Walgreens’ closing triggers fears of ‘pharmacy desert’
Asked about the impact of the closure of a local Walgreens, the roomful of elders at the Vine Street Community Center expressed alarm and concern over access to prescriptions in a city where big drugstore chains are shutting down their outlets in communities of color.

Students hone tech skills at Mattapan center
The class operates out of half a Mattapan duplex, in a long narrow space that could have been a dining room in a past life. Now the table stretching the length is lined with chunky laptops, where local students consume computer science and information technology skills.

Remembering Carl Weathers
The former pro linebacker turned actor, who died earlier this month at 76, appeared in a moving cameo on a Super Bowl ad for the online gambling company Fan-Duel, according to a teaser it released in January.

New approaches to treating youth with COVID-19 mental health challenges
Darryl Huggins poses for a photo inside the Children’s Services of Roxbury mobile recording studio, where he runs the group’s Beats, Rhymes and Life program.

New book explains the why and how of DEI
Before moving to Boston, Malia Lazu was an “island girl.” She lived an active life in her hometown of Honolulu, surrounded by politically active adults. She grew up with parents who believed in social justice. Family friends told her about traveling the world.

Honoring the legacy of our pioneers
As we continue to honor our heritage during Black History Month, we should use these brief four weeks to remember the historical impact of famous Black Americans from Boston like Crispus Attucks, who died in the Boston Massacre in the run-up to the Revolutionary War; W.

“We need to think like they did and take action.”
“We need to think like they did and take action.”.

Why being a fraternity brother is entirely compatible with my Christian faith
Historically Black fraternities and sororities – often referred to as Black Greek-letter organizations, or BGLOs – have been making a difference in the lives of Black Americans for more than a hundred years.

IN THE NEWS
Deval Patrick was raised on Chicago’s South Side. As an eighth grader, he earned a scholarship to a boarding school outside Boston and eventually graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

Literary censorship challenged in school library
In a statement, Antonucci said the book received a formal challenge. After meeting with a committee of parents, teachers and administrators, he decided that “the book was best approached by students in a facilitated or structured manner” after evaluating “the age-appropriateness of the book in a K-5 environment.

Building a more inclusive economy: Q&A with JPMorgan Chase’s Thelma Ferguson
All communities should have the resources they need to strengthen their economic futures. This Black History Month, JPMorgan Chase is affirming their commitment to breaking down barriers — including the racial wealth gap — and promoting opportunity for all.

Carolyn Golden Hebsgaard, community leader and mentor, celebrates milestone birthday.
Members of the Middlesex and Boston Chapters of The Links, Inc. celebrate the birthday of Middlesex member Carolyn Golden Hebsgaard (eighth from right) at the Charter Oak Country Club in Hudson, Mass..

The 66th Grammy Awards (Ladies Night)
The program, produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment, who has elevated televised award shows to new heights, was truly a night of stellar multi-generational performances.

Black churches tackle racial life expectancy gap
Life expectancy for Americans, including for Black Americans, is on the rise, due to the decline in the prevalence and severity of COVID-19.

THE LEGACY PIONEERS CHAMPIONS OF EQUITY
These individual leaders have pioneered for more than three decades to ensure that pathways were forged. They have ensured that Black and Brown entrepreneurs of the future have visible evidence of what “staying power” and successful business leaders look like.

Kansas City Chiefs become 9th NFL team with back-to-back Super Bowl wins
In Super Bowl XLVIII, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. But it was slow getting there. The first three and a half quarters of Super Bowl LVIII were a snoozefest.

Los Angeles Lakers unveil 19-foot Kobe Bryant statue
The number 2 was worn on the jersey of Kobe’s daughter Gigi, who perished along with her father and seven others in a horrific helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020.

Billy Raynor: legend of the hardwood
The exploits of Edward “Little Billy” Raynor Jr. on the hardwood courts from Boston to the Ivy League rank him among the top schoolboy players ever to come out of the city.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo started with a dream. Joseph Shabalala, the South African vocal group’s late founder, was on a quest to refine isicathamiya, a musical genre that emerged from apartheid-era mines.

Ousmane Sembène retrospective at Harvard Film Archive
Senegalese filmmaker and writer Ousmane Sembène (1923-2007) has been dubbed the father of African cinema. His work staunchly protested colonialism, racism, capitalism and patriarchy, and he created films in Africa for African audiences during a time when foreign markets were prioritized.

Lorraine O’Grady — challenging the either/or in ‘Both/And’ exhibit
Renowned conceptual artist Lorraine O’Grady, 89, a Roxbury native whose West Indian parents emigrated from Jamaica, has made her mixed-race heritage a springboard of her art.

Composer Daniel Bernard Roumain works with community orgs. to promote diversity in classical music
Acclaimed classical violinist and composer Daniel Bernard Roumain stood in front of a group of elementary and middle schoolers at the Strand Theater, framed by a gilded arch and burgundy curtains.

MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY 10 PARK PLAZA BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116
Work will include replacement of ties, rail, restrained rail along both tangent, curved, and restrained curve track, removal and replacement of broken or lock spike plates with pandrol plates, insulators and C-Bonds (where called for or where damaged by Contractor), surface line and tamping and track stabilizing where directed.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
This project is expected to utilize non-federal funding. Although there is no DBE participation goal for this project, the Authority strongly encourages the use of Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises as prime consultants, sub-consultants and suppliers in all of its contracting opportunities.