Union Square Holiday Stroll @ Somernova

Union Square Holiday Stroll @ Somernova 

Saturday, December 10th all day

Studio Opening | 24 Dane Street (basement)

Dojo Open House, People-Place-Planet Idea Jams 15 Properzi Way, 

Join in The Holiday Stroll, a celebration of Union Square sparkle, discovery, and holiday delight on Saturday, December 10 from 12-6pm. Sponsored in part by Somernova, revel in this Union Square neighborhood tradition, enter to win CASH prizes by conquering the Keep Small Strong Challenge while enjoying unique eats and rad retail! Stroll the Square, take ‘Elfie Selfies’ with incredible inflatables, tag @somerova and $25 will be donated to Union Square Main Streets SNAP program. 

Lot’s happening in Somerville’s Innovation Hub during this years stroll: 

12-6pm: Grand opening & ribbon cutting for The Studio for Sculptural Arts @ Somernova a space for local artists, makers & sculptors to create, collaborate and be bold. 

12-6pm Dojo Open House & Idea Jams

When was the last time you enjoyed holiday cookies and sipped hot chocolate while speaking with your neighbors about social equity and climate justice? 

Stop by the dojo @ Somernova during the Union Square Holiday Stroll, December 10th between 12-6pm for an open house and conversations with new friends and old. Join us for an idea jam as we explore what we as a community can do to co-create a more equitable future for our youth, our planet and for Somerville?

1 – 2:30PM:  #beYOUTHful – Let’s get creative! 

EVENTBRITE link: https://beYOUTHful.eventbrite.com

Facilitated by: 

• Steven Flythe, Deputy Director of the Department of Racial and Social Justice, City of Somerville .
• Majic Alfonse, Dojo Director,  Youth Leader, Teen Empowerment, Producer Mega 
• Yairamar Oropeza, Youth Center Project Coordinator, Dojo @ Somernova

Somerville public school students are a majority-minority population with over  60% identifying as low income; while Somerville’s population is 76.05% white with a median income of $117,000. How do we ensure an equitable future in the city for all people, especially the youth? This idea jam is designed to bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to discuss and create what an equitable future looks like for Somerville. The best presentation will win a prize. 

3 -4 PM :  Are we really strangers? Get to know your neighbors!

EVENTBRITE: https://dontbestrangers.eventbrite.com

Facilitated by:  

Greg Nadeau, Somerville Education Foundation, Board President

Members of the Union Square Neighborhood Council

In this idea jam, we will explore the theme of ‘place.’ Somerville is changing. As we think about the growing landscape of the city, what do we want to change? What aspects of the city do we want to stay the same?  In this workshop we will play a card game while getting to know our neighbors better and sharing common dreams for our city..

5-6 PM: Policy with a Purpose? Let’s jam! 

EVENTBRITE: https://policywithapurpose.eventbrite.com

Facilitated by: 

• Julie Janinski, Head of Sustainability, Somervova & Partner and Principal, Buro Happold 
• Randi Soltysiak, Somerville Chapter Coordinator, Mothers Out Front 
• Joe Curtone, President of Northeast Clean Energy Council

In this idea jam, we will explore the theme of “planet”. People will be grouped in teams, each team will have 20 minutes to create an idea bank based on a prompt question put forth by the moderators. The groups  will choose the best idea to write a local policy around social equity and climate solutions. After each group presents their ideas we will all vote on who gets the prize!