Community Events
CFPL: Journeying with Harriet Tubman: Selfless, Courageous, Committed
Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) is an important figure in African American and the nation’s history. Heralded for escorting many slaves from bondage to freedom, her life had many riveting facets. Living History Performer Eddie Murphy brings Harriet Tubman radiantly back to life for audiences throughout the country.
Discovery Museum: How Art Can Inspire Civic Engagement
Civic engagement is not just about voting and government—it encompasses all the ways in which individuals take action and get involved in their communities. Inspiring young people to invest in the advancement of society is about empowering children to embrace and recognize the gifts they bring to their communities. Chanel Thervil, Discovery Museum’s Inaugural Artist-in-Residence, will speak about her experience helping children consider what they love about their communities, so they see a place for themselves in making their communities better. She will share her expertise on how the creative process and experience of artmaking is a powerful tool in giving kids the space to connect, share ideas, and be present for others—all important steps in becoming active civic participants.
Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves with Dr. Shawn Ginwright
What does it take to heal a broken society? How do we begin to pivot toward values that build greater connection and meaning? The most critical mainspring of achieving sustainable systemic change isn’t coalition building or problem analysis. It’s healing: deep, whole, and systemic healing. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about reimagining justice through healing-centered leadership with Dr. Shawn Ginwright, one of the nation’s leading innovators, provocateurs, and thought leaders in the field of education, Founder of Flourish Agenda Inc., and the author of multiple books examining education, youth, and race, including The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves. During this session, Dr. Ginwright will answer important questions about the common myths of social movements that hold us back from healing our collective trauma, and the four revolutionary pivots that leaders can make to cultivate empathy, compassion, and connection, while re-envisioning the path to healing ourselves and our communities.
Caste: Exposing America’s Invisible Scaffolding with Isabel Wilkerson
In a powerful talk that forces audiences to reimagine America’s past and present, author and historian Isabel Wilkerson spotlights the insidious undertow of caste and the effects of this hierarchy on our culture, politics, and everyday lives. She explores the pillars that underlie caste systems across civilization, underscoring these shadow structures with immersive, deeply-researched narratives, before pointing to how America can move beyond the artificial and destructive separations of human divisions and toward hope in our common humanity.
CFPL: Women of the Great Field: The Robbins and Garrison Women and their Neighbors
Join us for a Women's History discussion with The Robbins House on the history of the women residents of the Great Field, a predominantly African American and indigenous area of Concord in the 19th century. Hear some of the stories and accomplishments of women like Lydia Bay, Fatima Robbins, Susan Garrison and others who lived and worked on the periphery of the town in the 1800s. This event is generously cosponsored by The Robbins House: Concord's African American History and The Concord Free Public Library.
Mass Historical Society: The Disappearance of Sarah Simmons: Escape Notices & the Racial Imperatives of the Carceral State
In 1924, a racially ambiguous woman named Sarah Simmons escaped from an Alabama prison and later eluded police who searched for her in Chicago at the behest of their southern counterparts. Simmons’ confrontations with and evasion from the state bring attention to the evolving relationship between prisons and slavery and specifically to the ways that the southern carceral regime imported a specific technology from slavery: the runaway slave advertisement. This paper analyzes Simmons' attempts to vanish as part of a longer genealogy of Black women whose freedom was contingent on their ability to thwart the supposedly knowable categories of Blackness.
Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives —And How We Break Free ($)
Harvard Book Store welcomes TRICIA ROSE— Chancellor’s Professor of Africana Studies and the director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University—for a discussion of her new book Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives—And How We Break Free. She will be joined in conversation by HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR—founding Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University.
Discovery Museum: Black Women in Science: Civil Engineering with Jamila H. Lindo ($)
Join us for an exciting program series that honors the contributions of Black women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. In this program, we will host a virtual meet and greet with Jamila H. Lindo and learn more about her work as an engineer and author. From 1:00pm to 1:30pm, hear Jamila share her personal journey as a young Black woman in STEM, and ask her questions about why she finds civil engineering cool and exciting. Then, try some hands-on activities inspired by different areas of Jamila’s work, to include building simple structures and bridges, then testing their strength.
