Amid policy changes and funding shifts, community health centers mark 60 years
When the country’s first community health center opened its doors in Dorchester’s Columbia Point Neighborhood in December 1965, it marked the start of an effort to bring improved medical care to the country’s urban and rural areas that have previously lacked access.

Remembering Charles Coe, poet, musician and connector
The spirit of creativity in Cambridge dimmed last week when longtime resident, teacher and poet Charles Coe died Monday from complications related to prostate cancer surgery. His death was sudden and stunned many.

New report underscores statewide impacts of climate disaster
“Every single county in Massachusetts has suffered a major climate event from 2011 to 2024,” said Amy Chester, director at Rebuild by Design, the nonprofit company that produced the Massachusetts edition of the report, called the “Atlas of Disaster.

Proposed plans for Circuit Drive call for downgrading speed, upgrading crosswalks
North Dorchester, Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. Surrounding the park is Circuit Drive, which has come a long way from its humble roots as a farm road in the late 1800s to the car-heavy thoroughfare it is today.

Are Black Bostonians being erased?
Are Black people being erased from Boston? In her documentary, “Removed: Black erasure in Boston, podcaster Sabrina Salvati asks that question and takes viewers on a fascinating journey through urban renewal, redlining and the changes that Boston has undergone over the last 70 or so years.

Local company aims to make robotics more approachable — as a career choice and tool
Students from Boston Public Schools Holland High School of Technology interact with a Gita robot at the Piaggio Fast Forward headquarters in Charlestown.

“They always claim they want the system...
“They always claim they want the system to be non-biased, but they never support the Brother long enough for him to make sustainable change.”.

Structural racism strikes home, again
This is what structural racism looks like. A Black chief executive is hired to address documented deficiencies in the diversity of the workforce and contracting at a quasi-public agency.

IN THE NEWS
Previously, Jones managed infection control at the Harris County Hospital District and was a clinical project supervisor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Democrats should look to Southern victories for national roadmap
Now that the government shutdown has temporarily ended, Democrats can take stock of the 2025 election returns and assess what the results mean for the 2026 midterms.

Lessons from a veteran Black math teacher
Therefore, it was a shock when I was asked to pivot to math to meet community needs. I was intimidated, but ready to rise to the challenge. Eleven years later, I’m grateful I did.

After Bondi Beach, more Jews reclaiming pride in the face of antisemitism
In the backlash against Israel following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack, many American Jews put away Stars of David or avoided wearing yarmulkes in public, fearing they would be targeted in antisemitic violence.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity 10th Annual Toy Drive
hosted its 10th Annual Toy Drive, serving 349 families and providing gifts to 650 children. The event included 120 STEM kits, five bicycle giveaways and a Christmas tree giveaway, all made possible by dedicated **brothers, volunteers and community support.

MCCA CEO departs, authority mired in corruption investigation
“The Authority acknowledges that in the year that he has been CEO, Mr. Vernon has been responsible for a number of extremely important achievements and advances at the Authority during a challenging time in the Authority’s history. The Board, and his fellow employees, are grateful to him for that,” the separation agreement said.

Kornfield, Roxbury’s last family-owned pharmacy, fights to stay afloat
Last year, their son, Uchechukwu “Uche” Egesionu, left his engineering career and returned to Roxbury to help his mother continue the family’s legacy.

Mendoza wins Heisman Trophy as top college player
Born in Boston and raised in Miami, Mendoza originally committed to play college football at Yale University before changing his mind and taking his football skills to the University of California (2022-2024, graduating with a degree in business administration from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business in 2025 ).

Boston Celtics report card: C+ to B-
As we approach the first third of the current National Basketball Association season, fans of the Boston Celtics will see a mixed” score in the assessment of this year’s team.

Grandparents are at the center of this holiday celebration
Support includes founder Toney Ryder working with different donors to get food to deliver to grandparents in need, helping grandparents navigate issues with the Department of Children and Families and donating to three local churches each Sunday.

Eat, drink and be merry… Seven festive holiday bars around Boston
Celebrate the season of twinkle lights and festive sing-alongs at these themed cocktail bars popping up with over-the-top décor and holiday-inspired food and drink menus.

Soweto Gospel Choir brings power, history to Berklee
The Soweto Gospel Choir brought its program of traditional South African music and Christmas carols to the Berklee Performance Center on Sunday, Dec. 6, with polyrhythmic song and dance that gave the audience the unfamiliar — songs in South African languages — and transformed the familiar — Christmas hymns and carols — into something new.

Anania Williams makes a delightful mess of the holidays
Williams, whose first name is pronounced “Anna-Naya,” is a multi-hyphenate transgender, non-conforming performer; digital content creator with 2.4 million followers on TikTok; and host of Gaydar, who is making a homecoming of sorts.

‘Annie’ warms the heart for the holiday season
Set during the Great Depression, “Annie” follows an orphaned lead of the same name who dreams of a better life, never letting her challenging circumstances dampen her positive attitude. When she crosses paths with the grumpy billionaire Oliver Warbucks, everything changes for both of them.

I wanted the holidays to drown out Trump. Then came another racist rant
I confess, every December I look forward to drowning out the bad news of the moment with holiday cheer, the more mindless the better. All the exchanges of “Merry Christmas” help to build a soundproof wall of good feeling that puts the burning world at a distance, at least temporarily.