Allison S. Cartwright begins role as SJC clerk, first Black woman in the position
SJC Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd, the first Black woman to serve in the position, swore Cartwright in. Also present at the ceremony in the John Adams Courthouse downtown was Roderick L. Ireland, the first Black Chief Justice of Massachusetts, who is now retired.

Local initiative reconnects formerly incarcerated with communities they left
“It’s the African tradition from our communal existence,” said Hudson, founder of the equity organization AccessMA.

New asthma research effort aims for better understanding, treatments
New grant funding awarded to a research collaboration from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Boston-based Wyss Institute will push forward research to determine how best to identify what those subtypes are with the goal of better treating the condition.

State legislature passes new health care reform bills
The bill aiming to increase oversight of the health care market, H.5159, comes in response to the Steward Health Care crisis, which shook up access to care in Massachusetts, especially in Dorchester and Ayer, which saw the closures of Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center.

Surgeon General warns alcohol consumption increases cancer risk
Decades of research confirm that alcohol is causally linked to at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, colorectal, and throat cancers.

Are New Year’s resolutions worth it?
However, New Year’s resolutions are often not sustainable because the behaviors and mindsets that create effective change are missing from the conversation and the focus is only on the end result. Small changes and periodic goal-setting throughout the year are better for creating effective change,” she said.

Boston-based RODE Architects wins award for sustainable West Roxbury builds
Located in West Roxbury, the Brucewood Homes are the first internationally certified Passive House builds in Boston and earned the firm the award given to projects that “represent excellence in sustainable, healthy, just design at every scale in the built environment,” according to Metropolis’ website.

Looking back on Joe Biden’s relationship with Black America
You could say Joe Biden’s relationship with Black America started out somewhat awkwardly. Amid civil rights marches and protests in the early 1960s, the used car salesman’s son wanted to find a way to personally cross the racial divide to get a better understanding of African American life.

— Joe Biden — He spent a lifetime in public service and that benefited America.
— Joe Biden — He spent a lifetime in public service and that benefited America..

IN THE NEWS
Andy Henderson, a Boston-based attorney, has recently been hired by Barclay Damon LLP. The Boston-based law firm Barclay Damon LLP acquired 10 new attorneys from the law offices of Burns & Levinson after announcing the firm’s closure in September 2024.

Black millennials and the white picket fence
At the age of 24, I purchased my first home. It was a bittersweet milestone that made my mom incredibly proud. In a twist of fate, the closing date was set for the same day she passed away. September 24, 2020, is forever etched in my heart — not just because of the odd coincidence, but because it marked the last achievement my mom would witness.

Reclaiming Black femininity
This characterization has often been a response to the brutal realities of slavery, segregation and systemic racism. In an attempt to survive the unimaginable, Black women were forced to endure hardship without complaint, to nurture their families despite being denied basic human dignity, and to fight for rights that others took for granted.

The Jerod Mayo story
Imagine this: You go to work, have a great day as your team puts forth a winning effort, the fourth victory in a dismal season that produced 13 defeats, and before you get to celebrate, you are fired! That’s how business was done by the New England Patriots on January 5, 2025.

Representation matters: elevating voices in Boston’s hospitality industry
As 2024 closed and we ring in the New Year, it is imperative to reflect on the significant strides made in one of Boston’s key economic drivers — the hospitality sector, particularly regarding representation and inclusion.

‘The silent killer’ that nearly claimed Jamie Foxx
When word got out that Oscar-winning entertainer Jamie Foxx was hospitalized for a “mystery illness” in April 2023, it made national headlines and set rumor mills ablaze. Word on social media was that Foxx had gone blind, or was paralyzed, or suffered some other terrible affliction that threatened to end his brilliant career.

First Night Boston 2025
Since 1976, Boston’s First Night has been a New Year’s Eve celebration of artistic performances and the beginning of a new year. The evening included live music, ice sculptures, delicious food, family activities and fireworks..

Three Kings Day at City Hall
The City of Boston celebrated Three Kings Day (the Feast of Epiphany) — Día de los Reyes. Community members gathered at City Hall to commemorate the arrival of the Three Wise Men (Los Reyes Magos) to see baby Jesus. The event was hosted by the Office of Cultural Affairs.

Boston Family Days
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum visitors enjoyed Boston Family Days, an expansion of the successful BPS Sundays pilot program that allows free access to museums and zoos for Boston’s students and their families..

New Brockton bookstore looks to build literacy, social networks
“I’m so proud to be able to come and meet the children because you’re the next generation,” he said. “There’s so much within your grasp. But you know what? It starts with reading … reading will bring you so much happiness as a youngster, as an adolescent, and as an older adult.

Avoid these rookie mistakes: How to make a great start in a new job
Starting a new job is always exciting but can also be nerve-wracking. Whether stepping into a new office for the first time or joining a virtual team, the first few weeks can set the tone for your experience. You want to make a great impression, but that doesn’t mean you need to come in and change the world on day one.

Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year announcement has been made, and it’s Simone Biles. The Olympic gold medalist and most decorated gymnast in world championship history receives the honor on the heels of her triumphant comeback at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Local track stars break records — cheerleaders win championship
Members of the Snowden High School track team raced to gold on Sunday, January 5th, an amazing feat for these 9th graders from Boston. They competed in the Massachusetts State Track Association (MSTCA) track and field competition at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury.

N.I.L. explosion radically alters college sports
For years, college sports masqueraded as an amateur venture while raking in billions of dollars in television and marketing revenue. The National Collegiate Athletic Association was one of the chief beneficiaries of the incredible wealth generated by the games it governed.

‘Ain’t No Mo’ explores race, gender and politics through a comedic lens
Speakeasy Stage and Front Porch Arts Collective are kicking off the January theater season with a laugh. Or rather, with a whole one hour and 40 minutes of laughs. Their joint production of “Ain’t No Mo,” by Jordan E. Cooper, examines what it means to be Black in America through a highly comedic and deeply poignant premise.

Author, scholar, journalist Gary Younge on Black identity
Banner: You write about cultural identity — what is cultural authenticity?

Game designer finds the ‘Sweet Spot’ with new interactive public art piece
The task of making a sculptural artwork stretched Michael Berthaud’s imagination. As a game designer, Berthaud was used to working in the digital realm.