HOUSTON, TX (June 26, 2020) – The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston. Consul General Alicia Kerber-Palma, Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder and President & CEO of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber and Chamber Board of Directors participated in an online signing event highlighting the collaboration between the two entities. The MOU was officially signed during Pride Month.

The collaboration includes many areas focused on economic collaboration and inclusion including support of LGBTQ+ Mexican and Mexican-American entrepreneurs.  The MOU creates intentional and purposeful work between the Consulate and the Chamber and recognizes the positive impact of the members of the LGBTQ, Mexican and Mexican-American communities on the economy of the Greater Houston area.

“As an organization, we are committed to supporting Mexican and Mexican-American LGBTQ business owners to help them not only to succeed but to thrive in our great city,” said Tammi Wallace, Chamber Co-Founder and President & CEO.  “We will help them succeed because of this incredible collaboration with the Consulate to ensure they have access to resources, networking and community.”

"This MOU creates commitment to a better exchange of different ideas and more collaboration with the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce," said Consul General Alicia Kerber-Palma. "What better day than today to sign the MOU than during Pride Month. For Mexico, it is very important to highlight the diversity and important contributions that the LGBTQ community has on the economy of the United States and specifically the Mexican community in Houston."

One of the Chamber’s key strategic focus areas is collaborations and partnerships.  The Chamber fully understands the power of collaboration to build community and create economic opportunity and promote understanding.  With this Memorandum of Understanding, it is in that spirit of collaboration, partnership and friendship with the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston.  The MOU promotes commercial, investment, technology transfer and strategic alliance projects in specific sectors and mutual interest.

Click the links below to download the MOU in English or Spanish.

MOU – English                        MOU - Spanish

View the Virtual Signing at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=348677146118989

Formal remarks as delivered during the virtual signing event below Tammi Wallace, Chamber Co-Founder and President & CEO

Thank you, Consul General Kerber. First, let me wish everyone a Happy Pride especially on this 5-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision recognizing marriage equality in the United States. How special is it to be making this announcement during Pride Month and on this particular day?

Consul General Kerber, on behalf of the Board of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce and our members, we are deeply honored to enter into and commit to this valued collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston. Thank you for your collaboration and your friendship.

When we launched the Chamber, we committed to five key strategic focus areas which includes collaborations & partnerships. We included collaborations & partnerships as a key strategic focus area because we fully understand the power of collaboration to build community and create economic opportunity and promote understanding. With this Memorandum of Understanding that we are signing today, it is intentional, and it is purposeful.

It is with this commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Consulate General of Mexico in Houston, a document that is in that spirit of collaboration and partnership. We look forward to working with you to support your important work in Houston. We will work with you; we will be a resource; we will learn from you; we will collaborate on shared goals and we will grow through our mutual support. 

As a Chamber, we are dedicated to supporting a thriving LGBTQ and Allied business community in the greater Houston region. The Chamber is working every day to build and empower this network of business owners. What we know is that economic opportunity and economic inclusion are key for the LGBTQ community. Our economy simply does not work without full participation and making sure that everyone has a seat at the table. Social progress cannot be achieved without economic progress.

As an organization, we are committed to supporting Mexican and Mexican-American LGBTQ business owners to help them not only to succeed but to thrive in our great city.  We will help them succeed because of this incredible collaboration with the Consulate to ensure they have access to resources, networking and community.

We give our members a collective voice for the LGBTQ business community and that includes EVERY LGBTQ business owner and access to economic opportunity at EVERY level. We know that when Mexico succeeds, Houston wins and with Houston succeeds, Mexico wins. We are honored to sign this MOU today.

Final Concluding Remarks:

Consul General Kerber, thank you again for your friendship, your collaboration and your commitment to the LGBTQ community and to LGBTQ inclusion. We appreciate all you and your staff have done to forge this strong partnership. We are excited about our work together. On behalf of our board, thank you for your support of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. We know great things are ahead!

About the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Established in February 2016, the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to accelerate economic growth for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender business community using an entrepreneurial approach. The Chamber aims to achieve its goals, including advancing policies that foster inclusion and equality, by building a strong network of business allies and developing innovative programs and strategic partnerships.

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