Summerfest Celebrates 30 Years of MAAV
By Patrick DeVivo
Last year's MAAV Walk Against Violence
On Sunday afternoon, friends and neighbors of all ages are invited to celebrate 30 years of the Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV) with a family-friendly music festival.
MAAV was established in 1995 in response to concerns, voiced at the time by the Melrose League of Women Voters, over an unsettling upswing in domestic violence incidents in the city. Local municipal leaders joined with the League and received a federal grant to establish MAAV as an independent nonprofit organization. Over the last 30 years, MAAV has remained committed to the goal of eliminating domestic violence in Melrose and beyond.
That 30-year history will be commemorated at Summerfest, where the work that MAAV performs for the community in shedding light upon the problem of domestic violence will be recognized, and MAAV will in turn have the opportunity to thank the community for its support.
Summerfest will be held on Sunday on the lawn of the Beebe Estate on West Foster Street from 1pm to 5pm. The family-friendly event will include lawn games, face painting by Julie Mellon, and food and refreshments provided by Hannah’s Brewery, La Cabaña, and Kona Ice. Live music will be provided by Melrose’s own Alastair Moock at 1:30 pm, followed by the group Beyond Boston at 2:30 pm. Tickets for the event are $10 for adults, $5 for kids three and over, and $5 for seniors sixty-five or older.
As part of the 30th anniversary celebration, three 2025 Melrose High School graduates – Zachary Anderson, Norah Chevathamanon, and William Oldham, along with their faculty advisor, Anthony DiBenedetto - will be recognized for their work producing a 30th anniversary video about MAAV’s history and accomplishments to date. The video served as each student’s senior year project.
Looking forward, Executive Director Crystal Johnson notes that the landscape of domestic violence is constantly evolving. “A current challenge today,” says Johnson, “is the rise of technological abuse, where harassment, control, and intimidation happen through phones, apps, and other online platforms.” While MAAV has made progress in this area in terms of education and outreach, “the digital world demands stronger prevention strategies and direct support systems for those impacted.”
Mary Beth Walsh, Outreach and Development Specialist, adds, “We would like to work ourselves out of our jobs, but unfortunately, that doesn’t appear likely.” Johnson and Walsh also note that the date is set for MAAV’s Annual Candlelight Vigil and Walk: Sunday, October 5th at 4pm at the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.
If you are interested in learning more about the problem of domestic violence and MAAV's work in the community, visit MAAV's website or call 781-662-2010.