Blog
June 22, 2023
Key Takeaways from Dreamin’ In Color 2023
Dreamin’ in Color 2023 may have come to an end, but the energy continues to pulse across the community of both existing colleagues and newly connected professionals who attended. The conference for current and aspiring Black Salesforce professionals is intended to empower, inspire, and encourage attendees to support one another on their professional and personal journeys. Held at the Raleigh Convention Center the weekend before Juneteenth, Dreamin’ In Color united participants from across the country, spanning multiple industries, professional backgrounds, and career stages.
Attain Partners was thrilled to attend and support the event as the Inspiration Lounge sponsor, fostering an atmosphere of engagement and a shared sense of connection. Through activities including our community artboard installation, conference goers shared their thoughts in writing, as either outward encouragement to the viewer, or as a reflection of their own feelings. The seven artboards focused on personal and professional experiences of Candor, Courage, Community, Excellence, Inspiration, Legacy, and Representation. The result was a crowd-sourced collection of affirmations and wisdom that were raffled off to seven lucky attendees who will receive the unique souvenirs of this second-ever Dreamin’ In Color conference.
Dreamin’ In Color wasn’t just a professional conference—it was a compilation of memorable moments to lift each other up and build connections. Attendees grabbed handfuls of colorful “inspiration” buttons from the Lounge to share with one another—small tokens of appreciation for an inspiring word or action to recognize how we may often give back to others without realizing we’ve done so. As we continue the conversations, our new connections and expanded networks are the true takeaways.
The night of the Harlem Renaissance Gala, the Attain Partners team was particularly proud to be recognized as one of four nominees for the “Doing the Work” award. The honor recognizes our commitment to “walking the talk,” fostering an environment where Black employees feel welcomed, supported, and championed. While another incredible organization took the award home, we won an impactful vote of confidence in our daily efforts and activities to create a workplace in which all team members feel valued, included, and empowered to do great work and share ideas. We continue to nurture these efforts and are excited to formally launch our internal IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship) program to further support our employees’ unique experiences and perspectives, enabling us to create and deliver the best service to our diverse clients.
Whether current Salesforce professionals looking to fill their cup, individuals entering—or re-entering—the workforce and looking for a way to start, or people desiring more information about expanding their skills through the Salesforce ecosystem, the practical, technical, institutional, and emotional knowledge sharing that occurred in Raleigh was invaluable—and more importantly, actionable. We’ll see you in 2024, Dream Team!
Our incredible team of onsite professionals—Pamela Fitch, Catherine Sylvester, Jenifer Parker, and Kora Rea-Alexander—had this to share about their own powerful experiences:
Pamela Fitch
Associate Business Development Director
I was ready for great things at my second Dreamin’ In Color after attending the inaugural conference last year in Raleigh. For me, Dreamin’ In Color is all about connection—connection and leading change.
As a first-time experience for many—sharing a room with more than one other Salesforce professional of color, or listening to a panel full of Salesforce professionals who look, sound, and have the same challenges as they do—it’s really a life-giving professional event. Dreamin’ In Color has created a community like no other.
So, I was proud that Attain Partners was able to create a space, the Inspiration Lounge, where people could connect, host meet-ups (shout out to the Atlanta SF Group), share ideas, interact with an art installation, inspire one another, have resumes reviewed, enjoy refreshments, and simply relax.
Every session, lunch, dinner, and BRUNCH … was highlighted by people who have been “Doing The Work” to expand opportunities for people of color in the ecosystem. I was amazed by the sheer number of leaders and allies who came sharing their unique perspectives and ideas that will inform our work at Attain Partners as we hire and inspire our own workforce, and actively seek to make the world a better and more inclusive space.
Catherine Sylvester
Specialist Leader
Dreamin’ In Color was the first of many. My first time attending the conference as well as the first time I have ever been in a space with so many Black Salesforce professionals. Keeping with the gala theme, I felt a new Renaissance in the Salesforce ecosystem—a new discovery. I rediscovered my “why” by giving my role model an Attain Partners “You Inspire Me” pin, meeting new Salesforce professionals, understanding what representation means for them, and finding the motivation to leave a legacy where we have a space that inspires us all in the work we do each day.
