Scholars, activists gather to advance Bob Moses’ vision for equity and justice
The event, held at Boston University, honored the legacy of the late civil rights activist Robert P. Moses and featured a number of notable speakers, including economist William A. Darity Jr., sociologist Ruha Benjamin, and the executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson.

Somerville mayoral candidate touts lived experience in bid for city’s top seat
A California native, Burnley moved to Massachusetts to get a degree in writing from Emerson College. He moved across the river to Somerville in pursuit of the promise of cheaper rents — a sour irony when he was displaced back to California after his landlord raised his rent by hundreds of dollars.

Advocates flow to State House to support Mass. rivers
For rivers statewide, the three bills, which tackle efforts like improving the state’s ability to respond to droughts or creating new ways to set aside land for conservation, offer a chance to take steps to protect and improve their health and access.

Motion seeks to halt the sale of Edgar Benjamin
The decision, released Oct. 14 by Judge Anthony Campo, found that the motion to intervene was not filed in a timely manner, given the Mission Hill nursing home’s precarious financial situation. Delaying the process, he said, could have negative impacts on the center and its residents.

The disappearing Black school board member
A new study from the Thomas Fordham Institute, a conservative education think tank, finds the share of Black Americans who sit on their local school board has been cut in half, dropping from 8% in 2001 to 4% in 2023.

Students of color twice as likely to attend substandard schools, new report finds
“Most of the state’s funds are going to rebuild suburban schools, and in many cases they’re suburban schools that are in pretty good condition,” said Ben Forman, MassINC’s research director and co-author of the report.

From diversity to reparations: The new front in the equal justice debate
Many new ideas have sprouted in California and made their way East across the country. A Black state legislator from Los Angeles has come up with an idea that deserves to make that journey and has the potential to reframe the debate over college admissions.

“If he can erase our history then he...
“If he can erase our history then he can pretend there are no reparations due for the centuries of oppression.“.

IN THE NEWS
Amy Alvarez, associate professor of practice in the Messina College at Boston College, is the winner of the inaugural CARICON Prize for Poetry by the CARICON Foundation for her 2024 collection of poems, “Makeshift Alter.

Troops, tanks, and total control: is this the new America?
I have lived long enough to know that when power feels cornered, it searches for a mirror to break. The Insurrection Act is that mirror — a 19th-century law resurrected whenever those in charge want to see their reflection in someone else’s fear. Written in 1807, it allows a president to deploy the U.

Don’t let this lifeline for Black student parents disappear
For Black student parents, higher education can feel like an obstacle course. The soaring cost of childcare, inflexible class schedules and limited campus support make staying enrolled a daily battle. It’s not just about managing responsibilities — it’s about doing so with minimal institutional support and even less societal recognition.

Remembering Diane Keaton: A life of style, substance and grace
Beloved actor Diane Keaton has died at the age of 79 in California. The announcement of her passing shocked the Hollywood community and generations of film lovers who had followed her extraordinary career.

Screen time limits
The Mayo Clinic says there are numerous benefits to reducing screen time, including improved physical health, decreased obesity and more time for kids to play and explore the world around them.

Starting at a new school
Whether it’s because the family has moved, the school district shifted or just because your student is switching from elementary to middle or middle to high school, starting a new school can be stressful. Here are some tips to keep everyone on an even keel during the transition.

Time management for teens
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends focusing on systems, not reminders. Ask your teen to create ways of reminding themselves to do things instead of doing the reminding (read: nagging) for them.

Education savings accounts
EdChoice.org says 28% of parents spend the money on multiple learning services. There are 13 states with ESA programs, including Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.

Health care for college students
If your student is staying in the same state as you, you can keep them on your plan as long as they are a dependent under the age of 26. If they’re in a different state, they can apply for coverage with you, but be aware of the plan’s limitations in their area.

Aces win 3rd title while Celtics seek Banner 19
In the process, the name of A’ja Wilson has been elevated to the lofty status of “MEGASTAR” after her record-setting performance in the finals. Wilson, the first player in the history of “The W” to win the regular season Most Valuable Player Award four times, added a third Playoff MVP honor to her certain Hall of Fame resume.

MLB Championship Series heats up October
The surprising Seattle Mariners, making their first postseason appearance since 2022, are the top story as of this writing, thanks to their two convincing victories over the home team Blue Jays in Toronto, with the best-of-7 ALCS now moving west to Seattle.

Dorchester Food Co-op celebrates its second anniversary
The community- and worker-owned grocery store, which was more than a decade in the making, faced a dire warning two months ago when the board of directors announced that the co-op could be forced to close without a surge in member support.

How Dream Kid Spa is redefining wellness
When Alafia Young took her daughters to a local nail salon years ago, she noticed how uneasy they looked in an adult space that wasn’t designed for children. The chairs were too big, the conversations too grown-up, and the atmosphere anything but playful.

Where to find great African food in Boston
Boston is home to an incredible variety of African restaurants, many of them nestled right in Roxbury and Dorchester. Whether you’re craving Ethiopian, Somalian, Eritrean or some combination of them, these are some of the best African restaurants in Boston for sweet, spicy and smoky flavors.

Shonda Rhimes is closing keynote speaker at Boston Book Festival
At one of the biggest book festivals in the nation, writers and readers come together in Copley Square in the Back Bay for author presentations, panel discussions, workshops and family activities that engage in all things books.

‘An Indigenous Present’
(Top) Kimowan Metchewais “Chief’s Blanket,” 2002, photo paper, ink, pigments, watercolor and colored pencil on paper; National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; (Middle) Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, “Cree Prayer...

Big Apple Circus returns to Boston after five-year hiatus
The New York-based Big Apple Circus returns to Boston after a five-year absence. From now until Nov. 2, the Big Top will stake its tent at Suffolk Downs in East Boston with the goal of dazzling audiences of all ages as they witness human connection and artistry by performers from the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Driving Ms. Mary
“Mother Mary,” at the Boston Playwrights Theatre, opens on Boston in 1968. Confident taxi driver Jo Cruz, a queer Latina utterly at home in her identity, meets Mary O’Sullivan, an Irish American Catholic schoolteacher facing a pivotal life change.

Brooks x PYNRS: Run The Culture
The Brooks x PYNRS: Run The Culture event on Oct. 2 brought together athletes, creators and community leaders for an evening that celebrated movement, entrepreneurship and cultural impact. Special guest Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics took to the mic to highlight the importance of investing in Black entrepreneurs.

The Dinner Group Annual Conference
On Oct. 2, the Dinner Group held their 6th Annual Conference at UMass Boston. TDG aims to provide a platform for women and men of color to develop, network and build community..

Mel King Brunch
On Oct. 12, the South End Brunch Club celebrated its first Mel King Brunch at Tent City. Civil Rights activist Carrie Mayes was the recipient of the first Mel King Leadership Award, presented at the event. Also in attendance was Joyce King (pictured at left), widow of former state representative and Boston mayoral candidate, Mel King.

Golden Decade Foundation
Boston University’s Golden Decade Foundation recently celebrated their 21st annual conference and awards ceremony. GDF President and Vice President Duane Jackson and Yvette Grant hosted a variety of alumni on campus.