COMICS IN COLOR: A
CELEBRATION OF BLACK JOY, ART, AND REPRESENTATION
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Cagen Luse, the visionary founder behind Comics in Color, Boston’s premier comic book festival centering Black and Brown artists and storytellers. Now entering its fifth year, this vibrant event continues to grow, and as an artist who has participated every year, I can honestly say—it’s my favorite comic festival. Beyond the art, cosplay, and creativity, Comics in Color is a cultural experience rooted in connection, celebration, and community.
When I asked Cagen what the festival means to him, he didn’t hesitate: “Comics in Color is a space to celebrate joy. To honor our children—and the child that still lives inside of us.”
It’s like looking through a looking glass, where folks can see themselves reflected in positive, powerful ways.
It’s about culture, creativity, and yes, all things “nerdom and blerdom,” because sometimes our imaginations just need space to roam.
Cagen’s love for comics began in Portland, Maine, where he was often one of the only children of color in his community. “I was always searching for a window into a different world—and comics were that window,” he shared. That yearning for connection carried into adulthood, especially in spaces where representation was scarce.
“When I went to the Black Comic Book Festival in Harlem, something clicked. I said—Boston needs this. Our community needs to find that same joy and sense of belonging that I found in those pages growing up.”
Walk into Comics in Color, and you’ll feel that vision brought to life—Black joy, Black imagination, and Black artistry in full bloom. From vibrant music curated by a live DJ to kids and adults alike geeking out over new
stories, cosplay contests, live art, and panel discussions—it’s more than a festival, it’s a homecoming.
Now celebrating the fifth year of the event, Cagen reflected on what he learned along the way. “The biggest lesson? Letting go and letting others contribute. I didn’t know what I was doing that first year—I just knew I had to do it. This whole thing was inspired by the little boy in me, the 10-year-old Cagen who would’ve loved a festival like this.”
This year’s festival kicks off on Friday, April 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. with an opening panel at Roxbury Community College. The main event takes place Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury. Expect comics, panels, workshops, cosplay contests, live art, and more.
For more info, visit comicsincolor.org. Come celebrate creativity, culture, and community—because this festival isn’t just about comics. It’s about us.
ZAHIRAH NUR TRUTH
Photo Credit: Lauren Miller Photography
MASSACHUSETTS MINUTE
Kleo is one of Boston’s best kept secrets. For the better half of the last decade, the Roxbury rapper has steadily unearthed one of the more consistently strong discographies out of any artist in the New England region. Despite the longevity and consistency with which he’s released new music, Kleo proves that he’s only getting better with time. As each forthcoming release makes its way into headphones around the world, Kleo’s sword appears to have only gotten sharper—and his artistic prowess to have only gotten more refined.
These sentiments are especially evident now. Following a recent string of releases that culminated with his latest single “Sick To My Stomach,” Kleo’s nestling into his sound with authority. A high-energy track that collides explosive instrumentation with Kleo’s trademark gut-wrenching lyrics, “Sick To My Stomach” is an emotionally charged offering that sets Kleo on a brilliant trajectory for the year.
“Sick To My Stomach” isn’t the first we’ve heard of Kleo this year. Towards the tail end of January, Kleo appeared alongside fellow Boston Artists Aumi Luxe and Max Moody on “I Feel Some Way.” Again finding its
Not only has Kleo architected an impressive collection of music on his own, but his discography has become somewhat a beacon of hope for what the Massachusetts area has to offer musically. Some of the other artists to make an appearance alongside Kleo over the years have been Shandelle, ILL Addicts, and Kofi Lost to name just a few. With each passing song, Kleo unites a multitude of the Bay State’s premier talents, making his catalog a brilliant place for becoming acclimated with Massachusetts music.
As eyes look ahead towards what’s next for the Roxbury native, it’s clear that Kleo is aiming to generate quite the impact this year. There’s no telling exactly when new music will be on the way, but Kleo will certainly be continuing down the path that the recent additions to his catalog of music have laid before him. Until the next track is here, get lost in the sounds of “Sick To My Stomach” and “I Feel Some Way.”
LIKE CARRIE BRADSHAW
An Ode to Twin Donuts
In my humble opinion, there is nothing better than a greasy diner breakfast after getting railed by a lover, partner, random stranger, or friend. Whether you’re in a committed relationship or taking out a hungry hook up on the town—breakfast is a universal love language.
