About Us
Who We Are
Hyde Park Main Streets is a non-profit organization, made up of local business and resident volunteers, working together to help create, maintain and promote a flourishing commercial district. Our mission is to make Hyde Park a destination where new and existing businesses thrive and where residents and visitors can enjoy a wide range of shopping, dining, arts, and entertainment options reflective of our diverse community and unique to our “small town in the city.”
“A Small Town in the City”
This is the Main Streets motto for Hyde Park, one that perfectly describes the nature of our neighborhood: the last to be annexed to the City of Boston in 1912 and retaining a small town atmosphere while being at the same time part of a world class city.
A typical example is our local branch of the Boston Public Library, the original classical revival building is over 100 years old and built when Hyde Park was a separate town, today it also features the American Institute of Architecture award winning Menino Wing, the old and new, the small town and the city together, a unique and winning combination for Hyde Park.
Thien Simpson, Executive Director
Promoted to the position of Executive Director in June 2018, Thien Simpson has worked with Hyde Park Main Streets for over a 
decade as the Program Coordinator. In her time with the organization, Thien has established a multitude of close relationships with businesses and residents of the community. Thien works with small businesses owners by providing technical assistance, marketing and branding, and storefront improvement such as new signage. Thien is also an avid community volunteer, having supported the 54th Regiment, Hyde Park Historical Society, Hyde Park Arts Association, Hyde Park Food Pantry, Ethos, Dance Academy, Boston Trinity Academy, and others. Thien is a resident of Hyde Park (since 1997), and lives with her husband and has two young adult children.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ms. Rachel Chisholm, President
DCU
Mr. Scott Batey, Vice President
Baystate Financial
Mr. Baron Langstron, Vice President
Intriguing Hair
Mr. Mark Roberts, Vice President
State Street Bank
Ms. Cathy Horn, Treasurer & Clerk
Berklee College of Music
Mr. Elias Akiki
Akiki Auto Group
Ms. Lisa M. Consalvo
Akiki Auto Group
Mr. James Mahoney
Rangam
Ms. Susan Martin
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council
Ms. Raysa Ortis
Rockland Trust
Ms. Valerie Brown Peebles
Burns & Levinson LLP
Mr. Olrie Roberts
ZAZ Restaurant & Catering
Mr. Dana Rousmaniere
Sage Software
Ms. Malika Whitley
Arlington Public Schools, The Mission Continues, and The United States European Command.
Ms. Karla Yearwood
Fair Nutrition
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Mr. David Niles
Created by Mayor Thomas M. Menino in 1995 as the first urban, multi-district Main Street program in the United States, Boston Main Streets is devoted to the continued revitalization of Boston’s neighborhood commercial districts through design, technical, and financial support. Today, the nationally recognized program boasts 20 districts across Boston.
Overview of Main Street Committees
Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape and creating a safe, inviting environment for shoppers, workers, and visitors. It takes advantage of the visual opportunities inherent in a commercial district by directing attention to all of its physical elements: public and private buildings, storefronts, signs, public spaces, parking areas, street furniture, public art, landscaping, merchandising, window displays, and promotional materials. An appealing atmosphere, created through attention to all of these visual elements, conveys a positive message about the commercial district and what it has to offer. Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the district’s physical appearance through the rehabilitation of historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, educating business and property owners about design quality, and long-term planning.
Economic vitality strengthens your community’s existing economic assets while diversifying its economic base. This is accomplished by retaining and expanding successful businesses to provide a balanced commercial mix, sharpening the competitiveness and merchandising skills of business owners, and attracting new businesses that the market can support. Converting unused or underused commercial space into economically productive property also helps boost the profitability of the district. The goal is to build a commercial district that responds to the needs of today’s consumers.
Organization establishes consensus and cooperation by building partnerships among the various groups that have a stake in the commercial district. By getting everyone working toward the same goal, your Main Street program can provide effective, ongoing management and advocacy for the your downtown or neighborhood business district. Through volunteer recruitment and collaboration with partners representing a broad cross section of the community, your program can incorporate a wide range of perspectives into its efforts. A governing board of directors and standing committees make up the fundamental organizational structure of volunteer-driven revitalization programs. Volunteers are coordinated and supported by a paid program director. This structure not only divides the workload and clearly delineates responsibilities, but also builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders.
Organization establishes consensus and cooperation by building partnerships among the various groups that have a stake in the commercial district. By getting everyone working toward the same goal, your Main Street program can provide effective, ongoing management and advocacy for the your downtown or neighborhood business district. Through volunteer recruitment and collaboration with partners representing a broad cross section of the community, your program can incorporate a wide range of perspectives into its efforts. A governing board of directors and standing committees make up the fundamental organizational structure of volunteer-driven revitalization programs. Volunteers are coordinated and supported by a paid program director. This structure not only divides the workload and clearly delineates responsibilities, but also builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders.
Awards
Look at the achievements of Hyde Park Main Streets over the years.