Mass Historical Society: Wheatley in the 21st Century: A Reading & Book Launch
Wheatley at 250: Black Women Poets Re-imagine the Verse of Phillis Wheatley Peters celebrates the 250th anniversary of Phillis Wheatley Peters’ historic and transformative Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773). The new anthology gathers the voices of 20 Black female poets to reimagine the work of this iconic literary ancestor for a new generation.
LWVCC: Candidate Forum for Concord Town Election 2024
Be informed for the April 9th Concord Town Election!
The LWVCC will hold a Candidate Forum on March 10th for the candidates running in Concord’s April 9th Town Election. Three candidates are vying for two positions on the School Committee, and four candidates are running for two positions on the Select Board, and the incumbents for Town Moderator and Concord Housing Authority are running unopposed.
Concord Public Library: Heal for Real: Communities Seeking Ease, Justice & Connection
How can mindful wellness practices like meditation inspire a more just and connected community? Join us at the Concord Free Public Library to screen The Dhamma Brothers, a documentary film about the profound impact of a meditation retreat held in a maximum security prison in Alabama (co-created by the late filmmaker, Jenny Phillips of Concord). We'll then learn about experiences guiding meditation for the incarcerated in our local community with Sam Williams, Executive Director of Concord Prison Outreach, in conversation with radio host, Harry Harding, of Leaderfull Life Works. In light of the recent news that the Concord Prison will close this summer, this program invites us to consider essential aspects of humanity, justice, interconnection and ease.
Concord Public Library: Heal for Real: Communities Seeking Ease, Justice & Connection
How can mindful wellness practices like meditation inspire a more just and connected community? Join us at the Concord Free Public Library to screen The Dhamma Brothers, a documentary film about the profound impact of a meditation retreat held in a maximum security prison in Alabama (co-created by the late filmmaker, Jenny Phillips of Concord). We'll then learn about experiences guiding meditation for the incarcerated in our local community with Sam Williams, Executive Director of Concord Prison Outreach, in conversation with radio host, Harry Harding, of Leaderfull Life Works. In light of the recent news that the Concord Prison will close this summer, this program invites us to consider essential aspects of humanity, justice, interconnection and ease.
BPL: Black History Month Story Time with Author Calvin Ramsay, Ages 4-12
Author Calvin Alexander Ramsay will read and discuss his picture book Ruth and the Green Book. Ages 4-12.
Mass Historical Society: "I Shall Forward to You My Contraband": Tracing Wartime Black Movement North Through an Incomplete Archive
This paper examines the trafficking of Black refugees into northern homes during the Civil War. Union soldiers wrote frequently to their families about sending them a “contraband,” yet scholars have generally dismissed the comments as either facetious or wishful thinking. Despite incomplete evidence in the archives, by using letters, military records, and census data, this essay demonstrates that to the contrary, soldiers and government officials often made good on the idea, leading to the extensive relocation of unwilling participants to the North. Yankees sent Black southerners not simply to exploit their labor but because white Unionists became more sympathetic to slavery once they experienced its benefits. By seizing freedpeople to work in their homes, Yankees were revealing their retreat from the free labor ideology and newfound slave-owning fantasies.
A Fight for Freedom: Patriots of Color Walking Tour
Between twenty and forty colonists who fought along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775, were of African descent or Indigenous people. Although excluded from required militia service prior to the war, these individuals of color were the first of many to take up arms between 1775 and 1783.
By the end of the conflict, an estimated 5,500 African and Indigenous men served on the colonial side. Unfortunately, systemic racism and historical bias have erased or buried many records of Black and Indigenous people who played a prominent role in the founding of the United States. In this 90 minute walking tour we will examine the known history and stories of these Patriots of Color who fought for freedom locally both during the American Revolution and beyond. Minuteman National Park, Robbins House and Concord Visitors Center staff will lead this tour examining the incredible stories of individuals who risked everything during their struggle for liberty, equality, and freedom for all.
