Boston has hired a leader to improve the city’s social scene — a position informally dubbed the “late-night czar.”
Corean Reynolds will serve as Boston’s new director of nightlife economy. Segun Idowu, Boston’s chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, announced the appointment today during a press conference.
“Her goal will be to focus on the macro-level on how we create long-term solutions to have a more vibrant and sustainable nightlife here in the city, and how we're redefining nightlife to be something that's more than clubs and more than restaurants and bars," Idowu said.
Meet the city's new nightlife director
Reynolds comes to the city government after spending seven years at The Boston Foundation. She joined the organization as a program associate and concluded her tenure as director of economic inclusion. As a self-described “Afro-Latina leader in philanthropy,” Reynolds says she played a role in funding those building a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Greater Boston.
Reynolds is a Boston transplant and current Jamaica Plain resident who came to the city in 2014 after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in urban, community and regional planning.
She grew up on the south side of Chicago, but has since traveled around the world. Reynolds described walking the streets of Barcelona amidst musicians or walking into a bar in Chicago and making new friends. She said cities like these have a welcoming vibe and a "unique cultural identity." In Boston, she said she's walked into bars and felt unseen or not included.
"In some spaces, I don't feel like I'm included. I don't feel like they are spaces that are built for me to enjoy myself. And so I really want to ensure that that experience is not for all," Reynolds said.
Reynolds will start in this new position on March 6. She said her priorities include building equity into Boston's nightlife, including making sure people of all abilities, genders, sexual orientations and races are represented in the venues and events in the city.
Her priorities will also include building out nightlife beyond just bars and clubs. This could include looking for ways to introduce more street fairs and conferences, or supporting more activity-based venues like those popping up in the Seaport for indoor minigolf and darts.
The search for a czar
The public search for a director of nightlife economy, initially called the director of strategic initiatives, began nearly a year ago. Boston has long had a reputation as a “boring” city compared to other major hubs like Miami, Chicago and New York City. In an 86-page report about revitalizing downtown, the Wu administration committed to making Boston “a 24-hour city, on par with other global cities, with nightlife that is inviting and welcoming to everyone.”
The report found that there were only 89 nightlife establishments open in downtown and that the city’s “sleepy” reputation inhibits its ability to attract and retain young talent. Several young tech workers in Boston have told BostInno that while they have seen signs of change in the last few years, the city isn’t evolving fast enough to keep them here. They called for more inclusive and interactive events citywide.
Idowu said last year that while they can’t get “the sun to sit over Boston for long periods of the year,” there are steps the city can take to make its social scene more vibrant, inclusive and accessible.
"We are creating a city that is a 24-hour city. That is a vibrant city, but also looks at the economy beyond the nine to five or eight to four hours. But looks at all the hours after and how we can create a more robust and vibrant economy for the whole day and for the whole night," Idowu said.
Subscribe to the Morning Edition or Afternoon Edition for the business news you need to know, all free.
