Boston-area health systems announce sustainability progress, targets in new reports
In a report, released April 7, Boston Medical Center published early data from the first of a three-year partnership between the health system with Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which has an office in Cambridge.

Research conference ‘in service of a greater public good’ addresses local challenges
Lucas, who is now BARI’s associate director for civic research, said the event has grown into a “valuable container” and a “labor of love.” It brings together experts with diverse backgrounds who leverage research and data to improve the lives of residents in the Greater Boston area.

Coalition aims to bring private school vouchers to Mass.
Last week, a coalition of education reform groups, Catholic and Jewish schools and other organizations serving children seeking to bring a federal tax credit program modeled after Florida’s to Massachusetts gathered at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

White Stadium has new advisory group
The 15-member body aims to provide residents a voice in the controversial construction project, as well as general operations. However, there is some doubt that the group will provide real accountability, according to several residents and local leaders opposed to the project.

‘Congress is trying to repress my teaching’: MIT professor sues Congress for antisemitic label
Michel DeGraff, a faculty at large professor at MIT who teaches linguistics, filed a complaint March 28 against MIT, the House Committee on Education and Workforce and its chairman, Rep. Tim Walberg, alleging they violated his First Amendment rights..

A century of grace: The extraordinary journey of Helen Greer-Guilford
In a world that often moves too fast to remember its own history, a centennial birthday is more than a personal milestone—it is a community treasure.

“We have to hold the Line:
This is a battle for Nubian Square.”.

Nubian Square emerging as a cultural hub
Progress has not been a straight line, but a steady succession of developments amount to strides toward making Nubian Square a cultural destination that stimulates the economy in Roxbury.

Black Southern voters can still deliver the Senate for Democrats
Democrats have momentum as the midterms approach. A string of recent victories has fueled optimism that Democrats could retake the House of Representatives and even reclaim the Senate.

IN THE NEWS
Lifelong Dorchester resident Dr. Kimberley Williams was recognized recently for her impact on education. Williams, CEO of Match Education, was named an honoree at the 2026 New England Women’s Leadership Awards (NEWLA).

Why Massachusetts must invest in youth employment
Youth jobs are necessary, not optional. A youth job means a lot more than what most adults think. Youth jobs keep young people alive and provide safe spaces. Youth jobs decrease violence and harm. These programs help develop the necessary skills and equip youth with the ability to succeed now and in the future.

Mass. reentry programs poised to lose state funding under next year’s budget
Established in a 2020 state law, the Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant, or CERG, program was designed to fund a range of services, including job training, high school dropout prevention, housing stabilization, addiction treatment and mental health care.

Mental health issues are now the top cause of maternal deaths
The numbers, tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others, tell a stubborn story about a country that has not solved its maternal mortality problem. And increasingly, that story is as much about mental health as it is about physical care.

‘Leading with Purpose, Lifting with Power ’
Tonight’s Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts theme, “Leading with Purpose, Lifting with Power,” is more than a slogan. It is a charge. It is a reminder that leadership is not simply about position or prestige. Leadership is about responsibility. It is about courage.

Challenges? Yes. Giving up? Never
It’s been exactly 63 years since the first presidential proclamation of National Small Business Week in 1963, and nothing deserves more celebration than the tenacity, hard work and dedication of American entrepreneurs.

Spirit Airlines shutdown leaves Black travelers and workers mourning loss of affordable skies
The shutdown came after the company reached a restructuring agreement with bondholders that would’ve allowed it to continue operating. However, a sustained spike in fuel prices and ongoing financial pressures ultimately left the airline without the capital needed to remain in business.

How Atyia Martin centers public service, purpose and recovery for Black communities
“We just kept coming across community members, either through work or through neighbors, just folks that we knew, who had gotten these amazing opportunities for themselves. But they had these hurdles in their way that a lot of people take for granted,” Martin told the Banner.

From selling the sport to selling the seat: The commercial shift since ’94
“It was like the biggest party of my life,’’ Ferreira recalled. “I partied with Nigerians, Argentinians, with South Koreans, the Greeks and the Bolivians. Everybody was together, and I’d never seen it before. The atmosphere was something I’ve never seen since.

Wizards win the lottery
They acquired the top pick through the lottery system, which was established some 40 years ago. With just a 14% chance of winning, the Wizards became the first team with the worst record to win the lottery in the last eight years.

‘Sis It’s Safe’ hosts supportive events for Black and brown mothers
In honor of Mother’s Day, the Sis It’s Safe organization will host “Motherhood, Healing and Becoming.” on Sunday, May 24 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Chef Douglass Williams’ latest concept serves coastal cuisine, spritzes and scenic views
Chef Douglass Williams has slowly but steadily built an Italian restaurant empire in Boston since the opening of the original Mida in the South End in 2016, which would turn out to be one of four locations.

‘Weighting the Wait’ explores community trauma and grief in wake of gun violence
Open Theatre Project is debuting a new production called “Weighting the Wait,” created by Dev Luthra in collaboration with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. Part theater performance, part interactive experience, the piece tells the stories of local community members impacted by gun violence.

In his own words: The Malcolm X Read-A-Thon
Malcolm X’s legacy is evident in the relevance of his work to the 2026 political climate. But what he said, and wrote, as is true with many prophetic figures, is often distorted, misunderstood, taken out of context, demonized or utilized by ideologues.

Denella Clark book launch at Frugal Bookstore
On Monday, May 4, Frugal Bookstore in Nubian Square hosted a launch event for Denella Clark’s new book “Pastor Pauline’s Philanthropic Kitchen.” Ms. Clark is the president and CEO of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation. She was joined in conversation by her mentor, former Wheelock College President Jackie Jenkins-Scott.

Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts 2026 Gala
The evening was highlighted by the League’s Award recipients: Abt Global board member Wendell Knox; Eastern Bank’s Quincy Miller; Jenaya Pina-Nelson of Local 223, Darlene Lombos, president and principal officer of the Greater Boston Labor Council and Renee Dozier, a business agent at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 103.