Destination Downtown, WeBreathe Wellness Co-Host Connection Event

WALPOLE, MA - Destination Downtown is joining forces with The WeBreathe Wellness Center to host a free community and business networking event on Sunday, September 12 to attract residents to local shops and restaurants, particularly after the impact of the pandemic.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the The WeBreathe Wellness Center at 55 West Street. It will feature a mixer with at least 20 local businesses discussing what they offer.

"We organized this because we would love the businesses and the community members to come together and learn about all of the great opportunities that exist in Walpole," said event organizer Erika MacMillan. "The businesses get a chance to market themselves, and residents get to establish connections with them."

Visitors also will receive products in goodie bags and get discounts from the participating merchants.

"There will be a goodie bag for each person filled with gifts from the businesses," MacMillan explained. "For example, a local dentist's office will be giving away toothbrushes and toothpaste. Secret Haven, a local furniture store, is including a 10 percent discount coupon on one item."

MacMillan said the event "will provide a list of resources that people may not have known about and can explore."

There will also be a raffle, where tickets can be purchased for a chance to win one of 17 gift baskets created by Destination Downtown members.

"The fundraising dollars from that raffle will go toward the expansion of the holiday lights in Walpole this winter," MacMillan said.

The group has worked to promote local businesses over the past several months through a series of profiles on its Facebook site. To view, go to https://www.facebook.com/Downt....

Jennifer Gulbrand is the founder and creator of The WeBreathe Wellness Center and SheBreathes Balance Women's Collaborative, a women's empowerment and membership community. She has experiened how the pandemic has impacted local businesses.

"The pandemic has made it nearly impossible for small businesses to survive," she said. "I was unable to get any COVID related support since I do not take any personal income from the center. But I persevered and have been personally financing the center to pay rent and stay open for people needing our support. I know people need places like this now more than ever before and I have not given up on the dream."

The center offers a coworking space, classes, a spa and a cafe. Massage, yoga, and art classes are some of the activities participants can enjoy.

In addtion to cosponsoring the networking event and hosting it the center is celebrating the fifth anniversary of SheBreathes Balance Women's Collaborative on September 10.

Destination Downtown is a community-led coalition of residents, business owners, property owners, and town government officials dedicated to developing the future of downtown Walpole. Its philosophy is based on the four principles that are the pillars of the national Main Street America program: design, promotion, organization and economic vitality. It encourages people to shop locally and invest in their communities rather than buying online or from chain stores.

Local examples are Boston's Main Streets program, with Roslindale Village Main Street being the first urban Main Street organization in the country when it was founded in 1985. Ten years later, other Boston towns formed Main Streets programs, and now there are 20 in the city that assist local businesses.

Dedham is another community that has successfully implemented the Main Streets strategy in its revitalization of Dedham Square over the past several years.