Boston Compass #170

JUNETEENTH GALORE

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is marked by various events across Massachusetts, each highlighting different aspects of African American history and culture.

In Boston, several key events will take place. One notable celebration is the 14th Annual Boston Juneteenth Emancipation Observance on June 19th. Organized by the Boston Juneteenth Committee and the National Center of Afro-American Artists, the day will feature a flag-raising ceremony, a parade, and cultural performances. This event is a testament to Boston›s historical role in the abolitionist movement and its ongoing commitment to racial equality (City Experiences™) (MeetBoston).

Another significant event in Boston is the Embrace Ideas Festival from June 18th to June 20th. This multi-day event brings together leaders and activists to discuss arts, culture, and racial equity, emphasizing Boston›s vision for a transformed future grounded in anti-racism (MeetBoston).

North of Boston, the town of Newburyport will host a concert by Crys Matthews at the Belleville Congregational Church on June 16th. Matthews is known for her social justicethemed music, and her performance will celebrate the spirit of Juneteenth through powerful and thought-provoking songs (VisitMA). Additionally, the Lynn Museum will host a family-friendly Juneteenth celebration on June 22nd, featuring music, food, and community activities to honor the resilience and strength of Black Americans (VisitMA).

South of Boston, the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth will host a lecture by Rev. Dr. Robert Gomes on June 19th. Dr. Gomes

of the community and its enduring legacy (VisitMA). In Central Massachusetts, Natick will celebrate with a reading of Frederick Douglass’s “What to a Slave is the 4th of July“at the Morse Institute Library, followed by a larger Juneteenth event on Natick Common. This gathering will feature speakers, performances, and activities designed to educate and engage the community in the history and significance of Juneteenth (VisitMA).

Western Massachusetts will see a comprehensive celebration in Amherst on June 15th, with events spread across various venues, including the Amherst Women’s Club and the Town Common.

The celebrations will highlight the cultural heritage and historical contributions of African Americans through performances and educational activities (VisitMA). Similarly, Old Sturbridge Village will host a day of reflection and celebration on June 19th, offering discussions, performances, and educational sessions about the history and significance of Juneteenth (VisitMA).

Lastly, the 4th Annual Town of Brookline Juneteenth Celebration on June 19th will start with a freedom march to honor the enslaved individuals of Brookline, followed by festivities at Brookline Avenue Park. This event focuses on community engagement and remembrance, providing a platform for education and celebration of Black history (Humanitix).

Each of these events across Massachusetts not only celebrates Juneteenth but also emphasizes the ongoing journey towards racial equality and the importance of remembering and honoring the past.

NOTES FROM THE CREW

Dear People,

Thanks for picking up the rag! I continue to be grateful and amazed that y›all been picking this thing up for 14 years now. It has been a rollercoaster journey of epic volunteerism, sheer will and a profound love for the wild creatives who make this city worth living in. Of course we love sharing the highs (expanding to 8 pages, paying contributors, landing our amazing Editor-in-Chief Bota…) and it’s what our achievement-oriented society loves to see. But we are equally proud to share our lows as part of this incredible journey of a free independent newspaper that has come out every month for 14 years.

So we are taking this as an opportunity to spend the next few months reimagining what the next era of the Compass will look like. And that includes you. Are you connected to any critical institutions that would benefit from a newspaper dedicated to supporting local Boston culture, art and identity? Partnerships, sponsorships, collaborations, we are open to all perspectives that come our way, but will be prioritizing long term, big picture support aligned with our mission. Our biggest focus is reaching a fundraising goal of 125 Patreon supporters and 10 annual sponsors by the end of the year, to sustain us as we are now. And if we can’t make that happen, we will continue to flow and adjust as we always have, and will keep you posted along the way. We invite you to dream big but stay grounded with us. Our world is facing formidable challenges right now, and while we truly believe in the value of what we do, all we can really hope for is that you plug-in and support the work you believe in out there. We hope to keep navigating and signal boosting for many issues to come but no matter what happens, our love for this city remains abundant.

Peace, Sam P & The BCN Team

—> PATREON

—> DONATE

—> SPONSOR

—> PARTNER/COLLAB

—> VOLUNTEER

If you’ve gotten this far, you appreciate the wildly impractical challenge of running a free newspaper. You are the miracle that makes it possible, with your readership (you WithFriends Patreon supporters espesh!). And I realize now, that in addition to all your support, and our over 400 volunteers since 2010, that I have been blessed with really good health that gave me the ability to volunteer all these years. But life be lifeing and the challenges keep coming. Even after surviving Covid changing our whole cultural landscape and pushing all small businesses to the brink of closure, in 2022, my legs went numb and I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, one of those bummer conditions with no cure. Although the Compass has always been sustained by literally hundreds of incredible volunteers, a big part of it has been my obsession with consistency and the energy I expend to keep people excited and invested. And the fact is I just have a little less to give these days!

