Blackstone Heritage Corridor promotes interim leader to executive director
Photo I Courtesy of Blackstone Heritage Corridor
Anya Wilczynski, executive director of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor
The Blackstone Heritage Corridor has dropped the interim tag off of Executive Director Anya Wilczynski’s title, naming her the Whitinsville-based nonprofit’s permanent leader.
As executive director, Wilczynski will lead the organization as it works to protect and support the historic locations, landscapes, and recreational opportunities in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, according to a Tuesday press release from the nonprofit.
“I have a deep appreciation for the many attributes and historical assets that the Blackstone Valley has to offer,” Wilczynski said in the release. “This is a special place, home to many inspirational stewards and valuable historic and natural resources. I am honored to step into this role and feel invigorated to work with community partners to promote the legacy of this region.”
The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is a group of 25 cities and towns between Worcester and Providence, the latter of which is considered the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, according to the website of the National Park Service, a federal agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Wilczynski most recently served as the organization’s director of volunteers and community engagement as well as interim executive director. Before that, she was director of operations at the similarly-missioned Essex National Heritage Area, based in Salem.
She replaces previous Executive Director Devon Kurtz, who left the position in March after serving in the leading role since 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile. He now works as executive director of New Hampshire Boat Museum.
“Anya brings a strong understanding of nonprofit sustainability, management, and community-based fundraising,” Dennis Rice, Blackstone Heritage Corridor board chair, said in the release. “Her experience building donor relationships, securing grants, and running impactful campaigns like the Legacy Campaign will help our organization grow.”
The organization’s Legacy Campaign aims to fund updates of historic site signage, complete the Worcester-to-Providence bikeway, and bolster volunteer and community programs while supporting the organization's vitality. The campaign is about halfway to its $1.3-million goal.
The Legacy Campaign is the Blackstone Heritage Corridor’s first fundraising initiative since transitioning to become a nonprofit in 2014, due to a decline in federal funding in the past few years, and comes just before the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026.
Wilczynski graduated with her bachelor’s degree in design studies and historic preservation from Boston Architectural College.
In 2023, the Blackstone Heritage Corridor generated $479,171 in revenue and held $1.75 million in assets, according to nonprofit financial tracker GuideStar.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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