Friday, January 6, 2017 Volume 13, Number 1 THE BUZZfiles.constantcontact.com/4a6df3e9001/59694dd8-c640-4f04-97ec-9cb4d1debc1d.pdf-2-THE WORD – January 6, 2017 THE BUZZ (cont’d)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE BUZZ ............... 1 THE WORD ON YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE .................. 3 HAPPENINGS .......... 5 CURRENT EVENTS................... 7 THE ARTS ............. 13 Films ......................... 13 HEALTH AND FITNESS ................ 14

THE WORD P.O. Box 170847

Boston, MA 02117 (617) 775-4273

[email protected] www.thewordboston.com

THE BUZZ “Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so Barack Obama could run. Obama’s running so we all can fly.”

~ Jay-Z

On Monday, January 16, 2017 the country celebrates Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. There will be a variety of events, everything from the Annual Memorial Breakfast to a commemorative concert at Boston University. Enjoy!

ANNUAL MLK MEMORIAL BREAKFAST The Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast is Boston’s premier and the nation’s longest-running event dedicated to the memory of Dr. King. The breakfast features engaging speeches, delicious food, live music and is attended by a diverse gathering of civic, community and religious leaders from across Massachusetts. This year’s breakfast will be held Monday, January 16, 2017 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston, MA. Tickets are $50. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/47th-annual-martin-luther-king-jr-memorial-breakfast-2017-tickets-29662064032.

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Friday, January 6, 2017 Volume 13, Number 1

-2- THE WORD – January 6, 2017

THE BUZZ (cont’d) DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE 2017 The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 2017 will be held Monday, January 16, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Boston Latin School, 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA. For MLK Day 2017, Boston Cares has created opportunities for 750 volunteers to support Boston youth through STEM education tools and beds for kids in need. Volunteers will create “make your own robot” and engineering kits, science-themed murals, math games and math flash cards for Boston Public Schools, providing classrooms with exciting tools for learning. And, volunteers will launch a new twin bed design for children who do not have a bed of their own. Families with children as young as 5 are welcome. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, visit www.bostoncares.org/mlk_day. This is a FREE event.

MLK OPEN HOUSE AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston will host the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 16, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a day of art, culture and community. Visitors can check out the Community Arts Initiative Spotlight which features artwork commemorating Dr. King’s legacy by students from the MFA’s ten partner clubhouses. The Boston City Singers will perform and children can join a fun, interactive family tour or story hour and drop in on a range of art-making activities to create masterpieces to take home. The Museum is located at 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA. For more information, visit www.mfa.org. This is a FREE event.

JFK LIBRARY CELEBRATE! SERIES The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is pleased to present the Celebrate! series. The series is appropriate for family audiences and children ages 5 and up and highlights America's rich cultural diversity through the arts. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day, the multicultural Benkadi Drum and Dance group will perform traditional rhythms and movements from West African countries. The performance will be held Monday, January 16, 2017 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Museum in the Stephen E. Smith Center, Columbia Point, Dorchester, MA. Reservations are required for all visitors. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To make a reservation, call (617) 514-1644. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This is a FREE event.

THE 20TH ANNUAL AMILCAR CABRAL/DR. KING COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM The 20th Annual Amilcar Cabral/Dr. King Commemorative Program will be held Monday, January 16, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at UMass Boston (McCormack Hall/Ryan Lounge, 3rd Fl.), 100 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA. Breakfast and lunch will be served. For more information, call Christalina Pereiro at (508) 942-3363. This is a FREE event.

REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION On Monday, January 16, 2017 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., join Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the Museum of African American History and Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras for the city’s annual tribute to Dr. King. Distinguished leaders will evoke the power and promise of the civil rights hero’s words and commemorate historical milestones. Conductor Marta Zarud will lead student musicians from the BYSO’s Intensive Community Program in a moving array of classical music, spirituals and freedom songs. The day’s festivities will also include spoken word and the traditional audience sing-a-long. The event will be held at Faneuil Hall, 1 Faneuil Hall Sq., Boston, MA. This is a FREE event.

HOPE, DESPAIR AND THE BLUES: MLK DAY COMMEMORATION Hope, Despair and the Blues: MLK Day Commemoration will be held Monday, January 16, 2017 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Boston University (George Sherman Union, Metcalf Ballroom, 2nd Fl.), 775 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA. This year’s event, Hope, Despair and the Blues features music of the Sacred Concerts of Duke Ellington performed by Boston University’s Big Band and the Inner Strength Gospel Choir with conductor, composer and scholar Randall Keith Horton and remarks by playwright Kirsten Greenidge. Other speakers and performers include Jean Morrison, Victor Coelho, Harry Joseph Lennix III, Chloe Swindler and the Allegrettos. For more information, email Kat Cornetta at [email protected]. This is a FREE event.


