Events

More GBH Events

• 
  Virtual

  Kingdom of Play

  12:30pm Mon, May 06, 2024

  There is much interest today in the purpose of play. For humans, it is widely considered important for development, but for animals the role of play is less certain. In this fascinating description of the imaginative and varied play habits of many species of animals, David Toomey considers the purpose of this behavior, and he explains the major views on the subject.

  Forum Network

  Partner:

  Science for the Public
• 
  Virtual

  Upward Mobility in Boston: 50 Years After Busing

  6:00pm Mon, May 06, 2024

  Suffolk University's Ford Hall Forum and Moakley Archive & Institute, The Boston Desegregation and Busing Initiative, and GBH Forum Network, continue a series of programs examining the lasting impacts of the l974 landmark decision to desegregate Boston’s Public Schools. On May 6, the panel will discuss upward mobility in Boston, exploring the city’s historic institutional roadblocks that have hindered progress for people of color fifty years after busing. The panel will explore solutions to address these persistent issues such as enhancing educational opportunities, closing the wealth gap, increasing home ownership, and broadening access to job opportunities.
  
  The evening’s panelists are Ron Bell, longtime community activist and founder of Dunk the Vote, and alumnus of Boston Latin School; Karilyn Crockett, Ph.D., assistant professor, Urban History, Public Policy & Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Tatiana M. F. Cruz, Ph.D., assistant professor and interdisciplinary program director of Africana Studies, Department of Critical Race, Gender and Cultural Studies, Simmons University. The program’s moderator is Kris Hooks, editor-in-chief of The Boston Globe’s newsroom team, Money, Power, Inequality: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap, which focuses on addressing the racial wealth gap in Greater Boston.
  

  Background

  In our first program, Driving for Desegregation: Boston 50 Years After Busing, Adrian Walker, columnist for The Boston Globe, led a panel that explored the long-term impacts of busing on the city of Boston, including the current state of Boston’s public schools and racial equity in a myriad of arenas. In our second program held last week, our panel, moderated by Stephanie Leydon, GBH News, the panel explored race, housing, and education equity 50 years after busing. This discussion explored the impact of race-based discriminatory housing policies and education funding formulas while addressing the more recent problems of gentrification and housing affordability and how Boston positions itself to compete with its suburban neighbors when it comes to educational outcomes.

  Forum Network

  Busing Crisis in Boston

  Partner:

  Ford Hall Forum
• 
  In Person

  Virtual

  U.S. Supreme Court Crystal Ball

  5:00pm Wed, May 08, 2024

  New England Legal Foundation is excited to present the SCOTUS Crystal Ball. Each year at this point in May, many of the cases before The Supreme Court have been decided. There are few that remain, and those that do often have the most intricacies. Join us and for a discussion about the details of the remaining cases, the arguments given and what a decision on either side of the case may mean.
  
  We are excited to welcome back Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale, Professor Akhil Amar to moderate the discussion between constitutional law scholars.

  Forum Network

  Partner:

  New England Legal Foundation
• 
  In Person

  Stories from the Stage: Pride

  6:30pm Thu, May 09, 2024

  Over the last few decades, LGBTQ+ people have made tremendous political and social gains. But threats persist, and the fight for equity is still ongoing. People are standing up, and their stories of living their true lives loud and proud give us all hope. Hear amazing and true stories from some of these inspirational people.
  
  At Stories from the Stage, produced by GBH WORLD, ordinary people share extraordinary experiences that you will not soon forget. You’ll hear stories of love and loss, amazing adventures, incredible surprises and unexpected triumphs. In each taping, we get up-close and personal with storytellers about what inspires them and the craft of storytelling. Join us!
  
  Monumental Market, a nut-free bakery in Jamaica Plain, will be onsite selling sweet and savory bites starting at just $2.50!
  
  6:30pm Doors open to GBH's Atrium where food and drink are available for purchase
  7:00pm Doors open to GBH's Calderwood Studio for seating
  
  Note all onsite purchases will be credit card only.
  Event registration is required. Seating is general admission. The maximum capacity of this event is 150.
  
  By RSVPing for this event, you agree to receive timely news and updates on events, films, and special offers from GBH.
  
  Thank you to our sponsor, UMass Amherst.
  

  

  This event is also presented with support from Liberty Mutual Insurance.
  

