Past Events

What was once a marketplace for personal information has evolved into a permanent, powerful infrastructure: one that federal agencies, law enforcement, and even the Department of Defense increasingly rely on to monitor, classify, and track people in ways the public rarely sees. At the center of this shift is the data-broker economy, a vast, lightly regulated industry that buys and sells the intimate details of our lives. These datasets now feed into AI systems used for policing, immigration enforcement, and risk assessment. More recently, they have also begun informing the Pentagon’s exploration of autonomous technologies capable of identifying and targeting individuals without direct human oversight.

Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Kade Crockford, director of Technology and Justice Programs at the ACLU of Massachusetts, sit down for a timely investigation into how these systems work, who they empower, and what they mean for the future of democratic participation.

The GBH BPL studio will host Outspoken Saturdays, a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists. Every first Saturday of the month, the series will be created in collaboration with spoken word artist Amanda Shea.

If you are interested in performing, feel free to submit your work for review here
Join us!

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Join Jimmy and guests Victor Ortiz, Director of the Office of Problem Gambling Services and Ben Hires, CEO of Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, as they discuss how resources, services, and partnerships can mitigate harms associated with gambling.

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.

Andrew H. Knoll studies the interdependence of the evolution of life and the evolution of our planet. He presents his book, "Earth and Life: A Four Billion Year Conversation," in conversation with his colleague, environmental scientist Robin Wordsworth.

Beyond the Page is thrilled to welcome back New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Benedict for an unforgettable evening at GBH Studios to celebrate her spellbinding new novel, Daughter of Egypt.

Join us for a fascinating conversation as Benedict shares the real history and inspiration behind her latest work, dives into the lives of the trailblazing women who shaped it, and answers your questions about bringing hidden stories to light.

Each ticket purchase for this special, in-person event includes:

• Admission to the live conversation on Monday, March 30 
• A SIGNED copy of Marie Benedict’s Daughter of Egypt 

Attendees will also have the opportunity to have their books personally signed by the author after the program.

Don’t miss out on this evening of insight and adventure with one of today’s most celebrated voices in historical fiction!

Join host Ron Mitchell for a compelling conversation with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley as we honor Women’s History Month and look toward the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Grounded in the National Women’s History Alliance’s 2026 theme, "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future," this episode redefines sustainability as a holistic pursuit. Together, they explore the vital role of women’s leadership in driving economic stability, fostering community resilience, and ensuring intergenerational equity. From national policy to local grassroots movements, this discussion highlights how women are actively architecting a more durable and equitable future for all.

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.

(Rescheduled from March 12)

How do stories and songs carry knowledge across generations? How does art hold space for healing while challenging systems of oppression? This panel explores how narrative and music function as radical tools for Black liberation—both historically and today.

GBH Music welcomes the Rasa String Quartet to the Boston Public Library for a free show, hosted by CRB Classical 99.5 midday host Edyn-Mae Stevenson. In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Rasa String Quartet performs a program of all-women composers, from Hildegard von Bingen and Florence Price, to Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.

Formed in 2019, the Rasa String Quartet brings together violinists Emma Powell and Maura Shawn Scanlin, violist Kiyoshi Hayashi, and cellist Mina Kim. The Rasa String Quartet is dedicated to exploring the musical space where classical and folk traditions intersect and influence one another. In Sanskrit, the term ‘rasa’ refers to the indescribable power of art to move, inspire, and connect us—a quality Rasa String Quartet strives to embody in every performance. The Rasa String Quartet will perform four free concerts at the BPL throughout the 2025-2026 GBH Music Season.

Show #1 - 12-12:45pm

GBH Amplifies with Tracy Chang: Tran Ngoc Lee, chef-owner of Viet Citron

Join us for a compelling episode of GBH Amplifies as host Tracy Chang sits down with Tran Ngoc Lee, the visionary chef and owner behind the thriving Viet Citron. From her early childhood in Vietnam to her previous career designing high-profile spaces for a world-renowned architecture firm, Tran’s "winding path" is a masterclass in grit and creative obsession. Now operating three locations across Burlington, Somerville, and Cambridge, Tran discusses how she transitioned from sketching buildings to crafting authentic Banh Mi, all while pioneering a revolutionary restaurant culture that prioritizes financial literacy, competitive benefits, and community collaboration.

Show #2 - 1-1:45pm

GBH Amplifies with Tracy Chang: The Iconic Marvin Gilmore

In this installment of GBH Amplifies, host Tracy Chang welcomes a true Boston legend and "Renaissance Man," 101-year-old Marvin Gilmore, for an intimate exploration of a life spanning over a century of American history. From his early days in a world of horse-and-buggy transport to his harrowing service as a Black soldier in a segregated WWII military, Marvin shares the grit and strategic brilliance that allowed him to navigate systemic racism and become a pioneer of "firsts." As a musician, civil rights activist, and entrepreneur, he reflects on building Black wealth and housing during the era of MLK and Mandela.

About

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.

Lam is a journalist and short story writer, currently serving as the web editor of New America Media. He is a regular contributor to National Public Radio's All Things Considered and blogs for the Huffington Post.