Roslindale showed up in a big way at the 5th Annual Roslindale Village Main Street (RVMS) Gala, raising an impressive $88,172 for the neighborhood. Every dollar from the successful evening will go straight back into the community to fund free cultural programming and support local small businesses.
On Thursday, October 29, neighbors, business owners, volunteers, and community leaders filled The Substation. It was a night full of laughter, gratitude, and a whole lot of Rozzie love, highlighted by several unforgettable moments.
A Tribute to Glenn and Janice Williams
The heart of the night was a special honoring of former Board President Glenn Williams and his late wife, former Executive Director Janice Williams. For decades, they brought arts, activism, and neighborhood building together. They helped establish the Roslindale Farmers Market in Adams Park and co-led the Roslindale Arts Alliance, which launched Open Studios and Porchfest. For 24 years, they also spotlighted local creatives on BNN’s “It’s All About Arts.”
The evening included remarks from Mayor Michelle Wu and State Representative Rob Consalvo, who shared fond memories of the couple.
“That’s what I think our neighborhood represents to this day: in every way that we bring people together, we are creating new ideas, creating opportunities for the next generation, and investing back in our local communities,” said Mayor Wu during her heartfelt tribute.
Glenn closed the tribute by talking about the love he and Janice shared for the community. He then asked the whole room to raise their arms and send a “love” signal into the air, and the entire crowd happily obliged.
What RVMS Accomplished This Year
Executive Director Emma Blaxter shared some highlights from the organization’s past year of community building:
• 90,000+ neighbors came to free events like the Farmers Market, Pride on the Plaza, Salsa on Birch, and Dumpling Fest
• $300,000+ invested in the neighborhood through small business grants, physical improvements, and programming
• 85+ local businesses got direct support, multilingual workshops, and signage grants
• 1,300+ SNAP transactions at the Farmers Market redeemed more than $22,000 in benefits. Another $17,000 in RVMS Market Bucks went to local families and farmers.
Community Gratitude
A huge thank-you goes out to Gala Chair Lauren Edmundson, the entire Gala Committee, and the RVMS Board. Thank you also to everyone who bid on auction items, raised a paddle, or helped behind the scenes. The attendees truly showed up for Roslindale and for Glenn and Janice, proving once again that when a community invests in each other, the whole neighborhood thrives.