THE WORD ON YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE 10 FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER IN 2017

The start of a new year is a great time to take stock of your financial life. Have you done all that you can to put yourself in the best possible position? Or, have you missed out on some important financial opportunities? Take a look at where you stand and consider these key opportunities that could make a big difference in your financial life in 2017 and beyond:

1. Revisit your financial goals

You may have established financial goals a year ago or maybe it has been several years. Either way, it makes sense to revisit your goals and make sure they are still consistent with the direction of your life and dreams for the future. Make adjustments if anything has changed.

2. Build a sufficient emergency fund

One of the most fundamental forms of financial security is having money set aside in a “rainy day” fund to meet any emergency needs. You don’t want an unexpected expense to result in a major financial setback. It’s best to have a minimum of three-to-six months of expenses set aside, and up to a year if you can.

3. Save on interest payments

First and foremost, if you have outstanding credit card debt, make it a priority to pay down this costly form of borrowing as fast as you can. Also, take a closer look at the interest rate on your home mortgage. If it’s notably higher than today’s market rates, look into refinancing to reduce your monthly payment and put the money you save to better use.

4. Take advantage of your workplace retirement savings plan

If you participate in a 401(k) or 403(b) plan at work, make sure you are, at the very least, contributing enough into the plan to take full advantage of any employer match. It’s a “free money” opportunity and should not be overlooked. To the extent you can afford to do so, consider contributing more than the match amount to your plan.

5. Capitalize on “catch-up” contribution rules

If you are age 50 or older, you can boost contributions to your workplace savings plan and individual retirement account (IRA) by taking advantage of so-called “catch-up” rules. This can mean investing tens of thousands of additional dollars over time to help secure your financial future.

6. Establish Roth savings if you qualify

Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s allow you to build retirement savings with after-tax dollars where all distributions may qualify for tax-free treatment in the future. The potential for tax-free income in retirement can be an important benefit.

7. Make sure you are comfortable with your portfolio

Are you constantly worried what could happen to your portfolio in a market downturn because you’re taking on too much risk? On the flip side, do you think your portfolio needs to be more aggressive to keep up with your financial goals (knowing that there’s always risk with reward)? If you come up short in either area, it may be time to revisit your investments and make appropriate changes.

8. Review your protection strategy across all aspects of your life

Do you have sufficient life insurance in place to protect your loved ones? Is disability income coverage part of your mix? Are you protected against the risk of specialized care costs later in life? Are your home and personal possessions properly covered? Make sure you have a comprehensive protection strategy in place to prepare for unexpected events.

9. Get a handle on your taxes

Review past tax returns and your current financial situation with a tax professional who can help you find potential ways to reduce your tax liability. If charitable giving or volunteering is important to you, consider the tax implications of your donations.


THE WORD ON YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE (cont’d)

10 FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER IN 2017 (Continued from Page 1) 10. Solidify your legacy plan

Make sure your will, health care directives and trust documents reflect your current priorities. Review and if necessary, update beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, bank accounts and insurance policies.

Take the time to review these tactics for your personal situation. Checking these items off your list can help you start 2017 on the right foot and may make a significant difference for your financial future.

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Darryl Ruffen, CFP®, MBA is a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Danvers, MA. He specializes in fee–based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 13 years. To contact him you may call (978) 777–8382, Joanne Reilly and Associates, 175 Andover St., Suite 304, Danvers, MA 01923. http://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/darryl.r.ruffen/. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser.


HAPPENINGS COMMUNITY HOUSING CLINIC A Community Housing Clinic will be held every Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Department of Neighborhood Development, 26 Court St., Boston, MA. The Community Housing Clinic is a tremendous resource for residents as well as tenants and landlords, to talk one-on-one with a housing professional about landlord-tenant laws, learn how to access affordable housing opportunities and discover housing resources available to landlords and tenants. Tenants can learn about their rights if their building is sold, their rents are rising or they’re facing eviction. Landlords can get information on enforcing lease provisions, cost-effective resources to resolve disputes and programs to support home repairs and maintenance. For more information, call (617) 635-4200. This is a FREE event.

COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID: FSA ID WORKSHOP The College Financial AID: FSA ID Workshop will be held every Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Central Library in Copley Square (ASA College Planning Center), 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA. Need help with the college financial aid process? Get assistance by creating a FSA ID, which is the first step in filing your application for Federal Student Aid. For more information, call (617) 536-5400. This is a FREE event.

PLAY READING BOOK CLUB The Play Reading Book Club will be held every Saturday at the Dudley Branch Library, 65 Warren St., Roxbury, MA. Gain unique and radical access to plays, artists and conversations at weekly sessions which include reading scripts, discussing artistic and production values and putting on your own showcase for family and friends. No prior knowledge or reading of plays is necessary. To register or for more information, call Akiba Abaka at (617) 824-3071, email [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/DUDLEYPRBC1617. To learn more about each play, visit www.artsemerson.org. This is a FREE event.

