In the wake of the Boston Tea Party, the British government in 1774 sought to rein in Massachusetts colonists with a series of harsh laws that closed Boston’s port and severely limited the right to representative government and due process of law. The fallout from these so-called Coercive Acts, including the attempted dissolution of the colony’s legislative branch, sparked intense debates within the community and became a critical factor on the road to the American Revolution.

To mark the 250th anniversary, Revolutionary Spaces is hosting a special night of Revolution is Brewing, our award-winning immersive experience that allows audiences to take on the role of British subjects from across the political spectrum as they debate how to respond to the Coercive Acts.

The best part? You will be playing alongside both historians and current Massachusetts elected officials who will also take part in a post-game panel discussion and Q&A to reflect on the meaning of the Coercive Acts today, with a particular focus on the role of the Massachusetts Legislature in our constitutional scheme of state government. The topics heatedly debated at the time—competing interpretations of representative government, the relative powers of the executive and legislative branches, the role of the individual and community in relation to government proper , and the consequences of resisting arbitrary power—still resonate strongly today.

Old South Meeting House doors will open at 5:30 pm, the game will begin at 6:00 pm, and the panel discussion will start at 7:30 pm. Both the game and discussion are free and open to the public, and drinks and refreshments will be served. There are a limited number of players for the game, so please register for a slot in advance. All are welcomed to watch the game unfold— it’s just as much fun to watch as to play!

John E. McDonough, DrPH, MPA is Professor of Public Health Practice in the Department of Health Policy & Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of Executive and Continuing Professional Education.

Paul Brodeur most recently served as Mayor of the City of Melrose, Massachusetts. Prior to his tenure as Mayor, Paul served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for ten years, from 2011 through 2020, where he represented the communities of Melrose, Wakefield, and a section of Malden.

Mindy Domb is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and serves as Co-Chair of the Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development Committee. Representative Domb represents the 3rd Hampshire district, which includes the towns of Amherst and Pelham and Precinct 1 in the town of Granby.

Paul W. Mark is a member of the Massachusetts State Senate, where he serves as Co-Chair of the Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development Committee. Senator Mark represents the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire District, which includes 57 cities and towns throughout Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.

Kyera Singleton is the Executive Director of the Royall House and Slave Quarters. She is also a PhD Candidate at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in the Department of American Culture. For the 2021-2022 academic year, Kyera Singleton is an American Democracy Fellow, in the Charles Warren Center, at Harvard University. She has held prestigious academic fellowships from the Beinecke Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Emory University’s James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year.

With the development of technology and advances in pre-natal care, the childbirth experience should be safer than ever.  Yet, in Massachusetts, life-threatening and fatal complications associated with labor and delivery have increased at alarming rates for all birthing people, with Black women experiencing the highest rates of death. 

In this forum, legislators, healthcare experts and advocates discuss the state of maternal health in the Commonwealth, and how better access to care can ensure that giving birth is safe, nurturing and survivable. 

The speakers are:
Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, Ph.D.
Emily Anesta
Nashira Baril, MPH
Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley
Representative Kay Khan, RN/MSN
Senator Liz Miranda
Lucy Lomas, M.D.
Jo-Anna Rorie, Ph.D.
GBH News Saraya Wintersmith is moderating the discussion

This event will be followed by a reception.


This talk is a partnership between the Commonwealth Beacon and GBH Forum Network supported by
Bay State Birth Coalition
Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston’s Higher Ground
Boston Public Health Commission
Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Children’s HealthWatch
MassNOW
Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition (MAWOCC)
NAACP, Boston Chapter
Neighborhood Birth Center
New England Medical Association (NEMA)
The Wagner Foundation
Boston Public Health Commission

Join Beck Mordini and Jenny Pell for a lively conversation about facing our pretty scary future with integrity, hope, plenty of know-how, and a great sense of humor.  We'll dive into climate reality, appropriate technologies, skill-building, local food, and neighborhood solutions that will inspire you to jump into your own community-based projects with both feet.  The dearth of leadership on the coming climate crises is insane, so what do we do, and what are you bringing to the table?  There's plenty of good news and lots of do, and who knows, maybe the suburbs will save the world.  

Jenny Pell is a career permaculture designer and consultant based on Maui whose extensive international portfolio spans everything from neighborhood foodscaping to large-scale climate resilient agroforestry. She was the lead designer for Seattle's first food forest, a successful and much-loved multi-stakeholder project. But teaching is her passion - growing food from seed to plate, watershed restoration, planting living banks of valuable genetics, buffering against the extremes of climate instability, and empowering people to learn important skills that will carry us through the coming challenges. And of course having good fun all the while, 'cause who wants to come to the party if you can't dance! Her website is https://permaculturenow.org.