Mayor Michelle Wu Appoints Members of Nightlife Initiative for a Thriving Economy (NITE) Committee

The NITE Committee will support City efforts to foster a more fun, equitable and family-friendly nightlife economy that benefits residents across neighborhoods

Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion recently announced the inaugural members of the Nightlife Initiative for a Thriving Economy (NITE) Committee. The Committee members were selected based on their deep professional and personal contributions to Boston's nightlife.

"I’m excited to announce the members of the NITE Committee who will help drive our efforts forward in building community, fostering economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for all residents,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to the members of this committee who represent a wide coalition of industry experts and community leaders for their service. I look forward to partnering with them to create a more vibrant and inclusive nightlife ecosystem that reflects the needs and aspirations of our diverse city.”

“The only way we will achieve Mayor Wu’s vision of vibrant, welcoming, and affordable nightlife is with the guidance, input, and expertise of industry and local leaders. The members of the NITE Committee have this experience, and we appreciate their commitment to working with the City to move important policy and programmatic ideas forward,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “Through the NITE Committee initiative, and other work in the Offices of Nightlife Economy, Consumer Affairs and Licensing, and Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment, I am confident that we will successfully reimagine and reclaim the night in Boston, creating new opportunities to engage neighbors and make the city more attractive to students, professionals, families, and seniors.”

The Committee will meet every two months to evaluate regulations and policies impacting Boston's nightlife economy and culture. The Committee will present informed findings and provide recommendations to the City. Members will commit to serving a one year term and will have an option to continue service for one additional year. The first NITE Committee meeting took place on May 20, 2024.

Corean Reynolds, the City's Director of Nightlife Economy, will serve as the NITE Committee Chair. John Borders IV, the City’s Director of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment, and Kathleen Joyce, Chairwoman of the Licensing Board for the City of Boston, will serve as Vice Chairs.

The inaugural NITE Committee consists of 26 residents, business, and civic leaders who represent 14 Boston neighborhoods. They bring a diverse range of expertise and perspectives related to the food and beverage industry, arts and culture, entertainment, public safety, community, and compliance.

“I look forward to future meetings with the NITE Committee.” said Corean Reynolds, Director of Nightlife Economy. “Bostonians want to see change and they are eager to play an active role in making that change. I am honored to be involved with this Committee and will also continue engaging the larger Boston community.”

“I look forward to future meetings with the NITE Committee.” said Corean Reynolds, Director of Nightlife Economy. “Bostonians want to see change and they are eager to play an active role in making that change. I am honored to be involved with this Committee and will also continue engaging the larger Boston community.”

The 26 members of the NITE Committee are:

Aldo Callegas, Owner of La Hacienda
Ann Sousa, Executive Director of Brighter Boston
Bessie King, Founding Board Member of Massachusetts Restaurants United
Cerise Marcela, Director of CBRE
Chris Haynes, Owner of CBH Communication
Chimel Idiokitas, Founder of the DIFRNT Agency and DJ
Daniel Steele, Resident of Jamaica Plain
Danielle Johnson, Owner of Spark FM Online
Edward Kane, Owner of Big Night Entertainment
Eric Woods, Chief Operating Officer of the Museum of Fine Arts
Esther Tetreault, Owner of Trillium Brewing
Farrah Belizaire, Event Producer for LiteWork Events
Frank Poindexter, Owner of Wally's Cafe Jazz Club
Gregory Ball, Director of Digital Strategy for Embrace Boston
Hilina D. Ajakaiye, Executive Vice President of Meet Boston
Jarred Johnson, Executive Director TransitMatters
Josh Bhatti, Senior Vice President of The Bowery Presents
Kurt Mclaughlin, Owner of KP Media
Lambert Rahming, Owner of FROLIC
Lana Nathe, Owner of Light Insight Design Studio and Board Member of LIGHT Boston
Luz Arregoces, Director of Community Engagement for the New England Aquarium
Michael Nichols, President of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District
Ming Min Hui, Executive Director of the Boston Ballet
Rob Eugene, Owner of HUE
Veronica Rosario, Co-Founder of .Tribe and DJ
Walid Samaha, Head of Business Development for Heartbeat Venture

Applications for the NITE Committee launched in June 2023. Nearly 300 people applied.

The Office of Nightlife Economy launched in March 2023. The Office works to create a more robust and equitable nightlife economy to enhance the overall quality of life for residents of Boston. For more information about the Nightlife Initiative for a Thriving Economy Committee, visit boston.gov/nightlife.