As I stood at the Twin Donuts counter for the last time, I looked around and saw couples and groups of friends mourning the loss of a beloved “Morning After” spot. It was here that I sat with countless friends, hashing out what had happened to us the night before in the dark dance floor of the Model Cafe as we sipped on large iced coffees and chomped on breakfast sandwiches.
“There’s nothing better than describing an insane sexual act in explicit detail to a group of your closest friends over diner coffee and eggs. It’s a simple pleasure in life,” my roommate once proclaimed. She was correct—there is an undeniable charm of waking up with gossip.
I caught up with my friend Andy last week, and she chronicled her dating journey to me. “A great ‘FWB’ (Friends with Benefits) always evolves into a ‘FWBB’ (Friends with Benefits who Brunch),” she said as we sat in Jim’s Deli, another tried and true breakfast spot, on our lunch break. “Pancakes and being horny go hand in hand for me personally. … Ideally I need my fuel for round two in the morning—IF they even stay over.”
Just like in your favorite diners, a different type of dining and dashing occurs in the bedroom as well. I’m willing to bet from personal experience that people nowadays are making swift exits from one-night stands and/or internet hookups. Breakfast
and brunches are more frequently reserved for encounters that would fall more in line with a “casual consistent” label, but why is that the case?
“I swear to god it’s Uber and Lyft, but I just don’t know,” Andy sighed, “I guess free will has always existed, but where is the incentive these days to stop and stay a while? It’s so easy to make a swift exit—either immediately after sex or the next morning— but hanging out is one of the best parts to me, especially with people I genuinely like spending time with and talking to. Breakfast becomes a really important and sweet routine with some people and honestly, it makes me feel valued and is something I look forward to.”
For some, the most important meal of the day is a tried and true way of practicing aftercare. Starting your day with debriefing and sharing a meal is another way to get your dopamine fix with another person. Getting to know someone’s breakfast order is as intimate as knowing what they’re into sexually.
As the age-old verbiage goes, the best way to a person’s heart (or pants) is through their stomach. For those seeking equally greasy hot spots to take your lovers or gossip with pals, Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown gets the job done (consider this my official endorsement of their Hungry Person Special), and Twin Donuts sister restaurant, Cafe Mirror, is the place to be. While I will miss Twin Donuts, its 70 years of service to the community saw many iconic decades of post banging debriefs, first dates, and gab sessions amongst friends. May we hold onto those memories forever.
roots in emotional turmoil and heartfelt tension, Kleo’s first single of the year widens the horizons of Kleo’s artistic potential.
Kleo Is At His BEst
BUILT-IN COMMUNITY
The Pursuit of a New American Ideal
According to AvirLev, an initiating member and previous tenant of the Prospect Hill Observatory in Union Square, Boston is “littered with co-ops.” AvirLev, whose last name has been omitted for privacy, is right.
Whether you call it intentional living, cooperative living, co-housing, or simply a co-op, the idea is simple: multiple adults choose to live with one another. But rather than a roommate arrangement borne out of convenience, a co-op is organized around a core set of shared values. Some houses prioritize social aspects such as cooking together, regularly scheduled game nights or outings, while others are built around values such as maintaining a vegetarian diet or practicing COVID safety precautions.
“In my opinion, the things that make a coop are house meetings, shared resources, shared labour, and intentional relationships,” said AvirLev.
For Alula Hunsen, who lives with roommates and is drawn to co-op models, the concept of living with others serves him at a base level. “Most of us, somewhere in our lineage, come from some sort of village style of living,” Hunsen said. “I think I really jive with that way of coming together.”
For Hunsen, there is an underlying personal-political motive to care for those around him. “We are all in each other’s lives and it’s our business to take care of one another.”
AvirLev, who’s lived in three co-ops, has a similar commitment to the model: “[Co-housing] aligns with my politics of living interdependently.” He noted that “We’re very isolated in this day and age, and so having a space where you’re not just living in the same space as people but really living with people, I’ve found to be really important and both wanted and really needed. I think most of us need that but don’t acknowledge it.”
