On August 29, we participated in the Harvard Day of Service, an annual event that introduces first year students to neighbors in Cambridge through service. We worked with 40 student volunteers to compile an index of businesses in Cambridge, by asking questions that assess longevity and outlook for the future, such as rundown of business, age, and general outlook. Toward that end, we sent students to 419 business and non-profit members throughout the city to ask CLF members the questions in this member survey.
Our students experienced meaningful interactions with hundreds of business owners, non-profit executive directors, store managers, and employees around the city.
Discussions covered a range of subjects, including the impact of increasing commercial rents, international property management companies, changing consumer preferences, gentrification, and even U.S.-China trade policy, on the well-being of our local businesses and non-profits.
We weren't able to reach everyone. So, if you did not fill out the member survey, please do so now, here! We want your input.
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Did you know that in the 1950s and 1960s (the golden age of small businesses) there were over 150,000 new businesses created annually? This number was fewer than 20,000 in 2018.
On August 20, we discussed the importance of increasing small business ownership in the U.S., with the Public Policy Show at HBS. Specifically, we covered topics included challenges around artificial increases in commercial rents, policies that support local businesses on ground floors, increasing local bank deposits for business lending, and policies that prevent empty storefronts.
Check out the podcast (episode 8), here! |
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Vacant Storefront Registration Policy
On August 20, we held a joint brainstorming session with Pardis Saffari, from the Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD), so that CLF members could provide input on the proposed Vacant Storefront Registration Policy. We had a fruitful conversation that touched on various issues, including what constitutes appropriate fines and time frames, and ongoing efforts to beautify storefronts with art installations.
As reference, the CDD has tracking ground floor vacant storefronts. You can find the most recent quarter in the Open Data Portal. Additional information about the City’s Vacant Storefront Initiative is here. If you want a PowerPoint presentation detailing the policy order, email us. |
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Programming Brainstorm with Community Action Partners
On August 14, we participated in a brainstorm with consultants from HBS' Community Action Partners on the subject of strengthening our programming and impact.
The fabulous brainstorm yielded productive takeaways and action items, including the framing of constituents as consumers, the emphasis on leveraging existing platforms and resources, the focus on measuring impact, the emphasis on stories and personal connections, and the convening of regional local first organizations to discuss shared challenges and best practices.
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CLF Advisory Council
CLF is pleased to share the addition of two members to the Advisory Council - Sheila Thimba, Harvard Dean of Administration & Finance and Interim Dean for Public Service and Robert Rodriguez, a non-profit strategic leader and investment manager.
Welcome to the CLF community, and thank you for your guidance as we tackle challenging macro forces affecting our local community.
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The Harvard Art Museums, a new CLF non-profit member, is launching an exhibition called Crossing Lines, Constructing Home: Displacement and Belonging in Contemporary Art that is opening tonight!
Crossing Lines, Constructing Home investigates two parallel ideas: national, political, and cultural conceptions of boundaries and borders; and the evolving hybrid spaces, identities, languages, and beliefs created by the movement of peoples.
It promises to be a very powerful contemporary show that will take the visitor through the journey of the migration experience. This is a particularly fantastic opportunity, as it’s one of the few evenings the museum is open at night time (5-9 PM) where everyone can explore all the galleries. There’s a reception, and it’s free to the general public.
Join us tonight!
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Cambridge Camping, a CLF non-profit member, invites you to join us on Saturday, September 7, at CambridgeSide for food, drinks and live music by American Symphony of Soul at a celebration with honored guests Ellen Semenoff, Assistant Cambridge City Manager for Human Services, David Maher, President and CEO of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, and basketball legend Patrick Ewing. The cruise is sold out, but tickets for the party are still available.
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Cambridge School Volunteers (CSV), a non-profit partner of the public schools and a proud CLF member, is hosting its annual kickoff volunteer orientation on September 24 from 5:30-7:30 PM. Attending this orientation is the best way for people to learn about all their options for volunteering in Cambridge Public Schools and to register as a volunteer. Register here.
CSV is currently scheduling its fall #VolunteerLocal external office hours at CLF member locations and welcomes inquiries from businesses who could host a two-hour session on two or three separate days this fall. This is the third year of CSV's CLF-branded #VolunteerLocal campaign, aimed at giving people an informal way to learn about volunteering in the city's public schools.
Contact CSV's Director of Recruitment and Communications Julie Croston (jcroston@cpsd.us) to learn about participating.
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Call for writers!
Cambridge Day is excited to join CLF as one of our newest members.
Cambridge Day, which has been posting news, opinion and arts items of interest to Cambridge and Somerville for nearly 10 years as a volunteer organization, is looking for an injection of new talent and energy. This is an open call for anyone in and around Cambridge to consider joining in the work of watching and learning what’s happening around them, then communicating that to a wider audience through postings on the site.
The city is rich in topics that need coverage, and people should make contact if they have an interest in writing about development and housing; transportation; politics; business; food; arts and culture, including music, books, art, poetry, comedy and comics, to name a few; crime and courts; and sports. Photographers should reach out as well; the bigger the team, the better we can develop Cambridge Day into an increasingly broad-based and useful resource.
The huge majority of content in the archives has been the result of time and energy contributed by residents with no compensation. We’re working to change that, and people who want to be part of that change are also invited to make contact.
Email your areas of interest and/or experience to editor@cambridgeday.com. The options are wide open to start work immediately!
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Annual Independent Business Survey Reveals a Need for Change
With an election year on the horizon, many state and federal policies are poised to come under a microscope. As they do, small business owners across the country will be watching with concerns and ideas of their own. The results of the 2019 Independent Business Survey, released by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, show that small businesses need policies that level the playing field between independents and their amorphous competitors. Read more here. |
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MainVest is supporting local businesses through crowdfunding
The Salem-based company, MainVest has been fighting for the Mom-and-Pops by offering residents a chance to invest in their local economy in a new, innovative way in hopes of reinvigorating Main Street, with the use of community generated fundraising. You can reach out to them directly at aran@mainvest.com, for more information. |
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We want to hear from you.
Please email theodora@cambridgelocalfirst.org with your business' updates, so that we can include them in upcoming newsletters.
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