In celebration of Black History Month, the tour is being offered free of charge but space is limited.
Mass Historical Society: Back From Canada, After the Underground Railroad: Recovering Family Stories & Tracing a Mass Migration in the Emancipation Generation of Black North Americans
Tens of thousands of Black North Americans returned to the United States during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and in the decades that followed—while thousands of others migrated north into Canada in these years. These short chapters, drawn from a book nearing completion, will examine how some border-crossing families were able to seize educational or economic advantages through migration, even in the years when legal racism was the norm in both countries. Tracing a handful of families, they will emphasize the different paths in freedom that border-crossers made.
BPL: African American History in Boston (Ages 6-12)
Did you know Boston is home to the Boston African American National Historic Site? Learn about African American history in Boston and more with Park Ranger Jen Steele from the National Park Service.
Ages 6-12.
Concord Public Library: Heal for Real: Communities Seeking Ease, Justice & Connection
How can mindful wellness practices like meditation inspire a more just and connected community? Join us at the Concord Free Public Library to screen The Dhamma Brothers, a documentary film about the profound impact of a meditation retreat held in a maximum security prison in Alabama (co-created by the late filmmaker, Jenny Phillips of Concord). We'll then learn about experiences guiding meditation for the incarcerated in our local community with Sam Williams, Executive Director of Concord Prison Outreach, in conversation with radio host, Harry Harding, of Leaderfull Life Works. In light of the recent news that the Concord Prison will close this summer, this program invites us to consider essential aspects of humanity, justice, interconnection and ease.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Race and Racism
Join COAR to watch a brief video from EmbraceRace and discuss ways to talk to your young children about race. Walk away with tips and strategies for engaging kids of varying ages and readiness in conversations about differences.
Activities will be provided for children during the event. This event will be co-sponsored by Communities Organizing Against Racism (COAR) and Concord Family Network (CFN).
All caregivers are welcome, no matter if you're new to conversations about race or looking for ways to continue your learning. Registration is appreciated; walk-ins welcome.
Friday, February 16
10:30—11:30 AM
Fowler library branch in West Concord
Discovery Museum: Saehae bok mani badeuseyo! Happy New Year! ($)
Lunar New Year is a celebration observed by numerous cultures to mark the beginning of a calendar year whose months are based on moon cycles. In today’s program, we will be joined by a Discovery Museum staff member as she shares her personal experience and her family’s traditions for the holiday. Play some traditional Korean games and try on hanbok, traditional Korean clothes, as you learn how to bow and wish your elders a happy new year!
Free with admission.
Coming Together Across Difference: Finding Common Ground Across Identities and Political Divides
This series features conversations among colleagues from across nine Massachusetts universities in the spirit of tackling difficult issues and modeling constructive dialogue. It was initiated by the university presidents, and the provosts put together the organizing committee.
After exchanges among the panelists, moderators will take questions from the virtual audience for each panel. The views expressed by the panelists and moderators are their own and are not statements representing the nine sponsoring institutions.
Stay tuned for more information regarding this upcoming event.
Museum of Science: Black History Month Celebration Weekend
On Saturday, February 10 and Sunday, February 11, the Museum of Science is proud to host a special weekend event that includes featured speakers, family activities, performance groups, and community groups from the Boston area.
Then, throughout the month, we’ll continue spotlighting influential scientists and engineers as part of our Black History Month celebration.
Discovery Museum: Black Women in Science: The Legacy of Annie Malone ($)
Join us for this exciting program series that honors the contributions of Black women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. In this program, explore the work of Annie Malone – a groundbreaking entrepreneur who used her passion for chemistry, and hair, to become a pioneer in the Black beauty and cosmetics industry. Be inspired by her work as you explore a variety of molecule modeling materials, study some hair samples under a microscope, and learn about the importance of Black hair throughout history.
Free with admission.
Lunar New Year Celebration
We are excited to extend a warm invitation to you and your families to join us for a vibrant Lunar New Year celebration on February 10, 2024, from 1-3 pm, at the CCHS cafeteria. This event is not only significant for students from Kindergarten to 12th grade who are currently enrolled in Mandarin Chinese classes, providing them with authentic learning experiences, but also holds immense value for our students and families, fostering a sense of community, unity, and understanding among diverse cultures.
