This Thursday, May 7, on GBH Amplifies, we’re getting real about what it takes to build, survive, and lead, when the system wasn’t designed for you to win, government entities are cutting funding, while the needs increase.

Guests:

Conan Harris — founder of Conan Harris & Associates, a Boston-based strategist working at the intersection of workforce development, public safety, and economic opportunity.

Jamaal Wornum — community leader focused on creating access, equity, and grassroots impact across Boston.

Joseph Bennett — Boston native who spent over two decades incarcerated, now founder of YardTime Inc., advocating for returning citizens and breaking cycles tied to incarceration.

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.

Join host Tracy Chang as she explores a growing movement of young professionals who are walking away from comfortable, high-paying careers to take a run at public office. We’ll be joined by Marena Lin, a scientist who traded her specialized career path for the front lines of community organizing. From fixing broken food supply chains during the pandemic to fighting the frustrating "phone trees" of Medicare as a family caretaker. Together, we’ll explore why a new generation of professionals are deciding that fixing systemic problems from the inside is more important than a corporate paycheck.

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.

Presented by GBH Music and JazzBoston, GBH Jazz Nights welcome saxophonist, flautist, and composer Ken Field and his RSE Trio—Blake Newman on bass and Phil Neighbors on drums—to perform a set that blends the spirit of New Orleans jazz with some of the Field’s original compositions for his group, the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble.

GBH Jazz Nights showcase the incredible range of jazz talent in the Greater Boston area. The series is co-hosted by JazzBoston and GBH Music, taking place on the second Thursday of every month from September through May. Tickets are free, but registration is encouraged. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early! By registering, you agree to receive email communications from GBH Music.

GBH Jazz Nights are made possible by the Goldstein Family Fund.

As we transition into the spring and summer months, the expansion of outdoor athletics offers a powerful medium for the unique communal experiences that define us as social and psychological beings. This conversation explores how sporting events serve as a vital catalyst for well-being, providing a rare space to thrive through shared identity and emotional support. According to the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, these gatherings do more than just entertain; they foster essential social connections that preserve our health and happiness. Whether we are united by the electric joy of a collective victory or finding solace in a shared defeat, the bonds formed in the stands and on the field are fundamental to our enduring sense of belonging. Join us as we dive into the science of connection and celebrate the spirit of the game.

Guests:

Alex Richardson
Career Development Manager, The Base

Adrienne Benton 
Co-founder, Black Unicorn Marathoners
Member, Black Girls Run Boston

Tony Richards, Sr.
Founder and Program Director
No Books No Ball Basketball Program

Yamiley Millor
Cheer Coordinator, Brookline Jamaica Plain Patriots Cheer Squad

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.

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.

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.

GBH Jazz Nights welcomes Ian Coury, an award-winning 10-string bandolim player and composer from Brazil, has shared stages with Toninho Horta and Hamilton de Holanda and recently earned Berklee’s Global Jazz master’s degree. Catherine Bent, an English-born multi-style cellist and former Cirque du Soleil member, has recorded with Joe Jackson, Lee Konitz, and Patty Larkin, among others. She is Associate Professor at Berklee and author of Creatudes: Brazilian Adventures in Rhythm and Harmony for Bowed Strings. Together, they explore Brazil’s rich traditions of choro and forró, performing works by Pixinguinha, Jacob do Bandolim, Luiz Gonzaga, Hermeto Pascoal, and others, alongside their own compositions.

GBH Jazz Nights showcase the incredible range of jazz talent in the Greater Boston area. The series is co-hosted by JazzBoston and GBH Music, taking place on the second Thursday of every month from September through May. Tickets are free, but registration is encouraged. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early! By registering, you agree to receive email communications from GBH Music.

GBH Jazz Nights are made possible by the Goldstein Family Fund.

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 local community-based media trailblazer, Yawu Miller, as Jimmy switches to the ‘other side’ of the ‘desk’ to discuss the personal impact of maintaining his media platform, Java With Jimmy, for six years and looking ahead at what’s next.

Guest:

Yawu Miller
Former Senior Editor, Bay State Banner

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.

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. Enjoy a “mixtape” of the greatest hits from the 1980s… and the 1780s! The Rasa String Quartet plays the music of Whitney Houston, Prince, and Hayao Miyazaki alongside that of Mozart and Haydn in an evening of classical rock and soul.

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.

Why are so many Latinos raving about it and why are others so upset? Join Alberto Vasallo of El Mundo Boston as he moderates a panel to discuss the good, the “bad” and the ugly that has come about the controversial performance on America’s largest stage.

Guests:

Kelly Garcia
Chelsea City Councilor at Large

Antuan Castro del Rio
Artist and community leader

Gabriela Salas
Host & Executive Producer of iHeartRadio's Qué Pasa Boston

Christian De Jesus Franco
Director of Community Affairs, ALPFA Boston

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.