• January 7 through 28, 2017 – Our Secrets by Bela Pinter and Company • March 11 through April 1 – Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower by Toshi Reagan

THE COOPER GALLERY WINTER OPEN HOUSE The Cooper Gallery invites you to a Winter Open House on Saturday, January 7, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African & African American Art, 102 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, MA. On the last day of offering the Carrie Mae Weems: I once knew a girl.. exhibition, there will be music, tours, refreshments and at 12:00 Noon, a talk with author, artist photographer and educator Deborah Willis. This is a FREE event.

LEAN BUSINESS PLANNING Lean Business Planning will be held Tuesday, January 10, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Central Library in Copley Square (Commonwealth Salon), 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA. In this workshop, you will learn a lean approach to business plans called the Business Model Canvas. See how, in a couple of hours, you can make tremendous progress toward getting the nuts and bolts of your business plan down on paper, so that you can move on to the critical activities of testing your assumptions and refining your business ideas. To register, visit https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07edfca9011230183f&oseq=&c=&ch=rove. This is a FREE event.

URBAN MALE: MILLENIALS AND MENTORING – WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Epicenter Community presents Urban Male: Millennials and Mentoring – What Does the Future Hold? on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. (panel from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.) at Dudley Dough, 2302 Washington St., Roxbury, MA. Join Epicenter Community for a talk with the men of color in the city of Boston about the importance of mentoring and social activism. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-urban-male-millennials-and-mentoring-tickets-30580274424. This is a FREE event.


HAPPENINGS (cont’d) DISABILITY LITIGATION AND BENEFITS ADVOCACY WORKSHOP A Disability Litigation and Benefits Advocacy Workshop will be held Thursday, January 12, 2017 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library in Copley Square (Community Learning Center Classroom), 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA. This workshop will be presented by advocates from the People’s Law School of the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School. Representatives will be available to assist those seeking to prove eligibility for disability-related benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI. For more information, call (617) 536-5400. This is a FREE event.

HITTING YOUR MARK: AN INTRO TO PERFORMING ARTS BRANDING Hitting Your Mark: An Intro to Performing Arts Branding will be held Tuesday, January 17, 2017 from 6:00 to 7:30 `p.m. at the Central Library in Copley Square (Kirstein Business Library & Innovation Center/Commonwealth Salon), 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA. How do arts organizations develop a distinctive visual identity? How do you tell potential audiences what to expect at your show without giving away the ending? Drawing from a range of historical and contemporary examples, this seminar will offer a number of different strategies for performing arts brand formation. Participants will learn what goes into creating a strong graphic identity representative of an artistic mission. To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/hitting-your-mark-an-intro-to-performing-arts-branding-tickets-29770128255. This is a FREE event.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BOSTON’S BLACK CHURCH IN THE AGE OF TRUMP: A FAITH-BASED FORUM The Responsibility of Boston’s Black Church in the Age of Trump will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Grace Church of All Nations, 451 Washington St., Dorchester, MA. This is a moral and spiritual challenge to Boston’s faith community. Speakers include Rev. Michael Haynes, Rev. Mannika Bowman, Pastor Ego Ezedi and Rev. Mariama White Hammond. Kevin Peterson will be the moderator and the forum host is Rev. A. Livingston Foxworth. This is a FREE event.

MAHA HOMEBUYER CLASSES MAHA HomeBuyer Classes are held monthly at a variety of locations. Graduates from the MAHA classes will receive a certificate which will allow the participant access to a number of programs that assist first–time homebuyers. The certificate is also a requirement for acquiring lottery property and certain mortgage products in Boston and other cities and towns. Graduates are eligible for free one–on–one credit and homebuying counseling. The classes are 12 hours by either attending four evenings or two Saturdays or the cost is $50 per person and $75 per couple. For more information, email Hilda Fernandez at [email protected] or visit www.mahahome.org. The class schedule is as follows:

• Saturday, January 21 and 28 from 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at MAHA, 1803 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA • Tuesday and Thursday, February 7 and 9 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 11 from 9:00 a.m. to

3:00 p.m. at MAHA, 1803 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION’S KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) presents Know Your Rights Training on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Central Library in Copley Square (Rabb Hall), 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA. The ACLU works to protect the civil rights of all people in Massachusetts. The group will offer training where attendees will learn about their constitutional rights when interacting with police and what to do if those rights are violated. For more information, call (617) 536-5400. This is a FREE event.

NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY HOSTS NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHT Northeastern University hosts Neighborhood Night on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Northeastern Crossing, 1175 Tremont St., Roxbury, MA. Come meet departments at Northeastern University that support local youth and learn about their upcoming programming. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit www.northeastern.edu/crossing. This is a FREE event.


FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Igor Butman appears at Scullers Jazz Club in the DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel, 400 Soldiers Field Rd., Boston, MA. For more information, call (617) 562-4111 or visit www.scullersjazz.com.


FRIDAY, JANUARY 6 (cont’d)


SATURDAY, JANUARY 7


THURSDAY, JANUARY 12

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13

8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Christian Scott appears at Scullers Jazz Club in the DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel, 400 Soldiers Field Rd., Boston, MA. For more information, call (617) 562-4111 or visit www.scullersjazz.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Allan Harris appears at Scullers Jazz Club in the DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel,

400 Soldiers Field Rd., Boston, MA. For more information, call (617) 562-4111 or visit www.scullersjazz.com.


FEBRUARY 10


FEBRUARY 12


THE ARTS FILMS (In Theaters)

100 STREETS 100 Streets follows three contrasting and interwoven stories in modern-day London. A former rugby player, Max (Idris Elba), struggles to find a life off the field while fighting to save his marriage to former actress Emily (Gemma Arterton). Kingsley (Franz Drameh) is a small-time drug dealer desperately seeking a way off the street. While completing his community service for a misdemeanor, Kinsley meets Terence (Ken Stott), a local thespian, who gives him the push he needs out of his dead-end life and into a very different, creative world. George (Charlie Creed-Miles), a cab driver, and his wife Kathy (Kierston Wareing) dream of having kids, but a devastating road accident puts their hopes on hold, even testing their otherwise strong marriage. Anybody can make a wrong turn, but it's the journey that allows us to find the right path. 100 Streets opens in theaters on Friday, January 13.

FENCES Fences is the story of a one-time promising baseball player (Denzel Washington), now working as a Pittsburgh garbage collector, who struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s. Washington directed the film which also stars Viola Davis, Mykelti Williamson, Russell Hornsby and Saniyya Sidney.

HIDDEN FIGURES

Hidden Figures is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), brilliant African American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the space race and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

PATRIOT’S DAY In the aftermath of an unspeakable attack, police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg) joins courageous survivors, first responders and investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the bombers before they strike again. Weaving together the stories of Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon), Police Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman), Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese (J.K. Simmons) and nurse Carol Saunders (Michelle Monaghan), this visceral and unflinching chronicle captures the suspense of one of the most sophisticated manhunts in law enforcement history and celebrates the strength of the people of Boston. Patriot’s Day opens in theaters on Friday, January 13.

SLEEPLESS

Sleepless follows Jamie Foxx as undercover Las Vegas police officer Vincent Downs, who is caught in a high stakes web of corrupt cops and the mob-controlled casino underground. When a heist goes wrong, a crew of homicidal gangsters kidnaps Downs’ teenage son. In one sleepless night he will have to rescue his son, evade an internal affairs investigation and bring the kidnappers to justice. Sleepless opens in theaters on Friday, January 13.


HEALTH AND FITNESS FRANKLIN PARK TENNIS ASSOCIATION FREE TENNIS LESSONS Franklin Park Tennis Association will offer Tennis for Everyone every Saturday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Melnea Cass Recreational Complex, 120 Malcolm X Blvd., Roxbury, MA. Lessons for beginner/intermediate players, children (ages 5 and older) and adults at the same time, but on different courts. This is a drop-in program designed to introduce and reinforce the fundamental skills. Registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.franklinparktennis.org. This is a FREE event.

BOSTON REACH COALITION MEETING The mission of Boston REACH Coalition is to promote health equity and eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities in Boston. The Boston REACH Coalition is led by the Boston Public Health Commission in partnership with community residents. The Coalition partners with community groups, health care providers, health experts, businesses and faith-based leaders to improve the conditions in neighborhoods that shape the health and well-being of community residents. The Coalition meets on the first Monday of the month. In the case of a holiday, the meeting is held the following Monday. Dinner is served at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. The Coalition membership is open to all and children and youth are welcome. The next meeting will be held January 9, 2017 at the Grove Hall Community Center, 51 Geneva Ave., Dorchester, MA. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (617) 534-2291 or visit www.bphc.org. This is a FREE event.

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center offers a Prostate Cancer Support Group Meeting every second Wednesday of the month. The next meeting will be held January 11, 2016 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute (Smith Building, Room 308–309), 44 Binney St., Boston, MA. This support group focuses on the needs of Black men. Meet with prostate cancer survivors, talk with leading medical specialists and understand your treatment options. Everyone is invited, food will be served and parking is free. For more information, call Mark Kennedy at (617) 632–6694 or visit www.prostatehealthed.org. This is a FREE event.

Documents

Friday, January 6, 2017 Volume 13, Number 1 THE BUZZfiles.constantcontact.com/4a6df3e9001/59694dd8-c640-4f04-97ec-9cb4d1debc1d.pdf-2-THE WORD – January 6, 2017 THE BUZZ (cont’d)