RCC celebrates class of 2026, largest in recent years
Roxbury Community College would be her path to change, she decided. The next day, she went to register for classes. Months later, when she attended another networking breakfast in a banquet hall that was “eerily similar to the first one,” she didn’t second-guess herself.

Region’s largest Latino cultural center opens in the South End
New England’s largest Latino cultural center officially opened its doors on May 15 with a jubilant ribbon-cutting ceremony in Boston’s South End, marking a major milestone for one of the city’s longest-standing Latino community organizations..

New Nubian Square housing project reflects unique city-state partnership
“The thing about housing is that you need an actual place and an actual team to build it, and then that team needs permits and financing,” said Kenzie Bok, administrator of the Boston Housing Authority, which helped oversee the city funding of the project.

Police, courts maintain flow of information to ICE officials
Massachusetts lawmakers are poised to pass the Act Promoting Rule of Law, Oversight, Trust and Equal Constitutional Treatment (PROTECT Act), legislation aimed at curbing local cooperation with federal immigration officials on civil immigration enforcement and restricting ICE agents from making arrests in court houses.

‘We Were There’: African American Military Heritage Day honored in Roxbury
(Above) Celebrants gather for “We Were There: African American Military Heritage Day” at Edward O. Gourdin African American Veterans Memorial Park. (Below) Statue of General Edward O. Gourdin. Gourdin was the first Black judge appointed to the Roxbury District Court.

Jeffrey Osborne Foundation gives back to R.I. youth through annual Celebrity Classic
The Jeffrey Osborne Foundation has donated more than $50,000 to Rhode Island nonprofits serving families and youth. The organizations include the Boys & Girls Club of Providence, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, Amos House, Button Hole and the MET School.

Black-owned, R.I. nonprofit sheds light on state’s role in Underground Railroad
As the smallest state, Rhode Island’s involvement in the Underground Railroad is often overlooked. When the freedom movement was covered by historians in the 1970s, Rhode Island was largely excluded from the conversation, while states like Ohio, Indiana and Michigan were centered.

Bay State Brawl:
Markey and Moulton face off for the progressive pulse..

U.S. Senate race deserves careful scrutiny from communities of color
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, who turns 80 in July, was already serving in the U.S. House of Representatives when his Democratic challenger, congressman Seth Moulton, was born.

NIL and civil rights: An inspirational message
With the landmark House v. NCAA settlement now solidly in place, it has reshaped college athletics. Student athletes have entered a new era — one where they are finally acknowledged not just as students, but as the economic engine of billion-dollar sports programs.

They’re testing democracy’s collapse in Louisiana first
On April 29th, in a decision that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map. The decision effectively dismantled the largest Black voting district in the state, effectively suppressing the votes of thousands of Black Louisianans — including mine.

IN THE NEWS
The Boston Bar Association recently honored Abim Thomas with the prestigious Game Changer award, a fitting tribute presented during an evening highlighting women’s leadership and those actively charting the future of the legal profession.

Clean Energy Summit looks to foster connections, expand industry, ensure equity
Chiderah Okoye, managing director at Transform Power Systems, speaks on a panel about workforce development in the clean energy sector, at TPS’s annual summit, May 14. The event included a focus on equitable growth in the sector for businesses, workers and communities of color.

We Were There: African American Military Heritage Day
“We Were There: African American Military Heritage Day” was held at Edward O. Gourdin African American Veterans Memorial Park in Roxbury. The event honored African Americans present at every stage of the American military story. Participants pledge allegiance to the flag as 54th Regiment reenactors present the colors at Heritage Day event.

A strong lineup of Black talent hits the stage for Boston Pops spring season
The season opened with violinist Ray Chen performing music from his 2024 album “Player 1” that fuses classical melodies with theme songs from immersive, popular video games.

Rixy’s new Dewey Square mural reimagines Boston’s history
Growing up in Boston, Roxbury-born artist and educator Rixy never quite felt like she belonged. She identified more with her parents’ Honduran and Dominican Republic heritage than the whitewashed Boston history spread across the Freedom Trail.

Building Black wealth: Resilience, partnerships and policy in Massachusetts
(From left) Ronald Mitchell, Banner Publisher and Editor; Shellee Mendes, founder CEO of Salon Monet; Kern Tyler Edward, L. Cooper Com.

Local supermarket coming to Roxbury
“When he started, [he was] offering products that you couldn’t really find anywhere else, and a different level of quality at the same time. [He] just worked his way up in terms of just growing the business,” he said. The store offers a diverse range of products that cater to many international communities.

Minority-owned firm completes one of the largest affordable developments in the city
In partnership with developers Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation and Causeway Development, the JGE Architecture + Design firm developed 45 new affordable apartments, called Brookley Flats, as a new multifamily residential...

At annual TEDxRoxbury, speakers confront inequity, health and hope
TEDxRoxbury is a locally organized event licensed by TED, the global nonprofit known for its “ideas worth spreading” conferences. TEDx events operate independently, allowing communities to curate speakers and topics that reflect local concerns while adhering to TED’s format of short, impactful talks.

Black Owned Bos. Market returns to Seaport
If you love supporting Black-owned businesses and being with community, the Seaport x Black Owned Bos. Market is making its return to Harbor Way. In its seventh season, the outdoor series comes back with “expanded programming, bringing together Black-owned businesses from across the Greater Boston area.

Uptown Social: A new culinary destination from Nia Grace
The restaurant still dishes out live music every night and classics like collard greens and fried chicken, but with a more contemporary twist. The space has gotten an upgrade, too, with funky wallpaper, a lounge area near the stage and original paintings created for the restaurant by local artist Paul Goodnight.

1906 Invitational Boys & Girls Clubs Basketball Tournament
The 5th Annual 1906 Invitational Boys & Girls Clubs Basketball Tournament took place on Saturday, May 16 at The TRACK at New Balance in Brighton, bringing together approximately 120 young athletes from nine Boys & Girls Clubs across Greater Boston and Lawrence for a memorable day of competition, teamwork and community engagement.

Malcolm X Read-a-thon
The Malcolm X Read-a-thon is an annual community event where volunteers gather to read The Autobiography of Malcolm X cover to cover over two days. The event was held at the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in Roxbury, Mass..

Haitian Flag Raising and Haitian American Unity Parade
Boston City Hall hosted the official Haitian flagraising ceremony on May 15 to celebrate Haitian Heritage Month and the anniversary of Haitian Flag Day. Also, residents celebrated the city’s 24th Annual Haitian American Unity Parade with a march from Mattapan Square to Harambee Park.