CPL Presents: Johnisha Matthews Levi, the author of Numbers Up (Main Library)
For four decades, Johnisha Matthews Levi believed a conventional story about her birth, picturing her happy parents at the hospital together. While sorting through her late mother's belongings, however, she discovered a document indicating that her father was instead serving time in Lorton Correctional Complex. This revelation, along with rumors about an FBI investigation of her deceased parents' "private business," leads Levi to unearth the hidden history of her family. She ties this story to public policy, demonstrating how state lottery legalization and the War on Drugs disrupted the Black institutions and communities in Washington, DC. Registration is required.
CPL Nature Club: Medicinal Plant Walk at Alewife Reservation (O'Neill)
Join clinical herbalist Mo Katz-Christy for a walk around the Alewife Reservation to learn about the medicine, botany and magic of medicinal herbs. We will discuss medicinal plants in Cambridge and their specific indications and properties. Bring a notebook as we delight in the bounty of our neighborhood!
Registration is required.
We will meet at the seating area on the bike path near the Alewife Brook Pathway and DCR Wetland Boardwalk: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CC32nJqG1Xk3b5zDA. It is a 6 minute walk from Alewife MBTA station, accessible by bus or by the Red Line. There is no parking available on-site. Parking is available at Alewife MBTA station, the Alewife Reservation lot on Acorn Drive or limited on-street parking on Cambridgepark Drive.
CANCELLED: Harvey C. Mansfield presents: The Rise and Fall of Rational Control (Main)
Harvard Book Store and the Cambridge Public Library welcome Harvey C. Mansfield—William R. Kenan, Jr., Research Professor of Government at Harvard University and recipient of the National Humanities Medal—for a discussion of his new book, The Rise and Fall of Rational Control: The History of Modern Political Philosophy. Registration is required.
Ora Grodsky and Friends Present: Justice, Love, and Organizational Healing (Main)
Join Ora Grodsky, the author of Justice, Love, and Organizational Healing: A Guide to Transformational Consulting in a discussion about her new book.
Ora Grodsky is a mission-driven organizational development consultant with over 25 years of experience. She is a holistic practitioner who combines training in acupuncture, non-profit management expertise, extensive study of organizational development, and commitment to compassion and justice.
Ora will be in conversation about the book and organizational healing with dear colleagues and friends—consultants and facilitators also dedicated to justice and liberation:
Joyce Shabazz
Melinda Barbosa
Daniel Michaud Weinstock
Jeremy Philips
Summer Reading: A Closer Look at the Forbes Pigment Collection (Harvard Art Museums)
Join Conservation Coordinator Alison Cariens for a closer look at pigments in the famed Forbes Pigment Collection at the Harvard Art Museums.
This event will take place at the Harvard Art Museums. Registration is required but does not guarantee entry. By registering here, you are joining the pool of interested patrons. From this pool, eight names will be drawn randomly. All registrants, whether selected to attend or not, will be notified of their status one week in advance. Approved participants will be provided with location details prior to the tour.
The First Commander Remembered: Washington's Legacy in Cambridge (Main/Virtual)
To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies will present Washington in American Memory, a seven-part speaker series.
Debunk myths and trace the evolution of the public memory of George Washington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, featuring:
J.L. Bell, author of The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War and proprietor of Boston1775.net
Charles Sullivan, co-author of Building Old Cambridge: Architecture and Development and Executive Director of the Cambridge Historical Commission