9/11 - 20 YEARS LATER,BTR SEPT. 9-16, 2021 5
Chances are, if you ask most folks over a certain
age where they were on 9/11, they will recount a vivid
memory of not only their physical location, but how
they found out, who they were with, and what they
were doing.
Bronx Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Sorin
recalls trying to get her 1-year-old out of the car at her
sitter’s house in the Soundview section of the Bronx
when the radio host announced that a plane hit one of
the Twin Towers. She listened as the next plane hit,
holding her daughter tightly and fearing what would
come next. As then-Chair of the Bronx Red Cross Advisory
Board, she immediately signed up to volunteer
at a rescue team center, providing space for food and
rest for the heroes responding to the call of duty.
This experience helped defi ne Sorin’s professional
purpose: supporting individuals and businesses who
work tirelessly on behalf of keeping our City a great
place to live, visit and do business. Each year on the
anniversary of 9/11, she looks at her Red Cross credentials
from those days, remembering the tired faces,
the dust, and all the people who were there to hold the
hands of our fi rst responders and thank them for their
work.
Today, a full two decades later, the City’s business
community is in an ongoing battle to weather the
ever-morphing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As President of the Bronx Chamber, Sorin strives to
continue amplifying the Chamber’s voice in government,
advocating for business-friendly legislation at
the city, state and federal levels, as well as its organizational
efforts to improve the economic, civic, and
cultural well-being of the Bronx via business recovery
and creation of growth opportunities.
Through the darkest days of 2020 and the continued
uncertainty of 2021, the Chamber has served as
a hub of vital services for the Bronx business community,
working to help Bronx businesses survive
via on-the-ground PPE distribution and deployment
of recovery resources for thousands of the borough’s
small and micro businesses through the Small Business
Resource Network.
While the mandatory “pandemic pause” disrupted
the Chamber’s core model of in-person networking
and events, the team focused on providing virtual
supports and developing innovative new programs:
• Ongoing Legislative Advocacy to address, infl
uence and publicize important information
about small business and pandemic relief legislation
• • Uninterrupted Minority and Women Owned
Business Certifi cation and Recertifi cation
and Chamber on the Go services
• • Launching an Internship Connector to
match Chamber member businesses seeking
interns with Career Services reps at our
member colleges, facilitating communitybased
internship placements to fi ll a labor
need
• • Developing a New Member Outreach program
that assigns Chamber Ambassadors to
new member businesses
• Complete revamp of bronxchamber.org
Now, the Chamber is back at full capacity and
working tirelessly for its members and extended network,
while also planning for its fi rst in-person Gala
in over 2 years (mark your calendar for September
30th!) to raise vital unrestricted operating funds and
as well as seed funding for the Bronx Chamber of
Commerce Foundation.
Here are some of the many benefi ts of Chamber
membership provided at every level:
1. We are your voice, representing the Bronx
business community in Albany, City Hall,
and Washington, D.C. Our Legislative Committee
monitors new laws and policies affecting
business, and educates members to
be informed and aware of opportunities for
engagement
2. Listing in our online Business Directory,
with access for the public via our website,
and access to our Member Portal where you
can connect, post and share information
with fellow members
3. The Chamber provides guidance, application
prep and packaging assistance for M/
WBE Certifi cation, which - once obtained
- renders certifi ed businesses more competitive
to seek contract opportunities with
NYC agencies and other entities
4. We host several free and low-cost networking
events (in-person and virtual) throughout
the year, providing ample connection
opportunities
5. Informative workshops and seminars (inperson
and virtual) for Chamber members,
presented by industry professionals, fellow
members, and government agencies
6. Our weekly e-blasts and “Friday Extra”
YouTube series highlight important legislative
updates, member and local community
news and events, and much more
7. Promotion of your Grand Opening or Reopening
event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony
featured prominently in Chamber
communications, as well as local media
8. Access to special discounts and exclusive
offers from fellow Chamber members, using
the Chamber’s communication network
For those seeking a deeper level of visibility and
infl uence, we offer a number of additional packages
with enhanced sponsorship and advocacy opportunities.
By joining the Bronx Chamber, your
business will become part of an active, infl uential
network of engaged members led by President Sorin,
her team, and a dynamic Board of Directors.
Get started by visiting bronxchamber.org/membership
benefi ts, or email membership@bronxchamber.
org. We also welcome a good old fashioned
phone call at 718.828.3900 - we would love to connect
with you live to hear about your business needs and
recommend the best way to get started with the
Chamber.
BUS INE S S , BRONX – ADV ERT I S EMENT
The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce
Working For You, Your Business, & Your Community
link
link
link
/bronxchamber.org
/bronxchamber.org