Ps. RIP BOOMERANGS, one of our very first sponsors. We will always love you and your community of staff volunteers, donors and shoppers. Everything changes but this is a gut punch. will share his experiences in preserving the Parting Ways site, an African American community established after the American Revolution. This event will delve into the historical significance

—Diaspora Massachusetts

SISTA CREATIVES RISING

“Solely centering Black disabled voices is an intentional, unapologetic action, one that is long overdue to occur and is strongly needed for us to truly be seen and heard without concerning the gazes of others.” —Vilissa Thompson, LMSW, Founder, “Ramp Your Voice!”

We’re Sista Creatives Rising, a grassroots project (not a non-profit!) founded by my Mom, Claire Jones, and me, Amaranthia Sepia. We’re an invisibly disabled Black mother-daughter duo whose mission is to help marginalized women & marginalized genders gain accessibility and visibility in the arts to facilitate personal healing. In the recent past, we’ve worked with orgs such as Brain Arts and Dancing Queerly Boston and received funding from the Mass Cultural Council and The Puffin Foundation to make our mission a reality by creating our virtual disability-accessible art & film event, “Art & Mind.” In April’s BCN issue, you might’ve seen our $200 microgrant open call, where we asked for stories and videos from BIWOC and femme-expressing POC for our Sistas Uprising Fund Microgrant project! We’re currently in the middle of selecting our eight finalists.

We’re ecstatic to announce that we are keynote speakers for “Ramp Your Voice! Illuminating the Richness of Black Disabled People: Our Joys & Truths,” a virtual summit created by Black disability activist Vilissa Thompson. Showcasing several Blackdisabled changemakers leading and raising awareness about the barriers we face in our communities, “Ramp Your Voice!” is centered on creating a safe, uplifting space to highlight topics affecting the Blackdisabled community.

Our topic, as Sista Creatives Rising, will be “Black Disabled Family,” where my Mom and I will break down our experience of coming to terms with learning about our disabilities around the same time in 2022—C-PTSD, agoraphobia, and panic disorder exacerbated by racial trauma—all while managing my Mom’s sudden loss of mobility, risk of paralysis and a lymphoma diagnosis only a few weeks later. We’ll dive into the healing power of art and writing and how it’s been crucial as we navigate this identity together, leading us to face internalized ableism and understand the importance of highlighting multimarginalized disabled artists and ensuring their voices are seen, heard, and valued.

Other Black disability speakers include Arielle Gray—a journalist, writer & artist based in Boston who is a reporter at WBUR; Cara Reedy—Founder & Director of the Disabled Journalists Association and former CNN documentary producer; Kayla Smith— Black autistic disability activist & creator of the hashtag, #BlackAutisticPride, and several more!

Join us on June 7 at RampYourVoice. com to support all of us and help us bring awareness to the Black disabled community.

Follow Ramp Your Voice! with Vilissa on Medium.com, and follow @RampYourVoice & @VilissaThompson on X.com & Instagram. Please support our work at Sista Creatives Rising: @SistaCreativesRising on Insta & SistaCreativesRising.com.

We’re always open to virtual collaborations such as workshops, artwork collabs & keynote presentations, alongside interviews. Contact us at info@sistacreativesrising.com!

---- SISTA CREATIVES RISING

HOME IS HERE

Placing Practice with Yixuan Zeng

Founded in 2009, the Urbano Project has led its staff, students, and programming in realizing participatory art projects that foster personal transformation, community care, and social change. One of those program offerings is the Youth Artist Projects (YAPs) which serve as ten-week-long explorations of a particular social issue, through a particular creative format. The YAPs are conceptualized and instructed by one of the 3-4 Artists-in-Residence we host at the Urbano Project yearly.

June 3rd marks the start of “Home is Here,” a mural-making YAP by Artist Yixuan Zen that’s about seeing home, understanding home, and making home. To begin documenting the project’s life, The Urbano Project’s Communications and Outreach Manager Steven Velazquez (SV) sat down with Yixuan (YZ) to talk about practice and place.

SV: Is this your first time working with Urbano? If so, how did you discover the org?

YZ: Yes, this is my first time working with Urbano! I discovered Urbano through the Punto Urban Art Museum, who I did a mural with in 2023 for their exhibit A Dream Called Home.

SV: Can you speak to the kind of art you made when you were the age of the students we serve at the Urbano Project?

YZ: When I was a high school student, I remember both really wanting to get better at drawing people and really loving to draw anime. I spent a lot of time practicing drawing faces, both copying photographs and my favorite manga artists. I also started learning digital art and Photoshop for the first time while in high school, which has since become my primary medium as both an illustrator and a designer.