Another draw towards renting a room in a co-op model is cost. Hunsen said, “Housing is expensive. Will I be able to afford my own apartment? Who the hell knows.” AvirLev added that rents in large houses tend to be a bit cheaper than renting a two
or three bedroom apartment, with the added benefit of having larger common areas. Not to mention, the cost of groceries and household supplies decreases as residents buy in bulk and split the cost among themselves.
Hunsen is committed to sticking with the co-housing model in the long term, including buying into a home with others. But the buy-in can be costly, lengthy, and complicated, depending on the arrangement a group agrees on.
The Bay State Co-Housing complex, where Malden resident Paul Sherman lives with his spouse, is a project that took ten years to complete and houses 30 families in 30 private units. Each family owns the unit they live in. The complex was built with large common spaces, and there’s frequent planned and impromptu group outings.
“Knowing your neighbors is a good feeling, and it’s hard to find,” said Sherman.
Sherman and his wife joined as members in 2016 and moved into their home in late 2022. Construction was delayed by a couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We ended up skewing older than we would have without the delays. The delays made things more expensive, and we lost some of the younger members who were having families or couldn’t wait.”
The process made him realize the importance of subsidizing affordable housing.
With Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s recent announcement about a pilot program aimed towards helping residents pool their resources to co-purchase multi-family properties, Boston could see an increase in co-owned co-ops.
With lease-renewal season upon us and a turbulent national political reality ahead, being part of a community with shared values can be essential for continued survival. Space in a co-op can be found through the usual ways, like Craigslist listings and Facebook housing pages, but on a smaller scale, it’s never too late to knock on a neighbor’s door, introduce yourself, and build up from there.
THADDEUS
TEENS IN PRINT
Celebrating 20 Years of Youth Journalism
A writing program created to empower young journalists in the Boston area, Teens in Print was on the verge of shutting down in 2014—until the community rallied to keep the organization alive. As the nonprofit celebrates two decades of amplifying teen voices, Teens in Print faces a new challenge: ensuring future generations of young journalists have a platform to question, investigate, and share their stories in an era where truth itself is under attack.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Teens in Print, WriteBoston invites the community to Pros&Conversation, an annual fundraiser and celebration at WBUR CitySpace on May 1. As part of the event, Teens in Print will be sharing stories from its past and present, featuring reflections from alumni, program founders, and the teens who are shaping the future of journalism today. There will also be powerful discussion between acclaimed local authors and TiP reporters, showcasing the importance of youth storytelling in today’s media landscape.
Teens in Print began as a collaboration between the Boston Globe Foundation and WriteBoston. Over the years, the organization has published work from more than 1,600 students, produced over 70 issues, and shared thousands of articles and stories. The nonprofit primarily serves students in grades 8-12 across Boston, and during the global pandemic, it expanded its space to a large online community spanning the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“Journalism has changed drastically over the past two decades,” said Mohamed Barrie, Program Director of Teens in Print. “We’ve gone from print newspapers to digital storytelling, from long-form reporting to bite-sized content. But at its core, journalism remains about truth and integ-
rity. Teens in Print is where young people learn to navigate this evolving media landscape while building skills in writing, multimedia, and critical thinking.”
Through Teens in Print, students explore the ethics of journalism, sharpen their investigative instincts, and develop a sense of responsibility toward the narratives they shape. They write op-eds, produce podcasts, design magazines, and engage in deep conversations about misinformation, AI, and the blurred lines between journalism and content creation. With guidance from professional journalists and community leaders, they gain the confidence to document the world around them with integrity and impact.
“In 2014, Teens in Print was saved by the community,” said Barrie. “Now, as programs like ours face a shifting funding landscape, we need that same collective support to ensure the next 20 years of empowering young voices.”
Will you support the next generation of storytellers? Buy a ticket, make a donation, or spread the word—your support ensures that Boston teens continue to have a space to explore, create, and report on the world around them.
Teens in Print, a program of WriteBoston, is Boston’s only citywide youth journalism program, providing students with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to tell their stories and engage with their communities through writing and multimedia.
