Health leaders discuss efforts to close life expectancy, maternal health care gaps
The panel featured Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission; Dr. Thea James, chief medical officer at Boston Medical Center; and Michael Curry, president of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, a non-profit.

Mayor Wu faces fired-up crowd in Mattapan over Blue Hill Ave. plan
The overhaul of Blue Hill Avenue has faced years of public feedback and criticism, including concerns that new bus and bike lanes could slow traffic flow and that parking changes could hurt businesses.

A traveling bus museum is teaching Boston to heal through history
Tomas Gonzalez was 2 years old the night the firebombs hit. In the winter of 1973, he was among hundreds of Puerto Rican families in South Boston, according to Gonzalez. His mother said riots and violence were common against Puerto Ricans in the neighborhood.

Minister Don Muhammad and Sister Shirley Muhammad honored for lifetime of service
Elected officials, community members and members of the Nation of Islam Mosque Number 11 turned out Saturday, September 12 for the dedication of the intersection of Washington Street and Blue Hill Avenue as Minister Don Muhammad and Sister Shirley Muhammad Square.

Lonnie Bunch, Black history hero
This month, Bunch announced his plan to resign as secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He is the first African American, first historian and first Smithsonian employee to ascend to chief executive of the federal government’s visual repository of the nation’s history.

“The Blackstonian is a true look at...
“The Blackstonian is a true look at Black American culture. We have Dr. Bunch to thank. Let’s make sure Trump does not destroy it.”.

A letter to Boston’s next economic chief
There is no greater privilege than to toil in service of others. For 1,515 days, I had the honor of leading the economic advancement of the city that raised me. After being vacant for more than six months since my departure, it is clear that City Hall has struggled to fill what I considered the greatest job in the world.

Massachusetts’ broken elections are a racial justice and public health problem that Question 3 can fix
One year after Congress passed the largest health care cut in this nation’s history, the damage is exactly what experts warned it would be — and it is landing hardest on Black and brown communities. Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment is down 5 million people nationwide.

IN THE NEWS
Dr. Heather Tookes stands as a distinguished figure in academia, marked by her deep-rooted dedication to institutional leadership, rigorous scholarship and teaching excellence.

The two years between Early Intervention and kindergarten
Prince Lacroix’s mother, Eva Santiago, knew there was something different about her son early on. He was late to walk, late to babble, and he played with toys differently than other kids his age.

Logan Airport workers push Massport to set a standard for their health care
The roughly 2,200 employees — who handle wheelchair assistance, baggage handling and more — don’t work for Massport itself. They work for companies hired by the airlines to service their passengers.

Remembering Louise Bynoe: social worker and community leader in Roxbury
Her brother Gus’ experience with polio helped shape Louise’s calling to a career in medical social work, according to her obituary.

From Mission Hill to Beacon Hill: Why I Believe Every Vote Matters
My mother was one of the founding members of the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard in Mission Park. Years later, I became the organization’s Youth Director. I went on to become Executive Director of the Mission Hill Community Centers, which, at its peak, was one of the best family service centers in the country.

How America’s memory of 9/11 got whitewashed
After learning terrorists had flown jetliners full of people into the World Trade Center — and that their own hijacked plane was headed to Washington, D.C., for a similar purpose — a group of passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 refused to surrender.

Survey: Gen-Zers see trades as faster route to financial success than college
Twenty-three percent of respondents believe they would be able to buy a home more quickly if they become a trades person instead of going to college. The research was commissioned by Wolverine, as part of its Project Bootstrap initiative..

Local Black-owned businesses reflect on FIFA World Cup impacts
Now, roughly two months after the final match, the Banner connected with two Black business owners about how their businesses were affected by the global sporting event. Ricardo Louis is the CEO of Privé Parking, which provided shuttle bus operations to the stadium in Foxborough.

‘Covenant’ brings societal horror to the stage
Spooky stories aren’t just for movie theaters and battered paperbacks — Speakeasy Stage will open its new season this month with the Southern Gothic thriller “Covenant,” written by York Walker. When performer Johnny “Honeycomb” James returns to his rural Georgia home in the 1930s he’s famous, different and surrounded by swirling rumors.

Gramling gives voice
Vocalist, composer and entrepreneur Jonathan Gramling is back in church. As part of the Vivo Performing Arts fall series, Gramling is performing at a free event on Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. at Twelfth Baptist Church on Warren Street in Roxbury. Gramling is a multifaceted musician whose talents and interests are global and local.

First New England women in hip-hop awards hits Boston
Before she was a community activist and nonprofit founder, Shiaka McIntosh’s first love was hiphop. When she was a child, she performed hip-hop around the city in places such as the Strand Theatre, Roxbury Community College, the John Hancock Building and others.

Boston’s best jazz bars and restaurants
Home to schools like Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, Boston is a music town and there are plenty of places to hear live crooning around the city.

Massasoit Community College
Massasoit Community College in Brockton celebrated its $52 million Transformation Through Renovation program by opening a renovated science building and broke ground on a new Health.

Open Streets Mattapan
Blue Hill Avenue was brimming with vendors, music and excitement for the annual Open Streets Mattapan. The family-friendly car-free zone had something for everyone..

Embrace Massó ¡Con Salsa!
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Embrace Boston hosted the Embrace Massó ¡Con Salsa!: Ritmo y Sonido Block Party at Downtown Crossing. The organization also celebrated the opening of their first permanent building in the city. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, DJ ArmandoTheTruth and Johnny Giraldo performed for the crowd.