SV: You identify as an illustrator and designer, but, you also identify as an artist that has leaned into creative placemaking? How and when did you find yourself leaning into this new practice?

YZ: For many years now I’ve had a fascination with murals and street art. I could be in a rush trying to get from one place to the next and a mural will catch my attention and immediately stop me in my tracks and fill me with awe. I love that murals in places I visit frequently never lose their impact, but rather start to feel like seeing an old friend every time I see them again. I’m fascinated by the way murals literally transform physical

spaces, and transform my relationship to my surroundings. In 2022 I made the jump into creating murals myself and started learning more about creative placemaking and community-oriented public art. My first mural was painted on a utility box, through the City of Boston’s PaintBox program. Since then, I’ve completed four murals in total and am looking forward to starting my fifth soon in Somerville.

SV: What is “Home is Here” about, and how did it come to be? What was your inspiration?

YZ: “Home is Here” is about recognizing the way physical spaces are contextually transformed by our own perceptions and examining the spaces where we feel at home so that we can recreate that feeling of safety and belonging in the larger world around us. Students will use observational drawing through urban sketching as both a practice in mindfulness and a way to develop their own visual language to explore what home means to them; collaborating on a mural to translate their drawn reflections into physical placemaking. My inspiration for the program came from looking at the work of urban sketchers who draw on location, and admiring how they share the world through their eyes. I wanted youth artists to foster that same intimate relationship with places they inhabit, to not only think about what home means for them but to be able to show us directly through their own artwork.

SV: What’s the most important thing that you hope your student will learn in “Home is Here”?

YZ: How to cultivate a sense of connection to physical spaces through their art practice, which in turn will help foster their physical sense of belonging as they move through the world. I hope that urban sketching teaches them new ways to look at the world around them so that they are always able to discover something new and interesting even in places that are the most comfortable and familiar to them. And I hope muralmaking teaches them that they can have a direct impact on the communities they are a part of and that they can, quite literally, change the world through their art.

Interested in seeing what Yixuan and their students create? Follow us online for updates (@urbano_project), or mark your calendars for the program’s final event on Wednesday, July 17th, at Brain Arts Org (in Dorchester).

------------------- STEVEN VELAZQUEZ

Discussing Black Disabled FamilY

BOSTON THRIFT SHOP GUIDE

Editor’s Note: The following article is being reprinted as part of a collaboration between the Boston Compass and Teens in Print, a writing program created to amplify the marginalized voices of eighth to twelfth grade Boston students. This piece was originally published on the Teens in Print website in May 2024, and was edited for length and clarity.

Up until now, thrifting has been mostly practiced for the sole purpose of affordable clothing but recently it has turned into a form of self-expression curated to your aesthetic. If you live in Boston and are into the fashion scene, I highly recommend these stores and organizations to experiment or play with your style, so sit back, enjoy, and add these to your future visited locations!

I. Diversity Consignment

Diversity Consignment is located in Jamaica Plain, with easy commute as it is a 10-minute walk and quick bus ride from Forest Hills station, with store hours from 12-7 p.m. They have a wide selection of clothes described as modern but they also have vintage pieces if you look thoroughly. Great environment with a variety of vinyl selections as well as a gaming room in the back to enjoy your time as you shop. They are close to the community, including art from local artists and hosting runway shows and photoshoots for upcoming models to gain experience.

II. Urban Renewals

Urban Renewals is a thrift store located at 630 American Legion Hwy, Roslindale. Even though it is near Forest Hills station, it is still a lengthy commute, unless you own a car because it is essentially on a highway. They are open from 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday and 12 pm to 5 pm on Sundays. This 2nd hand and sustainable shop has so many different styles and an abundance of clothes, shoes, decor, and toys. The store is extremely affordable with prices ranging from a dollar to 30 dollars which is the highest I have personally seen myself, clothes are assorted by color, and they only accept cash.

Regarding the Urban Renewals interior, the color-coded clothes and signs allow customers to efficiently determine what type of clothing they are looking for and if they desire a specific color, it is an immediate find with a variety of styles. It is clean and equipped with great service and daily discounts.

III. Select Markets

This is not a physical thrift store, but an organization that establishes vintage popup markets around the Boston area with vendors who are majority college students interested in fashion. These markets allow for a variety of styles and an overall amazing

environment that encourages networking. I recommend attending their upcoming events.

Here is my personal experience at their Valentine Pop-up and clothing swap. The market was located at The Foundry up in Cambridge within a short walk of Kendall/ MIT station. As soon as I entered, there were endless racks of vintage clothing. There was also a DJ playing music and the people were so immersed in the music while shopping and conversing.

