• Come along with the Boston Park Rangers as we traverse the Muddy River through the Emerald Necklace. Our journey will begin at the headwaters of the Muddy River at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse and will continue through the Emerald Necklace, ending in the Back Bay Fens. Discover the groundbreaking vision that the designer of NYC's Central Park and the father of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted, had for Boston's Park System while strolling through 4 different parks on this 4-mile walk. 

• The Boston Park Rangers ask that participants bring water and comfortable walking shoes to make this tour an enjoyable experience. The tour is intended for ages 15 and up, but is open for all to join. We strongly encourage kids under 15 to be accompanied by an adult. 

• For more information on this event and future events hosted by the Park Rangers, visit the Boston Park Rangers homepage.
• For any inquiries specific to environmental education, please email Nathan Smith.

Join us for a free public conversation.

The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture and The Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University welcome you back to The Embrace for another season of public conversations on democracy, justice, memory, and values.

The series kicks off on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. and will be followed by a free public dinner and reception. This event will be co-hosted by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Professor Peniel E. Joseph and Professor Danielle S. Allen will explore the meaning of “Freedom Dreams in America” and discuss the importance of using our imagination as a tool for individual and collective liberation. Brandon M. Terry, the John Loeb Associate Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University will introduce the event. Seating will be provided. Stay for a book signing with the speakers!

What does it mean to dream of freedom in a time of deep division—and how can we turn those dreams into a new reality? At this special conversation at The Embrace, Danielle Allen, a leading political theorist, classicist, and former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate, and Peniel Joseph, a prominent historian of the Black freedom struggle, will invite us to think boldly and critically with them about the past, present, and future of American democracy. What would it mean to create a democracy built not on fear and exclusion, but on real power-sharing and mutual recognition? How can freedom be reimagined—not just as the absence of oppression, but as the hard, collective work of building a society where dignity and opportunity are widely shared? And at a time of rising cynicism, how should we think about democracy itself—its promises, its failures, and its possibilities? This conversation will be a space for hope, doubt, imagination, and serious reckoning with the question of how we might still rethink the traditions we have inherited in order to shape the future together.

Peniel E. Joseph holds a joint professorship appointment at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the History Department in the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. In addition, he is the founding director of the LBJ School's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy (CSRD). His career focus has been on "Black Power Studies," which encompasses interdisciplinary fields such as Africana studies, law and society, women's and ethnic studies, and political science. His work encourages us to explore the power of collective imagination in the pursuit of justice, reminding us that dreams for freedom and equality planted from our past generations will continue to lead us towards a more equitable country. His most recent book, Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution, brings to life the dramatic year when James Baldwin, Martin Luther King Jr., and a generation of activists reshaped the fight for freedom, influenced President John F. Kennedy and his approach on civil rights, and changed the nation’s destiny.

Danielle S. Allen is one of Harvard’s esteemed “University Professors,” and a prolific political theorist and classicist who has devoted her career in academia and beyond to exploring the foundations of democracy and the question of justice. Her work, including Justice By Means of Democracy and Our Declaration, reimagines key democratic texts and ideals in ways meant to confront our contemporary struggles. A former gubernatorial candidate in Massachusetts, Allen is a tireless advocate for civic engagement and participation. Her work reminds us of our individual and collective responsibilities in creating and protecting and strengthening a more democratic future. In her most recent book, Justice by Means of Democracy, she offers a bold, inspiring vision for rebuilding democracy through real equality, power-sharing, and a commitment to embracing difference without domination.

RSVP is encouraged and will be required to attend reception. This event is free and open to the public, so we hope to see you there!

May is the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, and all month long SPARK Boston will provide programming to help support healthy minds and bodies!

For our kick-off event, join us on Thursday, May 8th from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM for an event dedicated to wellness, reflection, and community connection.

The event will begin at Boston Common with the Boston Parks & Recreation Department's Summer Fitness Series: Yoga in the Park to encourage mindfulness and movement. After, we’ll walk to the Civic Pavilion at City Hall Plaza for a roundtable discussion, featuring a panel of mental health experts and advocates. This event is open to everyone, whether you are seeking inspiration, sharing your story, or showing up in support.