North Shore Black Women’s Association Archives

We have more to go: Luncheon honors Dr. Martin Luther King

January 31, 2019 ditikohli 0

By Diti Kohli U.S. Senator Ed Markey, a Malden native, captivated the crowd with his speech Jan. 19 at the North Shore Black Women’s Association’s 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon on the weekend of Dr. King’s birthday. “Oh, how we still miss his wisdom, his position, his integrity,” Markey told participants at the luncheon, held at Anthony’s restaurant, which commemorates Dr. King and his contributions to peace, justice, and equal rights in the 1950s and 1960s. “Donald Trump tries to use hate to tear our country apart. We are reminded of why Dr. King warned us ‘There comes a time when silence is betrayal,’” said Markey. “That time is now.” The NSBWA honored Markey and three other community members during the annual event: children’s author Lesa Cline Ransome, state senator Jason M. Lewis, and business owner Allen Levine. Malden Recovery Court Judge Benjamin B. Barnes served as keynote speaker. Markey focused many of his comments on the government shutdown, then in its fifth week. At that time, multiple government organizations were closed and […]

Martin Luther King, Jr. luncheon draws crowds year after year

January 19, 2015 kyliegailgarcia 0

The North Shore Black Women’s Association held its 22nd Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon Saturday, January 17 at Anthony’s in Malden. In the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy, eight community members were honored for accomplishments that embody his ideals, passion and commitment to service. This year’s honorees were: Silvia Banos of Malden Senior Community Center, Reverend Robert L. Gray of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Boston, Reverend Sharyn Halliday of African Methodist Episcopal Church, Karen Colón Hayes of the Office of Mayor Gary Christenson, Mei Hung of the Chinese Culture Connection, Habiba Idrissi of the American Association for Arab Women and Malden Teen Enrichment Center, Gloria Salazar of the Malden Latino Council, and Reverend Dr. Milton L. Thomas, Sr. of New Life Christian Ministries. Neal Anderson, Ward Seven Councilor of Malden, hosted as master of ceremonies leading the crowd in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing (The Black National Anthem)” and “We Shall Overcome.” Full of highlights like the liturgical dance performance by local community members Tara Mukasa and Markita Latimer, and music […]

Henrietta Lacks’ story moves audiences at Malden Reads ‘Dessert Theater’

November 16, 2014 annedr 0

It was an electrifying evening in Malden on Monday, November 10. The cafeteria of Triangle, Inc. at 420 Pearl St. was transformed into an elegant cafe with lamps and candlelight replacing the overhead fluorescents. The opening to the kitchen was covered by grey-mottled panels and formed the backdrop for a theatrical presentation that left the over 70 attendees to the free event profoundly moved by its power and intensity. Malden Reads: One City, One Book in collaboration with the North Shore Black Women’s Association presented a staged reading of an original play, “Henrietta,” based on the 2014 Malden Reads book selection The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Written by poet, musician, songwriter and (now) playwright Licia Sky, the reading was a moving tribute to the African-American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in the 1950s at Johns Hopkins Hospital and have been multiplied and used worldwide since that time to further the field of medical science. Henrietta was a poor black tobacco farmer from the south whose family continued to […]