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  • The People’s Uprising and the Fall of the Warsaw Ghetto, April 1942–June 1943, a new book by Havi Ben-Sasson Dreifuss, sheds light on the lives, choices, and experiences of the tens of thousands of Jews who were not part of the underground armed resistance, but nonetheless supported the famed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

    This riveting and dramatic account focuses on the final year of the Warsaw ghetto, from the Great Deportation in the summer of 1942 through the suppression of the uprising in mid-1943. Drawing on powerful contemporary testimonies, diaries, and documents—many of them previously unexplored—Havi Ben-Sasson Dreifuss reveals how members of the broader Jewish population struggled to survive, maintain family and community life, and make impossible moral decisions in the face of fear, hunger, and daily violence. Looking beyond the fighters themselves, the book offers a story of devastation, but also of resilience and human dignity.
    Partner:
    Ford Hall Forum
  • Join this powerful and hopeful conversation at a time when antisemitism is on the rise and fear of the “other” is heightened. We will hear from Arno Michaelis, a former Neo-Nazi and author of "My Life After Hate," and Mubin Shaikh, a former jihadist supporter turned counterterrorism expert, who will share their journeys from radicalization to redemption. They will reflect on their transformations, the beliefs that once fueled their hatred, and the turning points that led them to turn their lives around and be agents of change. Together, they offer an honest and compassionate exploration of how hate develops, how people change, and how meaningful connections can emerge even in painful and traumatic times. The program is moderated by Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, trauma psychologist and Director of Trauma Training & Services at Parents for Peace.
  • Harvard Book Store welcomes Caroline Maguire, in-demand expert in social emotional learning and a sought-after key-note speaker with more than 200 speaking engagements, for a discussion of her new book, Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: A Guide for the Anxious, Uniquely Wired, and Easily Distracted.

    Friendship can be hard for many Neurodivergent adults. There is an assumption that good, worthwhile friendships “should” come easy. However, for Neurodivergent adults, there are brain-based reasons why friendship can feel less intuitive. From differences in the parts of the brain that are vital to managing the logistics of a fulfilling social life to difficulty with self-regulation, the way neurodiverse individuals experience social bonding and connection can feel unintuitive.

    Friendship Skills For Neurodivergent Adults is a guide to navigate these differences, broken into three parts: How friendship works; How to find your people; How connecting will get you in motion.

    Maguire will be joined in conversation by Brendan Mahan, host of the ADHD Essentials Podcast.
    Partner:
    Harvard Book Store
  • Uncover the legacy and impact of Boston’s Black Pullman Porters.

    Experience the power of musical storytelling alongside a dynamic panel discussion as we honor the legacy and impact of Boston’s Black Pullman Porters. This event brings history to life, celebrating the voices, contributions, and lasting influence of these trailblazers through meaningful dialogue and shared narratives.

    Leading this dialogue are distinguished speakers, including Ingrid Monson, Quincy Jones Professor of African American Music at Harvard University; and Angela Tate, Chief Curator and Director of Collections at the Museum of African American History.

    Step into this powerful exchange of history and perspective and help carry these stories forward.
    Partner:
    Museum of African American History
  • MassINC Greg Torres fellow Charlotte Golar Richie will convene her fellowship cohort as their two-year terms come to completion. Each Torres Fellow is a civic leader with a distinct project and a vision for the future they hope we’ll see in Massachusetts 30 years from now.
  • Author Chris Wrenn, a member of the Boston hardcore punk music scene, had a dream of his own—to start his own record label. Embracing the do-it-yourself ethos of the scene, Chris set out to make it happen, networking and forging relationships with local bands.
    Partner:
    Harvard Book Store
  • 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.
    Partner:
    Cambridge Forum
  • 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.
  • Hear from renowned legal scholar, civil rights advocate, and former judge Margaret A. Burnham, the founder of Northeastern University School of Law’s Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project (CRRJ) and author of By Hands Now Known: Jim Crow’s Legal Executioners. Through CRRJ, Burnham has led teams of law students in investigating acts of racial violence in the Jim Crow era, including hundreds of unsolved murders of Black people among other historical failures of the criminal justice system.
  • Massachusetts is home to the second-largest Brazilian population in the country, with thriving communities across Greater Boston and MetroWest. Brazilians are launching businesses, revitalizing neighborhoods, and creating pathways to economic opportunity.


    Five local business leaders in the Brazilian community joined us for a conversation about entrepreneurship, economic mobility, and the growing influence of Brazilians in Massachusetts—and what their success means for the region’s future.

    Learn what industries Brazilian entrepreneurs are building here and how are they shaping the state’s economic future.

    From construction and real estate development to professional services, food, retail, and a growing number of women-led and family-owned enterprises, Brazilian entrepreneurs are helping drive innovation, job creation, and community investment across the Commonwealth.

    Our panelists include:
    • Real Estate Development & Construction - Nelson de Oliveira, Founder & CEO at Nelson Group
    • Professional Services - Fernando Castro, President of Income Tax Plus
    • Food Services - Renato Valentin, Co-founder of Tavern in the Square
    • Personal Services - Flavia Leal, Owner of Flavia Leal Beauty School
    • Consulting and Investment - Manuel Mendes, Global Executive Director of IXL Center for Innovation, Excellence and Leadership
    Thanks to these organizations for an evening of networking in the GBH Atrium:
    1. Brazilian American Center (BRACE)
    2. Brazilian Women’s Group
    3. Brazilian Workers Center
    4. Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CDLE USA)
    5. Downtown Framingham INC
    6. Brazilian Consulate
    7. Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers ( MAPS)
    8. Brazilian Community Heritage Foundation 
    9. Instituto Diáspora Brasil (IDB)
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