From the Desk of Executive Director
Robert George
|
|
What a wonderful start to summer.
Roxbury Main Streets kicked off June by inviting small business owners and community service police officers to meet the new captain of Boston Police Department District B-2, Haseeb Hosein. Inside Dudley Café, the group discussed public safety in Nubian Square. Attendees had an amazing discussion and came up with new ideas and action plans to help improve the environment in Roxbury. Stay tuned for what’s to come! Thank you, Captain Hosein, for meeting with the Roxbury small business community.
That same day, Roxbury’s State Sen. Liz Miranda of District 2 hosted a tour of Nubian Square and lunch at Nubian Markets with 12 other state senators and various community organizations, including Roxbury Main Streets! It was an honor to collaborate with elected leaders on how to better serve the Roxbury community at the state level. We heard stories from Nubian Markets’ owners, the founders of Black Market Nubian and other community advocates. Thank you for always showing up for your community and being a wonderful partner, Sen. Miranda. As the Senator says — “Roxbury love!”
And remember to visit Nubian Markets on Washington Street! The small business’ market, café and butchery have healthy and cultural food options for everyone.
And on June 19, we celebrated Juneteenth. The many small and minority-owned businesses, community organizations and advocates in Roxbury represent the community’s freedom, resilience and ability to thrive. There is a lot more work to be done to get Roxbury the resources it deserves, but it was an honor to celebrate independence with all of you in Nubian Square — the heart of Black culture in Boston.
And reserve your spot! On Thursday, September 21, from 8am to 10am, Roxbury Main Streets is hosting its annual Women’s Entrepreneurial Breakfast at the Bruce C. Bolling Building in Nubian Square. Special speakers include president of the NAACP Boston Branch, Tanisha Sullivan, and the City of Boston's director of small business, Aliesha Porcena. You can purchase tickets at this link. Roxbury Main Streets hopes Nubian Square’s amazing women and leaders will be in attendance.
And for the third consecutive month, Roxbury Main Streets partnered with The American City Coalition for another phenomenal Savor the Square event. Check out Savor the Square’s next date in July below.
Even with the sun shining, we are seeing environmental improvements in Nubian Square thanks to our city partners in public health, public works, police, inspectional services and transit police, as well as community organizations. Warmer weather brings more people, but our community organizations are ready to provide every individual with the resources they need. Don’t forget, sunshine also brings more visitors, families and services to the Square. Roxbury Main Streets is taking a summer break from its Nubian Square walkthroughs on Thursdays, but we will start back up and provide details in September.
And more developments are on the way. Roxbury Main Streets is dedicated to cultivating a mixed-income economy for Roxbury, which will provide more jobs for the community, generate growth for small businesses, create opportunities for residents to build generational wealth and more.
Thank you to the community, our partners and the Roxbury Main Streets board of directors for your dedication and commitment to our organization and Roxbury as a whole. And special appreciation to the Rockland Trust Foundation for supporting Roxbury Main Streets and the community. Revitalizing Nubian Square takes a village, but our collective efforts have proven invaluable.
I celebrated my three years as executive director of Roxbury Main Streets in June, and I have a feeling this year will be the best one yet.
Sincerely,
Robert M. George, Executive Director of Roxbury Main Streets
#RoxburyLove
|
|
Open Streets Roxbury
Saturday, July 15
|
|
|
|
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is making Nubian Square pedestrian-friendly for the second annual Open Streets!
On July 15, Blue Hill Avenue will be closed from 10am to 3:30pm for the Roxbury community and visitors to bike, walk, roll and connect with each other and small businesses.
Click here for more information.
|
|
Savor the Square 2023
Saturday, July 22 and more
|
|
|
|
Savor the Square is Nubian Square’s seasonal open-air marketplace, featuring events and a broad selection of Black and Brown vendors for food, music, entertainment, arts, crafts and civic resources.
Click below for more information.
|
Thank you, The American City Coalition, for bringing Roxbury Main Streets on as a partner! |
|
Women's Entrepreneurial Breakfast
Thursday, September 21
|
|
|
|
Reserve your spot!
On Thursday, September 21, Roxbury Main Streets will host its annual Women's Entrepreneurial Breakfast at the Bruce C. Bolling Building in Nubian Square.
Special speakers will include the president of the NAACP Boston Branch, Tanisha Sullivan, and the City of Boston's director of small business, Aliesha Porcena.
|
|
Donate to
Roxbury Main Streets
Click below to make any level of donation.
|
|
Other Events in the Community |
|
BECMA & BII Open House in Nubian Square
Thursday, July 20
|
|
|
|
The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts and Boston Impact Initiative moved to Nubian Square and are hosting an open house! The free event includes networking and activities. |
|
NAACP National Convention in Boston
July 26 and more
|
|
|
|
The NAACP national convention is coming to Boston!
The NAACP Boston Branch encourages Roxbury residents and Black business owners to represent at the convention as the heart and soul of Black Boston! Buy tickets, become a vendor or volunteer below.
|
|
Summer Skills - Soccer Unity Project
July 31 and more
|
|
|
|
The Soccer Unity Project is introducing a free 2-week soccer program for kids ages 8 to 14!
Sign up for children to learn and play soccer at any skill level at Carter Fields on the Northeastern University campus on Tremont Street.
|
|
GET LIT - WINKids Book Band Club
July 31
|
|
|
|
Only one session left!
