Roxbury Community College unveils new STEM Makerspace
On Sept. 16, Roxbury Community College held an opening ceremony for its new Makerspace. Typically only available at larger, private institutions or paid spaces, the workshop space now offers the only predominantly Black institution in the Northeast...

Boston Medical Center nurses authorize strike
The South End teaching hospital and satellite behavioral health center in Brockton serves and employs high numbers of Black, Latino and immigrant residents. It is known as the Boston area’s safety net hospital, with many patients facing housing, food, and income insecurity or substance use disorders.

Episcopal City Mission issues $2.75M in reparations to justice organizations
On Sept. 15, Episcopal City Mission (ECM) announced the distribution of $2.75 million in reparations to 25 statewide organizations committed to promoting racial and economic justice and equity, truth-telling, reconciliation and strengthening communities.

Five years in, Roxbury Roots Montessori stays grounded in community
The promise held. Roxbury Roots Montessori opened in November 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed construction and drove up costs.

Alexandria proposes converting Moderna’s former Cambridge headquarters into affordable housing
The Kendall Square building has played host to a number of biotech companies over the years, including Moderna, Sigilon Therapeutics and, more recently, Solid Biosciences.

“All that build up and the only thing being canceled is the whole report.”
“All that build up and the only thing being canceled is the whole report.”.

Bending toward justice: Boston’s reparations effort should continue, despite study setback
Navigating a course to reach a binding reparations settlement for the American sin of slavery that fueled the economic rise of Boston was never going to be easy. Mayor Michelle Wu and the City Council deserve credit for establishing the Reparations Task Force in 2022.

Literacy is the law. Now, let’s teach teachers how to swim
The excitement of starting a new school year is something comparable to midnight on New Year’s. A space full of hope, joy, and reflection.

IN THE NEWS
Urban Edge, the Boston-based national leader in community development rooted in Egleston and Jackson Squares, has appointed Tawkiyah Jordan as chief operating officer and senior vice president of strategy.

$5,000 ‘Trump Dividend’ deserves more than ridicule from Democrats
There are plenty of reasons to question the proposal. Trump has not provided a detailed mechanism for delivering the payments. Congress would have to act and Republicans themselves are divided over the idea.

Everett city officials show support for Encore Boston Harbor workers as strike enters 2nd week
“Encore wants to call themselves Encore Boston, but they don’t want to pay Boston rates. I think it’s time to tell Encore we’ve had enough,” said Van Campen during the meeting. “Pay the people. Respect the city of Everett. We gave them a deal and a half.

Redlining 2.0: The hidden cost of owning a home while Black
And Michigan is hardly alone. Nationwide, homeowners in Black communities pay an average of $500 more each year for the same coverage, according to a new Consumer Federation of America analysis. Even after researchers accounted for environmental risk, housing age, density and insurance claims, a sizable gap remained.

Mass. unemployment agency ‘mismanaged’ call center, ‘failed’ to quickly pay claimants, auditor concludes
In the months after Massachusetts adopted a new platform meant to improve the unemployment assistance system for both jobless Bay Staters and state workers managing claims, disbursement of those benefits trickled to a nation-leading low.

Lamplighter Brewing Co. will transition to an employee ownership model
Last week, Lamplighter Brewing Co., a Cambridge-based brewery with locations in Cambridge Crossing and The Port, announced plans to transition to an employee ownership model allowing current employees to share ownership of the company, affording workers shared profits and more participation in decision making.

Local nonprofit plans celebration of Women of Color Entrepreneurs
“We started this to really highlight our work supporting women entrepreneurs in Massachusetts,” said Anuradha Yadav, executive director of WOCE. “We’re a nonprofit that provides long-term support to women entrepreneurs, and we’ve supported over 80 entrepreneurs since we’ve started in 2019.

Local Black-owned farm works to bring healthy food to Greater Boston area
Together in Beverly, they grow flowers, culinary and medicinal herbs and vegetable crops. Their approach follows the tenets of regenerative agriculture, focused on maintaining and improving the health of soil and land. In a given season, over 100 plant varieties are in the mix, some supported by their bees.

Business leaders speak on barriers and opportunities for growth in an uncertain future
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that of the 5.9 million U.S. employer firms in 2023, 201,000, or 3.4 percent, were Blackowned—with $249 billion in receipts. Among non-employer firms, Black-owned businesses accounted for 4.4 million, or 14.4 percent, generating $128.

‘MOON MAN WALK’
GLOUCESTER STAGE COMPANY PRODUCTION EXPLORES INHERITANCE, FAMILY

Lift Every Voice: BIPOC Play Festival debuts six new plays
One of the six debut productions is “Love & Hair” by actor and writer Ciera-Sadé Wade. Based on her own experiences, the piece centers a mother-daughter relationship.

Boston Landing Fall Festival
On September 16, autumn officially started at Boston Landing with their official Fall Festival. The Needham Bank and Volvo-sponsored event celebrated the season with live entertainment, festive food and drinks and activities for all ages..

Eastern Bank Foundation Celebration of Social Justice
The Eastern Bank Foundation honored former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick with the 2026 Social Justice Award, and recognized nonprofit Just A Start with the inaugural Collaborative Impact Award..

Jeffrey Osborne Celebrity Classic
The tournament benefits nonprofit organizations throughout the Ocean State. Left photo: (from left) Chris Tucker, Jeffrey Osborne, Johnny Gill, Master Gee and Tiny Tavares. Right photo: Ann Clanton, president of Ann Clanton Communications and Smokey Robinson.

Bank of America Neighborhood Builders
Bank of America celebrated its Neighborhood Builder awardees: Urban Edge, Camp Harbor View and Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester at the Patriots game in Foxboro..