AN INDEPENDENT ARTS & CULTURE GUIDE
Art by: Madison Gustave
CELEBRATE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAY’S OF THE YEAR, JUNETEENTH, WITH BOSTON! Each year, we develop new ways to honor the lives of enslaved people and celebrate Juneteenth, the day recognizing the last public declaration of emancipation after the Civil War. In doing so, we also generate novel understandings of how we have carved out spaces for life despite the way these histories of enslavement continue to affect our current moment. Here’s a list of some of the ways you can celebrate Juneteenth in Boston and take part in these reflections: Two GroundBeat Concerts at the Hatch Memorial Shell June 8th and June 15th 6:30 – 8:30pm Make your way to the Hatch Shell by the Esplanade for two pre-Juneteenth concerts. Produced by the Esplanade Association, GroundBeat is a free music series that partners with local artists and musicians who are working to strengthen the scene here in Boston. The program on June 8th is curated by Sympli Whitney Productionz with performances by Sympli Whitney, DJ Saucy Lady, and an ensemble. The June 15th concert will be produced by AfroDesiaCity, a Boston-based consulting company that “specializes in live entertainment and special networking, and other value-added community events.” The evening will be hosted by Olasco Boston and include performances by DJ Troy Frost, VLA Dance, and Danny Rivera. continued on page 2…
—Jessica Hernandez
BOSTON URBAN PRIDE WEEKEND (JUNE 29TH – JULY 3RD) As a response to numerous conversations within our QTBIPC community, many acknowledging the predominantly white LGBTQIA+ spaces in Boston, myself, Eilakeisha Spencer, and Curtis Santos founded Boston Lesbigay Urban Foundation, a 501c3 community-led, nonprofit organization, and subsequently, Boston Lesbigay Urban Events (B.L.U.E.). We coordinate and host events that highlight and provide services to Boston’s QTBIPOC community. Pride festivals and parades are often the reason members of the LGBTQIA+ community visit a city, sometimes for the first time. Boston urban pride started during the pandemic (2020), and we had over 1000 viewers watch our virtual pride celebration. In 2021 and 2022, hundreds of QTBIPOC community members from numerous states were drawn to our in-person events in and around the city of Boston. We focus on bridging the gap in education, giving our underserved community the opportunity to display their black/brown/Latino pride and talent in a safe and welcoming space, receiving resources on mental health, medical care (Covid-19 vaccines, Monkey Pox vaccines, annual physicals, learning about HIV & STI prevention/interventions), food access programs, and community resources. This year’s celebration will include the following 9 events: June 29, 2023: •Youth Pride Event (301 Columbia Rd, 12PM-5PM) June 30, 2023: • Welcome to Boston Mixer (Residence Inn South End, 2PM-6PM) •Pitch-Black “The annual all-black affair” (OceanSide Ballroom, Revere, 9:30PM -1:30AM) July 1, 2023: •3 on 3 Basketball Tournament (Almont Park, 9AM) •Health Summit (Bruce Bolling Municipal Building, 11AM-3PM) •Drip Pool Party (Mojitos Country Club, 2PM-7PM) •Entourage Part II (HAVA Nightclub, 10PM-2AM) July 2, 2023: •Music and Arts Festival (TBA, 12PM-6PM) •Grand finale event “Detox” (Yas Chicken, Allston, 10PM-2AM) Our intention in hosting these events is not only to be a catalyst for change in the community, but also to bring individuals together and allow individuals to create long-lasting healthy relationships as their true authentic selves. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.lesbigayurbanfoundation.org/ bup.
—Eilakeisha Spencer, LMHC (Deputy Director) LAYOUT DESIGN:
Phoebe Delmonte: p.1, 4, 5 Hannah Blauner: p.2, 3, 7 Adrian Alvarez: p.6, 8 THIS PAPER IS AN ONGOING PROJECT OF BRAIN ARTS ORGANIZATION, INC., A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT. PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO, VOLUNTEERING OR OTHERWISE SUPPORTING US: BRAIN-ARTS.ORG
THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE BOSTON CULTURAL COUNCIL, A LOCAL AGENCY WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL, AS ADMINSTRATED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ARTS + CULTURE