify the voices of those who need it most.
💙 Every donation, big or small, makes an impact. Join us in creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Follow Pride in Our Workplace on social and our website to be the first to see our resources, event updates, and more: LinkedIn. Until next time, stay safe and support each other.
