2 weeks ago
Today we raised a metaphorical glass as Governor Maura Healey signed into law legislation that would designate 225 alcohol licenses to businesses in historically underrepresented Boston neighborhoods. This is major step toward boosting economic opportunity in communities of color that have been systemically excluded for decades. #mapoli
... See MoreSee Less
Nick Collins
is at Conley Container Terminal.
4 weeks ago
Proud to stand with The International Longshoremen’s Association as they held the line at Conley Terminal, for competitive wages and job security. Congratulations on your victory ILA!
... See MoreSee Less
1 month ago
The Massachusetts Senate gave final passage to compromise legislation adding 225 new alcohol licenses for the City of Boston over the next three years. As a member of the conference committee, I advocated strongly for the inclusion of the Lower Roxbury and South End communities in the legislation. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues in the House and Senate to add additional liquor licenses to underserved neighborhoods across Boston. These additional licenses will improve the sustainability of existing small businesses, create opportunities for new businesses, and create economic vibrancy on our main streets.The City of Boston will be holding a public webinar on September 30th at 4:00 PM to discuss the liquor license application process, their plans to support small businesses and take any questions you might have. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AufCxQdlQpCR-x3xNRg0CA#/registration
... See MoreSee Less
1 month ago
The South Boston community will be forever grateful to Karen Stanley. Karen’s leadership on the South Boston Chamber of Commerce brought so much joy to our community. Karen’s hard work brought people together through community events and promoting our small businesses. She will be sorely missed at tomorrow’s South Boston Street Festival, but her hard work and dedication to planning the event will be shown through tomorrow’s outcome. My thoughts and prayers are with Karen’s family and friends.South Boston lost a dear friend. After a courageous fight, Karen Stanley, 62, lost her battle against pancreatic cancer. And we are devastated. The news hasn’t really sunk in yet. In fact, she beat cancer once before many years ago, so we thought this was just another fight for her to win. And fight she did.Shortly before she passed, she said, “You can knock me down, but you can’t knock me out. Until they tell me differently, I’m still here.”Karen, a lifelong South Boston girl (she never called it Southie), was a friend, a colleague, a true community legend ... She was related to probably half of the neighborhood and was friends or acquaintances with the rest.Because of Karen, South Boston has become the thriving neighborhood it is today. She helped grow and manage the South Boston Chamber of Commerce, first as a store owner herself, then as an event planner with her Vibrant Event Productions. She was a founder and the driving force behind the South Boston Street Fest. What started as a glorified sidewalk sale has grown to a community event featuring 100 vendors and restaurants and 5,000 visitors annually. This year’s Street Fest, which will happen tomorrow on East Broadway, marks year No. 24 and we couldn’t have gotten here without Karen. “It will always be my baby,” she said. Even as she grew weaker over the summer, she worked on the Street Fest until the end. She joked that she made her partner, Don Wilson, pick up the slack. Even as recently as last week, Karen was thinking about what outfit she would be wearing to the Street Fest.In addition to the Street Fest, Karen also planned and organized the Spring and Christmas Strolls, Trick or Treat on Broadway, and numerous South Boston Chamber of Commerce networking events. All her efforts brought the community together. Most people may not realize all the work she did behind the scenes to make these events happen. But because of Karen’s amazing work ethic, her stellar organizational skills, and her expansive knowledge of our community, we were able to put smiles on faces, candy in trick-or-treat bags, products in shopping bags, and Santa in front of thousands of children. But more than that, Karen was a friend, a confidante, a mentor, and a guiding light. She was kind (but stern when it came to organizing her events – right, shop owners?), caring, funny, and loving.Donna Brown, Executive Director of South Boston NDC, knew Karen for almost 25 years. “As we worked together on the South Boston Street Fest and the Taste of South Boston, we became good friends as well as colleagues,” Donna said. “Karen was incredibly talented at envisioning and executing an event. She was also kind and compassionate, with a sense of humor that brought joy to the work.”Donna and Karen shared a love of fashion, especially anything leopard print, “but I was certainly not able to wear the high heels she could manage! And no one around here could wear a cowboy hat like Karen,” said Donna.Ginger DeShaney, Development & Communications Director for South Boston NDC, only had the privilege of knowing Karen for about three years but they bonded almost immediately. “It wasn’t long before we were telling each other ‘love ya, girl’ and sharing hugs every time we saw each other,” Ginger said. “We shared late-night emails about work and life. Our organizing sessions for South Boston NDC events were a mixture of laughter, gossip, planning, and creativity.”In true Irish Catholic tradition, Karen didn’t want many people to know about her struggles. But because of that, she never got to hear what she meant to the neighborhood; how she changed our lives; the impact she made. Hopefully she knew. We hope she also knew that we are all better people for having known her and for having loved her.Rest in peace, friend. We love you.—-----------------------------------------We will have a Memory Book at the Street Fest tomorrow for everyone to share stories and memories. We will give the book to Karen’s family.
... See MoreSee Less
Nick Collins
is at Medal of Honor Park.
1 month ago
Honored to speak at the 43rd Anniversary of the South Boston Vietnam Memorial, our nation’s first Vietnam War Memorial at Medal of Honor Park. Thank you to the South Boston Vietnam War Memorial Committee for always honoring those whose names are carved on the monument and for honoring them with such a nice ceremony.
... See MoreSee Less