The Common

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BAMS Fest: A celebration of Black culture in Boston Jun 23, 2023

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The Boston Art and Music Soul Festival is here, bringing music, art, food, and other celebrations of Black culture to Boston's Franklin Park this Friday and Saturday (June 23 and 24), for the fifth year.

WBUR Reporter Arielle Gray joins The Common, to talk about the importance of creating dedicated spaces to celebrate Black music and art in Boston, the unique challenges faced by organizers of events such as BAMS Fest that highlight hip-hop and other forms of Black expression, and for a preview of some of the musicians hitting the stage this weekend.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

A new avenue for public housing Jun 22, 2023

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In 1999, Congress passed a law, known as the "Faircloth Amendment," which restricted the construction of federally subsidized public housing above a certain limit. Now, there's a new initiative that aims to increase the amount of public housing available by backfilling many units that have been demolished or fallen into disrepair.

In Massachusetts, Cambridge is leading the charge, with active plans to develop more than 100 new public housing units. The local housing authority hopes to develop even more units in the future...both within the city limits, and beyond.

Boston Globe Housing Reporter Andrew Brinker joins The Common with more.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Why Boston doesn't have any Michelin Star restaurants Jun 21, 2023

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Boston's food scene continues to change and grow, but one thing remains the same: the complete absence of prestigious Michelin Stars awarded to local restaurants. And it's not necessarily because our local spots don't deserve them.

Erika Adams, Editor of Eater Boston joins The Common for a look at why Boston remains without a Michelin Guide.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Your Boston summer arts guide(s) Jun 20, 2023

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Looking to expand your horizons this summer with a little art? Or perhaps escape the hot outdoors with a theatrical performance? Or maybe you're just looking for that perfect addition to your summer playlist. Whatever your situation may be, WBUR's Arts and Culture team has you covered with this year's summer arts guides. WBUR Arts Reporting Fellow Solon Kelleher joins The Common with the highlights.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

From the newsroom: Boston City Hall in need of repair Jun 19, 2023

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Happy Juneteenth! We hope you’re taking some time to celebrate and reflect on this important day.

The WBUR newsroom covers a lot of stories, and we aren't always able to get to them all on the show. So, today we're bringing you one of those pieces while Team Common works on some reporting we're really excited to share with you soon.

Today’s story comes from reporter Walter Wuthmann.

Boston’s City Hall building is pretty polarizing. Some love it, but not everyone is into 1960s Brutalist architecture. Still, it’s a 55-year-old landmark that needs a lot of repairs, and Walt spent a day looking into what it takes now, and what may be needed in the future, to keep this building running.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Your Juneteenth weekend guide Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

It's almost Juneteenth, and you know that means it's time to get out on the town to learn, celebrate and reflect. WBUR Arts Editor Lauren Williams joins The Common to walk us through four events happening in Boston, and beyond, over this long weekend to celebrate this important day.

Celebrate Juneteenth with Cornell Coley: Saturday, June 17 - the Honan-Allston branch of the Boston Public Library

Juneteenth at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters: Sunday, June 18 - Longfellow House in Cambridge Kevin Harris presents: Roots, Water, and Sunlight - A Contemporary Octet Expedition through the Expressions of James Baldwin: Sunday, June 18 - Groton Hill Music Center

Free admission to celebrate Juneteenth at Boston museums: Monday, June 19th - museums including the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum offer free admission and special programming.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Calling all prospective biotech workers... Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Boston's life sciences sector is growing rapidly, with more than 6,000 jobs expected to open up over the next decade, according to a report from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation. But as the number of available jobs grow, so do concerns about developing and attaining enough talent to fill positions.

WBUR Senior Business Reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka joins The Common to explain what's behind this disparity between open jobs and qualified workers in biotech, and for a look at a new initiative from the city, which aims to build alternative pathways into the industry.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

A college town without affirmative action Jun 14, 2023

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The Supreme Court of the United States is expected to deliver decisions on two cases concerning affirmative action in college admissions, including one case involving Harvard, in the coming weeks. The conservative-leaning court is anticipated to rule against the race-conscious admission practices used by elite schools like Harvard to promote a diversified student body, which the plaintiffs in each case argue are racially discriminatory.

MassLive Reporting Fellow Alvin Buyinza joins The Common to discuss how a ban on race-conscious admissions could impact diversity on many of the highly selective campuses in the Boston area.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Pride for the People Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

Boston’s Pride Parade has been on hiatus since 2019, after being canceled due to the pandemic, and then again after calls for more diversity and inclusion led to the event’s organizers disbanding. The city’s re-imagined pride celebration, organized by Boston Pride for the People, took to the streets on Saturday, drawing tens of thousands of participants.

WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann covered the event. He joins The Common to share thoughts and reactions from this years attendees and organizers.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

From the newsroom: An addiction treatment program closes in Concord Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Today's piece comes from reporter Lynn Jolicoeur. It’s about the shutdown of a hospital-run program that treats people with addiction in an area one person calls a treatment desert. This news comes as Massachusetts continues to experience an opioid epidemic.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

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