  

  Reese, Joshua

  Stellar Story Company identifies and coaches storytellers for Stories from the Stage.
  
  Photo credit: Stories from the Stage

  Events
• 
  In Person

  Virtual

  Moving DEI from Intention to Impact with Malia Lazu

  6:00pm Mon, May 13, 2024

  This event was initially scheduled on April 4th and has been postponed due to inclement weather.
  
  In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, corporate America doubled down on its public intentions to be more inclusive and equitable. Yet despite the pledges it has been difficult to see which system changes have made a real difference. Then came the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action—and its potential implications for corporations and their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices. With DEI programs seemingly under attack and their efficacy in question, are businesses still willing to make the case for diversity—and what can we do to encourage them?
  
  Malia C. Lazu is an award-winning, tenured strategist in diversity and inclusion and a lecturer in the Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management group at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She is former EVP and Regional President of Berkshire Bank and the creator of several accelerators designed to support minority-owned businesses in the Boston area, as well as the consultancy the Lazu Group. She's the author of From Intention to Impact: A Practical Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (MIT Press, February 2024).
  
  Malia Lazu will be in conversation with GBH Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer, Yemisi Oloruntola-Coates.
  
  Her book will be available to purchase, thanks to Frugal Bookstore, with a 15% discount.

  Forum Network

  Partner:

  Frugal Bookstore
• 
  In Person

  Virtual

  How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America

  6:00pm Tue, May 14, 2024

  As part of our "Revolutionary Music: Music for Social Change" programmatic theme, join the Boston Public Library and American Ancestors in-person or online for talk about a sweeping and spellbinding portrait of the longtime kings of jazz—Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie—who, born within a few years of one another, burst through racial barriers to become the most popular entertainers on the planet.
  
  About the book
  The Jazzmen is the story of three revolutionary American musicians, the maestro jazzmen who orchestrated the chords that throb at the soul of twentieth-century America. Larry Tye paints a vivid and immersive portrait of the birth of jazz, highlighting the resilience of its trailblazers as they opened America’s ears and souls to the magnificence of their melodies. Each insisted he was a music maker first and last, when in reality all three were cultural and racial insurgents.
  
  There will be time for Q&A from both in-person and online audiences. After the main program ends at approximately 7 PM, there will be an author signing facilitated by local independent bookstore partner Trident Booksellers and Cafe.
  
  Online attendees will have a chance to order copies from another local independent bookstore partner (Porter Square Books) during the main program (6 - 7 PM).

  Forum Network

  Partner:

  American Ancestors

  Boston Public Library
• 
  In Person

  Virtual

  Coercion, Conflict, and Consensus: Revolution is Brewing (Anew!) in Boston

  6:00pm Wed, May 15, 2024

  In the wake of the Boston Tea Party, the British government in 1774 sought to rein in Massachusetts colonists with a series of harsh laws that closed Boston’s port and severely limited the right to representative government and due process of law. The fallout from these so-called Coercive Acts, including the attempted dissolution of the colony’s legislative branch, sparked intense debates within the community and became a critical factor on the road to the American Revolution.
  
  To mark the 250th anniversary, Revolutionary Spaces is hosting a special night of Revolution is Brewing, our award-winning immersive experience that allows audiences to take on the role of British subjects from across the political spectrum as they debate how to respond to the Coercive Acts.
  
  The best part? You will be playing alongside both historians and current Massachusetts elected officials who will also take part in a post-game panel discussion and Q&A to reflect on the meaning of the Coercive Acts today, with a particular focus on the role of the Massachusetts Legislature in our constitutional scheme of state government. The topics heatedly debated at the time—competing interpretations of representative government, the relative powers of the executive and legislative branches, the role of the individual and community in relation to government proper , and the consequences of resisting arbitrary power—still resonate strongly today.
  
  Old South Meeting House doors will open at 5:30 pm, the game will begin at 6:00 pm, and the panel discussion will start at 7:30 pm. Both the game and discussion are free and open to the public, and drinks and refreshments will be served. There are a limited number of players for the game, so please register for a slot in advance. All are welcomed to watch the game unfold— it’s just as much fun to watch as to play!

