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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!

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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!

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There are enormous inequities that people of color face 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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