Diversity Committee Meeting

The Anchorage Chamber Diversity Committee is excited to welcome Celeste Hodge Growden as our featured presenter for February! We invite committee members and guests to join us for an engaging and meaningful conversation as Celeste shares her insights, leadership journey, and vision for creating more inclusive and equitable communities. Lunch will be available for purchase, and we look forward to learning, connecting, and growing together.

PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE: THE EQUITY CENTER - 605 BARROW ST.

Celeste Hodge Growden is a respected advocate for BIPOC and marginalized communities with more than 30 years of experience advancing equity and community change. Since 2019, she has served as President and CEO of the Alaska Black Caucus, leading organizational strategy, budgets, and partnerships to address racism and uplift communities.

Previously, Celeste was Executive Director of Shiloh Community Development, Inc., worked in legislative affairs for Alaska State Senator Bettye Davis and U.S. Senator Mark Begich, and served in the Municipality of Anchorage’s Mayor’s Office of Equal Opportunity, focusing on racial equity and discrimination issues.

She holds a Bachelor of Social Work and an Associate Degree in Business from the University of Alaska Anchorage and has been honored with the 2022 Athena Award and the 2024 Alumni of Distinction Award. Celeste is the longest-serving President of the NAACP Anchorage Branch and continues to serve on boards supporting housing, youth, and community development.

The diversity committee's mission is to better serve and advocate for the business community by becoming a more open, inclusive, and diverse organization reflective of the make-up of Anchorage. To accomplish this we envision a board that reflects the demographics of our city and a growing membership of businesses representing the diversity of our business owners and entrepreneurs.

All members and non-members are welcome to attend and share ideas to advance our diversity mission. If you'd like to present at a future meeting, please email diversity@anchoragechamber.org.