Jenifer Parker
Human Resources and DE&I Professional
Dreamin’ In Color was a wonderful experience and a true testament to the power of community. The conference was very intentional, with sessions catering to attendees’ needs—from networking to developing skills within Salesforce to encouragement and advice on career growth. The Renaissance Award Ceremony was inspiring—the keynote speaker uplifted everyone with a truly motivating talk about discovering and walking in your purpose. Additionally, it was incredible to hear about the work being done to support Black professionals throughout the Salesforce ecosystem by the award recipients.
The Attain Partners team was able to meet over ninety talented Black Salesforce professionals who visited us in the Inspiration Lounge, and this solidified something for me: there is a lot of diverse talent out there, and those who think otherwise are not looking in the right places. Events like this provide companies with the opportunity to expand our networks and tap into the talent pools of diverse communities.
Kora Rea-Alexander
Talent Acquisition Professional
Dreamin’ In Color was truly inspirational through its collaborative spirit that lead to detailed and meaningful takeaways. The conversations surrounding topics like DEIB, the Salesforce Ecosystem, and Workforce Development created strong connections and an environment of inclusion. Attain Partners was truly Teaming for Speed through education, community engagement, and allyship.
My largest takeaway was being nominated for the ‘Doing the Work’ award, which showcased Attain Partners’ strong commitment to making sure all employees feel welcomed and supported throughout their tenure, especially employees of color. Dreamin’ In Color has provided impactful motivation, key relationships, and strong professional development. I cannot wait to see team Attain Partners there next year.
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To learn more, check out our Salesforce Innovation services, read case studies about our transformative work, and explore blog posts from our Salesforce experts.
About the Authors
Pamela Fitch is an Associate Business Development Director and Philanthropy Director at Attain Partners. Pamela is a familiar face in the philanthropy arena with a career spanning 20+ years helping hundreds of foundations in the ever-evolving field of philanthropy technology. As a champion for change, she has been helping foundations and nonprofits leverage the Salesforce platform for organizational transformation and expansion since 2016. Pamela is known for freely sharing her deep expertise with a thoughtful, consultative, and witty approach to solving every problem. Her approach is always “community-centric,“ whether working as a foundation executive or engaging in business development. Her role at Attain Partners allows Pamela to again apply those skills to the communities she desires to see grow, evolve, and increase their social impact to change the world.
Pamela holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and is an unabashed lover of tennis, rescue pets, and margaritas.
Catherine Sylvester is a Specialist Leader in the Salesforce Innovation Services group at Attain Partners with over 12 years of experience in Salesforce specializing in nonprofits. She is passionate about social justice and equity. At Attain Partners, she has the opportunity to pursue her purpose through technology. Prior to working at Attain Partners, she started her company, Coached by Cathy, to mentor and train underserved communities in Salesforce. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development Student from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Urban Planning from Harvard Kennedy School.
Jenifer Parker is a Human Resources and DE&I Professional at Attain Partners. With a passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Ms. Parker has experience in helping organizations develop their DE&I strategies, leveraging her professional training in Diversity & Inclusion. Prior to working at Attain Partners, Ms. Parker led a corporate DE&I program at a private firm in Alexandria, VA. She holds a professional certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University.
Kora Rea-Alexander is a Talent Acquisition Professional at Attain Partners. Mrs. Rea-Alexander is a trusted talent acquisition consultant to Attain Partners and its portfolio companies, and prides herself on exceptional candidate management. She efficiently collaborates on Attain Partners’ Internship Program where she implements her project management skills. Prior to working at Attain Partners, Mrs. Rea-Alexander was an elementary school educator and brought her passion for education to Attain Partners. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Towson University and is an AIRS Certified Diversity Recruiter.
Jesse Dean is a Marketing and Communications Manager at Attain Partners. Ms. Dean is an experienced marketer with a focus on branding, graphic design, video, and communications. She is skilled in using existing brands across multiple clients, industries, and organizations, as well as developing new brand standards. With a talent for communicating complex data for multiple audiences through varied mediums, she helps education, nonprofit, and private industry clients make their mark, as well as supporting all Attain Enterprises entities, including Attain Capital Partners and Attain Sports & Entertainment and their affiliated sports teams. In addition to creating and managing the Attain Partners brand, she leads internal communications with a focus on employee engagement and enrichment.