To learn more about the organization’s 20year journey and upcoming events, visit givebutter.com/c/Im2RVu.
theater & performance art
moreatbostoncompassnewspapercom
for more info. @ Cambridge Community Center 5pm
4/2 CS Cleaners, Black Beach, Nurse Joy, Sacred Heart Audio League @ O'Briens Pub 7pm 21+ $12
4/3 Spark* presents: Re:boot Spark* is excited to announce that our Spring 2025 exhibition, “re:boot”, will be held on the first floor of the @bostoncyberarts, which is right by the Green T stop on the orange line. Come out and enjoy some art and music with the Boston art community! @ Boston Cyberarts Gallery 6pm-10pm FREE
4/4 Art Spark Presents: The Global Majority A recurring showcase dedicated to amplifying the voices of BIPOC artists in the greater Boston area @ The Foundry 7:30pm-9:30pm $12
4/4 Evil Eye & The 4th Wall present: Exit 18, Headsick, and Dead Wait Doors 9pm, music 9:30pm @ The Capitol Theatre 18+ $10
4/5 Vile Impulse, Groan Man and Jetty @ The Square Root Cafe 8pm-11pm 21+
4/6 Blnd Co, BVD and Real Never Fades present: The Coco Party An Afro-Caribbean dance party ft. Supersmash Bros, Real P, TGIF, Where's Nasty @ The Grand Boston 5pm-10pm 21+ $25 @djrealp
4/9 Rozzie Old Time Music Night @ The Square Root Cafe 8pm 21+ FREE
4/10 Singer-Songwriter Night hosted by Glenn Williams ft Jim Infantino, Future Suzi & Temple Mountain @ The Square Root Cafe 7:30pm 21+ FREE
4/10 Eye Design presents: FACS, Landowner, Major Stars @ Deep Cuts Deli 7pm 18+ $15
4/12 Cambridge Record Store Day Walk to visit Cambridge record stores and collect specially marked issues of the Cambridge Week at Planet Records, Vinyl Index, Cheapo Records, and Big Dig Records for discounted admission to an evening concert ft. + Jade Dust (PDX), Pushback, P.V., and Homeworld. Visit humpday.news/rsd-2025
4/12 Cheap City, Battlemode, The Michael Character, MK Naomi @ Deep Cuts Deli 7pm 18+ $12 adv/$15 doors
4/12 The Loft Somerville presents: Justin Lally Album Release! ft. Holding Napoleon, Ivy Boy, Audrey Ryan and friends @ theloftsomerville for more info 7pm
4/15 Ethan Iverson A solo performance from one of the 25 essential New York jazz icons, from the avant-garde trio Bad Plus @ The Square Root Cafe 7pm-9pm 21+ 25
4/15 VVN / Julia Dasey / Better Fires / Leechfoot @ O’Brien’s Pub 7pm 21+ $10
4/17 Najee Janey, Nafisa, Seezer, Vinyl Villain @ EXIT Galleries 7pm-10pm 18+ $20 @najeejaney
4/17 Drook / Gollylagging / Main Era / Andro Queen @ O’Brien’s Pub 7pm 21+ $15
4/21 FIST! A Leather Night @ Midway Cafe 8pm 21+ $5-20 cover (sliding scale)
4/25 + 4/26 Waterworks: Festival of Experimental Sound @ Metropolitan Waterworks Museum $20 students $30 regular Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 7:30pm
Wally's Jazz Club Every Night! At Wally’s, they have live music 365 days a year! They feature three different bands a night, one at 5pm, one at 7pm, and one at 9pm. The first set is typically a jam session and the second and third sets have different music themes depending on the day of the week: Monday: Blues. Tuesday: Funk, Wednesday: Funk, Thursday: Latin Jazz Salsa, Friday: Jazz, Saturday: Jazz, Sunday: Funk. Come vibe at one of the oldest family-owned and operated jazz clubs in existence!