As I shopped, I saw a variety of vendors and creatives that ranged from onsite alterations, to live screen painting and non-permanent tattoos. There was a room for trading clothes where you could bring personal items and trade for other pieces of clothing. The networking and hospitality provided were crucial and supportive to local artists and models trying to enter the industry.

IV. Vivant Vintage

Vivant Vintage is a thrift store located at 318 Lincoln St, Allston with everyday hours of 11-6 pm and on Fridays 11 to 12 am. This store has everything, their selection is so wide that it would take a few days to get through it all. Ranging from sterling silver jewelry to the largest y2k baggy jean collection in any Boston thrift store I’ve been to. Their prices are on the pricey side as a result of it being true vintage. The store itself is aesthetically pleasing with vibrant colors all around making your experience more memorable.

The denim wall is even more outstretched than you might think, taking up the majority of the section. The pants range from Levis to True Religion in a variety of sizes. There are often discounts!

Stop by the shop and you might get a chance to see Julian, the son of the founders of Vivant, he is truly a cutie!

V. Found Found is a newer vintage store open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays at 5 Columbia St. Central Square, Cambridge. This store has a cozy environment with dimmed. They also have a CD collection as well as vinyls and posters.

Lights and music being played as you shop, including three consecutive chains of Found stores right next to each other consisting of a specific era or style. As a result of this being vintage, the price is a little more on the expensive side but completely worth it for the quality of clothes you acquire. The employers are allowed to sell their clothes within the store on different racks and their prices can be bargained.

MASSACHUSETTS MINUTE

There are a number of adjectives one could use to describe Onbloom’s music. Some of the first that come to mind when pressing play on her catalog of music are transcendent, celestial, delicate, warm, and luminous. Her special quality of singing is largely unmatched within the local music scene—a characteristic that has greatly contributed to the success of her discography up through this point in time.

Following a two year hiatus from releasing music, Onbloom is finally making her way back into headphones everywhere. The latest addition to her discography is a demo tape titled swept under the rug, and largely captures the past years of growth that she’s endured since debuting music in 2021. In a nutshell, this project is one of self-acceptance, evolution, and growth. Sharing with us some of what motivated this project’s creation over email, Onbloom stated, “Within the time frame of the two years with no music releases, I cultivated a little world for myself. A world of rebirth, curiosity, and mistakes. These past two years have helped me grow beyond what I can comprehend at times. It ultimately gave me wings to make mistakes, to surrender to who I was naturally becoming. I had to create several versions of myself for this new found freedom in my artistry.”

A direct reflection of the life she’s lived, swept under the rug is a wondrous sample of music that invites listeners towards Onbloom’s innermost self. From beginning to very end, this demo tape speaks to the

uncomfortable growth that she’s been through and ultimately honored. Though swept under the rug sits at just four songs in total length, each sonic input is vast and allencompassing. Onbloom was accompanied by both Shane Dylan and ProSwervez on the production throughout this project, with both of which lending a helping hand to the successful completion of the latest chapter of her music.

“maybe” sets the stage for the project, laying the foundation for the delectable harmonies and emotional stanzas that fill the entire tape. “speaking in tones” quickly follows. The first moments of the song are graceful in nature, but are soon followed by high-paced, electronic instrumentation that completely envelop her singing capabilities. “like a prophet” is the lengthiest entry, and perhaps the highlight of the entire project. It’s greatly indicative of Onbloom’s promise as a singer and songwriter, and the underlying soundscape provides a great platform for her to shine a light on her musical talents. “todo es muy simple” is the final track off the tape, and crosses the sounds of a voicemail recording with underlying vocal hues. The perfect ribbon on top of a heartfelt and emotionally-rich selection of songs, “swept under the rug” is an excellent segway into what’s next for Onbloom. There’s plenty more in store for her in the second half of the year, and swept under the rug is merely the beginning of what’s next to come. As the days and months continue to press forward, keep an eye on this Massachusetts talent.

6/7 Spike Lee’s rarely screened School Daze will give you a taste of black collegiate life in the ‘80s

6/1 Ask Me About My Dumb Band Compilation Release Double Star, Sapling, Battlemode, Orca Bones, The Jacklights @ 3pm-7pm 21+ $12

6/1 Violet Nox with Noell Dorsey FREE show with Violet Nox & @ndorser vocals and an opening set by @bobfamiliar. Live visuals for the event by Deb Step @walkinlikeelvis @synthcube is New England’s best synthesizer, modular, pedal & DIY resource and a cornerstone of the local synth community. Join us for an amazing Friday night of electronic music! @ Synthcube 6pm-9pm FREE

