ALL IN: Growing Public Spaces Together

Boston is a city built on evolution that has reinvented itself time and time again. It’s the birthplace of revolution, innovation, and transformation — qualities that mirror the evolution of today’s public spaces.

From its historic neighborhoods to its integral public transit system, Boston shows how public spaces grow stronger when they adapt to the needs of diverse communities. It’s a city where tradition and progress coexist, where walkability, design, and civic pride come together to create vibrant, people-centered environments.

There’s no better backdrop for this year’s Connect & Share. Boston embodies the same ongoing evolution Block by Block is embracing — expanding our impact, deepening our purpose, and going all in on growing public spaces for everyone.

Important Note About Departure: We’ll use rideshare for departure from the hotel, but we want to consolidate rides to be efficient. Please retrieve your luggage and promptly come to the First Floor Lobby if your flight departs before 5pm. We will group you into rides based on the terminal of your departure at Logan Airport.

Accommodations: Your hotel rooms have already been reserved. However, you are responsible for booking your own flights. If you have not yet arranged your flight, please do so as soon as possible.

Hotel Map: Click here for a map of the Hyatt Regency Boston.

Dress Code: Please dress in business casual with comfortable walking shoes. Be prepared for Boston’s unpredictable weather by bringing clothing you can layer as needed. In addition, comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended, as you will participate in Operational Walking Tours during the first two days of the event.

P-Card Increases: We have issued increases to your P-Card limits for the cycle to accommodate travel and meal purchases during times designated on the agenda. Breakfast - $25, Lunch - $25, Dinner - $100. Please note that these totals are per meal and do not roll over. You cannot skip breakfast and lunch and spend $150 on dinner.

ID: If you do not have a Real ID, please bring your passport with you to ensure you don’t run into issues or additional screening.

Start Times and Locations: Please check start times and locations before each event. Some sessions are not at the hotel and will require light travel. Ensure that you plan accordingly to arrive at the location of the session by the intended start time. (link to maps)

General Decorum: We want you to network and have fun. That said, this is mainly a conference for expanding your knowledge about managing in public spaces and advancing our business interests. Please be attentive!

Where to Eat: Our friends in Boston have generously helped compile a list of places to eat while you are here. Check out that list here.

Maps for the walking tour:
Day 1

SUNDAY, MARCH 29TH, 2026

Welcome Reception & Dinner for Early Arrivers

Registration | 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Location: Hyatt Regency – 4th Floor Grand Ballroom and Terrace

Kick off your Connect & Share experience by checking in, picking up your materials, and reconnecting with colleagues in a relaxed setting.

Dinner | 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Hyatt Regency – 4th Floor Grand Ballroom and Terrace

Meet other early arrivers and the Block by Block leadership team to connect and catch up over dinner. If you arrive close to dinner time, please feel free to bring your luggage to the fourth floor and check in to your room after dinner.

MONDAY, MARCH 30TH, 2026

Day 1: Kickoff, Tours and Awards Dinner

Welcome to Boston! We won’t waste a minute getting into our theme. We’ll officially open Connect & Share 2026 by reflecting out what we’ve accomplished since our last meeting in San Francisco two years ago and set the stage for where we are headed next. Immediately following, we’ll hit the streets of Boston to see how Block by Block is serving a wide variety of public spaces.

Breakfast on Your Own

If you’re one of the early arrivers, there are no organized plans for breakfast. Please eat in the downtown neighborhood and spend up to $25 on your P-card for breakfast. This is a great opportunity to do some exploring of Boston on your own.

Registration | 9:00AM – 11:30AM

Location: 4th Floor Foyer/Grand Ballroom

Please be sure to stop by the registration desk BEFORE the conference starts at noon to get your badge and other items.

Opening Lunch: Welcome to Boston | 11:30AM – 1:00PM

Location: 4th Floor Grand Ballroom

We’ll officially kick off our time together by looking back at what we’ve accomplished over the past two years. This opening session will set the tone for Connect & Share 2026 by highlighting key milestones, shared progress, and the opportunities ahead. Please grab your lunch, find a seat, and settle in promptly so we can dive right in.

