Ruth C. Mercado-Zizzo (she/her)

Ruth is the Vice President of Programs and Equity at EdVestors, an education nonprofit in Boston where she oversees its arts education work through BPS Arts Expansion and the Bloomberg Arts Internship program, as well as EdVestors’ racial equity and mathematics work with Boston Public Schools. Ruth facilitates ensuring overall internal and organizational programmatic efforts incorporate an explicit and specific focus on advancing racial equity, including building an inclusive and equitable organizational culture and community. She previously worked at the Boch Center, where, as Director of Education, she oversaw the long-term planning and evaluation of all education programs and managed partnerships with cultural institutions and community organizations across the city. Ruth also worked for People’s Light and Theatre in both education and administration. Ruth was the Operations Director for Createquity, an online think tank that synthesized research pertaining to the arts. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from Arizona State University, where she was honored with the Herberger College of Fine Arts Research and Creative Activity Award, and is a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has served as a board member of TYA/USA, as a National Endowment for the Arts grant panelist, and currently serves on the ArtsBoston board. She is an alum of the National Guild’s Community Arts Education Leadership Institute and National Arts Strategies/University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy.

Doug Bowen Flynn (he/him)

Doug is a 27-year resident of the North End and has been involved with NEMPAC since his daughter joined Family Music Makers seventeen years ago.  As a professional actor, he has performed on stage, television, and film.  He served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, later SAG-AFTRA, in New England for six years, and remains on the editorial board of SAG-AFTRA magazine.  Doug also serves as the Humanities Lead Teacher for Medford Public schools, where he has worked for twenty-five years. Serving on the NEMPAC Board as a member, Vice-President, and President for the past twelve years has allowed Doug to combine his passions for art, education, and the North End-Charlestown neighborhoods in the most rewarding way imaginable, and he considers himself honored to be able to build our sense of common community through the arts.

Attire: The recommended attire is festive cocktail style.

Weather: This is an outdoor tented event, with temperatures generally in the 70s.

Program: Details to come this summer.

Auction: Details to come in August.

Cuisine & Beverage: A sumptuous buffet dinner and decadent dessert bar curated libations by 90+ Cellars and Boston Bottle.

Directions: If coming from Hanover Street, walk into the park, past the Paul Revere Statue and you will see our registration tent area on the right next to our NEMPAC Prado Studios. If coming from Unity Street, past the public water fountain and walk towards the registration tent on your left. Note, in Google Maps, enter “Paul Revere Mall, Boston MA 02113”.

Parking: The Battery Wharf Garage is offering a $30 parking rate for Soirée attendees. (2 Battery Wharf, Boston, MA 02109). Upon arrival, state that you are there for the NEMPAC, and they will prompt you to pay upfront giving you unrestricted time to enjoy the event. Other parking lots in the North End include North End Garage (600 Commercial Street, Boston MA 02113) or Sargent’s Wharf Parking Lot (269 Commercial Street, Boston, MA 02109).

Rideshare: If ride-sharing please ensure “Paul Revere Mall” as your destination.

Registration: Upon arrival, look for the registration table for checking in. For your convenience and to ensure that the line moves as quickly as possible, we request that you add your email and phone number and register your credit card before arrival.  We will provide a link to do so this coming summer. Note: pre-registration allows you to participate in the Silent Auction and other donation opportunities, but no charges will be made unless you authorize a donation/purchase.

Text Communications: We will be sending you notification prior to the event, as well as night-of important information in order to support the best guest experience possible.

Accessibility: The Prado/Paul Revere Mall is fully accessible, as it is a flat park space with access on both ends of the park. If you require any special assistance at the event, please inform our Facilities and Operations Coordinator Steve Allen at least 48 hours prior to the event at sallen@nempacboston.org.