Main Street: A Power of Place Podcast

Welcome to Downtown Woonsocket! John Chan, owner of Chan's Fine Oriental Dining, takes us inside a corner of Main Street that has been feeding and entertaining its community since 1905. From Canton, China to a jazz stage in Rhode Island, John shares how one family's journey across the world landed on a single block and never left. Along the way, he reflects on what it takes to build a legacy busin...

Welcome to Downtown Central Falls! Joshua Giraldo, State Representative and Central Falls native, takes us inside a city that rebuilt itself from the ground up. From municipal bankruptcy to packed parks and a restaurant scene that spans the globe, Joshua shares how investing in public spaces, embracing a fiercely diverse community, and refusing to let a hard chapter define you can transform a Main...

Welcome to Post Road in North Kingstown! Tim Cranston, Town Historian of North Kingstown, takes us on a 400-year journey along one of America's oldest Main Streets. From indigenous trading paths to military base boom-and-bust cycles, Tim shares how understanding a place's diverse history and centering the voices often left out of the narrative can transform how we see our communities and inspire m...

Welcome to Mount Hope in Providence!  Helen Baskerville-Dukes and Dwayne Keys, leaders of the Mount Hope Community Center Business Alliance (and partipants of our Main Street Learning Cohort!), chat about their new initiative to support local entrepreneurship. We discuss the importance of community centers in supporting needs, navigating gentrification and displacement of residents, and building u...

Welcome to Centredale in North Providence! Alexandria DiGregorio, owner of North Providence's newest bookshop, shares her journey of opening a brick & mortar, the challenges and triumphs of being a young entrepreneur on a main street, and the importance of books in building social connection.  Show Notes: Forget Me Not Fables Bookshop: https://forgetmenotfables.com/ The Valley Breeze Article: http...

Learn more about Main Street RI: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Apply to join our RI Main Street Learning Cohort:  https://growsmartri.org/ri-main-street-learning-cohort/ Email us: podcast@growsmartri.org See you in January for Season 2!

Register for our first annual Rhode Island Main Street Conference! Welcome to Wakefield in South Kingstown! Sara Breslin, secretary of the Wakefield Village Association, shares the process of planning their annual Halloween Stroll, the importance of hosting events for all ages, and the rewarding nature of hyperlocal work. Show Notes: Wakefield Village Association: https://www.wakefieldvillageassoc...

Register for our first annual Rhode Island Main Street Conference! Welcome to Rolfe Square in Cranston! Paul Durfee, third-generation owner of Durfee Hardware, discusses sustaining a family business through the years, the importance of building relationships with community members and municipal leaders, and the rich history of Rolfe Square.  Show Notes: Durfee Hardware: https://durfeehardware.com/...

Welcome to Riverside Square in East Providence! Amelia Olson, owner of Tall Tumbleweed Modern & Vintage, explores the importance of small business support, curiosity as a healing force, and community-led revitalization in East Providence's Riverside Square. Show Notes: Tall Tumbleweed: https://www.talltumbleweed.com/ Borealis Coffee: https://www.borealiscoffee.com/ Union Square Bistro: https://www...

Welcome to the Broadway District in Newport! Devon Mello, Artistic Director at the Firehouse Theater, discusses the benefits of growing up near Broadway, how the neighborhood has changed, and the significance of live entertainment in promoting social connectedness.  Show Notes: Devon Mello: https://www.devonmello.com/ The Firehouse Theater & Bit Players:  https://www.firehousetheater.org/ Empire T...

Welcome to the Olneyville neighborhood in Providence! President of the Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA) Cindy Miranda shares about ONA's diverse programming, how the neighborhood is changing, and the importance of centering community voice.  Show Notes: Olneyville Neighborhood Association: https://www.ona-providence.org/ Antojitos De Mi Tierra:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/26uJseryMfxGUqzB9 O...

Welcome to Chepachet Village, a historic district in the town of Glocester!  Local business owner and history buff Charlie Wilson shares about his experiences restoring and protecting a historic building, spearheading community engagement events, and modernizing while maintaining a place's unique historic character.  Show Notes: The Town Trader: https://www.thetowntrader.com/ Candlelight Shopping:...

Welcome to the Black Block, a cultural district in downtown Pawtucket!  Local entrepreneur Keno Mullings shares about his experiences opening and marketing his new business, the importance of stimulating entrepreneurship, and the challenges inherent to revitalizing and reimagining a downtown district.  Show Notes: The Main Oasis: https://www.facebook.com/mainoasismarket The Black Block Community F...