Field Tour Rotations

1:30PM – First Tour

3:00PM – Second Tour

Your tour group is identified by your lanyard color. The first tours will depart from the hotel lobby:

• Downtown Boston Alliance (Cleaning, Hospitality and Outreach Program) – Explore how Block by Block continues to deliver highimpact services for our original Boston client while adapting to an expanding number of events, initiatives, and community needs. This tour highlights how consistency, flexibility, and strong partnerships allow us to maintain service excellence at scale in a dynamic downtown environment.
• MBTA (Transit Ambassador Services) – Nearly ten years ago, the MBTA partnered with Block by Block to bring a more welcoming, customerfocused presence to Boston’s transit system. During this tour, you’ll learn how the program has evolved to meet complex operational challenges, including workforce deployment, training, and daily management of more than 350 Ambassadors serving riders across the city and beyond.
• MBTA (Station Cleaning Services) – Building on the success of the Transit Ambassador Program, the MBTA expanded its partnership with Block by Block to elevate station cleaning services. This tour dives into the unique operational demands of transit environments and the strategies used to deliver reliable, highquality cleaning across a large, heavily used system.
• Rose Kennedy Greenway (Cleaning, Grounds Maintenance and Carousel Operations) – Discover how we deliver a wide range of services across one of the Northeast’s most recognizable public spaces. The Greenway’s linear design spans through multiple storied neighborhoods and creates distinct deployment and coordination challenges. This tour showcases how services have evolved over time and how adaptability and innovation support longterm client success.

Downtown Boston Alliance and Rose Kennedy Conservancy Tours attendees will meet Old State House 206 Washington Street at 3pm on Monday and Tuesday to swap attendees for the second tours of the day.

The MBTA Tours will meet in front of in front of TD Garden North Station at 100 Legends Way, by the Bobby Orr Statue at 3pm on Monday and Tuesday to swap attendees for the second tours of the day.

Awards Dinner | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Location: Putt Shack (58 Pier 4 Blvd in Boston’s Seaport Neighborhood)

A longstanding Block by Block tradition, our opening dinner and awards ceremony is a time to come together, celebrate, and recognize the people who make our work possible. This evening is dedicated to honoring the accomplishments of our cohorts over the past two years. We’ve chosen a fun, relaxed setting to enjoy great food, meaningful connection, and welldeserved recognition, so please dress casually and come ready to celebrate one another.

The venue is a 20minute walk from the hotel, offering great views of Boston along the way. You can also take the Silver Line (rapid bus transit) from South Station and exit at Courthouse Station. Due to the relatively close proximity, please no rideshare charges on your P-card.

TUEDAY, MARCH 31ST, 2026

Day 2

After a great first day of connecting with one another and celebrating great contributions, we’ll be back at in on our second day with learning opportunities and additional opportunities to see how we deliver services.

Breakfast on Your Own

There are no organized plans for breakfast. Please eat in the downtown neighborhood and spend up to $25 on your P-card for breakfast.

Learning & Sharing Roundtables | 8:30AM – 10:30 AM

Location: 4th Floor Grand Ballroom

We’ll be embracing an interactive, peer-driven model of small group discussions curated by YOU! This session is designed to discuss best practices, spark idea sharing, and connect you with peers who are tackling similar operational challenges.

More than 20 discussion tables will be available, covering a wide range of operational topics. You’ll rotate tables every 30 minutes, allowing you to participate in four distinct conversations during the session. Come ready to learn from others, share what’s working in your programs, and gather ideas you can take back to your public spaces.

Operational Updates | 10:45AM – 11:45 AM

Location: 4th Floor Grand Ballroom

At our last conference in San Francisco, we introduced our Operating Guidelines, which are designed to detail the essential elements common to all Block by Block programs. We’ll outline new adjustments and enhancements to our Guidelines, which allows us to continually refine how we operate.

