Roxbury Main Streets
May Newsletter
2023
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Next Weekend!
Stand-Up Comedy Show
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Last chance to reserve your spot! |
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From the Desk of Executive Director
Robert George
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Just one week away from the ‘Bury Funny Comedy Fundraiser! We have been polishing our plans for the show all month, and we cannot wait to see you there.
On Saturday, May 13, join us at Hibernian Hall in Nubian Square for Roxbury Main Streets’ third annual stand-up comedy show. All the comedians are Boston-based, and they are absolutely thrilled to be performing for the Roxbury community. Purchasing a ticket — or a few — not only secures you a spot in the audience, but your contribution goes toward Nubian Square’s small and minority-owned businesses and helps support Roxbury families. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. See you there!
And thank you to our current event sponsors for supporting the Roxbury entrepreneurial community. We are looking forward to another year of comedians picking some of Roxbury Main Streets’ board members out of the crowd for jokes.
In April, Roxbury Main Streets kicked off Savor the Square 2023 with our friends over at The American City Coalition! The program began with “Roxbury Arbor Day,” where attendees reserved a free tree to help greenery to Nubian Square. Continue reading for the many more dates and special themes coming this summer for Savor the Square, and click here for details. We hope you’ll join us at Roxbury’s open-air market as the sun starts to shine.
Speaking of markets, stay turned for more information on the grand opening of Nubian Markets! The public event is coming soon. Roxbury Main Streets is looking forward to celebrating the new community-focused market and the accomplishments of the founders, Yusuf Yassin and Ismail Samad.
Roxbury Main Streets ended the month by becoming a Main Street America® Accredited program for 2023! As an accredited program, Roxbury Main Streets can grow our services and events for the community, and we are now eligible for national funding and programs. You can read more about the national Main Streets program at this link.
We are seeing amazing 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. A change in weather always brings unknowns, but we have been so happy to see our Square filled with energy and community. We’d love to show you around — If you would like to help revitalize Roxbury’s commercial district, community partners are welcome to join our weekly Nubian Square walkthroughs on Thursdays, starting at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Nubian Square bus terminal Dunkin’.
The Nubian Square Task Force works to solve problems in Roxbury that require large-scale collaboration, such as housing the homeless, improving public safety, treating substance use and more. The task force meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at the Bruce C. Bolling Building starting at 1 p.m., and community members are welcome. This Wednesday, May 10, the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) is hosting a forum on opioid abatement funds in place of the typical task force meeting, and Roxbury community members are encouraged to attend.
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. Revitalizing Nubian Square takes a village, but our collective efforts have proven invaluable. I am excited for what the summer will bring.
See you at the show.
Sincerely,
Robert M. George, Executive Director of Roxbury Main Streets
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The 'Bury Funny Stand-Up
Comedy Fundraiser
Saturday, May 13
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Roxbury Main Streets will host its third annual 'Bury Funny Stand-Up Comedy Fundraiser on May 13, featuring a line-up of nationally renowned comedians who have appeared on Comedy Central, Kevin Hart’s “Laugh Out Loud” and more.
The performers include Mugga, Josh Gondelman, Marshall Brandon, Kareem Green and Corey Manning. All proceeds from the fundraiser will support efforts to revitalize Roxbury's small businesses.
“I don’t think you will see a comedic lineup this diverse and critically acclaimed performing in Boston, it’s going to be a special night,” said comedian Corey Manning.
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Thank you to our sponsors!
Gold Partners: The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, Madison Park Development Corporation
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Silver Sponsors: Wentworth Institute of Technology, Richard Taylor of Nubian Square Ascends |
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Team Sponsors: BlueHub Capital, Boston University, Eastern Bank Foundation, Ella Howard, Urbanica Boston
Supporters: BLOOM Architecture, City of Boston Credit Union, Northeastern University, Payne| Bouchier, Stamatos Property Management, Cruz Companies, Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, Metro Credit Union, UU Urban Ministry
Other: Walcott Corporation, Boston Celtics, Urban Edge, City of Boston Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Boston Main Streets Foundation
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Savor the Square
Saturday, May 20 and more
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Thank you, The American City Coalition, for bringing Roxbury Main Streets on as a partner for Savor the Square 2023! |
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Savor the Square is Nubian Square’s seasonal open-air marketplace.
Savor the Square 2023 will feature seven themed events, expand its hours and include a broad selection of Black and Brown vendors for food, music/entertainment, locally-grown produce, arts/crafts, pop-up events and civic resources.
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Off to a Great Start!
Savor the Square "Roxbury Arbor Day" in April
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Donate to
Roxbury Main Streets
Click below to make any level of donation.
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Other Events in the Community |
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GROW Program for Small Businesses
Summer 2023
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Only a few days left to apply!
The GROW program helps small businesses redesign and reinvent themselves, with the goal of increasing sales by the end of eight virtual sessions.
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Workshops for Personal Care Small Businesses
May 16 and more
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Six free workshops for small businesses in personal care, beauty and salon practices kick off May 16!
The City of Boston's Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion will host these workshops virtually, featuring special guest presenters, to help personal care small businesses with budgeting, operating, marketing and more.
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Workshops for Fitness Small Businesses
May 18 and more
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The City of Boston's Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion will host six free virtual and in-person workshops for small businesses in the fitness or gym industry, starting on May 18! |
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GET LIT - WINKids Book Band Club
May 15 and more
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The Witherspoon Institute is hosting the GET LIT — WINKids Book Ban-d Club at the Nubian Square branch of the Boston Public Library! The next session is May 15.
The "book party" includes food, games, a giveaway, books and more!
Click below to register.
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Roxbury Main Streets in the News
Behind the Co-op: Communications for
Roxbury Main Streets
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"That day, I learned that the best way to help people is to ask them what they need. I have dedicated my professional career to talking to people, telling their stories to the leaders and organizations that are there to help and ensuring services reach every person in need. That passion and experience brought me to Roxbury Main Streets.
Roxbury Main Streets is a nonprofit based in Nubian Square that works hands-on with residents, local businesses and government agencies to revitalize and diversify Roxbury’s economy. Similar to the community I worked in as a teenager, Roxbury is an underserved neighborhood, and it bears the brunt of poverty in Boston. Roxbury Main Streets takes action by supporting small and minority-owned businesses, cultivating job growth and engaging the Roxbury community. ..."
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Click below to read the full article on Northeastern University's College of Arts, Media and Design website about Roxbury Main Streets' communications associate, Delaney Murray.
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Roxbury Main Streets Named
2023 Main Street America® Accredited Program
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Roxbury Main Streets has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous service standards for the Roxbury community and small and minority-owned businesses!
Each year, Main Street America announces the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 862 Accredited Main Street America programs, and their steadfast dedication to nurture economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, the interim president and CEO of Main Street America.
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GRANTS
for Small Businesses
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
in Nubian Square
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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.
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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.
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Roxbury Main Streets Board of Directors |
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Haris Hardaway, President
Richard Taylor, Vice President
Norvia Peña, Secretary
Carlos Castillo, Treasurer
Solmon Chowdury, 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
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