6/7 The 4th Wall Presents: Bruiser and Bicycle, Tula Vera, and Ski Club with visuals by Digital Awareness @ Capitol Theatre 9pm 18+ $10

6/12 Raspberry Pie, Battlemode, Mobius Trip @ 7pm-10pm All Ages $15

6/15 ONCE and The 4th Wall Present: The Umbrellas, and Mallcops with visuals by Digital Awareness @ Capitol Theatre 9pm 18+ $18 @oncesomerville

6/16 Crys Matthews at the Belleville Congregational Church North of Boston, the town of Newburyport will host a concert by Crys Matthews on June 16th. Matthews is known for her social justice-themed music, and her performance will celebrate the spirit of Juneteenth through powerful and thoughtprovoking songs @ Belleville Congregational Church (300 High Street Newburyport, MA 01950) @ 3pm-5pm All Ages

6/21 4th Wall Presents: Husbands, Dafnez, Roxy 2 with visuals by Digital Awareness @ Capitol Theatre 9pm 18+ $10

6/22 The Cline and Cash Project Join Niki Luparelli (as Patsy Cline) and Andy Cummings (as Johnny Cash) for a thrilling ride back in time, as they bring the magic of Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash’s golden era back to life! @ Capitol Theatre 8pm-10pm All Ages $25

6/22 Kristina Stapelfeld, Gr8

Dogs, Alec Pombriant and Miss Bones w/ projections by will gianetta @ Lilypad 7:15pm $10 adv, $15 dos

6/27 High Energy Vintage

presents: I Want To See 16 An assortment of vintage 16mm science fiction shorts @ Capitol Theatre 7pm-9pm All Ages $7

theater & performance art

6/7 Subdrift Summer Mela

6/7 BAMS Fest Presents: Rock

Her Crown Women's Brunch

A brunch to celebrate Black & Latina women/womxn across all industries changing the game in Culture, Entrepreneurship & Social Impact! Hosted by Amanda Shea @ Grace by Nia 11am-2pm $115 @amandasheaallday @BAMSfest

6/7 Subdrift Summer Mela

6/5

series with the ‘90s cult classic Wayne's World. 8pm FREE

@Museum of Fine Arts Boston

7pm $15 (includes museum admission)

6/9 My Own Private Idaho is Gus van Sant’s sexy and scandalous version of Henry IV featuring River Phoenix at his best @Coolidge 7pm $15.50

6/13 Disasterpiece Theatre

Presents: The Apple The Apple is one of those amazing films that should never have been made, a musical number about taking speed, a dystopian future world run by an evil record producer, dance numbers shot in a (not very well disguised) airport. But it did get made, and you can see it! You may want to sing along, you may want to burn your eyes out, but you will never forget watching The Apple. The Apple is screening as part of our cult movie series hosted by our friends at High Energy Vintage and Disasterpiece Theatre. @ Capitol Theatre 7pm-10pm 21+ $7

thru 6/14 Hallyu Hits: Korean Films That Moved The World is an incredible chance to explore masterworks from Korean film including Bong Joon-ho’s nearly perfect Parasite playing 6/14

@Museum of Fine Arts Boston 7pm $15 (includes museum admission)

6/17 Elevator to the Gallows is a thrilling and suspenseful, little-known, French masterpiece featuring music by Miles Davis and starring the enigmatic Jeanne Moreau @ Brattle $16

6/25 But I'm a Cheerleader… is the queer comedy this country still needs @ Kendall Sq Cinema 7pm $10

6/26 A French New Wave classic, the beautiful and profound, Cleo from 5 to 7 by visionary director Agnès Varda @ Coolidge 7pm $15.50

6/24 Disasterpiece Theatre is a monthly Z-movie night where weirdos from all walks of life gather to make fun of the worst films ever found on VHS, MST3K style. Come early for the preshow tape swap, or just bring your friends (or enemies!) with you to eviscerate trash tapes over cold brews in a real live movie theater! Held every last Monday at the Capitol Theatre in Arlington, and it’s totally free! @ Capitol Theatre 7pm-9pm

An evening of music, poetry, storytelling and dance celebrating the talent and creativity of our local South Asian diaspora! @ Starlight Square 7pm-9pm All Ages FREE @subdriftboston

6/7 T: An MBTA Musical "T" is the journey of three struggling Bostonians whose lives have been derailed by the MBTA's shortcomings. When they discover a secret map that will let them conquer the T once and for all, they set forth on a colorful journey that is part love story, part melodrama, part scavenger hunt - but mostly underground. Performing June 7 - 23 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays @ The Rockwell $32

Thru 6/21 The most famous, fabulous and tragic tale of the American Dream goes from book to film to musical for the stage in the American Repertory Theater’s Gatsby @Loeb Drama Center in Harvard Square AmericanRepertoryTheater.org $65-275! (Call 617.547.8300 to take advantage of their Take Five promotion. Tix are only $5!)

