By 4Squares Residential Group with Judi 411
Welcome to this month's Meet Me in Medford, where we spotlight members of the Medford community. In these interviews, we explore the unique journeys that brought them to our city and the reasons they continue to choose Medford as the place they call home.
This month, we’re thrilled to introduce Erika Reinfeld, a dedicated member of the Medford School Committee whose life is intertwined with education in more ways than one. Erika resides in the condos next to the Chevalier Theatre, located in what was once Medford’s old high school—a fitting home for someone whose passion for education runs so deep. By day, she works at a university, and by night, she devotes her time to shaping the future of Medford’s schools. As Erika jokes, she truly lives, works, sleeps, and breathes education!
What roads led you to living in Medford?
I first came to Medford by chance. I had graduated from Wellesley College and needed a place to live. A group of alums who had graduated the year before me had an open room in a house on Medford Hillside so I moved in. When the landlords had a baby, they moved upstairs into our unit and I headed to Somerville for a few years.
When it came time to buy my own place, I considered staying in Somerville and I also looked at Arlington but when my now-wife and I found the old Medford High condominiums, we just fell in love with the building.
I figured it would be temporary—got a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage, thinking, “we’ll be here four or five years, tops.” That was back in 2005. Twenty years later, here I am, still in Medford, but now with a fixed rate mortgage and two kids as well.
Medford has been a wonderful place to raise our kids. The community here is something we couldn’t walk away from. We’ve built a life and stayed because it’s not only where we live—it’s where we belong.
Tell us more about your Medford neighborhood and what you love about living there.
Living in Medford Square is fantastic. It’s in such a great location with so much happening around us. One of the things I love is how close we are to everything. I work in Cambridge and commute by bike, and Medford is just the right distance for that. Plus, we’re near the Middlesex Fells for outdoor adventures and close to the highway when we need to travel. It’s convenient and connected, which is exactly what I need.
The Square itself has grown so much over the years, and it’s exciting to see all the new businesses coming in. I really appreciate all the new programming at the Chevalier, for example, and the boost it gives to local restaurants. My favorite places to eat in the Square are El Tacuba for indulgent Mexican food and Tom Yum Koong for delicious Thai food. I’m also excited about Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Bar—I heard they just got their permit from the city council so that’s something to look forward to.
The new library has also been a fantastic addition—it was a little rough during the transition, but the result was absolutely worth it. I also love the sense of community here, like when everyone comes out for Circle the Square. It turns Medford Square into such a vibrant, welcoming place.
Plus, we’re within walking distance of the Condon Shell, which is becoming such a hub for activities. When the weather is nice there’s always something happening there, from concerts to events, and now, with the addition of canoe and kayak rentals, it’s even better.
Medford Square and the neighborhoods around really are a perfect mix of convenience, community, and charm; I love being part of it.
You’ve been a School Committee member for a little over a year now. Tell us what inspired you to run.
I’m pretty sure it’s [former School Committee Member] Mea Mustone’s fault! When she decided to step down, she sent around an email saying “I’m done. Who’s next?” and it reminded me of all the conversations I’d had over the years.
As an involved parent in the schools, I was often in touch with school committee members and families about topics being discussed in school committee meetings, and every few exchanges, someone would ask, "Have you considered running?" And I’d always respond, “Oh, no, not me. Not now. Maybe someday.” But then I got Mea’s email and it became clear to me that my background could bring something valuable to the table.
I’ve worked in and around education my whole career—in museums, out of school time programs, professional development, education research, and even some teaching. I’m an informal STEM-slash-STEAM educator by trade and through that work, I’ve developed a deep understanding of how education can look beyond the traditional classroom. Watching those school committee meetings, I often found myself thinking, We need more educator voices in the room.
As an educator, my biggest passions are collaboration and interdisciplinary learning. For me, it’s not just about science or art in isolation—it’s about how we bring these fields together, how we connect them. And the same thing for people.
Whether discussing education or other topics, I value hearing different perspectives and learning from those conversations. One of my strengths is that I listen. And I wanted to bring those insights and voices into the discussions shaping our schools and district. That’s what finally pushed me to step up.
I met with most of the sitting school committee members to get a sense of what the role really entailed and whether it was something I had room for in my life. I realized I was about halfway through my journey with Medford Public Schools, which meant I’d been around long enough to witness much of what’s been happening in the schools, but I also had enough time ahead of me to stay personally invested in my kids’ future, their classmates' futures, and the future of the students coming up in the system. So I took the leap and suddenly, “someday” was “now.”
