Ambassadors & Committees
The Equality Business Alliance fosters community and business leadership through its many programs and menu of services. Members from all levels are able to play an active role in leading the organization by joining one of our committees. Our committees also create a sense of community, and provide our members added benefits and opportunities. Fill out and submit an application below if you are interested in joining one of our committees.
Committee Chairs are either members of our board, or board appointees.
New Committee!
As the EBA’s elite public relations committee, the Ambassadors will be our largest and most active committee.
Ambassadors perform many important tasks for the organization. Most importantly, they help recruit and retain members, assisting the EBA in meeting its membership goals for the year.
This committee serves also as a prerequisite training module for a role in select committees. We encourage anyone who would like to get involved to first join our Ambassador program.
- Welcome New Members: Select Ambassadors make follow-up calls to new members to ask how their experience is going and suggest ideas regarding the benefits of membership that will be most effective for them.
- Event Support: Special name tags make Ambassadors prominent at EBA events. You’ll find them welcoming attendees, making sure everyone is comfortable and finding the contacts they are looking for.
- Ribbon-Cuttings: Ambassadors assist in setup, breakdown and appear in ribbon-cutting photos as official EBA representatives. They tour new member facilities and spread the word about the hosts’ companies.
This committee oversees the planning and organizing of our signature events, including our Equality Mixers; OUT on the Ice; our Pride Mega-Mixer; Haunted Hillcrest History Tours; Rainbow Keys to the City; the Economic Summit, and more! The Signature Events Committee will also provide feedback to the board and staff on new initiatives.
Members of this committee must first serve as an Ambassador before joining the Events Committee
This committee educates & raises awareness within our community & membership while advocating for progressive policy and on organizational, local, state/regional and federal issues. Members of this committee must first serve as an Ambassador in order to join this committee.
Organizational Level of Focus:
- Implement bylaw changes and ensure the organization’s mission and vision are supportive of diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices in all areas of the organization.
Local Areas of Focus:
- We are supportive of mobility options that reduce single occupancy vehicle use and move employees and the community through the city safely and efficiently. We advocate for safe streets for all.
- We are supportive of the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan that outlines dense communities along streets and throughout areas with high transit.
- We are supportive of housing initiatives that increase the housing supply and in turn spur business growth that increases the economic base of our communities.
- We are supportive of Environmental Policy that reduce, reuse and repurposes waste, including Ocean Friendly Restaurants and Green Certified Businesses. We support clean air and water initiatives, and encourage our members to reduce plastic and styrofoam single use products.
- We advocate and support public place making projects such as the Hillcrest Rainbow Crosswalk, Mural Alley, and the LGBTQ Legacy Walk.
- We advocate at the local and state level for recognition and inclusion of LGBTQ BE's in government and private procurement and supplier diversity programs.
State/Regional Level Areas of Focus
- We have partnered with Diversity Supplier Alliance to register and provide certification to Women, minority, LGBT, and disabled veteran-owned businesses through the California Public Utilities Commission Clearing House. The Supplier Clearinghouse certifies these firms and publishes a directory for use by participating utility companies and the public. These activities are governed by General Order 156 of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The program provides certified MBE, WBE, DVBE, and LGBTBE firms the opportunity to participate in a wide range of business opportunities.
- We are members of the Western Business Alliance (WBA). The WBA was founded in 1994 as an opportunity for LGBT chambers throughout the Western United States to advocate on behalf of the LGBT economic equality movement, share ‘best practices’, and serve as the collective voice of the LGBT business community in the West. The WBA includes LGBT chambers and thought-leaders from twenty-two cities, eleven states, and Vancouver, British Columbia.
- We work with our regional partners and LGBT Chambers in Southern California and offer discounted memberships to our members who wish to join any LGBTQ Chambers within the WBA.
- We support state policy for housing initiatives centered around high transit corridors.
- We stand and fight for policy changes targeted to reduce the tobacco-related health disparities within our community. We are fighting to enact the following policies throughout the State of California.
Federal Level Areas of Focus
- We are working to increase relationships and create partnerships with the Tijuana & Baja California LGBT Business Community.
- In 2015 we advocated for Marriage Equality at the US Supreme Court during the oral arguments of Obergefel v Hodges. We camped out for four nights and five days sleeping on the steps of the US Supreme Court.
- In 2019 we advocated for LGBT Employment Rights at the US Supreme Court during the oral arguments over gender identity and sexual orientation. We spent four nights and five days sleeping on the steps of the US Supreme Court- providing interviews to local, regional, national, and international media.
- We visited California Congresswoman Susan Davis during both visits to DC.
- We advocate for policies in support of clean water, safer chemicals, closing the gender pay gap, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- We hosted a four hour tour of member businesses with California Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. The goal of the tour was to identify opportunities for Federal PPP Loan improvements.
- We encourage businesses to act with full community responsibility and to pay employees a fair wage.
The ERG Roundtable works with existing and establishing ERG’s for ongoing education on issues affecting corporate America.
It serves as a roundtable for supporting the professional and personal growth of LGBT individuals by working with corporations to foster a safe environment within their companies/business where LGBT individuals can find friendship, volunteer opportunities, and opportunities to improve workplace relations.
We recognize that the success of our business community has a direct correlation to the health and wellness of our employees and community. This committee works to identify the disparities that exist for LGBTQ business owners and their staff, and find ways to address them.
The Equality in Wellness Committee has partnered with Equality California to take on Big Tobacco.
We’re fighting back; fighting for the institutional changes required to save our next generation from the predatory practices of Big Tobacco. Enough is enough. Big Tobacco has the money, but we have the power of the people.
We stand and fight for policy changes targeted to reduce the tobacco-related health disparities within our community. We are fighting to enact the following policies:
- Restrict the availability of ALL flavors in ALL tobacco products. No Exceptions.
- No longer allow the use of discounts and price reduction promotions for the purchase of ANY tobacco product.
- Create a culture of tobacco-free Pride and LGBTQ events and celebrations
- Remove the influence of Big Tobacco from California State elections
The Marketing Committee supports the overall visibility of the Equality Business Alliance. It manages the communications to our community and brings awareness of the Equality Business Alliance's existence and the work we do to create an impact for business professionals.
This committee helps strengthen the EBA image by providing complete and consistent messaging to highlight our accomplishments and creates and maintains the plan for opportunities to SUPPORT, ENGAGE, LEAD, and PROSPER.
The Community Placemaking Committee encourages arts and culture programs that identify a space as significant to the LGBTQ community.
Its role is to shape the physical and social character of our LGBTQ community — in a strategic fashion — throughout San Diego County.