Thru 6/23 The Arlekin Players are keeping Jewish stories alive and this time it's the ancient Yiddish folk tale, The Dybbuk about love, family and displacement @The Vilna Shul, Boston’s Center for Jewish Culture in Beacon Hill. Tix at ArlekinPlayers.org $29+ https://www.arlekinplayers.com/ the-dybbuk/#about

Thru 6/23 Mental health takes center stage in Next to Normal, a pop-rock musical about a middle class black family dealing with bipolar disorder @ Central Sq Theater Tix at Centralsquaretheater.org $26

6/1 Small Mart Pride Market ATTENTION SMALL MART SHOPPERS….Your favorite fun sized vendor market is back! Join us at the Crystal Ballroom on Saturday, June 1st from 11AM - 4PM for a curated market featuring 40+ of our favorite queer, local; artisans, makers, and allies with awesome merch! @ Crystal Ballroom Somerville 11am-4pm All Ages Free

6/1 Herbstalk 2024 Gathering together people with plants since 2012! Herbstalk is your local marketplace of all things herbalist including vendors, lant walks, herbal classes, BIPOC-led spaces @ Arts at the Armory All Ages

6/2 118th Annual Dot Day

Parade There are over 60 participant groups in this year's parade, with a few surprises! Parade starts at the corner of Richmond St and Dorchester Ave @ 1pm-4pm

We’re so excited to collaborate with Starlight Square again to celebrate the talent and creativity of our local South Asian diaspora! This year we’ll open with some tunes by the one and only @djalykhan, host a mini open mic, and then close things off with a collaborative jam session for everyone to join in as we close out the end of Starlight Square’s run. Bring your friends, family, and Whatsapp group chats! We can’t wait to kick back and soak in the summer sun with you on Friday (6/7) with doors opening at 6:30 (be sure to come early to grab a seat and snacks!) and the show kicking off promptly at 7 @ Starlight Square 7pm-9pm FREE

6/8 Boston Pride for the People

The celebration will include a parade, a festival, and more! Boston Pride For The People is a volunteer-led organization that plans activities and events that celebrate the rich diversity, culture, and intersectionality of the LGBTQ+ community. The parade will start in Copley Square at 11am and move through the city’s South End, finishing at Boston Common where everyone can enjoy the festival including performances from local and national entertainers. City Hall Plaza will host a Block Party for those 21+ that begins later in the afternoon. @ Copley Square 11am-5pm All Ages FREE

6/9 Small Mart At Aeronaut Brewing Company ATTENTION SMALL MART SHOPPERS….Your favorite fun sized vendor market is back at Aeronaut Brewing Company for a curated market featuring favorite local artisans, vintage, makers and experiential vendors! Aeronaut will be serving up their delicious brews all day for those 21+. The event is free, and all ages, ID required for entry. @ 12pm-5pm All Ages

6/18-6/21 Embrace Ideas

Festival This multi-day event brings together leaders and activists to discuss arts, culture, and racial equity, emphasizing Boston's vision for a transformed future grounded in anti-racism @ Massachusetts College of Art and Design

6/19 Dorchester Juneteenth

A day filled with fun, food and community! Join for kids activities, food trucks, live music, and local vendors. @ Town Field and Doherty-Gibson Playground 1pm-6pm All Ages FREE

6/19 14th Annual Boston Juneteenth Emancipation Observance Organized by the Boston Juneteenth Committee and the National Center of Afro-American Artists, the day will feature a flag-raising ceremony, a parade, and cultural performances. This event is a testament to Boston's historical role in the abolitionist movement and its ongoing commitment to racial equality. @ National Center of Afro-American Artists 12pm6pm All Ages FREE

6/19 4th Annual Town of Brookline Juneteenth Celebration will start with a freedom march to honor the enslaved individuals of Brookline, followed by festivities at Brookline Avenue Park. 10am: Freedom March; March with us for the 4th year in a row to honor the 84 people that were enslaved in Brookline. We will make our way to Brookline Avenue Park holding banners commemorating their lives, struggles, and history. 11am: Celebration; Celebrate, eat, dance, play, shop, and more at the Brookline Avenue Park. 4pm: Conclusion; Programs will be finishing but feel free to stay and socialize with your neighbors at the Brookline Avenue Park and Playground. @ 10am-4pm All Ages FREE