The celebration will feature authentic traditional foods from various sources, engaging arts and crafts activities, and exhibitions catering to different age groups of students. Additionally, there will be captivating traditional performances presented by both students and professional performers.
Concord Public Library: Black History in Concord: The Robbins House and Ellen Garrison
Learn about the history of The Robbins House and the stories of the Robbins and Garrison families, and Ellen Garrison's journey from a school girl in Concord to her civil rights activism during Reconstruction.
Museum of Science: Black History Month Celebration Weekend
On Saturday, February 10 and Sunday, February 11, the Museum of Science is proud to host a special weekend event that includes featured speakers, family activities, performance groups, and community groups from the Boston area.
Then, throughout the month, we’ll continue spotlighting influential scientists and engineers as part of our Black History Month celebration.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Race and Racism
Join COAR to watch a brief video from EmbraceRace and discuss ways to talk to your young children about race. Walk away with tips and strategies for engaging kids of varying ages and readiness in conversations about differences.
Activities will be provided for children during the event. This event will be co-sponsored by Communities Organizing Against Racism (COAR) and Concord Family Network (CFN).
All caregivers are welcome, no matter if you're new to conversations about race or looking for ways to continue your learning. Registration is appreciated; walk-ins welcome.
Saturday, February 10
9:15—10:15 AM
Goodwin Forum
Concord Main Library
Lincoln Public Library: Codman House History
As we celebrate Black History month, it is important to consider the ways in which enslavement existed in Lincoln, the lives of the enslaved of the Codman Estate, and how to honor their legacy today. The story of those individuals and members of the Codman family is deeply woven into the history of the town of Lincoln.
BPL: Author Talk: Jeffrey A. Denman - John Quincy Adams, Reluctant Abolitionist
Join author Jeffrey A. Denman as he discusses his non-fiction book, John Quincy Adams, Reluctant Abolitionist, which looks at the life of John Quincy Adams as seen through the lens of slavery.
Lincoln Public Library: Kehinde Wiley's Color & Splendor
Join us to celebrate Black History Month with an art talk by Jane Oneail of Culturally Curious.
Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President Obama cemented his status in the contemporary art world as an artist that mixes Grand Manner portraiture traditions, intricate patterns and designs, and a vibrant, technicolor palette. His paintings, which most often depict contemporary African American subjects, examine visual codes for power and challenge expectations. This program explores the artist’s life and provides an overview of his works and inspiration.
Concord Poetry at the Library Series presents How Race Binds Us All Together: January Gill O’Neil’s Glitter Road
Join us for an afternoon of celebrating Black History Month with award-winning poet January Gill O’Neil who will read and engage in a Q & A about what she discovered while writing her newest book, Glitter Road ( CavanKerry Press February 2024) “My poems brought me to Oxford, Mississippi,” she writes. “I moved from Massachusetts with my two teenagers for an academic year as the 2019-2020 John and Renée Grisham Writer in Residence at the University of Mississippi. We took trips to the Delta, leaned into the history of the enslaved and the tragic story of Emmett Till, and explored the rivers and landscapes that shaped the South.”
Black History Month METCO Inc. Headquarters Exhibit Tour
In observance and celebration of Black History Month this February, seize a unique opportunity to delve into the METCO program's profound history. Join METCO CEO Milly Arbaje-Thomas for an exclusive guided tour of its new Roxbury, MA headquarters and the program's history in its exhibit hall. This tour has limited capacity; sign-ups are on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis and open to Boston, Carlisle, and Concord parents/guardians. Take advantage of this chance to gain insights and inspiration into the rich legacy of the METCO program!
Discovery Museum: Stand Up, Speak Out ($)
In this program, we’ll work together to think about what is important to us in our neighborhoods and communities. Draw and write about what you love about where you live. We’ll send pictures and messages to elected leaders, or others you want to talk to about your community. Free with Admission.