INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE BUZZ ............... 1 HAPPENINGS .......... 3 CURRENT EVENTS................... 6 THE ARTS ........ 15-16 Art ............................ 15 Films ......................... 15 Music and Dance ...... 16 HEALTH AND FITNESS ................ 17

THE WORD P.O. Box 170847

Boston, MA 02117 (617) 775-4273

pat@thewordboston.com www.thewordboston.com

THE BUZZ “The future rewards those who press on. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I don't have time to complain. I'm going to press on.”

~ Barack Obama

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: FAREWELL TO THE OBAMAS by Pat Williams

At 12:00 Noon on Friday, January 20, 2017, President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia and mother-in-law Marian Shields Robinson, will become private citizens and live in the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Obama announced his candidacy nearly ten years ago in the same place Abraham Lincoln delivered his House Divided speech. After defeating Hillary Clinton in the primaries, Obama faced off against Arizona Senator John McCain in the general election. On November 4, 2008, Obama won the presidency with 365 electoral votes and 53% of the popular vote, becoming the first African American to hold the office. His victory speech was held in front of an estimated crowd of 240,000 in Chicago’s Grant Park and viewed on television by millions around the world. The inauguration drew close to 2 million people who stood in frigid temperatures to witness the monumental event.

In 2012, President Obama ran unopposed in the Democratic primaries. He defeated former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney on November 6, 2012, winning 332 electoral votes and 51% of the popular vote. During his administration, President Obama was responsible for stabilizing the U.S. economy by lowering the unemployment rate to 4.9% from a peak of 10%, introducing and signing into law the Affordable Care Act and naming two women, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotamayor to the Supreme Court.

The President began his first term with a 68% approval rating. At press time, it is at 60%. And, the Leader of the Free World is very popular overseas, with a favorable rating of 89% in Ghana, 81% in Israel, 72% in Japan and 57% in Germany.

Over the past eight years, we saw Mrs. Obama’s unique fashion style land her on the cover of Vogue three times. She is also credited with elevating the careers of African American designers Tracy Reese and Laura Smalls and Asian designers Jason Wu and Thakoon. After she wore a stylish pencil skirt, tank top and cardigan purchased from J. Crew on Late Night with Jay Leno, the items flew off the shelves. While the President was busy running the country and the First Lady worked tirelessly with families of veterans and on Let’s Move, a program to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity, Marian Robinson, Mrs. Obama’s mother, assumed the role of Grandmother-In-Chief to Sasha and Malia.

Continued on Page 2

Friday, January 20, 2017 Volume 13, Number 2

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THE BUZZ (cont’d) GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: FAREWELL TO THE OBAMAS (Continued from Page 1)

On a personal note, I’d like to thank the Obamas for displaying style, grace and dignity during their time in the White House and wish them much luck as they make the transition from public to private life.

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HAPPENINGS BOSTON HAS A NEW DEFAULT SPEED LIMIT The City of Boston has a new default speed limit. If you don’t see a sign, the speed limit is 25 mph. Driving at or below the 25 mph speed limit can save lives. If you crash, you’re less likely to cause serious injury or death. For more information, visit www.boston.gov/25mph.

BOSTON POLICE OFFICER EXAM The Boston Police Officer Written Examination is on Saturday, March 25, 2017. Anyone interested in taking the exam must apply by Tuesday, February 21 (there will be an additional $50 processing fee for applications received after February 21) and applications will not be accepted after Wednesday, March 1. For more information, visit www.mass.gov/civilservice.

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.

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. There will also be a Massachusetts Volunteer Orientation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Attendees will learn about the history and agenda of the group, how it works for policy change and how they can contribute. For more information, call (617) 536-5400. This is a FREE event.