6/19 2024 Speaker Series: Juneteenth Lecture by Rev. Dr. Robert Gomes Active in the 1970s effort to preserve the Parting Ways site, Rev. Dr. Robert Gomes shares personal experiences of a community’s rediscovery of this historic African-American community, established in the wake of the American Revolution, and considers the legacy it continues to inspire. 6pm light refreshments, 7pm lecture begins. @ Pilgrim Hall Museum (75 Court Street Plymouth, MA 02360) @ 6pm-8pm $10

6/22 Open Streets Boston: Roxbury Blue Hill Ave from Warren to Dudley Street will be closed to traffic to allow for block party festivities @ 10:30am-5pm FREE

6/22 Family-friendly Juneteenth celebration The Lynn Museum will host a family-friendly Juneteenth celebration on June 22nd featuring music, food, and community activities to honor the resilience and strength of Black Americans @ The Lynn Museum @ 11am-3pm All Ages FREE

6/26 June Somerville Square Dance Doors are at 7pm, lesson at 7:30pm, and dancing goes till 11pm. No experience required! Bring friends or come by yourself! @ Warehouse XI 7pm11pm $10

7/21 Open Streets Boston: Jamaica Plain Centre Street from Lamartine to South Street will be closed to traffic to allow for block party festivities @ 10:30am-5pm

Opens 6/2 Butterfly in the Sky is the touching and inspiring new documentary on the beloved PBS show Reading Rainbow with LeVar Burton @ Coolidge $15.50

It's Party Time at the @ Charles River Speedway in Brighton as the Coolidge Corner Theater kicks off its summer outdoor screening

video + film

thru 9/2

The Boston Parks Fitness Series Free All-Levels Bootcamp every Saturday at different parks from May 7 - Sept 2. All are welcome! For more information and cancellations, check FB and Twitter at @bostonparksdept and @healthyboston @ 9am All Ages FREE

What's Happening Boston

Follow for fun things to do in Boston! Use this resource to plan your week. Check their IG stories every day for unique events #bostonhapps #blackowned @whatshappening_boston

advocacy

6/7 Climate Designers

Brainstorm and Creative

Work Sesh with Fix the Grid

A collaborative art build to generate creative content for Fix the Grid, an important climate justice campaign. Come prepared to create with whatever tools work best for you!

@ Boston Figurative Art Center 7pm-9pm All Ages $10

6/29 Black Pride Health Summit

The Boston Lesbigay Urban Foundation and the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement cordially invite you to the 3rd Annual Urban Pride Health Summit and Brunch @ Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building 11am-3pm

6/29 11th Annual Celebration of Grassroots Organizing in Boston A lobster picnic and collaborative fundraiser for 15 organizations on the frontlines of Boston's movements for justice and liberation. @ First Parish Dorchester 1pm-7pm All Ages $50+

Artspark is a communitypowered event series based in the greater Boston area. Through dynamic live music events and community classes, Artspark creates a pipeline for artists and creative professionals to build success at all stages of their career. We aim to provide accessible music programming that takes the power and privilege out of the creative arts. Follow them at @artsparkboston

opportunity

Call for Submissions: Bostoninspired art and writing The Quinobequin Review, a local print-only lit journal, is accepting submissions for their Fall 2024 issue. They are looking for contributions that investigate the relationship between where we live and who we are... the weirder and more specific, the better. Submit through the link i n their bio on Instagram (@quinobequinreview). Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Design Gym Classes with ds4si Reading Groups, Mapping Public Infrastructures, Intro to Sneaker Restoration and Customization, Taiko Drumming, Civic Design, Screenprinting, Sewing, Community Archiving…. This semester, da4si is deepening their collective study of aesthetic justice. Communities of color have long been asked to live in other people’s spatial imaginaries. Now is the time to engage BIPOC communities as co-designers of new community infrastructures!

Dunamis Boston Resource Roundup grants, jobs, events, opportunities and workshops for artists and creatives in the Boston area. Check it out at dunamisboston. org/resource-roundup

Open Call for Art for @massartists4palestine Submit your work to be considered for the MAFP benefit auction. All proceeds will go directly to the Anera Org emergency relief program, providing critical aid to those in occupied territories.

MCC Operating Grants for Organizations Unrestricted general operating

Suffering For Your Art by Donna Martinez

Safe As Houses by Maya Escobar

So You Make Comics? by Eva Carrillo

comicsbyeva

Moth Rice by Bithiah Holton

THE DEMOCRACY CENTER

TOO ESSENTIAL TO CLOSE

Hello there! Usually I would be writing up another experimental excursion for this month. However, this month I feel it’s important to bring your attention to the closure of an absolutely crucial political organizing space and music venue in the heart of Harvard Square, Cambridge: The Democracy Center (DC) located on Mount Auburn Street.

