NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT

Dear Friends of MAPC:

Out of an abundance of caution, MAPC has decided to postpone the Winter Council Meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10) in Framingham.  Over the next few days, we will assess the situation and decide how to reschedule the Council Meeting and Legislative Panel on Housing, Transportation, and Climate.  We will consider rescheduling as a virtual event, which will provide Council members and allies the opportunity to learn the latest about what is going on at the State House, without having to participate in a crowded event that might make some people uncomfortable.

I realize we sent out a note earlier this morning reminding people about the Council Meeting, and I apologize if this update causes any confusion.  Still, we feel the wisest course is to postpone the meeting, and to reschedule in a different format.

Please stay tuned, and stay safe!

Best regards,

Marc Draisen

Executive Director

What is spatial justice, and how can cities and towns use this framework to rethink how their built environment supports people’s rights to be, thrive, express and connect? What role can artists and public art play in helping us imagine and shape more inclusive, thriving public spaces throughout Greater Boston? Join a lively discussion among artists, activists, and urbanists who are leading the conversation about spatial justice in our region today.

How can public-making—the collective creation and activation of public spaces for interaction and belonging—be a radical, joyful tool for spatial justice? Join artists, activists, and community leaders to discuss how public-making can create opportunities for interaction, laughter, dialogue, and surprise, and explore real-life examples of public-making that you can bring to your community.

Not all public spaces are created equal. Transformative planning and urban design begins with addressing historic and current experiences of racism and exclusion. But what does that mean in practice? Join the conversation with creative community leaders about what it means to design for spatial justice. We’ll explore how skate parks, sidewalk kitchens, and “dance courts” can change how public space is used, who feels welcome in it, and how inclusive creative placemaking can help lead the way toward lasting spatial justice.

In the beginning, Small Steps on Climate Change was a dance and embodied movement performance intended to inspire Metro Boston to view climate change as an opportunity to create stronger, collaborative, healthier, and more vibrant communities in the face of climate change. Just six weeks before opening night, COVID-19 altered the path.

Small Steps: Dances of Resilience is a full-length documentary film about overcoming the struggle to create and perform during a global pandemic. The dancers tell their stories of climate, COVID, art, and hope, and, finally, they dance.

Join us for three film screenings on YouTube Live this September 9, 10, and 11. Each screening will be time-limited and all content will be removed between and after each screening, so see it while you can!

After the Friday, September 11 performance, we will hold a “Meet the Dancers” Q&A session on Zoom.

The production was developed by movement artist, screenwriter and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Artist-in-Residence Hortense Gerardo and MAPC Senior Environmental Planner Darci Schofield to integrate the arts into climate change planning.

Directed by Hortense Gerardo and produced by Darci Schofield and MAPC.

Featuring original choreography and performances by:

• Laura Sanchez Garcia, award-winning flamenco dancer, choreographer, and educator
• Elizabeth Walker, former Los Angeles Ballet soloist
• Simon Chernow, KRUMP and fusion hip-hop dancer and core leader of Boston’s Climate Strike
• Jean Appolon Expressions, Haitian dance troupe fusing contemporary elements with Haitian folkloric dance
• Olivia Link, contemporary modern dancer and Urbanity Dance educator
• Any Berube and Theo Martinez, competitive ballroom salsa dancers and instructors

In the beginning, Small Steps on Climate Change was a dance and embodied movement performance intended to inspire Metro Boston to view climate change as an opportunity to create stronger, collaborative, healthier, and more vibrant communities in the face of climate change. Just six weeks before opening night, COVID-19 altered the path.

Small Steps: Dances of Resilience is a full-length documentary film about overcoming the struggle to create and perform during a global pandemic. The dancers tell their stories of climate, COVID, art, and hope, and, finally, they dance.

Join us for three film screenings on YouTube Live this September 9, 10, and 11. Each screening will be time-limited and all content will be removed between and after each screening, so see it while you can!

After the Friday, September 11 performance, we will hold a “Meet the Dancers” Q&A session on Zoom.

The production was developed by movement artist, screenwriter and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Artist-in-Residence Hortense Gerardo and MAPC Senior Environmental Planner Darci Schofield to integrate the arts into climate change planning.

Directed by Hortense Gerardo and produced by Darci Schofield and MAPC.

Featuring original choreography and performances by:

• Laura Sanchez Garcia, award-winning flamenco dancer, choreographer, and educator
• Elizabeth Walker, former Los Angeles Ballet soloist
• Simon Chernow, KRUMP and fusion hip-hop dancer and core leader of Boston’s Climate Strike
• Jean Appolon Expressions, Haitian dance troupe fusing contemporary elements with Haitian folkloric dance
• Olivia Link, contemporary modern dancer and Urbanity Dance educator
• Any Berube and Theo Martinez, competitive ballroom salsa dancers and instructors

In the beginning, Small Steps on Climate Change was a dance and embodied movement performance intended to inspire Metro Boston to view climate change as an opportunity to create stronger, collaborative, healthier, and more vibrant communities in the face of climate change. Just six weeks before opening night, COVID-19 altered the path.

Small Steps: Dances of Resilience is a full-length documentary film about overcoming the struggle to create and perform during a global pandemic. The dancers tell their stories of climate, COVID, art, and hope, and, finally, they dance.

Join us for three film screenings on YouTube Live this September 9, 10, and 11. Each screening will be time-limited and all content will be removed between and after each screening, so see it while you can!

After the Friday, September 11 performance, we will hold a “Meet the Dancers” Q&A session on Zoom.

The production was developed by movement artist, screenwriter and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Artist-in-Residence Hortense Gerardo and MAPC Senior Environmental Planner Darci Schofield to integrate the arts into climate change planning.

Directed by Hortense Gerardo and produced by Darci Schofield and MAPC.

Featuring original choreography and performances by:

• Laura Sanchez Garcia, award-winning flamenco dancer, choreographer, and educator
• Elizabeth Walker, former Los Angeles Ballet soloist
• Simon Chernow, KRUMP and fusion hip-hop dancer and core leader of Boston’s Climate Strike
• Jean Appolon Expressions, Haitian dance troupe fusing contemporary elements with Haitian folkloric dance
• Olivia Link, contemporary modern dancer and Urbanity Dance educator
• Any Berube and Theo Martinez, competitive ballroom salsa dancers and instructors

On June 22nd from 4:00-5:30 pm ET, join the MAPC Public Health and Arts & Culture departments as we unveil new artworks created by nine artists and artist teams that aim to spread the word about COVID-related public health advice. The artworks are available for public use by health agencies, municipalities, community groups, and the general public. Join us to celebrate the artists and receive links to the artworks available for digital download and sharing!

Learn more about the project at www.mapc.org/covid19-art.

The Lex250 Commission invites community members to hear directly from four artists chosen to develop concepts for a monument to honor the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington in Belfry Hill. This is a hybrid event. Community members are invited to attend in person or virtually via Zoom. Artists will present their concepts for the Lex250 Monument virtually and there will be a time for Q&A with the artists following artist presentations.

Location:
Estabrook Room in the lower level of Lexington Town Office Building
1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02420

& Virtual

Please RSVP:  mapc.ma/Lex250Monument

Learn more about the project on the webpage.