Saturday, Oct. 25, 8:30am to 3:30pm

Cranston High School East
899 Park Avenue, Cranston RI

Our first annual Main Street RI Conference featured keynotes from seasoned Main Street leaders, topical breakout sessions, tours of the nearby commercial corridor, and opportunities to meet colleagues working to build vibrant, successful Main Streets across RI.

Speakers:

Miriam Parson
Director of Capacity Building, Launch, Main Street America

An introduction to Main Street America: Making the Case for a Main Street program

What is the Main Street Approach and why is it effective? Miriam comes to us with 15 years of experience leading nonprofit programs that implement asset-based community development. At Main Street America, her time is dedicated to launching and supporting the implementation of the Main Street Approach in new regions. WATCH THE RECORDING

Teresa Valliere:
President, Friends of Woodfords Corner in Portland, Maine

Starting a New Local Main Street Program: Friends of Woodfords Corner

Friends of Woodfords Corner (FWC) began in September of 2015 when a group of neighbors came together to create a new, community-centric vision for Woodfords Corner. FWC became a non-profit in 2017 and a proud Maine Street Affiliate in January of 2019. As President of FWC, Teresa received a Downtown Hero Award from the Maine Downtown Center in 2023 for her work.
WATCH THE RECORDING

Clark Schoettle
Co-Founder of the National Trust Main Street Project in 1977

The Origin Story: The Main Street Four Point Approach

Celebrated locally in Rhode Island as the former Executive Director of the Providence Revolving Fund, Clark Schoettle’s influence stretches nationally. Early in his career, Clark was a co-founder of the National Trust Main Street Project, serving as one of the first three Main Street managers – ever! In fact, he was one of the architect’s of the Four Points Approach to Main Street Revitalization that is now spearheaded by Main Street America.
WATCH THE RECORDING

Are You Ready to Take Action on Behalf of Your Commercial District?

The conference will conclude with a call for applications for the 2026 Rhode Island Main Street Learning Cohort. In partnership with professionals from Main Street America, we’re excited to offer a monthly series of 6 workshops for our Learning Cohort participants that will discuss actual processes for implementing the proven Four Point approach to main street revitalization and explore different transformation strategies.

AGENDA

8:30am Registration Opens; Coffee & Pastries
9:00am Welcome and Introduction to the day

SPEAKERS:

Miriam Parson: An introduction to Main Street America: Making the Case for a Main Street program
How does the Main Street program work at the local, state and national level? What are the Four Points? And why should communities participate?

Teresa Valliere: Starting a New Local Main Street Program
Hear how one neighborhood hub in Portland, ME went from having no formal community organization to an Affiliate Main Street Program in ten years.

Breakout Sessions:

Breakout Sessions will take place in various locations throughout Rolfe Square. Workshops are facilitated by members of our community already engaged in making our places better.
NOTE: We’ll break for lunch between sessions — with lunch included in the cost of your registration.

11:15am Breakout Session

Community Wealth Building through Local Economies, Investment, and Small Scale Development

Josh Daly and Jessica David will share details on building community capital and capacity, launching Rhode Island’s first community investment fund, and bringing the Jumpstart neighborhood-based real estate development program to the state.

SPEAKERS:

Jessica David, Founding President, Local Return

Josh Daly, Treasurer, Local Return

Marketing your Main Street and Businesses

From the basics to tips and tricks, gain valuable marketing insights and advice from one of RI’s place industry leaders! Find out what opportunities exist for community groups to promote their commercial districts and the businesses that are located there.

SPEAKER:

Kristen Adamo, President and CEO, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

Programming and Events that Make an Impact

The volunteer-led Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative has been using the Four Points Approach for years, and over time they’ve developed an impressive calendar of engaging community events. Hear how they run their Holiday Stroll, Arts in the Alley, Dinner on the Bridge, Levitt Concerts in the Park Series, and more!

