In May 2020, the death of George Floyd became a symbol of police brutality and triggered thousands of protests across the country and throughout the world. In Massachusetts, these events galvanized community action and helped accelerate statewide police reform and conversations on reimagining public safety.  Since then, local leaders have worked to sustain that momentum by organizing rallies, advancing policy, and forging new relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Today, local civic leaders and a police officer together consider the impact of a recent community rally and a police pledge, in their shared support for peace and justice.  

In partnership with: Dunk the Vote; Courageous Conversations Towards Racial Justice, Milton-Mattapan; Latino Law Enforcement Group of Boston (LLEGO Boston); Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts; Boston’s Higher Ground; Circle of Nations, Inc.; Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition (MAWOCC); Milton Access Television; Greater Love Tabernacle; Church of the Holy Spirit, Mattapan; Parkway Methodist Church, Milton; Milton for Peace; Milton Change Makers; Haymarket People’s Fund; The Commonwealth Seminar; Apex Rooftop Bar and Lounge; Boston Praise Radio & TV; MassNOW; National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC);

Karen Groce Horan is the Co-Founder of Courageous Conversations Towards Racial Justice, Milton-Mattapan, which holds events and dialogues related to racism, racial healing and positive systems change. Courageous Conversations was a lead organizer of the 2025 March and Rally for George and Justice. A consultant, Karen has worked in both the public and private sectors, championing the causes of equity, justice and environmental resilience. Her current efforts include overseeing environmental justice space for the Neponset River Watershed Association.

The Museum of African American History, Boston and Nantucket, in collaboration with GBH presents National Geographic Explorer in Residence Tara Roberts for an extraordinary evening as she shares the powerful journey behind her memoir, 'Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging'.

When Tara first encountered a photograph of Black scuba divers exploring slave shipwrecks, she felt an undeniable pull to uncover their stories. That moment launched her on a global quest—she joined the underwater archeology group Diving With A Purpose and started a path of discovery more challenging and personal than she could have ever imagined. From the coasts of Senegal and South Africa to the waters of St. Croix and beyond, she confronted the Middle Passage's harrowing history while uncovering her roots and exploring what it means to belong.

Roberts dives into the depths of history, identity, and belonging. As the first Black female explorer to grace the cover of National Geographic and the 2022 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, Tara’s work brings history to the surface—both literally and figuratively. Through deeply personal storytelling and historical reflection, she invites audiences to consider the resilience of the human spirit, the significance of remembrance, and the power of discovery.

Her journey also featured in the acclaimed National Geographic podcast Into the Depths, has captivated audiences worldwide. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Tara’s inspiring story firsthand.

A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, Tara will receive an honorary doctorate from the college during their 2025 commencement ceremony May 25, 2025.

GBH welcomes Ben Hires, CEO of BCNC, to the host chair for this episode of GBH Amplifies, elevating local voices in the AANHPI community extending the reach of community conversations happening in neighborhoods throughout Massachusetts.

Ben moderates a discussion with Yvonne Hao, former Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Economic Development, Q.J. Shi, Senior Director of Asian Business Empowerment Council, and Amy Kridaratikorn, chef and co-owner of Sugar & Spice Restaurant. They share how the current economic conditions in the U.S. are impacting immigrants and Asian groups, how organizations like ABEC are building community and helping small business owners in our region.

Join the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation for a talk with Luciano Bueno who explores how bold entrepreneurship is redefining the cotton industry through the lens of future-forward production.

From lab-grown breakthroughs to cutting-edge technologies, he shares how next-generation ventures are transforming the way we make things—faster, cleaner, and smarter. This isn’t just about cotton; it’s a glimpse into the industrial revolutions of tomorrow. Luciano will dive into the challenges, the untapped opportunities, and how entrepreneurial vision can lead to massive impacts.

Luciano Bueno is an American Brazilian entrepreneur who started his journey at 16, selling t-shirts door-to-door to support his family. Doing so he learned grit, hustle, and the art of turning no into yes. Today, he is the founder and CEO of GALY, a frontier tech company pioneering a new age of production through cellular agriculture. Starting with cotton, GALY’s process is 10x faster, 500x more productive, and 80% more resource efficient than production methods—creating new possibilities beyond the constraints of land, weather, or infrastructure.

In times of uncertainty and social upheaval, it takes vision and leadership to help people feel safe, empowered and included. Demonstrating that vision often means going public and taking your cause to the streets. In this hour of GBH Amplifies, two very different hosts with different backgrounds lead conversations about how true community and effective change is brought about through organizing.

At 1 pm, Reggie Ramos, the Executive Director of Transportation for Massachusetts, hosts a discussion with Tiffany Cogell
of the Boston Cyclists Union, Katarina Torres Radisic of the Riders’ Transportation Access Group (RTAG), and Brendan Kearney ofWalkMassachusetts. Together they'll discuss the streets as shared spaces to ignite civil discourse and social cohesion. In this episode, we talk to advocates for pedestrians, cyclists, people with disabilities who interact with daily transportation as a tool for equity, democracy and collective action.

Then at 2 pm, Ron Bell, community leader and founder of Dunk the Vote leads a conversation on how Boston’s Black community can remain strong in the face of current forces at odds with notions of unity, and resilience. He and his guests, urban historian Dr. Karilyn Crockettand Bishop William E. Dickerson of Greater Love Tabernacle, will discuss the importance of putting boots on the ground and having a good “street game,” not just social media campaigns or splashy rallies.

About the Series
Join us for community conversations that amplify local voices from Boston and beyond. Recorded in front of a real cafe audience at GBH’s studio in the Boston Public Library, GBH Amplifies features a rotating cast of well-known hosts from local media, community organizations, and more.

250 years ago, the revolution that would lead to our country’s independence was in its early stages. The Continental Army was facing a major problem, gunpowder shortages. Join the Charles River Musuem for an exploration of how the production of saltpeter, the principal ingredient of this explosive material, changed the course of history.

This talk will explore the different ways saltpeter was manufactured by Americans, the wide variety of instructions that guided their efforts, and the motivations-both lofty and materialist-that drove them forward.

Presented by David Hsiung.

A native of the Chicago area, David C. Hsuing earned his B.A. from Yale, his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and ever since has taught history at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

Join the Boston Public Library in person or over Zoom Webinar as acclaimed interdisciplinary artist Dread Scott joins them for the June Lowell Lecture.

The moderator for this program will be Lizzy Cooper Davis, PhD, Associate Professor & Graduate Program Director, Theatre Education & Applied Theatre at Emerson College.

After the main program, in-person audience members can meet the artist in the Connector Space located just outside of Rabb Hall.