Rasky Partners

We can’t wait to check out the new additions to Boston Public Market – courtesy of the Entrepreneurship Forum, launched in partnership with Citizens in 2022. Tiny Farmhouse, AIRI Jewelry & Gallery, and Bluebird Bouquets, three women-owned businesses, were recognized as this year’s winners, receiving up to a year of free rent so they can showcase their products at the Boston Public Market. Lisa Murray, Citizens MA President and Cheryl Cronin CEO of Boston Public Market, celebrated with the winners at an event this week.

Congratulations to our client Vicinity Energy on the recent announcement of its new CEO Kevin Hagerty! Check out the The Boston Globe article from last week if you missed the news.

We loved attending RE+ Events Mid-Atlantic, powered by Solar Energy Industries Association and Smart Electric Power Alliance this week. This immersive conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center brings together developers, service providers, and federal and NGO clean energy experts to explore vital industry issues, and share their perspective on the future of sustainability and decarbonization!

We were thrilled to join Governor Maura Healey and former Senate President Terry Murray in supporting Rep. Dylan Fernandes’s campaign for Senate in our Boston office today!

Great to be with our client The Worcester Business Development Corporation to celebrate $5.35 million in recent federal dollars for the Greendale Revitalization Initiative. Special thanks to Senator Ed Markey, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congressman Jim McGovern who championed this funding which will result in 1 million square feet of new development and the potential of 1,000 new jobs in the region.

Recent SCOTUS decision will reverberate across the country and add to the burden of those experiencing homelessness. Our client, Joyce Tavon, CEO of the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance offers her perspective in this CommonWealth Beacon commentary.

Don't penalize people for being poor and lacking housing The US Supreme Court ruled that a community may ban people from sleeping outside even when there is no adequate shelter or housing available. People may be fined or arrested for sleeping in a tent, on a bench, or even in their own cars.

Great time at the inaugural The New England Council Rising Stars Network in DC on Monday night, connecting with fellow New England organizations and professionals in the D.C. area. We’re proud to be a part of the New England Council and its work representing the region in Washington!

How cool is this?! Special thanks to Mick Jagger for shining a light on our client, the Museum of African American History. With campuses located in the heart of Beacon Hill and on Nantucket, MAAH connects early African American history and culture with current explorations of race and the struggle for human rights.

Beyond just a change of scenery, research confirms getting outside is good for our mental health. William James College's Dr. Kymberlee O’Brian talks about the benefits of Ecotherapy in this Boston 25 News report.

‘It makes me feel great’ – Getting outdoors increasingly used as mental health treatment Most people find that even a simple walk outside can lift their spirits and make them feel better.

Today’s panels at POLITICO’s Energy Summit have done an excellent job convening voices to examine the shifting policy environment in a year of major elections across the U.S. The energy spectrum is broad and diverse but one thing is clear: following the passage of the IRA, stakeholders are committed to understanding how resources will be deployed across the country and what next steps need to occur to sustain momentum.

We were an eager participant at the first-ever ClimaTechLive conference this week alongside many of Massachusetts’ leaders and climate champions. ‪As Governor Healey moves full speed ahead making Massachusetts the climate tech lab of the world, on display were some of the most impressive tough new technologies developed here. We are partial to Commonwealth Fusion Systems, of course, but came away impressed with so many others ‬

Great The New England Council event yesterday, especially hearing from Boston Globe Opinion writer & MSNBC commentator Kimberly Atkins Stohr When asked about how to cover the 2024 Presidential race, Atkins said, "Reporters need to remember not to just cover the odds, but the stakes."

How lucky are we that Boston is home to so much rich history? The Museum of African American History - Boston and Nantucket welcomed Dr. Noelle Trent as CEO and President last June and we are proud to have a front row seat as the Museum continues its transformation under her leadership. We’re definitely going to add her favorite podcasts and audio dramas to our lists.

As Milestones Approach, Preservation Takes Center Stage - Banker & Tradesman Museum of African American History CEO Noelle Trent is taking stock of her organization’s many historic Boston properties as the oldest reach their 230th birthday next year.

We feel so lucky to be part of a state where so many incredible organizations are working to address the climate crisis and are providing real-world solutions to meet the country's most pressing environmental challenges. We're proud to support the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) and its work advocating for policy that meets the scale and urgency of our environmental challenges.

Congratulations to this year's Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Awardees - Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell Congressman Richard Neal and Douglas Foy.

Will we see you at Fenway Park for ?

