Happenings

By Ginger DeShaney The amount of leather Kathryn Rizzo watched get tossed during her time working for a luxury handbag designer in New York sparked a passion.                        She had a boss who handed her a full leather hide – you could still see the shape of the cow – and asked her to get rid of it or make something out of it. At the time, Kathryn didn’t have the space in her tiny apartment or the know-how on what to do with that hide, but it stuck with her for years. “I think about how much I've thrown out now and it hurts my soul,” she said. During her time in the New [...]

By Carol Masshardt The art of plants is displayed in the work of  Julio Cesar Roman-Rios of Micro Plant Studio on West Broadway, and the inspiration was formed through his experiences of both trauma and resilience. His path to the Museum of Fine Arts, followed by a Tufts University Master’s Degree in Public Policy, he has now been a business owner for the challenging past five years. His life and work is a testament to community, possibility and effort. Healthy plants and his uniquely designed pots create an environment of hopefulness and creativity, but the inspiration is decades old. Originally from Puerto Rico, nature caught his imagination and spirit early and in what were often trying circumstances. The impact of domestic violence inflicted on his [...]

By Ginger DeShaney When you see Marisa Carlini in the neighborhood, she will likely have a smile on her face.  Whether in her shop (LUXE home interiors), coaching on the softball field or basketball court, or teaching at Miss Linda’s School of Dance, it’s important for Marisa to give back. “I care about kids; I love teaching them,” she said. “You walk out happy.”   Marisa played basketball and softball and was a dancer herself. So it was natural for her to help out in the community. Her kids, Chloe, 12, and Sadie, 13, have been going to Miss Linda’s forever. To give back, Marisa teaches 4- and 5-year-old dancers.  Her kids go to South Boston Catholic Academy and she coaches basketball there. She’s also involved [...]

By Ginger DeShaney Rich Rowland wants you to rebel against the things that are bringing you down. Rich created Rebel Athletic Club “because I wanted people to rebel against a lot of the things that sort of either oppressed them in their minds or their ideas or what they see fitness as being.” His fitness philosophy is unique. “I think for a lot of people, they think of aesthetics: I need to lose weight. I want to look good. But the reality is, and the thing that I enjoy the most, is when people are working out, they're getting huge mental benefits from it, too. So to me, mental health equals physical health.” Rich believes that engaging in consistent workouts has a huge positive impact [...]