4/1 Hackman: No Frills, All Fire Film Series Honor the legend with some of his best performances including films The French Connection (4/1, 7pm), the Conversation (4/6, 2pm), Night Moves (4/13, 2pm) and The Royal Tenenbaums (4/29, 7pm) @ Coolidge Corner Theater $17
4/2-4/13 Flawbored presents: IT'S A MOTHERF**KING PLEASURE
This hilarious satire and hit play from the Edinburgh Fringe Fest that's touring the world with its biting wit. Don't miss! @ Arts Emerson $25+
4/3 GRRL Haus Presents: NeuroCinema A special showcase of short films by neurodiverse artists, including those with autism, ADHD, and other unique neurological experiences. @ Brattle Theater 8pm @grrlhauscinema
4/5 AgX Film Collective and Lucy Parsons Center co-present: BODY PROP Following the screening will be an in person discussion with the filmmaker. @ Lucy Parsons Center 5pm-7pm
4/8 Boston Open Screen
A monthly open mic night for filmmakers @ Coolidge Corner Theater 7pm $10
4/5 Boston Roller Derby Double Header @ Allied Veterans Skating Rink 5pm9pm All Ages $16
4/12 Culto Untitled Fashion Show A fusion fashion show and musical experience, pairing designers with local musicians. @ Arts at the Armory 4:30pm-11:45pm
4/16 Wonderful & Strange: A Tribute to David Lynch Catch rare screenings celebrating the visionary filmmaker, including a dream double feature of Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart on 4/17 @ Somerville Theatre $16 -$18
4/20 Lord of the Rings Trilogy Grab some gummies for a 4/20 marathon of Peter Jackson's epic original trilogy in 35mm. Includes breaks. @ Coolidge Corner Theater 11am-11:45pm $33
4/23 22nd Annual
Independent Film Festival
Boston This great festival is back! Enjoy independent films at the Somerville, Brattle, and Coolidge Theatres all week @ All Ages @somerville_ theatre
4/24 Bread & Puppet Theatre: The Obligation to Love The legendary Vermont-based activist theater group brings their new show to Boston on their East Coast tour! 4/24 in Somerville, 4/25 in JP. Details at breadandpuppet.org/tour. @ Spontaneous Celebrations All Ages $20 suggested
4/25 Juan Mejia Botero's Igualada The empowering and long awaited doc on modern day afro-Colombian hero, Francia Márquez' unexpected and fearless presidential campaign in Colombia. @ Arts Emerson 6:30pm $12
4/25 Abilities Dance presents: Intersections v4 The fourth iteration of this incredible series highlighting BIPOC and disabled honorees past and present! Pay what you can. @ Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center 8pm $35 @abilitiesdanceboston
4/27 GottaBal! Dance Monthly DJ’d dance event! We are a diverse and inclusive community of dancers united by our love of Swing dance. Balboa originated in Southern California in the 1930s, and is danced to faster tempos than Lindy Hop. You will need separate shoes for dancing. Leather or suede soles are perfect. Thanks! @ Arts at the Armory 4pm-8pm FREE
4/28 Scarface (1983) Say hello to DePalma's iconic '80s bloodbath @ Coolidge Corner Theater 7pm $17
4/30 Dario Argento double feature with Tenebre The king of Italian horror gets 4K restorations in this Giallo double feature, Tenebre (8:30pm) and Phenomena (6pm) @ Brattle Theater 6pm $15 -$19
community
4/2 Blume on the Ave Pitch Party Come see local entrepreneurs propose their vision for two new commercial spaces on Blue Hill Ave during a community pitch event @ 1617 Blue Hill Ave @ 6pm-8:30pm FREE
4/5 Gather Fiber Symposium 2025 A month-long celebration of Fiber Arts including exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and research presentations @ Multiple Locations, visit gatherfibersymposium.com for more info.
