Past Events

Focusing on native materials such as bulrush and wampum, the talk will show how plants and shells are not simply resources, but living connections to land, water, craft, and identity.

Get ready to reclaim the streets! Open Streets Boston is back, transforming major city thoroughfares into vibrant, car-free spaces filled with pedestrian fun, local vendors, live music, and community spirit.

As a proud partner of Open Streets Boston, GBH will be out in the neighborhood all season long! Stop by our booth to connect with the team, learn about what’s happening at your local public media station, and pick up some cool swag. PLUS, keep your eyes peeled for our favorite aardvark, Arthur, who might just be making a few special guest appearances this year!

Bring your family, bring your friends, and come celebrate community with us. We can't wait to see you out on the street!

The Boston Public Library welcomes award-winning author Ann Patchett to speak at the 2026 Maury A. Bromsen Lecture. Patchett is joined in conversation by her friend and fellow author, Katrina Kenison.

Join us for an informative discussion focused specifically on charitable estate planning and the many ways thoughtful planning can support both your loved ones and the causes you care about most.

Whether you have already completed your plans or are considering updates, we hope you will find this session helpful and engaging.

If you could not attend the event or would like to revisit Jere's presentation, you can do so by clicking here.

GBH Amplifies is a community conversation series focused on expanding the reach of local voices from Greater Boston and beyond. The series features community leaders hosting public conversations in the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, providing a platform for inclusive perspectives on the issues that matter most to New England communities. GBH Amplifies happens weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm at the GBH BPL Studio. This event is free and open to the public. We have partnered with:
 

- James ‘Jimmy’ Hills, Host of Java with Jimmy
- Ron Mitchell, Publisher and Editor of The Bay State Banner
- Alberto Vasallo III, President and CEO of El Mundo Boston
- Tracy Chang Chef & Owner of PAGU


GBH Amplifies is also being supported by the Barr Foundation.

N. K. Jemisin is a fantasy author and 2020 MacArthur Fellow speaking at the BPL for their series on revolutionary ideas.

The Saturday Evening Girls’ club was established in 1899 to provide cultural activities for Italian and Jewish immigrant girls who lived in the tenements of Boston’s North End. In 1908, the reform-minded club leaders founded the Paul Revere Pottery to provide the girls with a clean and educational venue in which to earn money.

Harvard Book Store welcomes Ashia S. Ajani, storyteller, environmental educator, and author of the poetry collection Heirloom, for a discussion of their creative nonfiction debut, "Tending the Vines: Black Abundance in Eight Plants". They will be joined in conversation by Maria Pinto, local writer, editor, and educator.

This standout creative nonfiction debut explores the lives and histories of plants considered nonnative or invasive as metaphors for the Black experience in America.

In "Tending the Vines", Ashia S. Ajani illuminates how eight unique plants tell the story of the Black diaspora in America. Each chapter is a deep dive into one plant, including eucalyptus, passionflower, wild mustard, and kudzu, exploring their significance in African tradition, their role through the Middle Passage and Chattel Slavery, and their enduring importance in modern households and communities.

"Tending the Vines" unpacks the complex rhetorical lives of these plants, most of which have been used as both ugly metaphors for Black incursion as well as powerful symbols for Black liberation. It also highlights the ethnobotanical uses that have sustained displaced populations for centuries. Throughout, Ajani complicates our notions of “invasive” and belonging, by contextualizing how plants move, are moved, and, of course, move us.

NOVA Science Trivia is back at the Boston Public Library this fall! Get ready for creative categories that test your knowledge of science, from the depths of the universe to the mysteries of natural world. This month, gear up for some back to school trivia, advancements in medicine, and ancient art!

Please note that we are pushing our start time back to 6:30PM this fall instead of 5:30!

Join host Tracy Chang for a special look into the New England BIPOC Festival, a dynamic celebration of culture, community, and culinary talent from across the region. Featuring festival founder Dave Vargas (Vida Cantina) alongside standout local culinary leaders including Haitian chef Maritza Jules and Portland’s Jordan Rubin (Mr. Tuna, Ladyfish), the show highlights the incredible work, shared heritage, and vibrant food traditions driving this year’s festival.

GBH Amplifies is a community conversation series focused on expanding the reach of local voices from Greater Boston and beyond. The series features community leaders hosting public conversations in the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, providing a platform for inclusive perspectives on the issues that matter most to New England communities. GBH Amplifies happens weekly on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30pm at the GBH BPL Studio. This event is free and open to the public.

GBH Amplifies is also being supported by the Barr Foundation.

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Limited seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. If you require a seat, we encourage you to arrive before the start time of this event.