KENNEDY LIBRARY FORUMS The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Dorchester, MA is pleased to present the Kennedy Library Forums, a series of public affairs programs on a diverse range of historical, political and cultural topics reflecting the legacy of President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy. Doors open an hour before each forum begins. For more information or to make a reservation, call (617) 514–1643 or visit www.jfklibrary.org. Reservations guarantee a seat in the building, but not in the main hall. Once the main hall is full, audience members will be seated in an overflow theater where the forum will be streamed live. This is a FREE event.

• Tuesday, January 24 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. – The Nine of Us: Growing Up Kennedy. Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith discusses her new book The Nine of Us: Growing Up Kennedy with her son Stephen Smith. Eileen McNamara moderates.

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HAPPENINGS (cont’d) NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY HOSTS NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHT Northeastern University will host 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.

INITIATIVES FOR HEALING, BRIDGE-BUILDING AND EMPOWERMENT TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE Initiatives for Healing, Bridge-Building and Empowerment to Address Gun Violence will be held Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Harvard Divinity School (Sperry Room, Andover Hall), 45 Francis St., Cambridge, MA. Gun violence is a critical problem in the United States, daily bringing tragedy to families and communities across the country. The National Institute of Justice reports that urban areas and youth between the ages of 15 and 24 are most affected. Recent events, including highly-publicized shootings by police, have stimulated increased public discussion of the impact of gun violence on African American communities. In what ways can communities respond to the complex challenge of gun violence? What spiritual and human resources might they bring to bear? Learn from leaders in the Boston area driving inspiring community-based initiatives to address the effects and sources of this local and national problem. Speakers include Clementina Chery, Monalisa Smith, Stanley Pollack, David J. Harris and John M. Brown. Rev. Liz Walker moderates. Space is limited. To RSVP, visit www.rpp.hs.harvard.edu. This is a FREE event.

YOUNG PEOPLE’S SUCCESS SERIES: RACIAL ROADBLOCKS TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE The Young People’s Success Series: Racial Roadblocks to Academic Excellence will be held Saturday, January 28, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon at the Area B-2 Police Station, 2400 Washington St., Roxbury, MA. The program will take a fresh look at how race impacts academic performance, how race impacts a student’s self image and how to push back on low expectations and more. For more information, call (617) 833-7347 or email ymssboston1@gmail.com. This is a FREE event.

TRACING OUR ROOTS Tracing Our Roots will be held Thursday, February 2, 2017 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Dudley Branch Library, 65 Warren St., Roxbury, MA. Students will learn how and where to begin building an intelligent framework of family history. The workshop aims to provide skills to reconstruct your own personal family history. For more information, visit www.reidren.com. This is a FREE event.

BOSTON DAY OF REFLECTION: CREATING A MORE CARING AND JUST COMMUNITY Boston Day of Reflection: Creating a More Caring and Just Community will be held Saturday, February 4, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Central Library in Copley Square (Rabb Hall), 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA. From 10:15 a.m. to 12:00 Noon there will be a Boston ProArts Consortium Panel: How to Create a More Inclusive College Community; from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., a Leslea Newman presentation and Q&A of He Continues to Make a Difference: The Story of Matthew Shepard followed by a book signing; and from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., a performance featuring Melissa Ferrick and Children’s Choir. For more information, call (617) 536-5400. This is a FREE event.

22ND ANNUAL LANGSTON HUGHES COMMUNITY POETRY READING The 22nd Annual Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading will be held Sunday, February 5, 2017 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Museum of Art/Rhode Island School of Design (Metcalf Auditorium), 20 N. Main St., Providence, RI. Langston Hughes’ poems, dating from the Harlem Renaissance through the 1960s, continue to resonate today. These powerful, poignant and often amusing works are read aloud by members of the community, accompanied by the Daniel Ian Smith Jazz Trio. Refreshments will be served following the reading. For more information, email lhughescp2017@gmail.com. This is a FREE event.

