Join the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement for a Youth Tour followed by a panel and demonstration; registration is limited, and lunch will be served, as we explore the history of the House-Ball Culture, an underground LGBTQ+ subculture created by Black and Brown individuals in opposition to racism within established drag queen pageant circuits, with a voguing performance by the Legendary House Mother London Saint Morta and their house members, who were also finalists on HBO Max’s LEGENDARY.

Space is limited. 

Register Here

Join us for an inspiring evening of spoken word and rhythmic beats, featuring an incredible lineup of poets and a soulful performance by Chief Dion Irish, AKA DJ Underground.

🔥 Featured Invited Guest Poets 🔥

• Amanda Shea
• Art Collins
• Michael Bonds
• Vernon (VCR) Robinson

🎧 DJ Underground: Chief Dion Irish 🎧

As we honor Black History Month, immerse yourself in the powerful narratives and expressions that have shaped our community. This event promises to be a dynamic celebration of resilience, talent, and unity.

We invite you to participate in this cultural celebration by sharing your own voice during the open mic segment. Embrace the spirit of Black History Month with us at "Fire and Flow."

For more details or to sign up for the open mic, please contact Jamarhl Crawford. 

An evening dedicated to commemorating Black History Month, featuring the music of Negro Spirituals and narratives honoring James Baldwin.

Free Food will be provided

Join us on the third floor Mezzanine, where we will showcase incredible art from members of the Black ART Community, with keynote speaker Taneshia Laird, Inaugural President and CEO of the Greater Roxbury Arts & Cultural Center.

This year's theme, "African Americans and the Arts," pays tribute to the profound impact Black Americans have made in visual arts, music, and cultural expressions. From the deep south's solace-seeking melodies to the urban jazz scenes in New Orleans and Chicago, our history is steeped in artistic brilliance. 

The kickoff will also be a special occasion as we collectively honor living legends of African American Artists:

• Paul Goodnight,
• Dominga Martin,
• Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga

These remarkable individuals have made significant contributions to the arts, and we are delighted to come together as a community to celebrate their impact.

Visit our page for more information regarding Black History Month!

Several Boston Youth Poet Laureate semi-finalists will be invited to participate in a public reading at the Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library from 2 - 4:30 p.m. At the end of the reading, we'll be announcing Boston's next Youth Poet Laureate. 

The Boston Youth Poet Laureate program (BYPL) was created in cooperation with the national youth literary organization, Urban Word, local youth literary leaders, the Boston Public Library, MassLEAP, and 826 Boston to promote appreciation for poetry. Similar to the Poet Laureate's civic challenge, the Youth Poet Laureate is tasked with inspiring deeper engagement in the written and spoken word.

• Exquisite handmade treasures: Unique handmade designs for sale by the talented older adults of Boston. Please bring cash for purchases.
• Ugliest sweater contest: Strike a pose in our photo booth or in front of holiday-themed spaces!

The opening night of Boston Caribbean Fashion Week in the Civic Pavilion on City Hall Plaza will set the stage for a remarkable journey into the world of high fashion and innovation.

We proudly present the Avant-Garde Design Challenge, where designers will be tasked with redefining fashion's boundaries. The theme, "Tropical Chic," invites you to infuse the vibrant essence of the Caribbean into your designs, creating a fusion of culture and couture.

Expect an electrifying atmosphere as avant-garde creations take center stage, captivating the audience with their boldness and ingenuity.

Join us on this extraordinary evening, as we embark on a decade of celebrating Caribbean fashion, style, and culture. Don't miss this exhilarating start to Boston Caribbean Fashion Week's 10th-anniversary extravaganza, and come dressed to impress in your best "Tropical Chic" look!

Please join us for a film screening of and panel discussion about an epic story about artist and activist Nan Goldin, told through her groundbreaking photography and rare footage of her fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the opioid crisis.

Directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022 | Not Rated | 1 hour 57 minutes) is an epic, emotional and interconnected story about internationally renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin told through her slideshows, intimate interviews, ground-breaking photography, and rare footage of her personal fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the overdose crisis.

Panelists

• Mike S. Quinn: Partner, Eisenberg & Baum, LLP, New York; founding member of Nan Goldin’s P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now)
• Mario Chaparro: Program Director of Caspar Men’s Residence, Bay Cove
• Joanne Peterson: Founder and Executive Director, Learn to Cope, Inc.
• Tania Del Rio: Senior Advisor, Coordinated Response Team, City of Boston

Don't miss this discussion about Afro-Latin arts and cultures, the joy of the Hyde Square Task Force youth dance group, and a musical closing with the extraordinary Venezuelan harpist Eduardo Betancourt and Newman Fellow Cristela Guerra.