Why the Manchester chamber supports Manchester Proud

Our staff and member volunteers have been an important part of their work

For the past two years, Manchester Proud has worked tirelessly to create a new vision and strategy to transform and strengthen Manchester public schools. The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce was an early endorser of this effort, and our staff and member volunteers have been an important part of Manchester Proud’s incredible work to build a community-wide movement in support of our students and schools.

As a member of Manchester Proud’s Community Planning Group, I have seen firsthand the incredible work this community initiative is accomplishing and could not be more excited about what it will mean for the future of our schools.

A draft of the strategic plan is currently posted on the Manchester Proud website and community members are welcome to submit questions and feedback while the plan is being finalized. Speaking as someone who has been honored to be part of the process of developing this plan, I am truly excited by the broad array of robust ideas and the new vision this plan lays out for our schools both in the short, near and long term.

I’m reaching out to you to invite you to support Manchester Proud at its most critical step in the process yet. Manchester Proud will present its finalized strategic plan to the Board of School Committee on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at Memorial High School and seek the board’s adoption of the plan.

We need your voice and presence at this meeting! To RSVP, visit rsvp.manchesterproud.org and join fellow business and community leaders for this critical event!

Mike Skelton is president of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. This article is excerpted from an email letter he sent to his organization’s members.