Rafi Properties Announces Somerville Media Center Expansion on Somernova Campus
Somerville Media Center to open a 5,000 square foot, state-of-the-art media center
SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS – April 22, 2024 – Rafi Properties, Owner and Operator
of Somernova , the 7.4 acre innovation campus and community dedicated to helping people and
companies iterate and grow faster, announced today that the Somerville Media Center (SMC)
will expand their footprint at the campus, and open a new, state-of-the-art media center
designed to spark creativity and amplify community engagement. SMC is operating in a limited
capacity in their current, 2,500 SF space at 12 Tyler Street, and plans to come back and offer all
of their services and more in their new space at 29 Properzi Way. Tailor-made for the digital age,
the new 5,000 square foot media center, will serve as a nexus of collaboration and exploration
designed to inspire Somerville’s next generation of storytellers, innovators, and change-
makers.
Established in 1983, the SMC has long been a beacon of connectivity and creativity for the
Somerville community. Home to local access channel SCATV, the SMC has hosted nationally
recognized programming such as “Dead Air Live” the longest-running show in US cable access
history, and “Let’s Talk About Race,” an award-winning broadcast and podcast program focused
on racial dialogues and historical analysis. After the SMC was asked to relocate from the
property they were based in for almost 40 years, Rafi Properties offered to rehome the media
center in a temporary 2,500 square foot space at Somernova in 2023. Today’s announcement
further solidifies SMC’s important presence as part of Somernovas’s creative and innovative
ecosystem and marks the next chapter for the SMC as it continues to grow its multi-media
offerings including its radio programming, Boston Free Radio, hyperlocal Somerville news
shows and locally produced television programs.
“As the producer of SMC’s Let’s Talk About Race since 2017, I’ve facilitated and showcased the vital conversations between the BIPOC and white residents of Somerville,” said Diane
Wong, Director of the Racial Justice Collaborative. “Our show has always been a space
where dialogue about race is open, honest, and transformative. With the move to our new home
at 29 Properzi Way, we’re stepping into a realm of even greater possibilities for our show and all
of the Somerville Media Center. Together, in this new space, we will explore, learn, and grow,
driven by the belief that through meaningful dialogue, we can illuminate the nuanced realities of
race and diversity, creating a more inclusive community for everyone.”
The SMC’s expansion at Somernova will advance its servicing of media and communications
needs for local non-profit partners and enhance its youth programming and on-campus
partnerships. This summer, SMC will host a five-week Youth Creator Club program in
collaboration with The Dojo, Somernova’s youth-driven community center pilot. This
transformative program will empower 40 young minds to unleash their creativity, learn media
production skills, and craft their own stories, leveraging the SMC’s cutting-edge resources and
Somernova’s spirit of innovation. Through initiatives like the Youth Creator Club, SMC aims to
inspire and empower the next generation of media makers, ensuring that youth voices are heard
and amplified.
“This is a huge step forward for SMC. While the continued transformation of Somerville is
bringing a lot of change quickly, our new home at 29 Properzi gives us a chance to leverage our
history in this city and rejuvenate our organization,” said Jesse Buckley, President of the
Somerville Media Center’s Board of Directors. “I’m really excited for SMC’s past, present,
and future members to rediscover the power of collaboration with new tools, and in a new
studio. This is something we will all be building and discovering together, and it is possible in
large part thanks to Somernova and the City of Somerville”
“Somernova values a holistic campus where innovators from all background and industries can
collaborate, grow, and give back to the community of Somerville,” said Collin Yip, Managing
Director of Rafi Properties, Owner and Operator of Somernova. “I have no doubt Somerville
Media Center’s next chapter on campus will be synergistic and innovative.”
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About Somernova
Deeply rooted in the neighborhood vibe of Somerville’s Union Square, Somernova is a 7.4-acre
campus for innovation and community whose mission is to help entrepreneurs and companies
iterate and grow faster. Owned and operated by Rafi Properties, Somernova is home to an
eclectic tenant mix including Greentown Labs, The Bouldering Project, Form Energy, The
Engine by MIT, Aeronaut Brewing, Sublime Systems, Eden Geopower, Commonwealth Fusion,
Tank Design, Tender Foods, De-Ice, Somerville Bike Kitchen, Somerville Media Center,
Riverside Community Care, Carolicous, Somerville Chocolate, The Studio for Sculptural Arts,
and The Dojo @ Somernova. While their work spans vast industry sectors, our tenants share in
their collective commitment to making the world a better place for everyone. For more
information, visit somernova.com.
About Rafi Properties
At Rafi Properties, we believe community is the future. As a next-generation real estate
development, ownership and investment company, we are dedicated to driving innovation and
empowering change through our global development portfolio. Intentionally designed and
thoughtfully programmed from ideation to delivery, our properties foster creativity and enrich the
communities around them to drive positive transformation. For more information,
visit rafiproperties.com.
May 3, 2024
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