SPEAKER:

Garrett Mancieri, President, Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative

Small Business Success: Tools, Tips & Resources

Running a small business often means being CEO, bookkeeper, marketing and tech support—all at once. We get it! Join us for an engaging, interactive workshop designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners who are ready to launch, grow, or scale with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, this session will introduce you to a wide range of tools, resources, and expert support available to help you succeed at no cost to you.

What you’ll learn:

How to access no-cost business advising and technical assistance
Strategies to improve your operations, marketing, and financial management
Ways to connect with local experts, partners, and access to capital
How to tap into impactful training and networking events designed for small businesses like yours

SPEAKER:

Melba Depena Affigne, Vice President of Economic Development, Skills for RI

TOUR! Looking at Rolfe Square from the View of its Library

The Auburn Branch of the Cranston Public Library has called Rolfe Square home since it was established as the Auburn Reading Room in 1888 (!) and moved around to many different locations in the neighborhood before the current building was built in 1991. Travel through a physical timeline of history and visit the locations of current day partnerships while also exploring the important role libraries play in our communities!

**Meet near the circulation desk inside the Auburn Public Library at 11:15 AM

TOUR GUIDE:

Nomi Hague, Auburn Branch Librarian of the Cranston Public Library

1:15pm Breakout Session

When Neighbor is a Verb: Fostering Social Connection in Woodfords Corner

As social worker by profession, the President of Portland, ME’s Friends of Woodfords Corner will share her research and perspective about the uniquely successful ways Main Street organizations and their activities facilitate meaningful relationships among neighbors (and why that’s so important!)

SPEAKER:

Teresa Valliere, President, Friends of Woodsfords Corner

The Historic Heartbeat of Our Main Streets

Picture your favorite downtown, or just the one near where you live.

Chances are high that wherever you’re imagining has a high density of historic buildings and streets that reflect decades of growth and change. Reusing old buildings to serve current needs is central to cultivating a thriving Main Street, and we see examples everywhere in Rhode Island and around the country. In this session, the Rhode Island State Historic Preservation Office will highlight the benefits of preservation as a tool of economic development and demystify how the State’s preservation office approaches Main Street projects. Come with your questions!

SPEAKER:

Kelsey Mullen, Senior Historian & Public Information Officer, State Historic Preservation Office

Spotlight on the Hope Village Legacy Project made possible by the Congress for the New Urbanism

How a grassroots citizens group worked with planning professionals to create a vision plan to revitalize a historic mill village in Scituate, RI.

SPEAKERS:

Robert Bower, Chair of the Hope Village Project Legacy Committee

Mary Manning Morse, Vice Chair of the Hope Village Project Legacy Committee

Starting Together: Building Partnerships for Place-Based Initiatives with the 02908 Merchant’s Collective

The 02908 district is home to diverse businesses, non-profits, and cultural landmarks that create a dynamic and welcoming environment; learn more about the newly formed 02908 Merchants Collective and the municipal, nonprofit, and private partnerships that made it possible.

Speakers:

Kenneth Zorabedian, President, 02908 Merchant’s Collective

Dominque Resendes, Associate Director of Community Infrastructure, One Neighborhood Builders

Wole Akinbi, Facilitator/Community Liaison, Half Full LLC

Timothy Shea, Planner / Project Manager, CIVIC

Tour! Rolfe Square: Past and Future of a Community Hub

Discover a bit of the history of Rolfe Square, its memorials, and its role as a central gathering place, and discuss how your district can remember its past while also meeting the future needs of your unique community.

**Meet outside the Cafeteria at Cranston East High School at 1:15 PM

TOUR GUIDE:

Brianna Valcourt, Senior Planner of the Cranston Planning Department

Afternoon Agenda

2:15pm Afternoon Speaking Program

SPEAKERS:

- - Clarke Schoettle: The Origin Story: The Main Street Four Point Approach
    Clark Schoettle, one of the original project managers with the National Trust Main Street Project, will disclose how the Four Point Approach was first conceived in 1979.