4/6 Puff N’ Process This unique event is all about
processing life, building community, and finding clarity. Hosted by life coaches, clinicians, and therapists, these sessions invite you to BYOB (Bring Your Own Bud) for a truly elevated experience. This session is focused on Processing Grief. In partnership with Diaspora Experiences, a private, black owned cannabis lounge @ 33 Church St. @ 2pm-4pm FREE
4/6 Anti-Robot Club Presents: The Marketplace Everything from streetwear clothing to 1 of 1 art pieces, hand crafted products, food and music! @ The Foundry 12pm-5pm FREE 4/12 Prototype for the Planet: A Sustainable Designathon Two-day designathon where participants collaborate on a sustainability related challenge! Hosted by Climate Designers @ Bentley University 8am FREE
4/10 The Great Gatsby Centennial An unforgettable evening of Gatsby-inspired fun, exclusive giveaways, and timeless elegance. Dress code: Roaring 20's attire! @ Lovestruck Books 6:30pm9pm $30
4/12 Her Health, Her Power: Women’s Health Seminar This interactive event brings together health professionals to discuss key topics affecting women today, from reproductive health to mental wellness. @ The Foundry 2pm6pm All Ages FREE
4/13 Side Quest Storytime Bring the kids for read-aloud adventure and fantasy stories. Age 2+, with a grown up. @ Bow Market 11am-11:45am FREE
4/12 Brewery Running Series Hosts 5k Beer Run x Sam Adams Run for beer and support local nonprofits! 5k fun run around JP @ Sam Adams Brewery 11am-5pm Up to $63
4/19 Lilypad Art Jam Community artmaking and open music jamming. All humans welcome! @ Lilypad 2pm-6pm
4/19 Wicked Comic Con 2025 A day dedicated to comic books, comic creators,
cosplay, and artwork @ The Westin Boston Seaport District 10am-5pm
4/25 Quinobequin Review’s Spring Launch Party! Local lit and art journal, the Quinobequin Review, is hosting a launch party to celebrate the release of their spring issue in Somerville! Come enjoy local drinks, seasonal food, live music from Boston’s own Felicity Page, and collaborative art and writing stations to connect with your neighbors. Only 100 spots—get location info + tickets at quinobequin.press. 7pm $15
4/26 Remembering
Black April: 50 Years of Vietnamese Diaspora Visit 1975vietdiaspora.com/events for more information! @ Boston College High School 3pm-7pm
4/26 Japan Festival Boston @ Boston Common All Ages FREE
4/26 5th Annual Boston
Comics in Color Festival
2025 A family-friendly event focused on comics storytelling by and about people of color @ Reggie Lewis State Track Athletic Center 10am-5pm
5/2 Community Swap Box
A community-driven project with 3 "swap boxes" to give and take free items! Visit nonissue.info/swap-boxes to learn more. @ Harvard Ed Portal
5/3 Spontaneous
Celebrations presents the 47th Annual Wake Up the Earth Festival! Mark your calendars for a long-standing festival rooted in activism, community and the arts. Enjoy local food and craft vendors, public art and parades, and live performances. All on the Southwest Corridor in JP between Stonybrook and Green St. @ 12pm-5pm
Still Life Studios A new popup studio in Cambridge! Available as a co-working space during the weekdays and offering repair and sustainability workshops on evenings and weekends. @ 187 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge MA
advocacy
4/9 Coalitions, Policy, & Grassroots Organizing The Coalitions, Policy & Grassroots Organizing (CPGO) member team is a collaborative initiative committed to actively participating in existing coalitions, prioritizing issues such as community safety, economic and environmental justice, and adopting a multigenerational approach. Meets every 2nd Wednesday @ tinyurl.com/ ujimawednesdays @ ShirleyEustis House 7:15pm-8:30pm FREE @ujimaboston
4/26 The Melanin Motherhood Gala Rooted in strength, flourishing in community! A Gala fundraiser supporting mamas of color in the greater Boston and Boston area. Maternal care, mental health and more. @ Venezia Restaurant 6pm-9pm 18+ $100+
Reclaim Roxbury A community organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and economic wealth for Roxbury residents by preventing displacement and supporting economic development. Learn more at reclaimroxbury.org.
Anti-Displacement Task Force
The purpose of this task force is to develop programming and policy recommendations that aim to equitably reduce the displacement rate of people who live in, have businesses in, or create in the City of Somerville. Learn more at voice.somervillema.gov/adtf.
Want to sponsor the paper? Email sponsorship@brain-arts.org to get a conversation going!
Boston Liberation Center Open Hours The Boston Liberation Center is a socialist, working class community center located right in the heart of Roxbury. Stop by to learn more about the work of the center and talk with the organizers, browse the community library, get some work done or just hang out! Tues & Thurs 4-8pm, Fri 1-6pm, Saturdays 10-4pm.
Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration This resource provides general information on what to do if you or someone you know is stopped, arrested, or detained by immigration or other law enforcement. Visit www.nilc.org/resources for more information.
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition MTPC works to ensure the wellbeing, safety, and lived equity of all trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive community members in Massachusetts. Visit masstpc. org for more information.