It’s been a real learning experience. I believe that Medford and its schools are in the midst of a culture shift. Things are changing, in many ways for the better. There's always room for improvement, of course, but there’s also a lot of openness to talk about who we want to be and what that looks like.
Addressing everything all at once is impossible. So the real question becomes: How do we navigate this? How do we decide what our priorities are as a community, as a school, as a department, as a committee? What can we focus on with the energy and resources we have right now? It’s a tough balance, but it’s one that’s worth exploring as we move forward.
Balancing professional and home life is always a challenge, but when I think about what I care about and the role I want to play in the community, I feel like it was the right thing to do.
Photos, clockwise from top right: the cozy teen section of the new Medford Public library, fresh bread from the high school's Bistro 489, the Labyrinth behind the middle schools, near the site of the new Clippership Connector path, a piping hot curry from Tom Yum Koong in Medford Square.
What are some of your favorite hidden gems in Medford?
Well, I absolutely love Wright’s Pond — it can go from bustling to peaceful in ways that really resonate with me. The fact that you need to be connected to Medford to visit makes it feel exclusive in a good way, yet I almost always run into someone I know there. I suppose that’s a little more fraught now that I’m on the school committee, but I still love it!
If we’re talking restaurants, I know I won’t be the first to bring them up, but my go-to spots are Goldilox Bagels and Tom Yum Koong. Goldilox probably gets a lot of press already, but it’s for good reason—it’s fantastic. Both feel like staples that showcase the best of Medford. Tom Yum Koong are my neighbors, and they were one of the restaurants we patronized faithfully during the pandemic.
However, if you really want a hidden gem, check out Bistro 489, the restaurant run by the culinary arts program at Medford Vocational Technical High School. They offer in-house dining and even do catering for events and celebrations at the school.
On that note, I really love how many businesses we have in Medford that support the community in small ways. Golidilox has its “Lox Love” program. All the pop-up events that happen at Colleen’s Ice Cream are fantastic. Medford Brewing Company has Tuesday trivia nights. The Ford Tavern hosts fundraisers for schools and community groups and they do art brunch events for children. I think that's something that's really special about the businesses of Medford. They're not always big and splashy about what they're doing, but they're contributing a lot on that really personal sub-community level.
I’m also thrilled about the Clippership Connector opening later this year! This new half-mile waterfront path is a total game-changer for Medford! It’ll connect over 10 miles of greenways, giving us a safe, scenic route that links Medford Square, the Andrews and McGlynn Middle Schools, the Riverside Yacht Club, and Riverbend Park, —which, by the way, has been off-limits to the public until now. How exciting is that? It’s an amazing opportunity to connect our community and make the most of our beautiful riverfront. Not to mention how much safer our middle schoolers will be when they make their way to the Medford Public Library after school! (I wasn’t going to let a hidden gem question go by without mentioning the Library.)
What else? The festivals we’ve been building over the years are truly fantastic. I already mentioned Circle the Square but there’s Oktoberfest, the Mystic River Celebration, the Farmers Market Concert Series, Harvest Your Energy, Medford Pride, and the Business Trick or Treat, among others. And they’re not all in Medford Square either! I love that Business Trick or Treat takes place in multiple squares across town.
What would you tell your best friend if they were contemplating a move to Medford?
Well, if my best friend were thinking about moving to Medford and they had young children, the first thing I’d say is, “Check out the Medford Family Network!” It’s the first place I’d send them, no question. I probably should have put them on my “hidden gem” list, but it’s the one resource I always recommend to families new to the area.
More generally, though, if they’re planning a move here, they probably already know about Medford’s perfect mix of urban convenience and access to nature—it’s one of the city’s biggest draws. So what I’d really emphasize is the sense of community. My advice would be to find something you’re passionate about, get involved, and that will be your first community. Medford is filled with people who have so many diverse interests, and there’s always a way to connect and contribute. Those connections are where the magic happens and why I love living in Medford.
Inspired by Erika Reinfeld’s dedication to the community and her passion for enhancing Medford Public Schools? Connect with her to learn more about her initiatives, share your ideas, or explore opportunities to collaborate.
Reach out to Erika at ereinfeld@medford.k12.ma.us or follow her on social media to stay updated on her work with the School Committee and her efforts to shape the future of Medford schools.
Comentarii