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HAPPENINGS (cont’d) BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION: HONORING OUR OWN A Black History Month Celebration: Honoring Our Own will be held Monday, February 6, 2017 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Boston City Hall (Curley Room), 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA. The baton will be passed from exceptional leaders in the community to remarkable black leaders in our society. As these skills gets transferred, it is imperative to understand it will not happen overnight. Passing these skills to Howard Rye Institute Fellows is an asset which will be used to uplift the black community out of the predicament which we have faced. Let us learn from their humble ways. Let us learn how to advocate for our fellow citizens, by doing so we are ensuring that our communities have the longevity which is needed to produce prominent leaders that will keep our fire burning. For more information, email umnunity@gmail.com. This is a FREE event.

SPIRIT & ACTION SERIES ON PEACEMAKING The Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM) presents the Spirit & Action Series on Peacemaking. Spirit & Action creates a sacred space for participants to learn about and engage in issues surrounding racism, violence and peace. The sessions will be held at 10 Putnam St., Roxbury, MA. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. UUUM has partnered with Violence Transformed which will provide attendees with an opportunity to create art around the theme of each event. Space is limited. Childcare provided upon request. To register, call Marvin Venay at (617) 318-6010 x214 or email mvenay@uuum.org. This is a FREE event. • Session 2: Peacemaking Within Neighborhoods / Tuesday, February 7 – Building the nourishing support of a

community, addressing inequalities that lead to various types of violence and working to have peace and community and to reach social cohesion. (Follow-up art session on Tuesday, February 28.)

• Session 3: Peacemaking Across Faith / Tuesday, March 14 – Celebrating our spiritual and religious differences, fostering a culture of tolerance and working to curtail the growing climate of Islamophobia. (Follow-up arts session on Tuesday, March 28.)

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 hfernandez@mahahome.org or visit www.mahahome.org. The class schedule is as follows:

• 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

• Saturday, March 11 and 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at MAMLEO, 61 Columbia Rd., Dorchester, MA

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH Celebrating Black History Month will be held Thursday, February 23, 2017 from 12:00 Noon to 2:00 p.m. at Whittier Street Health Center (Community Education Room, 2nd Fl.), 1290 Tremont St., Roxbury, MA. Join Whittier Street Health Center for the annual address on the state of Whittier by Frederica Williams, a keynote speech by Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley and music, poetry readings and storytelling. To RSVP, call (617) 989-3150 or email development@wshc.org. 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 akiba_abaka@emerson.edu or visit http://bit.ly/DUDLEYPRBC1617. To learn more about each play, visit www.artsemerson.org. This is a FREE event. • March 11 through April 1 – Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower by Toshi Reagan

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The Roy Hargrove Dream Quintet with George Cables, Victor Lewis, Justin Robinson, Ameen Saleem and special guest Roberta Gambarini 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. The Roy Hargrove Dream Quintet also appears on Saturday, January 21 at the times listed.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 20 (cont’d)

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 20 (cont’d)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21

7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The John Abercrombie Quartet appears at the Regattabar Jazz Club in the Charles Hotel, One Bennett St., Cambridge, MA. For tickets, call (617) 395–7757 or visit www.regattabarjazz.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 28

7:30 p.m. Ambrose Akinmusire appears at the Regattabar Jazz Club in the Charles Hotel, One

Bennett St., Cambridge, MA. For tickets, call (617) 395–7757 or visit www.regattabarjazz.com.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 (cont’d)

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12

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THURSDAY, MARCH 23

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THE ARTS ART

DRAWING TOGETHER Drawing Together will be held every Wednesday from January 25 through March 1, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at MassArt’s Bakalar Gallery, 621 Huntington Ave., Roxbury, MA (enter through the Design and Media Center). This weekly group drawing and art therapy night will be facilitated by different artists, community groups and art therapists. No past art experience is required and supplies will be provided. For more information, call (617) 879-7339 or email galleryinfo@massart.edu. This is a FREE event.