Support Operation Olive Branch Mutual Aid Operation Olive Branch is a grassroots effort to amplify and support oppressed and occupied peoples on the quest to Collective Liberation in Palestine, Congo, Sudan, and beyond. Find them at @operationolivebranch on Instagram.
Call for Proposals: Mayor’s Poetry Program Submit your poem(s) for the chance to see your work displayed in Boston City Hall! Visit boston. gov/poetry to learn more. Deadline to submit is 4/7.
4/10 The Art of Networking Boston Young Black Professionals and the Cambridge Housing Authority's Work Force Program are teaming up to provide a fun and interactive space to broaden your
network! Games, activities and the opportunity to get free professional headshots taken @ 800 Lexington Street #1046, Waltham MA @ 6pm9pm FREE
Disability Zine Microgrants
Wild Ramp Publishing offers four $250 grants to cover printing costs for zines with a disability justice focus. Their grants support zine production and distribution, focusing on marginalized and underrepresented voices. Deadline to apply is 4/18.
Open Call: Trans-Viet Vanguard Zine Collective is creating a space to document, honor, and celebrate the lives, stories, and experiences of trans, non-binary, and genderqueer Vietnamese people through photos, stories, and memories. Visit Vanguardzine. com/trans-viet to apply Deadline to apply is 4/30.
"You Always Have Options" Art Contest Create a proabortion t-shirt design with the titular phrase. First place will receive $1500 and a limited run of t-shirts. Two runner ups will receive $250. Visit shoutyourabortion.com/ you-always-have-options-artcontest to submit! Deadline to apply is 5/1.
Call for Volunteers Gallery 263 is seeking enthusiastic, creative, and flexible volunteers! Whether you would like to gallery sit once a week, help with
WRITE FOR THE BOSTON COMPASS
The Boston Compass is seek ing timely articles related to local arts and culture events in the Boston area. These pieces could be a review of a local film festival, a write-up of a local artist’s new EP, a feature on an initiative that your local organization is excited about, a creative nonfiction piece about your favorite local venue, etc. Ideal pieces will cover events happening in the month of or prior to the issue’s publication. Boston is your oyster.
comb through our stacked happenings spread.
Once the pitch is approved, the content deadline is usually around the 20th of the month. Pieces are generally 400-600 words in length, though there is flexibility on the latter side of that spectrum. Contributors must also submit 1-2 high-contrast photos for the layout. We pay $50 per article.
Have an idea? Send a pitch by scanning the QR code and fill out the form! Some elements you should include in your pitch: the event you plan to attend, context for the clueless reader, who you could interview, and why you think this article is worthwhile.
If you need to bounce a couple ideas off of Akbota, the editor-in-chief, that is also welcome! Due to current staff capacity, inquiries that come to the editor’s inbox without set ideas often go unanswered. If you’re looking for inspiration,
Good luck! I'm sure you'll come up with something cool.
The Boomerang Gang by Joe Bortner
@joeb draws
Halcyon by E.B. Hutchins
Snork Opaque by Adam Green
Bird Crimes: Titty King by PomPoison
MEET THE ARTIST
Zulay Perez Holland
My Name is Zulay, and I am an interdisciplinary visual artist based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. More than anything, I love working with my hands. I am rooted in my curiosity about the earth and the ocean, my own emotional world and interpersonal relationships. A large part of my practice is the belief that creativity is a tool for personal and collective liberation that we must work both internally and in community. Much love.
ZULAY
MAKING POLLUTERS PAY
Campaigning for a Climate Superfund
After devastating flooding in 2023, Vermont passed a first-of-its-kind, bipartisan climate superfund to make large oil companies pay for damages resulting from climate-changerelated events. The bill, which was passed into law at the end of May last year, has led to ten other states introducing similar bills and New York passing similar legislation.
Now,theclimateorganizationMakePolluters Pay has taken the fight to Massachusetts.
“The overarching goal of the campaign is to make those responsible pay for the costs of the climate crisis,” said Daniel Zackin, CoLeader for the Make Polluters Pay campaign and a Legislative Manager for 350 Mass, a climate organization who is a part of the campaign’s coalition. Make Polluters Pay officially relaunched their campaign on March 16 after the bill was sent for study in the last congressional session—an action that usually signals that a bill will be killed. The 2025 campaign launch, which was hosted at Arlington Street Church, featured over 100 community members and over 20 organizations supporting the bill.