In a recent New York Times article, our client Tim Ritchie, President of the Museum of Science, Boston, shared his thoughts on the responsibility museums have to engage with the public around timely issues. “Museums like ours have the power to convene and the power to inspire. We need to be a place where people in our community can come together to think about what kind of a world we want.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/27/arts/design/natural-history-museums-dinosaurs-cleveland.html

Great piece in Banker & Tradesman by Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance CEO Joyce Tavon on the importance of supportive housing. The current housing shortage in MA doesn’t just harm the economy; it fuels the housing crisis, particularly among the fastest-growing population experiencing homelessness: adults 50+.

According to Joyce, data suggest we’re short 200,000 homes across all income levels. She writes - “It’s worth noting that only a subset of all unhoused people needs this model – a permanent place to live combined with services to assist them in achieving greater stability. With a roof over one’s head, it’s easier to tackle an addiction, receive mental health treatment or finally address complex health issues.”

Our team was thrilled to join the Congressional Fire Services Institute's 34th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium & Dinner in Washington DC yesterday. The event gathered thousands of fire service professionals from across the country for a day of advocacy and learning about some of the most pressing issues in fire prevention and response. It's truly inspiring to hear about the work our fire service professionals do to ensure our safety every day.

We're always excited to join FORGE Impact to see the incredible innovation they help make possible. From ropeless fishing gear to battery recycling technology, yesterday's Spring Showcase featured demonstrations of cutting-edge physical product prototypes from local startups. Last night, FORGE delivered thousands of dollars in funding that will help these innovators grow and bring their game-changing products to the market.

We look forward to seeing what these incredible companies do next. Special thanks to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development and Undersecretary Ashley Stolba for delivering the keynote remarks.

We are always proud to support our friends at MassEquality and their work to ensure that everyone across Massachusetts can thrive each and every day without discrimination. It was 20 years ago that Massachusetts embraced marriage equality. Join us in supporting MassEquality and its Beacons of Light gala which will pay homage to the last 20 years and celebrate what comes next.

+Rights

https://massequality.org/beacons-of-light-gala/

We've said it before and we'll say it again - equal access to education is paramount. That's why we are honored to support Mass Insight Education & Research and its mission to create a system where all students have equitable opportunities, support, and access to quality education regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code. We're proud to sponsor the Partners in Excellence (PIE) Awards, which recognizes AP STEM & English teachers across the Commonwealth for their significant impact on students' success. To the 2024 honorees, we salute you!



https://www.massinsight.org/partners-in-excellence/

Remember how we all tried to get tickets to TSwift on Tickemaster but couldn't because the buying process was such a fiasco? Yea, we do too...

Luckily, our client, The Coalition For Ticket Fairness is working to address the issues when it comes to buying tickets to your favorite live events. This week they brought together industry leaders - including our Kirk Monroe - to advocate for fairness for fans of music, sports, and other live events.

Another great hit for Mass Insight Education & Research! Listen to John Schneider's interview with The Education Trust about the new report on AP courses and their benefits in Massachusetts.

Access the report here: https://lnkd.in/grdpFvt6

An Interview with Kristen Hengtgen of The Education Trust Kristen Hengtgen, Ph.D. is a senior analyst on The Education Trust's P-12 policy team and co-author of their new report, Increasing Access to Advanced Course...

A great visit with Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester's McLaughlin Center! Not sure who was more excited to be there - the kids or the Secretary. Sec. Tutwiler saw the early education & care, teen, music, and fitness programming. Hopefully, he'll be back soon to challenge the members to a quick round of basketball!

We are always excited to see nonprofits collaborating, especially when they are our clients! Thanks to the Boch Center's Ticket Access Program - which eliminates cost barriers so community groups & schools can enjoy performances they otherwise would not be able to - members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester (BGCD) saw “Annie” the Musical. The BGCD continues to find creative ways to ensure that Boston youth have equitable access to the arts, regardless of socioeconomic status.

ICYMI: Our team was thrilled to have placed this important piece by Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians' Dr. Wayne Altman in CommonWealth Beacon on the organization’s priority legislation,“PC4You” (S.750), sponsored by State Senator Cindy Friedman. Take a look at what this bill would do to reform the state’s primary care system!



https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/primary-care-in-mass-needs-big-do-over/

Another cardinal rule of reputation management and crisis communications: "Tell it all, tell it first, tell it fast." Read more on Justine Griffin's perspective on the major differences between the scrutiny - and therefore potential impacts on the reputations - of former Harvard University President, Claudine Gay, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's President & CEO, Laurie Glimcher in The Boston Globe.

Claudine Gay was railroaded over research integrity. How has Dana-Farber’s Laurie Glimcher avoided that fate so far? - The Boston Globe Two women leaders have been on the hot seat over research integrity. How they’ve been treated couldn’t be any more different.