A veteran’s life well lived: General ‘Woody’ Woodhouse
“Living a whole life” typically means that a person has had a life rich in experiences, achievements, relationships, and personal growth. In honor of Veterans Day, the Banner spoke to one of our most famous veterans, Brigadier General Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse.

BECMA announces fundraising campaign for 10th anniversary
“We want to celebrate what we have accomplished, but we also want to set the tone [of] how the next 10 years is going to look like,” said Herby Duverné, chair of the board of directors of BECMA and CEO of Windwalker Group, a security services company.

Advocates: youth homelessness remains urgent, far-reaching issue
In the winter, Alan Mack, 27, will begin his undergraduate studies at Berklee College of Music, taking the next step toward fulfilling his dream of working in music production. But, just five years ago, Mack’s life was in limbo, derailed in an attack that left him partially paralyzed.

State launches tax credit to support veteran employment
Gov. Maura Healey was joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jon Santiago and other officials for the signing of the historic HERO Act in Lexington on Aug. 8, 2024. This legislation contains more than 30 provisions that will positively impact hundreds of thousands of veterans in Massachusetts.

State Street-commissioned report details the bank’s roots in the slave economy
Paul Francisco, chief diversity officer at State Street, confirmed that the company commissioned the historical analysis of its involvement in the slave trade. The historical report is a result of the company’s post-2020 efforts to address the social justice movement, Francisco said.

Taking flight with Holland School of Technology
The highlight of the program was the student recognition portion where student Fahad Yasin was gifted his very own flight simulator, which he can use at his home. He is the first Boston Public Schools student who is “taking flight,” says Program Director Marcus James.

Remember the women veterans
Every year veterans who have served our country are honored on a national holiday November 11, a date that marks the anniversary of the end of World War I, also known as the Great War. There are parades, ceremonies and festivals, with tributes aplenty.

Clockwise from left:
Hazel Johnson-Brown, Danyell Wilson-Waters , Mildred C. Kelly, Marcelite J. Harris; center: Charity Adams Earley.

IN THE NEWS
Dr. Natalie Cort has been appointed as the new director of the Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health (CMGMH), after three years serving as co-director.

On being Haitian and what we teach ourselves
The Carib Biz Network and Little Haiti BK co-hosted Island Icons: A Haitian Heritage Celebration, an event celebrating people of Haitian descent making an impact in their spheres. I witnessed the atmosphere vibrate in Kreyol and English tongues, appetizers and drinks flowing, Black people in multi-colored garb around tightly fit tables.

Three areas where Biden must now act to cement his legacy on the environment
First, the administration must continue its historic work to address the climate crisis and further push the United States economy away from the burning of fossil fuels.

Mattahunt Elementary School recognized for outstanding student achievements
Mattahunt Elementary School in Mattapan was recently recognized for its outstanding achievements. The elementary school boasts a high rate of student and family engagement and community partnerships, as well as a unique curriculum featuring the nation’s first dual language Haitian Creole program.

Hotel workers strike a deal with Hilton
Unite Here Local 26 members maintain a picket line in front of the Park Plaza Hilton Hotel in this Oct. 20 photo. Workers from the hotel signed a contract last Thursday with management that included pay raises and improvements to their health care and pensions.

Boston, Cambridge announce new agreement to expand municipal supplier diversity
Mayor Michelle Wu signs a memorandum of understanding — an official agreement between the cities of Boston and Cambridge — to advance supplier diversity on both sides of the river. (from left) Cambridge Mayor E.

Pharmacist pilots mental health virtual platform to address disparities
In the nation’s capital, Wards 7 and 8, where health inequities are widespread, a psychopharmacologist is piloting a mental health-coaching virtual platform called “Your Mind Our Business.” It flips the familiar phrase “mind your business” on its head to address a critical issue in Black and brown communities: mental health.

Self-care tips for Black veterans
“I’ve learned over the years from several different other veterans the importance behind taking care of myself,” said Terrence Hayes, deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Vietnam vet once homeless, now writer, community advocate
Haywood Fennell Sr. is a soft-spoken Vietnam veteran, playwright, and advocate who believes the veteran community is one of the most overlooked and underused community resources.

Boston Lions: building track stars of the future
Remember the names of Solo and Legacy Lewis. They are the sister team that sets the high standard of excellence that defines the Boston Lions Track Club. They are coached by Tomorrow Peeples-Taylor, who formed the Lions Track Club in 2018 in memory of her late father, Edward Hudson.

Hot Stove League off and running
With a heart throbbing World Series concluded, conversation and speculation around the campfire has begun for the 2025 Major League Baseball season. Will a true Los Angeles Dodgers dynasty emerge? How will the New York Yankees rise above their embarrassing game five melt down.

‘The goal is not money, the goal is health’
Last month, Point32Health, the state’s second largest health insurer, announced that it was unable to come to a deal with Boston Children’s Hospital and UMass Memorial Health in Worcester meaning at least 22,000 patients are set to lose access to primary care doctors and specialists at the start of next year.

Quincy Jones, music industry powerhouse dies at 91
Jones was surrounded by his family of seven children at his home in Bel Air when he passed away on Sunday from complications from pneumonia. In a career which began when records were still played on platters turning at 78 rpm, Jones kept company with presidents and foreign leaders, movie stars and musicians, philanthropists and business leaders.

Central Boston Elder Services 50th Anniversary Gala
(top left) Sylvia Exantus is presented a proclamation from the City of Boston. (from left) Royal Bolling, CBES Board Chair; Emily Shea, Commissioner of Boston Age Strong Commission; Sylvia Exantus, CBES Chief Executive Director and Jose Masso, City...

Amplify Berklee Gala
Berklee College of Music raised $1.3 million for the Berklee City Music program at its annual gala, Amplify Berklee, which took place on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Westin Copley Place, Boston.

Jazz Giant
Mission Hill’s Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will soon come alive with the jazzy riffs and foot-tapping notes of Duke Ellington’s catalog. During a special community concert to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ellington’s death, audience members can swing along to dynamic works like “Three Black Kings” and “Night Creature.

Boston Children’s Chorus meets ‘the current moment’ with song
On a recent weekday, the Boston Children’s Chorus rehearsed for its new season. Gathered in a carpeted church room, more than two dozen young people — basses, tenors, altos and sopranos — sang together harmoniously, accompanied by the piano, rotating through several musical pieces, all linked by the season’s theme: “People, Get Ready.

‘Tales from the Crips’
What if Sleeping Beauty suffered from long COVID and was battling deep-seated fatigue rather than a wicked spell? What if audiences identified more with the misunderstood beast than the delicate beauty? Classic fairytales are flipped on their heads...

Let’s prepare for life after election 2024
And they didn’t do it in a year or two. They played the long game; a small decision here, a cut of a program there, a buying off of elected officials over yonder to vote against the will of the people. And the monopolizing of all information outlets so they could dumb society down on a mass scale, all at once, and a little bit at a time — daily.