The Common

The median price for a single family home in Boston is now $900,000. The record-breaking figure is driven by a shortage of housing inventory, as well as a reduction in home turnover thanks to high interest rates. WBUR Senior Business Reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka joins The Common to discuss how we got here, and what is at stake for communities when home ownership strays farther and farther out of reach for the average family. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Whether you're jet-setting, hitting your local beach, or just lounging in your backyard, summer is the perfect time to pick up a book. WBUR Associate Producer for Newsletters, and coauthor of the "Beach Books" newsletter Hanna Ali joins The Common with some of her top summer reads. Hanna recommends... "The Acrobat" by Edward J. Delaney "My First Popsicle: An Anthology of Food and Feelings" edited by Zosia Mamet "Little Weirds" by Jenny Slate Looking for more summer reading recs? Subscribe to WBUR's Beach Books newsletter to get reading recommendations straight to your inbox, every week through Labor Day. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Hey listeners, Team Common is taking the holiday off to rest and recharge. But don’t worry – we’ll be back tomorrow with our regular show. In the meantime, we hope you're having a good one. Also, our listener survey closes this week July 7. So if you haven't had the chance, please consider taking a few minutes to fill it out. We want to know what you’re liking about the show so far and what you think could be better. This podcast is just as much yours as it is ours, so your feedback is an important part of making it the best it can be. Happy Fourth and be safe. Love, Your friends at The Common Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

We’re back with another piece from our friends in the WBUR newsroom while we at The Common work on some bigger projects we think you’ll enjoy. Today’s story comes from WBUR Education Reporter Carrie Jung. School is out for the summer but the 2022-2023 school year was much closer to normal than the last few during COVID. Carrie caught up with students and teachers from across the state to get their reflections on the past year. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Starting July 1, Massachusetts immigrants can apply for a driver's license regardless of immigration status under the The Work and Family Mobility Act. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center estimates that up to 85,000 people could receive a drivers license under the new law by 2026. WBUR Transportation Reporter Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez joins The Common to break down the The Work and Family Mobility Act and the impact it will have on the day-to-day lives of drivers across the state. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Insects are disappearing at a concerning rate -- from 1% to 2% in many places, and up to 10% in others. Some of those insects are pollinators, which are key players in supporting 35% of our food supply. Today, those pollinators, like bees and butterflies, need our help. WBUR Senior Climate and Environment Correspondent Barbara Moran joins The Common with more on the importance of pollinators, and a guide to what you can do to support pollinators in your own yard, garden, or even from your apartment fire escape. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

For the last several months The Common has been talking about the lack of accountability for harmful behavior from local chefs and restaurateurs, such as the allegations against Barbara Lynch, as well as comments made by Ming Tsai on WBUR's CitySpace stage. Last month, CitySpace continued that conversation with a panel discussion called “A Reckoning in Restaurants: Combating Toxic Restaurant Culture.” During the event, audience members submitted questions for the panel, which included Hassel Aviles, Co-founder and executive director of Not 9 to 5 (a non-profit in mental health advocacy for the foodservice sector); Irene Li, Co-founder of Mei Mei Dumplings and James Beard Leadership Award winner; Janelle Nanos, Business Enterprise Reporter at the Boston Globe; and Hannah Selinger, James Beard Award-nominated writer. There were so many questions, that there just wasn’t enough time to answer them all. So, we figured we’d continue the event here on the show with Irene and Hannah to answer some of the questions they couldn’t get to that night. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

The Roxbury International Film Festival is celebrating its 25th year with a 10 day festival featuring over 80 films. The festival is designed around celebrating people of color, and creating an environment for filmmakers and film lovers to meet and experience one another's work. Today on The Common, we take you on a trip to the Museum of Fine Art in Boston for an evening of screenings. We also speak with Lisa Simmons, the artistic and executive director of the Roxbury International Film Festival, which runs in-person through June 28th, and online from June 27th through July 2nd. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

We’re back with another piece from our friends in the WBUR newsroom while we at The Common work on some bigger projects we think you’ll enjoy. Today’s story comes from Rupa Shenoy and Laney Ruckstuhl at Morning Edition. In honor of Pride Month (happy Pride) Rupa and Laney wanted to remember some of the queer people in Massachusetts history who have been overlooked. So, Rupa sat down with author Wendy Rouse, who wrote "Public Spaces, Secret Lives: A Queer History of the Suffrage Movement, which shares the stories of local queer suffragettes. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

The Boston Art and Music Soul Festival is here, bringing music, art, food, and other celebrations of Black culture to Boston's Franklin Park this Friday and Saturday (June 23 and 24), for the fifth year. WBUR Reporter Arielle Gray joins The Common, to talk about the importance of creating dedicated spaces to celebrate Black music and art in Boston, the unique challenges faced by organizers of events such as BAMS Fest that highlight hip-hop and other forms of Black expression, and for a preview of some of the musicians hitting the stage this weekend. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

