Political and Social Fragmentation
Polarization–creating “us-versus-them” division–is as old as time. While some people thrive on it, one of a chamber's enduring roles is to find common ground. Chamber leaders must adapt by strengthening their facilitation skills, fostering inclusive dialogue and promoting collaborative solutions to benefit the broader community.
The reasons for this are clear:
- Business leaders represent a variety of political interests and parties. Chambers work on behalf of all members.
- Businesses share common interests that transcend political or social differences like the need for skilled workers, an interest in keeping taxes fair and a pro-growth regulatory environment.
Political issues have evolved over the centuries, but the fundamental need for businesses to have a voice in these discussions has only increased. What’s more, the voice of business has a positive effect; while elected officials often find themselves at the bottom of “most trusted” lists, business leaders and chambers of commerce are often at the top.
- How can chambers stake out the moderate middle on issues of importance to members amidst an increasingly polarized world?
By the Numbers
ACCE Insights
- Engaging the Public Sector Toolkit: As chamber executives, our jobs require us to work with a wide variety of people to get things done. It is critical that chambers and the professionals who manage them develop a strategy for engaging the public sector. ACCE created this toolkit to help you to be more effective in your role with the chamber and, by extension, your chamber more effective in your community.
- Certificate in Chamber Management: The public policy and advocacy course provides insights and best practices around beginning an advocacy effort at your organization, creating a government affairs committee, creating a public policy agenda, resolving member conflicts, creating a PAC creation and more.
Chamber Examples
- The Portland Metro Chamber joined the Auto and Retail Theft Task Force alongside the City of Portland and Multnomah County. The chamber successfully advocated on behalf of its members to strengthen penalties for those engaged in organized retail crime. It also continues to leverage its own poll results to highlight the impact that crime has on the quality of life of residents and visitors.
- The business community was struggling with new government leadership and its negative impact on them. The Michigan West Coast Chamber and community stakeholders convened and determined that synergy was needed at the government level. The chamber developed the West Coast Connect platform, designed to seamlessly connect skilled business professionals with meaningful leadership opportunities in local nonprofit, municipal and government roles. The program exceeded all goals in the first nine months. (2024 Chamber of the Year Feature)
Smaller Chamber Examples
- Several Colorado chambers have partnered on the Leveraging Local Leaders program to prepare individuals for board and commission service, conduct effective community advocacy, steward critical local issues, manage coalitions and run for office. A great example of scaling a program by working together.
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