  Forum Network

  Partner:

  Revolutionary Spaces
• 
  In Person

  Virtual

  GBH Music Presents: The Boston Symphony Chamber Players

  7:30pm Thu, May 16, 2024

  Experience a live performance by one of the world's most distinguished chamber music ensembles. The Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the BSO's first-chair string and wind players, visit GBH's Fraser Performance Studio this May 16 at 7:30 pm to perform for a limited in-person audience. The performance will also stream at Classical.org and be available on-demand. In celebration of Serge Koussevitzky's 150th birthday, the concert salutes the former BSO Music Director's profound impact on the music of his time.
  
  Brian McCreath, producer and host of CRB Classical 99.5's Boston Symphony Orchestra broadcasts from Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, hosts the event. Tickets for both the in-person and virtual experiences are available for free.
  
  
  Boston Symphony Chamber Players Program
  Serge KOUSSEVITZKY Second movement (Andante) from Double Bass Concerto, and Valse miniature, for double bass and piano
  Walter PISTON Quintet for flute and strings
  Olivier MESSIAEN Abîme des oiseaux from Quartet for the End of Time, for solo clarinet
  Jean FRANÇAIX Dixtuor, for winds and strings
  
  
  Featured Musicians
  Alexander Velinzon, violin
  Lucia Lin, violin
  Cathy Basrak, viola
  Blaise Dejardin, cello
  Edwin Barker, bass
  Elizabeth Rowe, flute
  John Ferrillo, oboe
  Bill Hudgins, clarinet
  Richard Ranti, bassoon
  Richard Sebring, horn
  Randall Hodgkinson, piano
  
  
  Tickets for both the in-person and virtual experience are available for free.
  
  You have two ticket options:
  
  * In-person experience from 7:30-10pm, includes dessert post-reception or
  
  * Virtual ticket from 7:30-9pm. The performance can be streamed for free with an advanced RSVP
  
  
  Please note by registering for this event your name and email will be shared with GBH.
  
  Photo Credit: Robert Torres
  
  This event is presented with support from Comcast Xfinity Internet.
  

  

  Events
• 
  In Person

  History Happy Hour

  6:00pm Fri, May 17, 2024

  Immerse yourself in New England's history! Join GBH at The Massachusetts Historical Society for an exclusive curated just-for-you exhibit of objects that changed New England’s history. Sip a glass of wine or beer as you chat with the historians behind the collection.
  
  Did you know that Paul Revere never actually said “the British are coming” during his midnight ride to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams about the British troop movements? In his letter to Jeremy Belknap, he expressed discretion about alerting his fellow Patriots by placing a signal lantern in the steeple of Old North Church to warn them of the British movements. The MHS will have the original Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, circa 1798 on display during this event. Come see it for yourself!
  
  This open house style event invites you to wander among the artifacts as you savor a glass a wine (or local brew) and chat with MHS’s curators about objects on display.
  
  We are excited to be partnering with The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) to bring you this unique experience. The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history.
  
  Guests will be welcomed in the main entrance of MHS in Boston’s Kenmore Square neighborhood and guided up the marbled staircase to the second floor (elevators available as needed) where this unique collection is on display. Guests are invited to enjoy a complimentary beverage and a light bite while walking through the exhibit and chatting with MSH historians.
  
  This event is hosted by GBH News' Craig LeMoult.
  
  Tickets include:
  - Access to an exclusive exhibit put together by MHS for specially for this event
  - Complimentary beer, wine, and bites
  - Access to MHS curators to answer questions about the items on display
  
  All ticket sales support GBH.
  
  Parking/Directions:
  Conveniently located where the Back Bay meets the Fenway in the heart of Boston, the Massachusetts Historical Society is accessible from the city's major highways and by public transportation via train, subway, or bus.
  
  Visitors in need of handicapped-accessible parking are advised that the wheelchair ramp for the building is located on the right side of the building (when facing the front door), adjacent to the HP-placard designated street spaces on the Fenway access road at the corner of the building. Find out more here: www.mbta.com
  
  If you are driving, please keep in mind that street parking is limited but there are a few public parking garages surrounding the area.
  
  The maximum capacity of this event is 100
  This is an age 21+ event
  
  
  This event is presented in partnership with The Massachusetts Historical Society.
  
