The Network is holding 4 virtual sessions to discover the key insights and strategies for creating and promoting apprenticeship programs.
11/28/2023
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Virtual
In partnership with Columbia Threadneedle Investments, City Awake is bringing an exclusive learning and development experience on authentic networking.
4:30pm - 6:30pm
Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Join us for this free event to hear from leading experts on the financial year ahead and what you and your business can expect.
11/30/2023
9:30am - 11:00am
WBUR CitySpace
Designed for mid-level managers and supervisors, this new certificate program addresses workplace well-being through unique, innovative, and actionable methods.
Join our Transformational DEI Certificate! Our comprehensive learning & development offerings are designed to connect and grow strong leaders who lead both inside and out of the office.
Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.
Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.
City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.
We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).
The Fierce Urgency of Now Festival brings Boston’s diverse young professionals together with business leaders, organizations and their peers to build connection, advance careers and ignite positive change.
09/12/2023 -
09/16/2023
Greater Boston
BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.
For nearly 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.
The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.
We support small business through public policy initiatives, events designed to connect small businesses in Greater Boston to their peers and established business leaders, professional development offerings, and free small business advising.
Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.
Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.
An Open Discussion with Boston’s Director of Nightlife Economy, Corean Reynolds
A ban on happy hours. Public transit that stops running before nightlife establishments close. Expensive and limited liquor licenses and cover charges. High costs of living that impact the nightlife economy. And laws that don’t always consider the cultural makeup of the city.
These are just a few of the challenges to navigate when we think about creating a city that we want to see, one that puts the same amount of energy into nighttime as it does the daytime –one that responds to the unique needs of Boston’s culturally diverse residents.
On the other hand, Boston has expanded its usage of outdoor and green spaces that foster community growth through activities like outdoor movie nights. With more than 150,000 college students who hang out along the Green Line areas of Allston and Brighton, Boston is seeing a shift in elevating existing spaces that can support its nightlife economy.
Showcasing its commitment to retaining talent and celebrating the cultural vibrancy of Greater Boston, the City has appointed its first Director of Nightlife Economy, Corean Reynolds, in February. She is one of only 13 people in the United States in this role. With a work history in urban planning and a vested interest in closing racial wealth gaps, Corean’s role is focused on, as she worded it, “what we are doing when we aren’t at school, home, or work, where we get creative, where we heal, and where we express ourselves.” Her role is beyond the physical establishments that make Boston a place to live, but rather, how nightlife will impact the quality of life for residents, and how it intersects with public health, transit, and more.
Earlier this month, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and City Awake held an open discussion with Corean and our young professional community on these topics.
One focus of the conversation was on ensuring that the youth (under 21, and even the 16-18 group) have spaces to gather for cultural activities and nighttime social events. While arcades are traditional spaces for youth, it is not always financially stable to just have arcade games. The event attendees suggested popup events with mocktails that could allow students to showcase their musical talents, events to showcase school pride (BC vs. BU nights, etc.) that could be incentivized with discount codes for the winners, and even opportunities for students to get involved in the nightlife economy itself via internships.
There was also a focus on creating spaces that different communities in Boston want to see. One example was the large Dominican community in Boston that would like to see Hookah lounges come to the city so that they don’t have to travel a distance from the city to find one. Unfortunately, due to the Boston Health Commission ruling to ensure that everyone is able to work in a smoke-free environment, this may not be the easiest feat, but thinking of our diverse communities and what they are looking for from their nightlife experience was a focus of the discussion.
Corean shared with attendees some next steps that she is working on with city leaders to mitigate some of Boston nightlife;s current challenges. Here are some of the areas she highlighted:
Not only are all these initiatives and new considerations a huge step forward for the City of Boston’s nightlife economy, but with Corean at the helm, Bostonians will be considered as new systems are built. Clear pathways will be in place to show entrepreneurs how to open space, ensuring that folks know the way to achieve cultural and community events (like block parties), that resources (such as the space grant program and technical assistance program currently in place) are widely known about, and additional resources will become available.
Whether or not you participate in the club and bar scene after hours in Boston, the nightlife economy is so much more than that—it is what is available to the third shift hospital workers, transit for students, health resources, and so much more.
A new night is dawning in Boston, and we can’t wait to see the changes ahead.
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