Boston Scenes

More than 100 janitors from the Financial District and surrounding area gathered to show solidarity with workers striking in Houston over wages. Brookfield owns many of the properties in Houston and other cities where janitors have struggled to improve desperately low wages and dire working conditions. Over a dozen communities participated in the nationwide day of action. (Photo courtesy of SEIU)

Every Tuesday, from now through August 14, free arts and crafts will be offered at Hunt/Almont playground in Mattapan from 9am-12pm. This program is part of Mayor Menino’s ParkARTS program and is made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Comcast and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, please visit:  www.cityofboston.gov/parks (Photo courtesy of City of Boston)

Boston’s NAACP continued its “Cash Mob Saturdays” initiative on July 28 at A Nubian Notion, Inc in Roxbury’s Dudley Square. The economic development campaign supports local businesses in Boston’s communities of color. With the event, A Nubian Notion celebrated its 50th anniversary as a retailer of Afrocentric gifts and novelty items. (Eric Esteves photo)  

Lee Saunders, the new president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) was recently honored  for his civil rights work at the national headquarters of the AFL-CIO in Washington, DC.  Pictured are (L-R): Director of the NAACP’s Washington Bureau, Hilary O. Shelton; Saunders, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), Melanie L. Campbell  and President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Wade Henderson (Lisa Dickerson photo)

Ruth Ellen Fitch, president and CEO of the Dimock Center (C) led a forum addressing violence as a public health issue last month. The forum was part of the 150th anniversary celebration of The Dimock Center, a comprehensive health and social services agency serving Roxbury, Dorchester and Jamaica Plain. (Photo courtesy of the Dimock Center)

The Partnership launched its 25th Anniversary Forum Series at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) with a riveting conversation with MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews. Pictured are (L-R) Donna Latson-Gittens, MORE Advertising; Matthews, Carol Fulp, CEO, The Partnership and Jim Rooney, executive director BCEC and The Partnership board member. The Partnership is the premier convener of people committed to the advancement of professionals of color.
(Don West/blackwire.us photo)