  

  

  Events
• 
  In Person

  Birthing Justice: Finding a New Way Forward

  6:00pm Mon, May 20, 2024

  With the development of technology and advances in pre-natal care, the childbirth experience should be safer than ever.  Yet, in Massachusetts, life-threatening and fatal complications associated with labor and delivery have increased at alarming rates for all birthing people, with Black women experiencing the highest rates of death. 
  
  In this forum, legislators, healthcare experts and advocates discuss the state of maternal health in the Commonwealth, and how better access to care can ensure that giving birth is safe, nurturing and survivable. 
  
  The speakers are:
  Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, Ph.D.
  Emily Anesta
  Nashira Baril, MPH
  Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley
  Representative Kay Khan, RN/MSN
  Senator Liz Miranda
  Lucy Lomas, M.D.
  Jo-Anna Rorie, Ph.D.
  GBH News Saraya Wintersmith is moderating the discussion
  
  This event will be followed by a reception.
  
  
  This talk is a partnership between the Commonwealth Beacon and GBH Forum Network supported by
  Bay State Birth Coalition
  Boston Children’s Hospital
  Boston’s Higher Ground
  Boston Public Health Commission
  Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy
  University of Massachusetts, Boston
  Children’s HealthWatch
  MassNOW
  Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition (MAWOCC)
  NAACP, Boston Chapter
  Neighborhood Birth Center
  New England Medical Association (NEMA)
  The Wagner Foundation
  Boston Public Health Commission
  

  Forum Network

  Partner:

  CommonWealth Beacon
• 
  In Person

  Ulysses Quartet at the BPL (5/22)

  2:30pm Wed, May 22, 2024

  Join GBH Music in welcoming the Ulysses Quartet as its first-ever quartet in residence with a free performance at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library on Wednesday, May 22, at noon.
  
  The Ulysses Quartet's season-long partnership as quartet in residence furthers GBH Music's ongoing effort to connect with listeners of all backgrounds and ages. The partnership will span over fifty performances and events throughout the year, including with the Boston Public and Massachusetts schools. The Ulysses Quartet’s residency at GBH is made possible by a generous contribution from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation.
  
  Registration is encouraged for this free event.
  
  Photo credit: Lara St. John
  
  This event is presented with support from CRB and the Ulysses Quartet.
  
  The Ulysses Quartet’s residency at GBH is made possible by a generous contribution from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation.
  

  Events
• 
  In Person

  Virtual

  The Music of Civil Rights, from Strange Fruit to The Roots

  6:00pm Wed, May 22, 2024

  Music has always been central to the African American quest for freedom. The Civil Rights struggle and its music provided some of America’s most powerful calls of hope, moral clarity, and equity.
  
  During the 19th century, spirituals such as Steal Away carried coded protest. In the 20th century, protest became explicit. In the 1930s Ethel Waters sang an anti-lynching song that shocked Broadway and Billie Holiday bravely recorded the stinging song Strange Fruit. Duke Ellington’s long career spoke for racial respect and civil rights in such pieces as Black Beauty and [Martin Luther] King Fit the Battle of Alabam’.
  
  As political action picked up and in the 1950s and 1960s, We Shall Overcome became the clarion anthem of the Civil Rights movement and central to America’s moral quest for “a more perfect Union.” Old songs like This Little Light of Mine took on new meaning and fresh songs appeared such as If You Miss Me from the Back of the Bus. Black and white activists alike sang Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind. And great artists—such as Sam Cooke (A Change is Gonna Come), The Impressions (People Get Ready), James Brown (Say It Loud), Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, on up to The Roots—all sang to advance respect and equality.
  
  Dr. John Edward Hasse, long-time music curator at the Smithsonian and Duke Ellington’s biographer, plays stirring video clips of these songs that inspired, motivated, and advocated for what Martin Luther King called for in his “I have a dream” speech: that we all be judged not by the color of our skin, “but by the content of our character.” He will also play works by W.C. Handy and Duke Ellington that helped lay the musical foundation for the Civil Rights movement.
  
  Bookselling information
  For in-person attendees, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, one of our community bookstore partners, will provide copies of Hesse's book Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington for purchase and facilitate an author signing from 7 - 7:30 PM following the the audience Q&A. Zoom webinar attendees and any patrons wishing to order copies online may do so from Bookshop dot org by visiting this link.

  Forum Network

  Partner:

  Boston Public Library