NEWTON INSPIRES
REIMAGINED 2020-21
Celebrating 10 Years
Newton Inspires 2020-21 features some of the city’s most interesting and influential individuals. This year, we’re doing it differently: Our in-person speakers series is virtual. We’re excited to present notable Newtonians sharing their passions as we celebrate 10 years of Newton Inspires! See our speaker list below.

View our Newton Inspires 2020-21 individual sponsors.
Upcoming Speakers 2020-21
Fazio, Giovanni, Ph.D.
Giovanni Fazio, Ph.D.
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
7:00 pm
Our Origin and Our Demise: Birth, Life and the Death of Stars
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Dr. Giovanni Fazio, a senior physicist, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and a lecturer in the Astronomy Department at Harvard University, will help us understand these big questions: Where did we come from? What is our ultimate fate? One of the most fascinating problems in modern astrophysics is understanding how stars (including our Sun) are born, how they evolve during their lifetime and produce the elements, and how planets form around them. However, stars don’t shine forever. Eventually their fuel is consumed and they end in a violent death. The ashes left over from this life-and-death cycle are very strange objects: white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.
Join us to see why Dr. Fazio is the only speaker to appear at all 10 Newton Inspires!
Beauchamp, Chamberlain, Watkins
Aixa Beauchamp, Miceal Chamberlain, Orlando Watkins
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
7 p.m.
Stepping Up to the Challenge of Advancing Racial and Economic Equity.
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People of color face enormous inequities in education, health, wealth and employment opportunities. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion featuring Aixa Beauchamp, Co-Founder of the Latino Equity Fund, Miceal Chamberlain, Managing Director for Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Markets, and Orlando Watkins, Vice President for Programs at the Boston Foundation, on how their institutions are rising to meet the challenge and advance racial and economic equity.
Hospitality Round Table Discussion
Hospitality Industry Leaders with Joelle Tomb and Greg Reibman
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
7:00 pm
Join Greg Reibman, president of the Newton-Needham-Wellesley Regional Chamber of Commerce and Joelle Tomb, co-owner of SUSHICO in Newton Centre, in conversation with local restaurateurs as they discuss the hospitality industry in the age of COVID-19. Watch this space for more details.
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Past Speakers 2020-21
Vaghar, Sam
Sam Vaghar
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
7:00 pm
Building a Generation of Social Impact Leaders
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Sam Vaghar , Newton North alumnus, was a sophomore at Brandeis University searching for a purpose. His life changed when he read two books on extreme poverty, and he set out to connect his peers to the world. Join Sam to hear how he founded Millennium Campus Network (MCN) and learn how this non-profit is building a generation of social impact leaders with the Millennium Fellowship. This conversation with engaged young people will give you hope for the future!
Spears, Sonja
Sonja Spears
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
7:00 pm
Finding Hope Through Justice
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Sonja Spears is the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer for Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, and Chair, Newton’s Police Reform Task Force. Spears will explore how her own experiences inform her work as a social justice advocate and give her hope in the restorative powers of justice. While a judge in New Orleans, Spears was wrongfully targeted for criminal prosecution. After two years of investigation, no wrongdoing was discovered so she was cleared and never charged, but the impact of this experience was devastating personally and professionally. After retiring from the bench, she re-dedicated her life to issues of racial justice and equity and now works as the chief equity and inclusion officer at Boston Health Care of the Homeless Program and teaches part time at Tufts University.
Baer, Fox, Primack, Vona
Zachary Baer, Skylar Fox, Tess Primack, Ryan Vona
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
7:00 pm
Broadway Babies: From NPS to the Great White Way
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Have a passion for the theatre? Join us for a colorful conversation about performing and producing during “normal” times and Covid times with Newton Public Schools alumni Zachary Baer, producer of live and digital entertainment; Skylar Fox, director, playwright and theatrical designer; Tess Primack, actress and founder of Broadway from Home; and Ryan Vona, actor and signer-songwriter. Special guest Adam Brown, director of Theatre Ink at Newton North High School, will moderate what promises to be a memorable discussion.
Drower Swidey, Denise
Denise Drower Swidey
Sunday, December 6, 2020
1:00 pm
Family-friendly cooking class. Learn to make both sweet- and savory-style pizza for the holidays.
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Denise Drower Swidey is a chef, food writer, food stylist, Emmy- and James Beard-nominated producer of national TV cooking shows, college lecturer, and long-time Newton resident.
Hehir, Jason
Jason Hehir
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
7:00 pm
The NBA, Michael Jordan, and the Making of The Last Dance will feature a conversation with Newton native Jason Hehir, and Joe Amorosino, sports director of 7NEWS and host of the weekly Sunday night show “Sports Xtra.
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Jason Hehir is a Newton native and critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker and director of ESPN’s The Last Dance, an Emmy-winning 10-part series on Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls