One of Boston's best known landmarks, honoring the first all-Black regiment to fight in the Civil War, is getting a major facelift. Liz Vizza with the Friends of the Public Garden returns to the show to give us an update on the restoration process. Then, we dive deeper into the history of the memorial, and how it connects to the renewed push for racial justice and equity, with L'Merchie Frazier, the Director of Education and Interpretation at the Museum of African-American History.

New England Weekend

Boston's Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial: Past, Present, and Future

Boston's new Chief of Equity, Dr. Karilyn Crockett, joins Nichole on the show to talk about her new role in Mayor Walsh's new cabinet-level office at City Hall. Dr. Crockett, a Dorchester native who lectures at MIT, discusses the steps the city's taking to tackle systemic racism. Rodney Rowland, the Director of Special Projects and Facilities at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, tells Nichole how the museum has been weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they're trying to protect some of their historic homes from effects of climate change.

Introducing Boston's Chief of Equity, and Strawbery Banke Struggles with Rising Seas

Tim Ritchie, the President of Boston's Museum of Science, joins Nichole to talk about the plans in place to get the museum up and running as part of Phase 3, and welcome the public back safely. Katie Hurwitz of Walpole tells Nichole about her new "porchfest" event in that town, and how she hopes to use live music to bring her community together as they fight COVID-19. Special guest interview from WBZ's Drew Moholland, who speaks with Olympic Gold medalist Meghan Duggan, a North Shore native!

Boston's Museum of Science Gets Ready to Reopen, and Walpole's Porchfest for Music Lovers

Megan Winton, a research scientist with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, joins Nichole on the show to talk all things sharks! She details the different types of sharks we find off the coast of New England, and explains their behaviors. Megan also talks about the Conservancy's research, their Sharktivity app, and how people can keep themselves safe while they're near the water.

Sharks: Fact and Fiction with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

Mark Simos, Associate Professor of Songwriting at the Berklee College of Music, joins Nichole to reveal the winners of this year's "Songs for Social Change" contest. Marion Larson, Chief of Information & Education at MassWildlife, delivers a primer on the piping plover - a cute, small shore bird that needs a lot of space on our local beaches this time of year.

Berklee Students Sing for Social Change, and Piping Plovers 101

BAMS Fest Founder Catherine T. Morris joins Nichole to talk about the history of the urban arts festival, the relationships organizers build with creators of color in the Boston area and beyond, and how the festival's dealing with the coronavirus. Boston Restaurant Talk's Marc Hurwitz returns to the show to talk with Nichole about struggles owners are dealing with as they try to re-open for both indoor and outdoor dining. Marc lists some recent restaurant closures in the Greater Boston area, and offers some insider views on where the industry is going as we make our way into the "new normal".

BAMS Fest Uplifts Creators of Color, and COVID-19's Impact as Restaurants Reopen

Kathy Zagzebski, President and Executive Director at the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay, talks with Nichole about how the Center's keeping up its work to provide critical care for seals, turtles, and other animals brought in during the pandemic. Katherine Taylor, a photojournalist from Somerville, tells the story of her new project "Masks of Boston". Taylor photographs residents around Greater Boston, asking them who they wear their mask for, and how they're handling the effects of the pandemic in their daily lives.

NMLC Navigates COVID-19 to Help Animals, and Somerville Photographer Captures "Masks of Boston"

Jason Talbot, co-founder and Deputy Director of Artists for Humanity, tells Nichole about the organization's work to employ underserved teens in the city, provide them the space to create, and teach them critical business skills. Martha Plaza, a board member of Boston Pride, talks about this year's events - many of which are moving online as we deal with COVID-19. She also talks about what Pride is doing to support LGBTQIA+ communities of color.

Young Bostonians Embrace Creative Entrepreneurship, and 50 Years of Boston Pride

Amina Edwards and Sarika Mendu from MBAs Fight COVID-19 have details on how their organization’s working to help connect MBAs with business owners, non-profits, and government agencies that need extra support to navigate the coronavirus pandemic. William Hu from Docemus Tutoring talks about how students at Boston Latin formed the non-profit to help provide free tutoring for other students in the Greater Boston area, in hopes of tackling inequities in the American education system. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone details the city’s new “Shared Streets” program, and talks about plans to keep residents safe and healthy from the pandemic as the state reopens.

MBAs Fight COVID-19, Somerville's Shared Streets, and Boston Latin Students Help Peers Learn

Medway Superintendent Armand Pires talks with Nichole about his district's new partnership with the Wheelock College at Boston University. Together, they're creating a module to help teenagers learn healthy ways to handle stress and anxiety, especially through the pandemic. Meghna Marjadi's a PhD candidate at UMass Amherst, and she's been working on a study to learn more about baby river herring - a fish that was once abundant here in Massachusetts, but isn't any longer. She tells Nichole about her work, and has details on how your family can contribute. We also hear from MGH's Dr. John Iafrate, detailing Boston's recent coronavirus antibody study.

Stress Relief for Medway Teens, the Quest for River Herring, and Boston's COVID-19 Antibody Study

Chuck Eaton, the Chief Executive of the Boy Scouts Spirit of Adventure Council, talks with Nichole about efforts to keep Scouts all over Massachusetts engaged and learning amid the pandemic. He also details plans for the Council's summer activities. Mike Keiley, Director of Adoption Centers and Programs at MSPCA-Angell, has updates about adoptions, fostering, and resources available for pet parents who are struggling to get by because of the virus.

Scouts Look Ahead to Summer, and a Pandemic Pet Update with MSPCA

CW: domestic violence, sexual assaultStephanie Brown, the CEO of Casa Myrna in Boston, joins the show to talk about the state's "SafeLink" hotline program, which is powered by their advocates. She also provides information about what to look for when it comes to domestic violence, how advocates are handling the coronavirus crisis, and the resources available to help those in need. SAFE-LINK HOTLINE: 1-877-785-2020 || https://casamyrna.org/get-support/safelink/Dan Yeager, Executive Director of the New England Museum Association, explains the impacts of the coronavirus on museums, big and small, across New England, and the measures those institutions are taking to try and stay open – not just now, but after the virus, too.

SafeLink's Support for Domestic Violence Victims, and New England's Museums Navigate COVID-19

Attorney Nicole M. Bluefort answers listener questions about landlord and tenant rights connected to the coronavirus crisis, and details new emergency assistance for renters and homeowners in Massachusetts. Bill Moore, President of Project New Hope in Worcester, provides details about the food drives the organization holds twice a month, helping veterans of all ages ensure they have the food and supplies necessary to get by.

Your Questions on COVID-19 Housing Concerns, and Project New Hope's Help for Veterans

Victoria Waterman, CEO of Girls Inc. in Worcester, talks about the organization's new program to help get critical hygiene supplies into the hands of teens who need them. Kim Szeto, Public Art Program Director for the New England Foundation for the Arts, has details on the foundation's "Public Art Learning Fund", and how artists all over the region can take advantage of funds to help them grow in their practice.

Worcester's 'Girl Pad' Project, and New Grants for New England's Artists

CPA Katie Seekell joins Nichole to answer listener questions about the upcoming coronavirus stimulus payments, which are expected to arrive in the coming weeks from the federal government. Chad Bennett of Dark Monk in Charlestown explains how he and others at the makerspace made the decision to change course, and channel their efforts into getting health care workers personal protective equipment they desperately need.Charlestown Face Shield Project GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/face-shields-for-local-boston-hospitals

Your Questions on Stimulus Payments, and Charlestown Makers Help Health Care Workers

WBZ’s Nichole Davis shares the stories from your community Saturday nights at 10:00 PM on WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

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New England Weekend

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