Category: Event

Walkability & Main Street Resilience Recording

Walkability & Main Street Resilience Recording

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Thank you to our panelists, Alia and Che, and all of you who joined us for Walkability and Main Street Resilience! 

In case you missed it, the panel discussion was recorded and is available here. We hope you will watch and share it to learn ways you can help the main street businesses that make your community walkable.

If you want to learn more about Roslindale Village Main Street and some of the efforts happening in Roslindale that Alia shared, head to the RVMS website.

Remember to keep supporting your main street businesses, and advocating for enough open space for walking and shopping local:

  • Let your city/town officials know if you like how your neighborhood main streets are adapting to outdoor dining and providing more space for walking
  • If you see a conflict point between walking and dining, reach out to your city hall and advocate for more space
  • Support local businesses using the tips mentioned by the panelists, such as purchasing goods/services, or sharing and liking their social media content 
  • Highlight what is working well. Share with @WalkBoston on Twitter or email: info@walkboston.org

If you work for a town, municipality, or small business in Massachusetts and would like to implement the ideas discussed during this panel in your community, check out some of these resources to get started: 

Funding

City of Boston Reopen Fund (for small businesses)

MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program

Mass Development’s COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places Funding

Solomon Foundation’s Streets for Recovery Grant Program

Additional Resources

MAPC Webinar on Navigating MassDOT’s New Grant Program 

City of Boston Guidance for Temporary Extensions on Public Property

MAPC: Webinar on local permitting pre and post-COVID-19 

NACTO: “Streateries” webinar on restaurants and physical distancing 

More about current funding opportunities: 

Road Race: the Alarming Increase in Speeding on Massachusetts Roadways

Road Race: the Alarming Increase in Speeding on Massachusetts Roadways

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Join WalkBoston tomorrow, June 4th, for a virtual AAA Northeast Town Hall to discuss the increase in speeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, making the roads more dangerous for all users at a time when walking outside is especially important for health.

Take part in the conversation tomorrow, June 4th from 11am-noon ET.

Register for the webinar here.

Learn more about the event and the panelists:

Excessive speeds have grave implications for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. We’ll discuss this alarming trend and consider approaches for getting people to slow down and prioritize safety.

Moderators: Mary Maguire and Mark Schieldrop

Panelists:

Colonel Christopher Mason, MA State Police

Jonathan Gulliver, MassDOT Highway Administrator

Jeff Larason, MA Director of Highway Safety

Galen Mook, Executive Director, MA Bicycle Coalition

Stacey Beuttell, Executive Director, WalkBoston

 

“Walkability and Main Street Resilience” Virtual Event

“Walkability and Main Street Resilience” Virtual Event

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This panel already happened, but you can view the recording of it here!

One of the hallmarks of a successful walkable community is a thriving town center or downtown district. These districts are where people can shop, eat, get a haircut, mail a letter, or just sit with a friend on a bench. When these nearby destinations and people-focused places suffer economically, the walkability of the community can also decline. Without a destination to walk to, fewer people will venture out. WalkBoston recognizes how important local businesses are to its core mission – making Massachusetts more walkable – and is concerned about the devastating effects of COVID-19 on local business’ resilience. 

Join WalkBoston, main streets and municipal representatives on June 24th at 1pm EST to discuss how small, local businesses influence walkability. Through the panel, you will also learn how you can support local businesses to secure long-term neighborhood walkability during and after COVID-19. 

This virtual panel discussion will: 

  1. Illustrate the importance of vital business districts for walkable communities
  2. Elevate creative strategies in which individual businesses, their host municipalities, and customer communities can collaborate to help mitigate the impacts of COVID.

Meet our speakers: 

Che Anderson, Deputy Cultural Development Officer, City of Worcester

Che Anderson is the Deputy Cultural Development Officer for the City of Worcester, and has worked in city government for over 6 years. He founded POW! WOW! Worcester, part of a global mural festival. He is passionate about supporting local businesses and special events programming in the Greater Worcester region. In recognition of his work, Anderson was named a member of the Power 50 by the Worcester Business Journal in 2019.

Alia Hamada Forrest, Executive Director, Roslindale Village Main Street 

Alia Hamada Forrest is the Executive Director of Roslindale Village Main Street and has lived in Boston since 2003. She grew up in a family that values hospitality, food, and the restaurant industry — her dad was an executive chef at several restaurants in Phoenix, Arizona and her mom manages banquets and events at a resort in Scottsdale. A first-generation American, Alia brings compassion to the immigrant experience and small business. 

Storytelling Project

Storytelling Project

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WalkBoston is celebrating 30 years of pedestrian advocacy this year! To reflect on 3 decades of work, we want to hear from you: how has our work impacted you and your community?

Every year, WalkBoston staff challenges ourselves to concisely share our recent work in the “One Minute, One Slide” portion of our Annual Meeting. Although we can’t gather in person this month, we still want to stay connected through storytelling. If you’d like to participate in this storytelling project, send a brief but compelling story no longer than 90 seconds via voice memo to WalkBoston at storytelling@walkboston.org.

Interested, but need guidance? Find out more here.

Event: 1 Month until Annual Party, March 25th 5-8pm

Event: 1 Month until Annual Party, March 25th 5-8pm

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Update, 3/10/2020: 

WalkBoston is postponing our annual celebration scheduled for March 25th in response to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

We are suspending current ticket sales until a new date is confirmed. Those who have purchased tickets will stay on the guest list. You will not need to buy another ticket. We will update the Eventbrite registration page with any changes.

We apologize for any inconvenience. We look forward to celebrating with all of you and our Golden Shoe winners in the near future!

Please contact Kathleen Ghio 617-367-9255 with any event questions.

For more information about COVID-19: MA DPH Info | City of Boston Info

Come join us on March 25th from 5-8PM for our annual party! This year’s keynote speaker is Mark Fenton. Mark Fenton and WalkBoston have been at the forefront of the walking movement since its inception. Mark is an authority on public health issues and the need for community, environmental, and public policy initiatives to encourage more walking/biking. He will entertain us with his dynamic storytelling and share his vision for the future of walking advocacy.

This year’s celebration will include a presentation of Golden Shoe Awards to:
Boston Public Library | Renovations that enhance walkability
Coalition for a Better Acre Walking Champions | Advocating for safer walking in Lowell
Tufts Health Plan Foundation | Boston Age Strong Commission | Advancing age-friendly walking throughout Massachusetts

Learn more about all of our previous award winners.

What: WalkBoston Annual Party
When: March 25, 2019 5-8PM
Where: Fort Point Room / Atlantic Wharf, 290 Congress St, Boston, MA (same venue as last year!)
Cost: $30 – Beer, wine + food included with your ticket. Get your ticket on Eventbrite today

Hope to see you on March 25th!