PROJECT R.I.G.H.T., INC. KICKS OFF THE 2017 PAINT NIGHT SERIES WITH SPARC! THE ARTMOBILE Project R.I.G.H.T. will kick off the Paint Night Series with spac! The ArtMobile on Monday, February 13, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Grove Hall Community Center, 51 Geneva Ave., Dorchester, MA. Come paint with a celebrated community artist. Art supplies provided by sparc! the Artmobile. Beginners are welcome. This is a FREE event.

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.

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.

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.

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THE ARTS (cont’d) FILMS (Screenings)

FILM SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION OF BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT

A Film Screening and Panel Discussion of Birth of a Movement will be held Monday, January 30, 2017 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq., Somerville, MA. In 1915, Boston-based African American newspaper editor and activist William M. Trotter waged a battle against D.W. Griffith’s groundbreaking but notoriously Ku Klux Klan-friendly The Birth of a Nation, unleashing a fight that still rages today about race relations, media representation and the power and influence of Hollywood. Birth of a Movement captures the backdrop to this ongoing struggle between human rights, freedom of speech and a changing media landscape.

The film was scored by DJ Spooky and John Kusiak and features interviews with Spike Lee, Reginald Hudlin, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Dick Lehr. Given the current divisive racial climate, this film provides a timely look back at a forgotten chapter of civil rights history during another racially explosive era and provides one man’s example of how to fight for positive change. The film producers invite you to a panel discussion after the screening featuring Lehr, Gates, Robert Bellinger, Vince Brown and Dolita Cathcar. Barbara Lewis, director of the Trotter Institute at UMass Boston moderates. For more information or to RSVP, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birth-of-a-movement-boston-premiere-tickets-30496739569?aff=efbeventtix. This is a FREE event.

PASSAGE AT ST. AUGUSTINE FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION

The Passage at St. Augustine Film Screening and Discussion will be held Thursday, February 2, 2017 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Grove Hall Branch Library, 41 Geneva Ave., Dorchester, MA. Long before there was a Black Lives Matter movement, there were black activists in St. Augustine, FL. The award-winning documentary Passage at St. Augustine tells the story and establishes their hometown as the location of the most violent civil rights campaign of the entire movement. For more information, call (617) 427-3337. This is a FREE event.

MUSIC AND DANCE

RECITAL FEATURING JONATHAN BUTLER A Recital Featuring Jonathan Butler will be held Monday, February 6, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. at The New England Conservatory of Music (Brown Hall), 290 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA. This recital is in fulfillment of the requirements for Jonathan Butler’s Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Butler will perform on the cello. This is a FREE event.

YOU ARE INVITED TO A JAM SESSION Join vocalist Joan Watson-Jones for A Jam Session on Sunday, February 12, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, 1A North Rd., Chelmsford, MA. The session features Frank Wilkins on piano, Dave Zox on bass and Alvin Terry on drums. Singers, instrumentalists and enthusiastic listeners are welcome. All artists should bring two copies of their music in your performance key and should email joan@joanwatsonjones.com to RSVP. For more information, visit www.chelmsfordarts.org. Cover charge is $5.

-17- THE WORD – January 20, 2017

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.

THE 4TH ANNUAL HEALTHY VISIONS The 4th Annual Healthy Visions will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2017 from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Thelma Burns Building, 575 Warren St., Roxbury, MA. There will be youth programs, a wellness panel and resource tables, individual and community vision boards, HIV/STI testing, giveaways and dinner will be served. To register, visit https://healthyvisions2017.eventbrite.com. For more information, call Irvienne Goldson at (617) 348-6263 or email irvienne.goldson@bostonabcd.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 February 6, 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.

BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY LUNCHEON The Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Luncheon will be held Tuesday, February 7, 2017 from 12:00 Noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Great Hall, 6 Norfolk St., Dorchester, MA. Join Codman Square Health Center for this celebration of the strength of the black community in the face of HIV. The event seeks to eliminate stigma and raise further awareness around treatment, testing and risk related to HIV. Lunch will be provided. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-hivaids-awareness-day-luncheon-tickets-31071214840. 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 February 15, 2017 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.