Spring 2023
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants – Spring. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant for BridgeFest in Cleary Square, next to the closed River Street Bridge. The closure of the bridge has been detrimental for the local businesses adjacent to it and HPMS wanted to help by providing programming that brought people to the area.
This 4-week music series was presented every was a family-friendly event and one of the only opportunities for professional live music, ranging from Caribbean to AfroBeat, during the summer that was accessible to all in our neighborhood.
We had hula hoops, bubbles, and glow sticks for the kids to enjoy. We had a pop-up market featuring local vendors, many of whom were BIPOC. They sold items such as art, jewelry, clothing, candles, and skincare products. We also kickstarted a Passport program to incentivize residents to shop at the businesses most affected by the bridge.
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants – Spring. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant for HP Buck$ and Welcome Bag for new home owners. When you become a residential member of HPMS for $35, you will receive $20 in HP-Buck$. These can be redeemed at over 20 participating Hyde Park businesses. This program both supports the residents and businesses. The Welcome Bag includes a Hyde Park brochure, highlighting some of what this great community has to offer. It will also have menus, coupons, gifts, etc. from local businesses and organizations. New homeowners will also receive $20 in HP-Buck$ to spend locally.
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants – Fall. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant for the Neighborhood Bar Hop. This was a trolley bar hop that brought people together and explored the neighborhoods of Boston. We partnered with Roslindale Village Main Streets, West Roxbury Main Streets, and JP Center/South Main Streets. 4 trolleys picked up and dropped off guests at a designated stop in the business districts allowing attendees the opportunity to visit two pubs/restaurants in each neighborhood to enjoy complimentary appetizers. Each guest was given a pin that served as their ticket, a koozie, a program map, and a historical factsheet to learn about Hyde Park, West Roxbury, Roslindale, and Jamaica Plain
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants – Spring. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant for the continuation of the “Master Class” Series with new workshops.
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants – Fall. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant for the “Master Class” Series helped foster community in a unique fun way during this difficult time. Classes were taught by local business owners and residents not only acknowledged the diverse skills and talents of our community members, but celebrated and shared them. From culinary lessons to skincare workshops, Master Class Hyde Park had something for everyone. HPMS gave a stipend to the business owners for each class they taught, subsidized any necessary materials, and discounted registration tickets for residents.
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants – Fall. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant for the Holiday Window Painting Project. Window designs is an excellent and cost effective way to make the business district beautiful and bring new clients to the stores. For the local artists, the best part of window painting was the holiday cheer that they shared with the neighborhood. People stopped to talk to them about their work or commented on the designs. For business owners, beautiful storefront windows easily made great impression on the customers.
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants – Spring. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant helped to assist the 54th Regiment by providing living history programming to local Hyde Park schools and the Hyde Park and Mattapan libraries. We received an additional $5,000 grant to promote the 54th Regiment through an exhibition with the purpose to educate the public and local businesses about the 54th Regiment Company A’s journey throughout the Civil War and its long term contributions that helped lead the Union to victory.
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s 2018 Foundation Challenge Grant. Hyde Park Main Street’s $15,000 grant allowed us to partner with Mattapan Main Streets to create a trolley tour called “The Main Street Line”. This was an interactive trolley tour that was designed to connect the Mattapan and Hyde Park communities through cultural and historical education, fun activities that fostered interaction and community building, and cultural food exploration. The tour was an opportunity for locals to be intentional about stopping in the districts, and engaged and discovered the gems in each community.
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant helped with the newly created Hyde Park Artists Cooperative. Its goal is to appeal to various groups of people, including artists and the general public, to create partnership and synergy with businesses and organizations and the public at large. Through programs devoted to art education and engagement with the arts many purposes can be served, including an interest in the art displayed by gallery members.
Hyde Park Main Streets was a winner of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants. Hyde Park Main Street’s $5,000 grant helped with the newly created Hyde Park Artists Cooperative. Its goal is to appeal to various groups of people, including artists and the general public, to create partnership and synergy with businesses and organizations and the public at large. Through programs devoted to art education and engagement with the arts many purposes can be served, including an interest in the art displayed by gallery members.
Hyde Park Main Streets was one of five winners of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants. Hyde Park Main Street’s grant helped the district to install attractive way finding signage around the commercial district. In addition to helping visitors and residents with directions, the signage will enhance the overall feel of the community center.
Hyde Park Main Streets was one of seven winners of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants. Winners received grants for a range of projects including public art projects, two branding initiatives, marketing support, a series of business fairs, and an innovative social media/local shopping initiative hybrid.
Hyde Park Main Streets was awarded $5,000 to support the Farmers’ Market. With the new date and location, HPMS hopes to make this outdoor market a fixture in the community again.
Hyde Park Main Streets was one of seven winners of the Boston Main Streets Foundation’s Innovation and Impact Grants. Winners received grants for a range of projects including public art projects, two branding initiatives, marketing support, a series of business fairs, and an innovative social media/local shopping initiative hybrid.
Hyde Park Main Streets was awarded $5,000 to support the Farmers’ Market. With the new date and location, HPMS hopes to make this outdoor market a fixture in the community again.