Lunch on Your Own

We’re giving you time to get out and choose your own lunch spot. Most afternoon tours will begin in the same general area, so we recommend staying nearby to allow for easy travel to your tour starting point. There are plenty of restaurant options to explore, but please be mindful of the designated tour start time and plan accordingly so we can gather groups and begin promptly.

Please plan to spend up to $25 on your P-card for lunch.

Field Tour Rotations

1:30PM – First Tour

3:00PM – Second Tour

Your tour group is identified by your lanyard color.

After lunch, please arrive to your first tour location NO LATER THAN 1:30pm. Check in with your RVP upon arrival to the tour location so we can promptly start tours. Please note, these tours will start from locations identified below. Plan travel time accordingly.

• Downtown Boston Alliance (Cleaning, Hospitality and Outreach Program) – Downtown Crossing Info Cart near intersection of Washington, Summer, Winter Streets. Address: 443 Washington Street, 5 min walk from Hyatt
• MBTA (Transit Ambassador Services) – This tour will meet at the “Steps” at Millennium Tower. Address: 1 Franklin Street, 6 minute walk from Hyatt
• MBTA (Station Cleaning Services) – This group will go directly into Downtown Crossing Station to start tour at old Charlie Card tour. Address for meeting location: 10 Summer Street (Primark), 5 minute walk from Hyatt
• Rose Kennedy Greenway (Cleaning, Grounds Maintenance and Carousel Operations) – China Trade Gate at Chinatown Main Street. Address: 5 Hudson Street (at Beach Street), 5 minute Walk from Hyatt

Downtown Boston Alliance and Rose Kennedy Conservancy Tours attendees will meet Old State House 206 Washington Street at 3pm on Monday and Tuesday to swap attendees for the second tours of the day.

The MBTA Tours will meet in front of in front of TD Garden North Station at 100 Legends Way, by the Bobby Orr Statue at 3pm on Monday and Tuesday to swap attendees for the second tours of the day.

Dinner on Your Own

Please plan to spend up to $100 on your P-card for dinner (meal funds do not roll over). This evening is your chance to experience Boston’s vibrant neighborhoods, rich history, and incredible food scene. Consider taking advantage of the MBTA, known to locals as "The T," to get around the city. And if you need help navigating, keep an eye out for our Transit Ambassadors in red, who are always happy to point you in the right direction.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2026

Day 3: Regional Meetings, Sharing and Final Messaging

It’s no APRIL FOOLS JOKE; we’re at the finish line of our time together. We have further opportunities for learning new things before receiving some parting thoughts.

Regional Breakfast | 8:00AM – 9:30AM

Location: 4th Floor Breakout Rooms (see the following for your region’s assigned room)

Affinity Groups | 9:45AM – 11:00AM

Location: 4th Floor Breakout Rooms

We know every program looks different — and that’s exactly the point. In this session, you’ll take part in facilitated, peer-driven discussions designed around program size, allowing for more relevant conversations and practical takeaways. These smallgroup sessions are built to surface real challenges, proven strategies, and ideas you can put to work right away.

You’ll find your assigned group based on the corresponding group number on your badge (1-4).

• Group 1 – Dedham Room
• Group 2 - Ballroom
• Group 3 – Duxbury Room
• Group 4 – Plymouth Room

Meet Civicity | 11:15AM – 11:45AM

Location: 4th Floor Breakout Rooms

You’ve probably heard bits and pieces about Civicity, our new security-focused initiative designed to support safer, more welcoming public spaces. In this session, we’ll introduce the purpose and vision behind Civicity, share how it fits into Block by Block’s broader approach to public space management, and outline the core principles guiding its development.

Closing Lunch: Finding Your Fit into Our Plans | NOON - 1:15PM

Location: 4th Floor Breakout Rooms

As our time together comes to a close, we’ll share final thoughts and look ahead to the opportunities being created as our company continues to evolve — connecting the insights from this conference to how managers can drive growth, alignment, and impact in their own public spaces.