From the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, on June 8, 2018: The June 20 meeting of the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association will host a roundtable discussion about protecting creative nonresidential spaces in Cambridgeport, and a talk with state Sen. Joe Boncore discussing his concerns, legislative accomplishments and the proposed FY2019 state budget.

The neighborhood recently lost the EMF Building on Brookline Street, where more than 200 artists and musicians were evicted. “The CNA recognizes that we must be proactive rather than reactive in encouraging artists, musicians, small businesses and other small public ventures to thrive within our community,” organizers said. Cambridgeport contains a wide variety of zoning district types, sometimes indicating small “islands” of commercial space within larger residential areas, which gives Cambridgeport its character, “and we are sad to see so many of these converted to pure residential and closed-off office spaces, or left vacant or in disrepair.”

The roundtable will take stock of strategies to encourage these semi-public spaces to exist and contribute to local activity. Meeting attendees are encouraged to participate by bringing up case studies, suggestions or sites in question for discussion.

Speakers will include Dan Wolf and Pardis Saffari from Cambridge Community Development; Michael Monestime, of the Central Square Business Association; and Stephanie Lee and Ellen Shakespear of MIT’s Spaceus startup.

The meeting is free and open to all and starts with a mix & mingle at 6:30 p.m., with formal presentations beginning at 7 p.m. in the common room of the LBJ Apartments, 150 Erie St., Cambridgeport. For information, see cambridgeport.wixsite.com/neighbors.