Rethinking Centre Street II: Our Neighborhood Stores-- Film and Panel Discussion

“Rethinking Centre Street II: Our Neighborhood Stores-- Film and Panel Discussion”

Sponsored by: The Arborway Committee

Co-sponsored with: Petal & Leaf

Taylor House B&B

Prudential Maxfield and Company

Julia’s His & Hers

Indigena

You're invited!

You are invited to attend and participate in a film showing and panel discussion on the role and importance of small businesses in communities like Jamaica Plain. The 35-minute film, “Twilight into Night,” followed by a panel-led discussion examines the critical role of neighborhood businesses in fostering a sense of community among residents and business owners.

The film takes us inside locally owned businesses in a New York City neighborhood to reveal the high-stakes challenge to our urban retail landscape and its effect on the life of the community. The panel is composed of experienced individuals working to enhance small business survival and growth in Boston. (Panelist bios are below.)

Please join your neighbors and friends on:

Monday, December 3

7:30 to 9:15 p.m.

Connolly Branch Library

Hyde Square, Jamaica Plain

This is the second film and panel discussion on “Rethinking Centre Street” co-sponsored by the Arborway Committee. The first was held last September and was reported in the October 5 issue of the Jamaica Plain Gazette. You can find the article at: http://www.jamaicaplaingazette.com/node/2014.

Panelists—

Panelist Angel Coleman
Angel Coleman develops strategies for promoting community and small business economic development. As a leader in Philadelphia’s Girard Coalition, she has provided technical assistance and developed promotional activities for merchants in the Girard Avenue corridor. Recently she began working with others to develop a comprehensive business development and attraction program to grow the corridor. She has also conducted internal assessments to develop growth strategies for the organization. Her focus is on the interdependent relationships between people, business and government in the community revitalization process.

Panelist Brian Goodman
Brian Goodman is Business Manager at Boston Main Streets, a program with the City of Boston. He actively manages innovative technology solutions that affect community including Mainstreets WiFi (www.mainstreetswifi.com ) and Boston Community Change (www.bostoncommunitychange.org). In partnership with the Cultural Agents Initiative (www.culturalagents.org), Mr. Goodman is also pursuing a multi-stakeholder effort that uses art and culture to strengthen community and is developing a platform for a Boston-based collaboration using WiserEarth (www.wiserearth.org). He understands and believes in systemic solutions that effect community and has consulted for several microfinance institutions, such as, ACCION and Peer Servants.

Panelist John Lewis

John Lewis is a business owner on Newbury Street, Boston. He has been in business for 35 years and has one of the last remaining locally owned businesses on the street. During that time he has weathered the wholesale transformation of the business environment on Newbury Street from locally owned to nationally owned stores and shops. In addition to his business, John Lewis is active as a member of the City of Boston Conservation Commission and is a member of the Sierra Club working primarily on transportation issues.