If passed, the bill would create a climate superfund for the state of Massachusetts and require fossil fuel companies to “pay in” to account for the damage they have caused to the environment over the next 25 years.
“Those who are intensely contributing to climate change, should have a part in its mitigation,” said Brandy Mercado, a fellow of the youth-focused climate organization Our Climate who is working on the campaign.
The money in this superfund would be used to finance climate adaptation programs across the state. The bill has clearly outlined plans for where the money would go if passed and mandates that at least 40% of all funding would go to projects that directly benefit environmental justice communities. “It includes infrastructure, preventative
health programs, efforts to reduce extreme heat, and reforestation programs. We’re talking billions and billions of dollars here,” Zackin said.
The exact amount of money it would raise is unknown, but the bill in New York is planning to raise 75 billion over the next 25 years.
“The state budget of Massachusetts is 56 billion, so this could conceivably raise, over 25 years, a total greater than the annual budget of the state. This is an incredible amount of money,” Zackin added.
The campaign to promote the bill has been multifaceted, with work happening in and outside of the legislative system. The group has worked on passing municipal resolutions aroundthestate,whichconsistofcityortown council formally voting to endorse a piece of legislation and sending statements to their representatives in the State House. Alongside this initiative, the group has hosted extreme weather survivors as guest lecturers; organized envisioning sessions in communities to discuss funding priorities; and even had a member write, direct, and star in a production about the campaign.
The campaign has a long way to go before reaching Governor Healy’s desk. But, the campaign and its allies are ready for the fight. As Our Climate youth organizer Iselle Barrios announced at the launch event for the bill, “Making polluters pay is not going to be easy, but this kind of campaign, with so many of us involved, is the only way to hold them accountable for the damage they’ve caused.”
For more information or ways to get involved, please visit polluterspayma.org.
JOSIE WAGNER
ANNIE’S APRIL
Boston does not rush into spring. I would not want it to. Let it take its time. It makes us yearn for warmth that other cities get earlier, leaving traces of winter in the air to remind us how lucky we are to receive warm weather when it does come. And then quietly, one day, April is all around us. And we forget what time was like before she was here.
Before then, you have to know where to look for signs of spring. What if we looked at tattoo shops as if they were greenhouses? With their similarly bright, open windows, where the curious can peer in. Artist studios where craft and tools result in sprawling bouquets, fostering nostalgic forget-me-nots, garnering our mother’s favorite flowers, or flashing sheets of wildflowers. Flora that may not otherwise survive in northern climates are reliant on these artists in order to be.
I know of one artist, Roz, who has grown many flowers upon a foreground of freckled skin. She delicately planted these throughout the years, in a series of intimate sessions. Although I have not met Roz myself, I admire her work as it lives on a familiar arm that wraps itself closely around my waist. I welcome this, as I welcome spring; easing my quiet yearning.
I can only guess where Roz drew inspiration from. Perhaps it was from the roses that bloom in the Commons. Perhaps it was her way to illustrate “that which we call a rose…” And if Shakespeare exhausted the symbolism of a rose for love, Roz added something new—traditional tattoo styles— to my lexicon. Her inspiration is not for me to know, and I am okay with that bliss. I would rather study the mythology of the girl who proudly adorns her work.
As Boston defrosts, the beautifully landscaped sleeve appears more often. Flushed arms shed the knit sweaters borrowed from my closet, as if they were winter blankets used to keep the roses safe from a harsh winter. And if the thorns of her roses pulled threads loose from all of my sweaters, I
would allow it. Roz knew that roses do not exist without their thorns, as she embodied the grit of the girl who adorns the fierce flowers and their vines.
Such is the intimacy of tattoos, in the way they communicate, without sound, that they will be with you forever. Perhaps the spring sun could melt me into a puddle of ink, so that I may be permanently planted upon her skin, beside Roz’ roses. And like those flowers, be carried by her through all seasons.
If you’re interested in seeing more of Roz’ work, you can follow her on Instagram (@rozthompson_tattoo) and visit the iconic shop Fat Ram’s Pumpkin Tattoo (@fatramspumpkintattoo on IG).
ESTELLE HAMILTON
