Simmons grad follows MMA passion
The sport became a passion. Fuller, who while in college also became immersed in youth work, decided to marry her two interests. After completing an MBA in social entrepreneurship at Simmons College in Boston, she began teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Egleston YMCA, using existing boxing equipment and exercise mats in the facility.

Compact seeks health equity
The Health Equity Task Force created by the Massachusetts Legislature issued its final report two years ago, calling for solutions to the inequities in infection, hospitalization and death rates that impact the state’s vulnerable populations, particularly communities of color and low income residents.

Economic hopes pinned on vacant Roxbury parcel
Now, Roxbury is relying on its oldest nonprofit community development corporation, Madison Park, which teamed up with My City at Peace and HYM Investment Group. Experts say this set of developers is prepared to deliver. Their proposal predicts 2,710 total permanent jobs, predominantly in life sciences.

Challengers abound in City Council races
Boston voters casting ballots in the Nov. 7 election will have eight candidates to consider for the City Council’s four at-large seats. But in two district races, the run-up to the Sept. 12 preliminary election is where the campaign action may be most intense.

Advocates request TPS for African migrants
Those countries include Cameroon, Mali, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and Sudan. The Census Bureau estimates 2.3% of the U.S. population reports descending from countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including 425,000 people from Nigeria and 62,000 from Sudan.

Black Fathers
For years, reports on Black fathers have shown them as absentee dads who lack general life skills and are barely a part of their children’s lives. They are rarely seen as proactive in discipline and love.

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Roxbury Homecoming
(Above) The crowd at Roxbury Homecoming in Franklin Park on June 17 included Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Moving the O’Bryant to West Roxbury would be a mistake
On June 6, Mayor Michelle Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper announced their proposal to move the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science from Roxbury to the West Roxbury Educational Complex.

IN THE NEWS
The Emerald Necklace Conservancy has selected Anita Morson-Matra as its first senior advisor for cultural partnerships and parks equity.

1619 Project author chats to Boston audience
Hannah-Jones traced the genesis of the 1619 Project, which centered slavery and Black contributions in American history, to her journalism roots as an 11-yearold whose letter to the editor was published in her hometown newspaper in Waterloo, Iowa. Her missive was on the importance of Jesse Jackson’s second campaign for president in 1987-1988.

Black athletes’ unholy fascination with guns
It seems that not a week goes by without news headlines about athletes, many of whom are Black, being involved with guns. The latest incident to grab our attention involves New England Patriots defensive back Jack Jones, who was detained at Logan Airport with two guns and a clip of bullets in his carry-on bag.

Faith leaders host walks to address community violence
In addition to community walks, teen cafes will also be held every Friday from July 21 to Sept. 8 at Deliverance Temple Worship Center and Greater Love Tabernacle Church in Dorchester and Morning Star Baptist Church and Voice of the Gospel Tabernacle in Mattapan.

Juneteenth Celebrations
Clockwise from top left: (1) The MajorHype dance team marches in the second annual Juneteenth parade in Roxbury; (2) The 54th Regiment raises the Juneteenth flag; (3) Inspiring Today’s Youth at the parade; (4) Mayor Michelle Wu with Juneteenth...

Negro League Baseball exhibit opens in Boston
One of the driving forces behind the exhibit is Frank R. Jordan, a special advisor to the Boston Red Sox, who possesses a wealth of knowledge about the leagues. With so much history being lost, destroyed or simply ignored, Jordan carries the torch for the great Negro ballplayers of yesteryear.

A slice of Italy in Dorchester
Chef Stefano Quaresima fell in love twice in Boston. First with his wife, Tsedenia Kiros, whom he met while working at Petit Robert Bistro, and second with the Dorchester neighborhood. Now he channels his passion for food and the local community into his recently opened Italian restaurant, Via Cannuccia.

Soleil opens stall in Boston Public Market
Chef Cheryl Straughter has been serving up Southern-inspired comfort food at Soleil in Nubian Square since 2018. Open for breakfast and lunch, the spot is known for dishes like a classic Louisiana-style Po Boy sandwich and fried catfish.

Shopping at Seaport to the sound of music
June is Black Music Month and an upcoming Black Owned Bos. market pop-up in the Seaport neighborhood will celebrate musical talent of the African diaspora while highlighting local businesses. This event is one of six Black Owned Bos. market events happening in the Seaport throughout the summer.

Lyndsay Allyn Cox to join Huntington as producing dir.
Lyndsay Allyn Cox has 16 years of receipts championing Black artists and stories in Boston in her pioneering work as a producer, actor and director in the theater community. That work was recognized last month when Cox was appointed the new producing director at The Huntington.