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.

Dread Scott is an interdisciplinary artist who for four decades has made work that encourages viewers to re-examine cohering ideals of American society. In 1989, the US Senate outlawed his artwork and President Bush declared it "disgraceful" because of its transgressive use of the American flag. Dread became part of a landmark Supreme Court case when he and others burned flags on the steps of the Capitol. He has presented a TED talk on this subject.

American women face immense pressure to conform to unrealistic expectations. GBH Amplifies features seven women who have found their power and defined themselves in spaces where they can have an impact; from the office to the stage, from the halls of government to the delivery room. They expect the freedom to show up authentically, feel safe, get care for their loved ones and enjoy some moments of serenity and joy.

Malia Lazu, Founder & CEO of The Urban Labs welcomes OB-GYN Dr. Lucy Lomas, The Theater Offensive's Giselle Byrd and MassNOW's Shasha Goodfriend to discuss how, despite representing half the population, progress for women requires constant struggle. From bearing societal burdens to facing stereotypes, women are often targets. What actions can we take? How can women in Boston protect their health and peace?

Next, M'Shairi McKenzi, an astrologer, poet and the co-host of Show and Tell Boston, examines how her childhood trauma affects her relationships, informs her parenting style and her view of motherhood. She'll lead a conversation with Neighborhood Birth Center's Nashira Baril and DeeDee's Cry founder Toy Burton to explore the 'mother wound,' preserving self worth, and why sometimes breaking up with your parent is the right choice.

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.

Hear a fascinating discussion on the past, present, and future of a ubiquitous fabric – denim. The Charles River Museum is at the site of Francis Cabot Lowell’s first cotton textile mill, and it was cotton manufacturing that powered the Industrial Revolution. Now, jeans are the iconic American fashion staple that almost all of us own. Fashion history professor, curator, and author Emma McClendon will engage in an interactive discussion about where she sees the future of jeans as a fashion item, utilitarian garment, and manufactured product. She has a special interest in the sustainability of denim production, and the ways in which jeans have become not just clothing, but a way of expressing individuality and identity. This is sure to be a thought-provoking conversation around an article of clothing that, at any given moment, literally half of the planet’s population is wearing.

Join the Charles River Museum and Henrik Broekman for a curiosity-driven discussion of what it is like to pursue your bliss and fully immerse yourself in the world of harpsichords. Throughout his decades of experience in this industry, Hendrik has found himself constantly asked about the craftsmanship behind these exquisite instruments, how they are manufactured, and more. He will be answering these questions while sharing what it is like to build and create a career centered around harpsichords.

Henrik Broekman has been a pioneering craftsman, musician, and harpsichord builder for over 50 years. He worked with both Frank Hubbard and Eric Hertz, though most of his career was spent as Technical Director in the Hubbard Shop. He took over operations after the retirement of Diane Hubbard in 2000 and still plays, repairs, and builds harpsichords.

History yields many lessons globally, and those who study it critically can fuel progress and cooperation in their communities and nations. Legal scholar Martha Minow and Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden discuss the importance of historical records, the potential for setbacks when knowledge is restricted, and what the future of access to reliable information might look like in a world riddled with unprecedented information manipulation and suppression.

With a piano performance by Miki Sawada, CEO of Gather Hear
Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 30 in A Major, Op. 109 I: Vivace ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo

Introduction by:
Susan Goldberg, President & CEO, GBH
David Leonard, President, Boston Public Library

A few years ago, the American Public Health Association declared noise to be a public health hazard, which leads to more heart disease, hearing loss and other health impacts as well as lost productivity. Noise isn’t just about decibel level – although that’s important - it is about its constancy and intrusiveness. Who likes that high-pitched car alarm that goes off at 3 am or the cacophony of bleeping machines that overload your nervous system, when you are trying to heal in a hospital bed?

Chris Berdik, a science and education journalist, first became interested in noise when he wrote a feature for the Boston Globe on noise pollution. He was captivated by the idea that a pollutant could inflict such wide-ranging harms to mental and physical wellbeing, which were both pervasive and inscrutable. Some people regarded noise as lethal as secondhand smoke, while others saw noise complaints as a proxy for being anti-tech or disliking your neighbors.


Berdik’s research took him to European villages and cities where EU regulations require settlements of a certain size to identify noise-protected “quiet areas”. He concluded that in order to mitigate the harmful effects of noise, loudness needs to be controlled and quiet protected. How often do we find ourselves having to shout in restaurants or repeat our orders; why can’t we focus on a deadline at work instead of our concentration being hijacked by the chatter of coworkers? Berdik suggests that “soundscapes” in workplaces, schools, hospitals and restaurants need to be planned in advance, so they can support not undermine our larger endeavors.