Other Voices—
From the President and CEO of Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber, published to Saline Journal by written request. [1,2]
As we all deal with the reality of COVID-19, we are collectively rediscovering the importance of our community institutions, and the connectivity they provide us. [3-5]
This is especially important during a time when normal connections cannot always be facilitated.
No single organization or entity can fill all of these important roles. Our institutions form a mosaic which serves our community, and the Chamber is honored to be a small part of that mosaic. We feel indebted for the role we have been allowed to play. [6]
Part of that role is sharing information. Since last week we’ve shared important information on public health services, governmental resources and responses, and other important information from local, state and national organizations. We hope you see and share that information. [7]
Perhaps the most important role we have is to foster the collective success of our members, be they businesses, non-profits, or other community members. Now more than ever, we all need to do everything we can to support our community businesses, especially our small, local, and independent businesses.
This means more than just small but important things like ordering take-out, tipping service workers extra, and being lenient on things like bill payments and contract completion.
Fundamentally, we need to consider how we collectively rebuild our local, national, and global business communities — focusing not just on getting back in the black, but in providing greater economic sustainability, collective success, and broad-based economic durability. [8,9]
We do not know when our current situation will end, and when we can begin to take actionable steps to rebuild our economy. Whenever that time comes, our chamber will be there to help our community members in that work. Until then, please make use of us as a source of information, a forum for connection, and a source of certainty during an uncertain time.
Our staff and our board of directors are honored to serve you. Thank you for making this community great.
References
- Diane Keller (LinkedIn Profile).
- A2Y: Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber (home page).
- “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- “Novel Coronavirus Reports” CDC.
- “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak” World Health Organization (WHO).
- “There’s no such thing as ‘one stop shopping for all news,’ but we are constantly improving what our own shop offers” Dell Deaton (February 4, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “COVID-19 Resources” A2Y Chamber.
- “Trump Says Won’t Allow Long-Lasting Damage to Economy from Virus” Alexandra Alper, Makini Brice, Steve Holland, Lisa Lambert, Sarah Lynch, and Jeff Mason, editing by Chris Reese (March 23, 2020) The Washington Free Beacon.
- “Coronavirus Update: New York Needs To Balance Saving Lives And Jobs, Cuomo Says” (March 23, 2020) CBS New York. https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/03/23/coronavirus-new-york-state-on-pause-starts/