Questions swirl around BPD’s gang database
The Boston Police Department maintains a gang database in which they enter names and information on individuals they believe to be gang members or associated with gang members. But with no oversight from agencies or individuals outside the police department, critics say the database could be unfairly targeting black.

Busy election season fires up
“When you have three Democrats running on similar platforms, reaching the same voter base and talking about the same issues, it becomes difficult for fundraising,” said Melvin Poindexter, national committeeman for the Massachusetts Democratic Party, in a phone conversation with the Banner.

Women see challenges in academia
For many women professors of color, the microaggressions come from all sides — from students, colleagues and college administrators.

Dorchester tenants challenge eviction case
In February, the building’s previous landlord, Gabriel Lepe, notified the tenants that he had an interested buyer who wanted the building vacated.

Mayor outlines neighborhood priorities in capital spending budget
Mayor Martin Walsh gathered with city leaders last Thursday to outline his five-year capital spending budget, touting investments ranging from new kitchens in school buildings to improvements to the city’s transit infrastructure and upgrades to parks and libraries.

Do black lives now matter?
With ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865, slavery became illegal in the United States, but the reign of racial terror was just about to begin. Until then, slaves were the property of the plantation owners, and it was impractical to damage or destroy one’s own property.

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ROVING CAMERA
I think it’s very unfair. It seems like a long time before people started coming forward. If it was true, they should have got him 30 years ago..

The legacy of Dr. King and the “bank-in” movement
It was 50 years ago that the predecessor of OneUnited Bank, Unity Bank and Trust Company, was founded in Roxbury, Massachusetts. That same year, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, in his final speech, delivered in Memphis, Tennessee, spoke of the imperative of investing in black institutions, including blackowned banks:.

IN THE NEWS
“As a longtime resident of Dorchester and a health care leader for our community, Stan will prove to be a valuable addition to our board of directors,” said Ramos. “I am certain that Stan will help Carney continue its mission to provide high-quality care in our community with compassion and respect.

‘The Movement for Black Lives’
PHOTO: ELLEN SHUB/BLACKWIRE Lezley McSpadden (left), mother of Michael Brown, appeared with Benjamin Crump, attorney for the families of Brown, Trayvon Martin and Stephon Clark at a panel titled “The Movement for Black Lives: Justice for Michael Brown 4 Years Later” April 23 at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Long Island teen informs on MS 13, ICE marks him for deportation
Henry’s case came to the attention of investigators earlier this month after ProPublica published his story in partnership with New York Magazine. Henry was 17 when he decided to inform on his gang, MS-13. He thought authorities could help him start a new life.

Roxbury Open House
Mayor Martin Walsh hosts the Roxbury Open House for residents to come by and check out what’s available to them from different departments at the City of Boston..

Back in the saddle
You’ve been out of the working world for a while. Whether you took some time off to travel or stayed home for a few years to raise a family, you’re finally ready to pack up that briefcase, polish up your resume, and make your grand entrance back into the workforce.

Home care agency expands its reach
Madan earned her master’s degree in dietetics and public health nutrition in New Delhi, India and had always been a natural caretaker, but she said some critics didn’t think she would be able to succeed in running her own non-medical, private home care agency.

BIZ BITS
Unlike a traditional job, where you generally don’t need to bring more than a packed lunch to work, freelancing requires a few essential tricks and tools to succeed. Whether you’re looking to start out or refresh your personal brand, homeworking experts cite five important tips to help you succeed at the freelance game.

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SMALL BUSINESS, BIG CHALLENGES
To keep employees healthy and happy, it is important for business owners to provide benefits and affordable medical insurance. However, according to a Financial Burdens Survey, more than a quarter of small-business owners claim that healthcare was their primary challenge.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS
Flowers are a great way to show someone you appreciate them or to honor the memory of a loved one who has passed. When you decide to visit your local florist rather than a “flower department” or an e-commerce store, the experience will be much more personal.

START YOUR OWN SMALL BUSINESS
Your idea for an upcoming business doesn’t need to be one of a kind. In fact, competition makes companies thrive to impress and succeed. However, if you are not offering a niche product or service, it is crucial to research the market in which you will be competing.

SUPPORT HOMETOWN EATERIES
A great way many local restaurants give back to their community is by donating goods to local food banks. According to Feeding America, 41 million people face hunger in the U.S. today, including nearly 13 million children and more than 5 million seniors.

SMALL BUSINESS’ UNSUNG HEROES
Being the boss of your own company takes patience with employees, dedicated training techniques and the ability to learn from mistakes. A leader is someone who can be looked up to by subordinates while showing enthusiasm during achievements and recognizing faults and correcting issues that are detrimental to a bottom line.

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS STATS
Microbusiness employers (firms with one to nine employees) are the most common type of firm in the country. In 2016, there were 3.8 million in operation, employing 74.8 percent of private-sector employers..

Art in Bloom
pring was a tease last weekend, with a sublime Saturday and downpours before and after. A more reliable celebration of spring was indoors, at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, where the museum’s 42nd annual “Art in Bloom” brought floral magic to works of art throughout the museum from April 28 to April 30.

Loud and proud
Harvard University’s Kuumba Singers kicked off their 48th Annual Dean Archie C. Epps Spring Concert on Saturday night with a lively mash-up of “Get Ready” and “Dancing in the Streets” from “Motown the Musical.” Dancing down the Sanders Theatre’s aisles and onto the stage, the performers radiated joy.

Step Afrika! takes on the Great Migration
Major American modernist Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) first catapulted to fame with his “Migration Series” (1941), which in 60 small tempera paintings chronicles the Great Migration, the multi-decade exodus of six million African-Americans from the rural South to the urban North that began around 1915.

‘Tenderheaded’ & tender-hearted
“Jennifer Packer: Tenderheaded,” at the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University through July 8, pairs intimate portraits of the artist’s friends and family with still lives of funerary bouquets. Both subjects require emotional vulnerability and endurance to render and to experience.

BOSTON SCENES
The Boston Architectural College (BAC) hosted its annual Spring Gala on Thursday, April 19th at the Boston Design Center in the Seaport District.

Hearts & flowers
This is the time of year when artichoke fans have two reasons to cheer. The harvest has already begun in Mexico and the southern U.S., which means the large flower buds can already be found in stores. Meanwhile, at farmers markets of all latitudes, purveyors of bedding plants are selling potted artichokes for the garden.

FOOD
As seasons turn, you might crave different types of food. Eggland’s Best says this is the perfect reason to think beyond the ordinary and experiment with combos that tantalize the taste buds. Chicken and waffles? Why of course! Watercress Confetti Quinoa for dinner? Yum.