Michelle Obama at Simmons
PHOTO: LISA COHEN Former First Lady Michelle Obama and Simmons College President Helen G. Drinan share the stage during the Simmons Leadership Conference last week. (See story on page 11).

Family of Terrence Coleman sues
assistance because her son, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, had become withdrawn and spent the majority of the day outside in the cold. She told the emergency call operator that she did not want police officers to come, as she feared it might.

Lawmakers fete 25 yrs of ed. reform
State officials and education leaders gathered at the State House last Thursday to mark the 25 years since Massachusetts passed the 1993 Education Reform Act, which codified the so-called grand bargain of increased state funding for schools coupled with mandatory standardized testing.

Nonprofit leader gap in MA examined in report
A new report published by The Boston Foundation indicates that people of color in Massachusetts’ nonprofit sector face distinct barriers when attempting to ascend into decision-making roles, including lack of mentors, exclusion from networks of wealth, and assumptions about their skill and ability to raise funds.

Immigrant advocates lobby at State House for policies
The policies residents are advocating for include the Safe Communities Act; increased funding for English language classes for adults; services for immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; and citizenship pathways for green card holders, Temporary Protected Status holders, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients.

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America’s disdain for the poor
Even though America has developed well beyond the pioneer days when covered wagons traveled west, the philosophy of rugged individualism still prevails. As they say, “you eat what you kill” as a hunter. As a farmer, if your crops are destroyed by the vicissitudes of nature, then you had better have good relations with the neighbors.

Where’s the outrage?
Some explanations seem to claim the slogan implies that white lives are of little consequence. Are whites suggesting that despite their own apathy on police shootings, black protests should also include the police slaughter of whites? It is shocking that whites do not join the protest despite their casualties.

ROVING CAMERA
I think it’s an important democratic moment — a unique opportunity to implement legislation that has been percolating for a long time. The person in office has a lot of discretion..

Martin Luther King’s fight for justice continues as we heed the call to act
Dr. King and countless other unsung heroes of the movement were engaged in an all-out fight to create an America that lived up to its ideals. So they sat-in where they were told they didn’t belong. They stood up when they were told they should cower. They marched where they were told they could not go.

IN THE NEWS
Domonique A. Williams has been appointed deputy director of the Office of Housing Stability. The office, housed in the City’s Department of Neighborhood Development, was founded in 2016 by Mayor Martin Walsh to prevent displacement in Boston’s...

Suffolk County D.A. candidates spar at Jamaica Plain forum
State Rep. Evandro Carvalho, attorney Linda Champion, assistant district attorney Greg Henning, former defense attorney Shannon McAuliffe and attorney Rachael Rollins agreed on many major issues and sparred on others, all trying to differentiate...

Vintage style revival
Stepping into L’Accent boutique in Brookline is like going back in time. Billie Holiday’s crooning voice plays softly in the background, racks of dramatic full-skirted and caped dresses, two-piece suits, pillbox hats, and fascinators line the shelves. Pictures of Luna Joachim’s fashion designs are placed all over the walls.

BIZ BITS
Most home buyers focus on price and payments, however, factoring in a home’s energy consumption costs could save tens of thousands of dollars over years of ownership. Comparing the performance and construction quality of one home to another is often not apples-to-apples.

Holding it down
On Thursday, April 5, Michelle Obama, Nely Galán, Raquel Eatmon and a number of other female leaders addressed a crowd of 3,400 attendees at the 39th annual Simmons Leadership Conference.

People & Place
Through the end of April, Boston photographer Robin Radin displays landscape and street scenes of Jamaica Plain in state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez’s office at the Massachusetts State House. “Landscapes and Streetscapes of Jamaica Plain” shows the dual livelihood of the neighborhood’s.

‘Get Over It!’
The New York Times best-selling author and spiritual life coach Iyanla Vanzant comes to Boston in her first solo tour in 18 years, called “Get Over It!: An Evening with Iyanla Vanzant.” The 17-city tour began on April 5 in Akron, Ohio, and lands at The Boch Center Shubert Theatre this Friday, April 13, at 7:30 p.

Heaven on Earth
A small painting by Early Renaissance artist Fra Angelico, located in a quiet corner of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, is reason enough for some visitors to frequent this palazzo on the Fenway.

SOUP STARTER
At the winter market last week, I found carrots, onion and celery root, which are all I need to make anything into soup. Together, these ingredients constitute mirepoix (meer-PWAH), a chopped mixture of aromatic vegetables used as a base for many a soup and sauce.

FOOD
Combine all ingredients and mix well with a fork. Heat an electric skillet to 350 degrees. Lightly brush the cooking surface with oil. Use about 2 tablespoons of the batter for each small pancake. Cook until bubbles form on top of the pancakes. Flip over and cook until other side is lightly browned.