The Witherspoon Institute is hosting the GET LIT — WINKids Book Ban-d Club at the Nubian Square branch of the Boston Public Library! The last session is July 31.
|
|
Roxbury Main Streets Hosts
Small Businesses to Meet
New BPD Captain
|
|
On June 6, Roxbury Main Streets hosted 25 small business owners and community service police officers at Dudley Café to meet the new captain of Boston Police Department District B-2, Haseeb Hosein. The meeting provided a safe and personal setting for small business owners to share their concerns about public safety in Roxbury and to ask the Captain questions about BPD.
By the end of the night, attendees walked out into Nubian Square feeling supported and motivated to help make change as a community.
|
|
Business owners were vulnerable and honest with the Captain about their struggles and experiences. Hosein said he was incredibly grateful to everyone who attended and that it was an honor to listen to the stories of people who love Roxbury from the bottom of their hearts. Thank you to the Roxbury Main Streets board president, Haris Hardaway, for facilitating the conversation.
Roxbury Main Streets will be working with B-2 and small business owners to turn conversations into actions, and to keep the Roxbury merchants community involved every step of the way. Improving the environment in Nubian Square requires unity, and we know each and every person is ready and willing to help.
So, stay tuned for updates and ways to get involved!
|
|
The State Comes to Nubian Square
Meeting with State Senators
|
|
On sunny June 6, State Sen. Liz Miranda of District 2, which includes Roxbury, hosted 12 other state senators in a tour of Nubian Square. The Roxbury born-and-raised senator invited Roxbury Main Streets, along with Black Market Nubian, Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, small business owners and other community advocates to lunch with the senators at Nubian Markets. |
|
The senators shared how grateful they were for the opportunity to learn about Roxbury. Every elected official that spoke said they felt the community’s heart and soul the moment they walked into Nubian Square.
“As we were walking on the tour, an elderly woman told me I had something on me, and she proceeded to pick the lint off my suit. Communities with a culture of care like this one are so special,” One senator shared.
The owners of Nubian Markets, Yusuf Yassin and Ismail Samad, shared the inspiring story of their fight to eventually own the condo that the café and market are located in. The founders explained to the senators why property ownership for small businesses is crucial — Small business owners know their community, represent the community and understand what their community wants to eat.
“Investors don’t waste their money on outsiders' surveys and research when they put their money directly into the people they want to serve,” Samad said.
|
|
We also heard from the founders of Black Market Nubian, Kai and Chris Grant, and other community partners and advocates. Thank you all for representing the heart and soul of Roxbury to our state elected officials.
Much appreciation to Nubian Markets for the delicious lunch, and to Sen. Miranda for showing off Nubian Square the way it deserves — #RoxburyLove.
|
|
Summer Beautification Program |
|
Roxbury Main Streets' annual Summer Beautification Program is off to a great start this year, adding vibrancy to Nubian Square. Many thanks to the Eastern Bank Foundation and Boston Gardner, as well as the City of Boston Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion and Office of Small Business.
We are building a thriving community, together! #RoxburyLove
|
|
If you've gone down Dudley Street recently, you've noticed new banners! We have been working hard since spring to create and install new banners across Nubian Square that read "Nubian Square: The heart and soul of Roxbury."
These banners are integral to revitalizing Roxbury, and we can't wait for them to be all over the Square! Thank you to our funding and creative partners for support making these banners come to life.
|
|
Outstanding Service Award |
|
At the Roxbury Main Streets board of directors meeting on June 14, executive director Robert George presented Delaney Murray, Roxbury Main Streets’ Northeastern University co-op student, with the Outstanding Service Award. It was a heartwarming and special night. |
|
Murray said her favorite part about working with Roxbury Main Streets in Nubian Square has been the community.
“It has been an honor to get to know my neighbors after living close by for a few years,” she said. “Thank you to everyone who has taught me about Nubian Square and its wonderful community, and I am looking forward to soaking up more knowledge.”
Although Murray’s co-op through the university has come to an end, she is staying with Roxbury Main Streets as a Communications and Community Relations Specialist. Thank you to everyone who helps sustain Roxbury Main Streets!
|
|
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
in Nubian Square
|
|
Register Your Rental Unit! |
|
Social Determinant of Health Assistance |
|
Special shoutout to the Community Caring Clinic on Warren Street in Nubian Square for its new outreach program for Roxbury residents, Social Determinant of Health Assistance. In just one week, the clinic helped 36 individuals by providing $50 gift cards for food, as well as assistance with rent and utilities.
Contact the Community Caring Clinic for more information: communitycaringclinic@gmail.com
|
|
OUR MISSION
Roxbury Main Streets works hands-on with residents, local businesses, developers and government agencies to accomplish our mission of making Nubian Square — the heart of Roxbury — a vibrant and diverse commercial district that supports local and minority-owned businesses, creates jobs for local residents and engages the Roxbury community. Roxbury Main Streets takes action in a number of ways, from offering small businesses technical support and financial training, to helping local health agencies house the homeless and treat substance use. We help businesses in the Square adapt to the ever-changing market and our growing Roxbury community.
Revitalizing Nubian Square takes a village, and Roxbury Main Streets proudly brings together passionate partners who share our mission and help us make a long-lasting difference.
|
|
|
|
GET YOUR BUSINESS CERTIFIED |
You can apply for certification with the City of Boston's Equity and Inclusion Office if your business meets certain qualifications.
Click here for more information.
|
|
Roxbury Main Streets Board of Directors |
|
Haris Hardaway, President
Richard Taylor, Vice President
Norvia Peña, Secretary
Carlos Castillo, Treasurer
Solmon Chowdhury, Angela Yard, Brian Keith, Kamran Zahedi, Ella Howard, Toy Burton, Ronnette Taylor, Misha Thomas, Kai Philip, Monica Dean, William Watkins, Ted Lewis
Robert M. George, Executive Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