Since 2005, The Democracy Center has been an amazing meetinghouse for activist organizations, artists, musicians, event holders and attendees. In April all resident organizations (Cambridge HEART, the showbooking collective amongst others) received an email that the Democracy Center will be closing in the beginning of July for renovations, evicting all organizations and rebranding into a new space called “Democracy House.” The ironically undemocratic decision made by The Foundation for Civic Leadership (FCL) will displace dozens of local organizations and not be forgotten by the community.

I’ve been attending shows here at the DC since I was 14, and hearing this news was absolutely shattering for me and countless others in the local community. Seeing a space that defined my early to late adolescence be removed in favor of corporate rebranding and renovations left me in a dismal mood for the rest of the week. I’ve been attending every meeting with the Save the Democracy Center Coalition and the FCL since April. I am also involved in the PR team for the former coalition.

Not all hope is lost—there are many ways that we can help save the Democracy Center. One way is to sign the petition for an indefinite pause or reversal of the closure of the DC: https://bit.ly/SaveTheDC.

EVA CARILLO

Eva C. is a Latin American cartoonist from NYC who is passionate about capturing the humorous and sobering moments of life, inspired by her personal experiences and others. When not making comics, she enjoys cooking and dog-watching in her local park. Her work can be found at www.comicsbyeva.com and on Instagram at @comicsbyeva.

c. FCL must disclose scope, plans/ drawings, budget, and timeline of the renovations publicly.

3. Transparency, accountability, and democracy in the process to determine the future of this space such as:

a. FCL bylaws be re-written such that a majority of the Board are drawn from community organizations deeply connected to the DC.

b. FCL bylaws be re-written such that a supermajority of the Board must vote in favor of renovation and closure plans.

4. Organizations and individuals who have invested deeply in the space must be given decision-making power within any listening or input-gathering process about the future of the DC. This includes setting values and parameters around use of the space.

If you also would like to get involved in the working groups coordinating to help the cause join the Signal chat (dm me on IG @floweryspeech1), and introduce your self to our amazing crew of organizers, activists and artists.

The list of our demands are as followed:

1. An indefinite pause / reversal of the decision to close the Democracy Center.

2. If a democratic, transparent, community-led process concludes that full closure for renovations is necessary, such closure will happen only when:

a. Scope, budget, and timeline of renovations is clear and fixed.

b. Minimum 1-3 years notice is provided, unless there is an extraordinary, immediately dangerous issue verified by an independent expert.

5. No retaliation for organizing. Resident organizations, meetinghouse organizations, regular users, community members, and FCL/DH staff will not be punished for their organizing to promote democratic control of the DC and prevent this immediate closure.

a. Punishment would include, but is not limited to, revoking offers of financial assistance, being fired, banned from the space, destruction/removal of stored property, and non-renewal of leases or other agreements.

Please be sure to follow the DC to stay updated on the current unfortunate situation.

MICHAEL MAMBRINO

CATALINA RUFIN

Catalina Rufin is a comic artist and early childhood educator based in Watertown, Massachusetts. Catalina's comics explore interests in fictionalized memoir, public transit and urban landscapes, fairies, and other mythological creatures. You can encounter Catalina selling comics at an arts festival like MICE or Brighton Bazaar, catching the Worcester line train to go to a metal show, or admiring the turkeys of Brookline.

DONNA MARTINEZ

Donna Martinez is a freelance cartoonist originally from New Mexico and has been a resident of Boston for 25 dang years (wow!). She’s also a member of the Boston Comics Roundtable, contributing stories to Inbound, Hellbound, The Greatest Comics Anthology of All Time, and issues #1 and #3 of In A Single Bound. Donna had previously contributed to the Compass with the strip “Gary: The Legend Continues.” When not having an artistic existential crisis, Donna can be found playing with crayons, reading tarot cards, and collecting seashells.

MAYA ESCOBAR

Maya Escobar is a cartoonist, illustrator and children’s librarian from Massachusetts. She received her MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies in May 2023. Her work has appeared in The Gutter and I Don’t Do Comics. She has exhibited at the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo, the Boston Comics In Color Festival, Small Press Expo and LadiesCon. Maya teaches comics workshops for kids and works on comics about old ladies and Kirby.

BITHIAH HOLTON

Bithiah Holton is a queer Black and Mexican-American multidisciplinary artist and art educator with a BFA in Art Education from Boston University. Bithiah works in comics, illustration, printmaking, and ceramics. Their work explores the reimagination of liberation, especially through the embodiment of emotion, vulnerability, and the lenses of wellness. Bithiah’s creative process is largely influenced by their identity, interest in emotional growth from trauma, and the interplay between color and emotions. Drawing inspiration from personal and community histories, these elements converge to inform their work. You can find more of Bithiah’s work on instagram at @bithiahsart or at bithiahsart.com.