WORKING TOGETHER

Make it stand out.

Who We Are

East Boston Main Streets is led by Executive Director Gladys Oliveros and supported by a volunteer Board of Directors. As an organization we are committed to fostering an inclusive community that supports the growth and well-being of our small business community and the residents of East Boston.

We’re reshaping the East Boston landscape guided by
the following tenets:

Helping local business owners navigate the confusing world of owning and starting a business
Advancing the dialogues that are relevant to East Boston business owners and residents
Embracing our community’s diversity with intention

We do this through the following services:

Providing technical assistance, workshops, and one-on-one support
Keeping the neighborhood beautiful through storefront renovations, signage improvements, and community clean-up events
Bringing the community together and promoting East Boston’s businesses through local events
Advocating for policies that support East Boston business owners and residents

Meet Our Executive Director

Gladys Oliveros is a committed grassroots activist and a huge advocate of immigrant and minority empowerment. She has directed her valuable time and expertise to uplift the East Boston community immensely. Familiar to the area, Gladys hopes to develop strong relationships with the community and drive economic development by protecting and supporting businesses in East Boston.

The mission of our East Boston Main Streets is to foster a thriving community through economic development. To this end, Gladys and the organization provide technical assistance and support to small businesses, especially minority owned businesses, as well as to families, ensuring they receive the necessary support, advocacy, and training.

By doing so, she hopes to improve the economic and cultural standing of our neighborhood in East Boston. With the support of her board of directors, she hopes to create a chain reaction of positivity towards other neighborhoods in Boston and immigrant or minority communities.

Send Gladys a Message!

Meet Our Board Members

David Halbert. David joined the EBMS Board in 2011. He has served in numerous roles, including Promotions Chair. David is Outreach Manager for The Educational Justice Institute (TEJI) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, leading efforts to increase awareness for TEJI’s work expanding post-secondary education for the incarcerated and those in re-entry. David has served as a staff member for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, members of the Boston City Council, and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, where he helped found, and served as director for, the People of Color in Criminal Justice Conference – the only one of its kind in New England. In 2019 David ran for an At-large seat on the Boston City Council. David holds a Bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Northeastern University. A former Jeffries Point resident, David and his family live in Dorchester.

Issa Sylla is a Research Engineer at IBM, where he focuses on algorithmic fairness, event prediction and simulation. An MBA and Health Policy MS candidate at the Darden School of Business and Stanford University, respectively, he is interested in exploring the intersection of health economics, policy, and outcomes. During the college admission period, he enjoys interviewing high school students for his alma mater, Dartmouth College. Issa joined the EBMS Board in 2018.

Jeff Thomas joined the EBMS board in 2017. An East Boston resident and dedicated public servant, Jeff works for the Boston Planning and Development Agency in the Planning Division. He previously worked in Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s office as an assistant for the Mayor where his work primarily focused on communications, event planning, and special projects.

Joe Ruggiero. Graduate of Savio Prep and Mount Ida college. Licensed funeral director and owner of Ruggiero Family Memorial Home. Member of the boston zoning board of appeals. Member of the NOAH board and Paris St Community Coucil Board. Lives in East Boston with his Wife Katie.

Matthew Pollock was born in Boston and has lived in Eastie since 2011. A graphic designer and creative director by training, Matt has been leading the charge for the East-Boston based public art initiative, HarborArts, for over a decade. Through his work in the arts community, Matt has produced large-scale public art installations, pop-up galleries, events, and festivals, and has forged collaborations with our non-profit organizations, small business community, and schools in Eastie.

Matt's work to transform the 14-acre Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina into an outdoor gallery on the Harbor Walk has brought thousands of locals and visitors through our shipyard to explore the intersection of industry, community, and artistic expression. His most recent project, Sea Walls Boston, resulted in 19 new monumental murals throughout East Boston that inspire environmental action for our oceans. Through ongoing programming with public schools in East Boston, the murals painted will empower generations of Eastie youth to take ownership and pride for our local natural resources.

Matt joined the board of East Boston Main Streets in 2021 eager to bring his energy and enthusiasm for community building to the team. Matt aims to support Main Streets' growing role in encouraging social and environmental action in East Boston through thoughtful and inclusive collaboration with our thriving arts and small business communities.