In 1999, Congress passed a law, known as the "Faircloth Amendment," which restricted the construction of federally subsidized public housing above a certain limit. Now, there's a new initiative that aims to increase the amount of public housing available by backfilling many units that have been demolished or fallen into disrepair. In Massachusetts, Cambridge is leading the charge, with active plans to develop more than 100 new public housing units. The local housing authority hopes to develop even more units in the future...both within the city limits, and beyond. Boston Globe Housing Reporter Andrew Brinker joins The Common with more. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Boston's food scene continues to change and grow, but one thing remains the same: the complete absence of prestigious Michelin Stars awarded to local restaurants. And it's not necessarily because our local spots don't deserve them. Erika Adams, Editor of Eater Boston joins The Common for a look at why Boston remains without a Michelin Guide. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Looking to expand your horizons this summer with a little art? Or perhaps escape the hot outdoors with a theatrical performance? Or maybe you're just looking for that perfect addition to your summer playlist. Whatever your situation may be, WBUR's Arts and Culture team has you covered with this year's summer arts guides. WBUR Arts Reporting Fellow Solon Kelleher joins The Common with the highlights. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Happy Juneteenth! We hope you’re taking some time to celebrate and reflect on this important day. The WBUR newsroom covers a lot of stories, and we aren't always able to get to them all on the show. So, today we're bringing you one of those pieces while Team Common works on some reporting we're really excited to share with you soon. Today’s story comes from reporter Walter Wuthmann. Boston’s City Hall building is pretty polarizing. Some love it, but not everyone is into 1960s Brutalist architecture. Still, it’s a 55-year-old landmark that needs a lot of repairs, and Walt spent a day looking into what it takes now, and what may be needed in the future, to keep this building running. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

It's almost Juneteenth, and you know that means it's time to get out on the town to learn, celebrate and reflect. WBUR Arts Editor Lauren Williams joins The Common to walk us through four events happening in Boston, and beyond, over this long weekend to celebrate this important day. Celebrate Juneteenth with Cornell Coley: Saturday, June 17 - the Honan-Allston branch of the Boston Public Library Juneteenth at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters: Sunday, June 18 - Longfellow House in Cambridge Kevin Harris presents: Roots, Water, and Sunlight - A Contemporary Octet Expedition through the Expressions of James Baldwin: Sunday, June 18 - Groton Hill Music Center Free admission to celebrate Juneteenth at Boston museums: Monday, June 19th - museums including the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum offer free admission and special programming. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Boston's life sciences sector is growing rapidly, with more than 6,000 jobs expected to open up over the next decade, according to a report from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation. But as the number of available jobs grow, so do concerns about developing and attaining enough talent to fill positions. WBUR Senior Business Reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka joins The Common to explain what's behind this disparity between open jobs and qualified workers in biotech, and for a look at a new initiative from the city, which aims to build alternative pathways into the industry. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

The Supreme Court of the United States is expected to deliver decisions on two cases concerning affirmative action in college admissions, including one case involving Harvard, in the coming weeks. The conservative-leaning court is anticipated to rule against the race-conscious admission practices used by elite schools like Harvard to promote a diversified student body, which the plaintiffs in each case argue are racially discriminatory. MassLive Reporting Fellow Alvin Buyinza joins The Common to discuss how a ban on race-conscious admissions could impact diversity on many of the highly selective campuses in the Boston area. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Boston’s Pride Parade has been on hiatus since 2019, after being canceled due to the pandemic, and then again after calls for more diversity and inclusion led to the event’s organizers disbanding. The city’s re-imagined pride celebration, organized by Boston Pride for the People, took to the streets on Saturday, drawing tens of thousands of participants. WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann covered the event. He joins The Common to share thoughts and reactions from this years attendees and organizers. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

The WBUR newsroom covers a lot of stories, and we aren't always able to get to them all on the show. So, today we're bringing you one of those pieces while Team Common works on some reporting we're really excited to share with you soon. Today's piece comes from reporter Lynn Jolicoeur. It’s about the shutdown of a hospital-run program that treats people with addiction in an area one person calls a treatment desert. This news comes as Massachusetts continues to experience an opioid epidemic. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.

Grace by Nia, which opened late last month, is a new restaurant and music club in Boston's predominantly white Seaport neighborhood. But unlike many of its neighbors, Grace by Nia, owned by Nia Grace of Darryl's Corner Bar and Kitchen, aims to cater specifically to the experiences of guests of color. Today on The Common, we take you to Grace by Nia and talk with owner Nia Grace about her vision for the businesses and the new energy it brings to the neighborhood. Can you take a few minutes and fill out our survey? It would go a long way in helping us make the kind of show you want to hear. Take the survey here.