Newton Honoring Black History Month With Multiple Events

NEWTON, MA — The city’s main community events organizer has announced its full lineup of events scheduled for Black History Month.

Spark Newton, formerly known as Newton Community Pride, is a nonprofit organization that aims to unite the Newton community by spearheading free arts and culture events. The organization was founded in 1989 by Linda Plaut, and is currently run by Executive Director Blair Lesser Sullivan.

The first of three main events is a jazz concert performed by George W. Russell Jr. and Friends will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the War Memorial Auditorium at City Hall on Commonwealth Avenue. According to Spark Newton, the music will blend gospel, jazz, and contemporary styles to honor black musical heritage. A Pennsylvania native, Russell is the Chair of the Harmony and Jazz Composition Department at Berklee College in Boston.

The next event will take place the next day on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. with a screening of the 2025 film “Sinners” at the West Newton Cinema on 1296 Washington St. Following the movie, attendees are encouraged to stick around for a panel discussion led by local leaders, artists, and scholars to discuss aspects of identity, justice, and community as it relates to the movie.

The finale event is slated for the last day of the month on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. with an author read-along at Newtonville Books on 10 Langley Road. Stefanie Foster Brown is a former school psychologist turned author of the family-friendly picture book My Heart Speaks Kriolu. The story is reportedly inspired by Foster Brown’s own upbringing in Massachusetts.

“These special events reflect our ongoing commitment to celebration, learning, and connection,” Lesser Sullivan said. “We are thrilled to bring these experiences to Newton and create spaces where everyone can engage with powerful art and stories.”

Registration is available online now.

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