By Steven Froias
For Love The Ave
On Thursday, June 25, 2026 the Love The Ave Partnership met for its usual monthly meeting. But, this was a very special meeting. Because it was the last meeting when MassDevelopment TDI Fellow Adelsa Mendes would be present.
It was fitting that Adelsa’s farewell took place at the recently-opened Merengue 787 Restaurant, Bar and Club at 1648 Acushnet Avenue. Indeed, it was at Adelsa’s suggestion. It illustrates her innate desire to support development on The Ave in any way possible – which in this case also meant an investment by TDI Equity to help launch the delicious new business. Facilitated by…Adelsa Mendes.
It’s not surprising. For the past several years, anyone who spent time along Acushnet Avenue quickly learned that if something positive was happening on The Ave, there was a good chance Adelsa Mendes had a hand in making it happen.
As MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Fellow for New Bedford, Mendes became much more than the administrator of an economic development program. She became a trusted partner to business owners and a champion for neighborhood pride.
The position called for coordinating revitalization efforts.
Adelsa made it personal.
From her first days working in the North End, she immersed herself in the community, spending countless hours walking the corridor, visiting storefronts, listening to entrepreneurs, and building relationships. She brought a strategic vision to the role, for sure, but also something that was tangible to all who encountered her: Passion.
“Love The Ave” became far more than a slogan during her tenure. Under Mendes’ guidance, it evolved into a recognizable identity that celebrated the corridor’s rich diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and unique cultural character. The campaign highlighted longtime businesses alongside new arrivals, showcased the extraordinary variety of international cuisine found on Acushnet Avenue, and reminded residents that one of the region’s most authentic destinations was right in their own backyard.
Her greatest strength may have been recognizing that successful economic development begins with … people.
Business owners didn’t see her as someone checking boxes or managing grants. They saw someone who understood their challenges, celebrated their successes, and was willing to roll up her sleeves to help solve problems.
She became part of the fabric of this New Bedford neighborhood – introducing entrepreneurs to technical assistance partners, matching businesses with funding opportunities, and ensuring that even the smallest storefront had access to resources that might otherwise have been out of reach.
That relationship-building paid remarkable dividends.
During Mendes’ tenure, MassDevelopment’s investment in the district multiplied well beyond its original scope. Through careful coordination and relentless advocacy, TDI resources became catalysts for larger initiatives that improved storefronts, enhanced public spaces, launched a professional marketing effort, strengthened business operations, and created new opportunities for dozens of entrepreneurs.
The impact extended beyond bricks and mortar.
Community events flourished under Mendes’ leadership, drawing residents and visitors alike to discover what The Ave had to offer. The North End’s first piece of permanent sculpture, “Love Locks” by the artist Keith Francis at the Nye Street Pocket Park, happened because of her advocacy.
Its unveiling kicked off a series of Love The Ave Wednesday celebrations which set the tone for her tenure and changed the perception of Acushnet Avenue. These and many other such neighborhood events fostered a renewed sense of pride while creating lasting connections between members of this community.
Adelsa Mendes understood that revitalization isn’t about changing a neighborhood’s identity—it’s about helping it thrive while honoring what makes it special.
She consistently elevated the voices of business owners, encouraging them to tell their own stories and celebrate their own successes. She recognized the importance of preserving the corridor’s identity while helping entrepreneurs position themselves for future growth. Every initiative reflected a simple philosophy: invest in people first, and stronger places will follow.
Her magnetic presence helped unite a broad coalition of partners—from public agencies and nonprofit organizations to neighborhood leaders and local businesses—all working toward a shared vision for Acushnet Avenue.
Perhaps the clearest measure of her success is that Love The Ave has become self-sustaining in ways few branding campaigns achieve. Today, businesses proudly display the logo, participate enthusiastically in district events, collaborate with one another, and speak with confidence about being part of something larger than themselves. The sense of momentum that now defines the corridor is no accident. It is the product of years spent building trust one conversation, one partnership, and one project at a time.
As Mendes concludes her tenure as TDI Fellow here, she leaves behind far more than completed initiatives or successful programs. She leaves a stronger business community, deeper partnerships, renewed neighborhood confidence, and an Acushnet Avenue commercial corridor that has embraced its identity with pride.
The storefronts will continue welcoming customers. The restaurants will continue introducing visitors to flavors from around the world. Community celebrations will continue bringing neighbors together.
And woven through all of it will be the legacy of someone who believed that the best way to strengthen a place is to first believe in the people who call it home.
For Acushnet Avenue, that belief made all the difference.
It was a bittersweet afternoon saying goodbye to Adelsa Mendes on June 25. Yet, we know her passion hasn’t died and she will still be available for help, advice and guidance even as she begins a new assignment with MassDevelopment.
Because with Adelsa, it was always personal.
Throughout June, her commitment was recognized repeatedly. The Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford honored her with a Certificate of Appreciation for her work preserving and promoting Cape Verdean culture during the Island Park ribbon cutting (pictured at top). One week later, the President of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves, presented her with the nation’s prestigious First Class Medal of Merit.
Then, on June 25, it was the turn of those who worked alongside her here in New Bedford.
The Love The Ave Partnership presented Adelsa Mendes with the Love The Ave Champion Award—an honor she herself created to recognize outstanding community leadership.
No one is more deserving.
Farewell, friend. Let’s catch up over lunch on The Ave. Soon.
