Boston Scenes

The Dimock Center hosted its annual Steppin’ Out gala fundraiser event last Saturday at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. Headlining this year’s event was R&B star Lalah Hathaway (left), who was joined by Dimock Community Health Center President and CEO Ruth Ellen Fitch (center) and Clayton Turnbull, chair of the board of directors for the Dimock Community Foundation. (Tony Irving photo)

Steppin’ Out has become one of Boston’s most eagerly anticipated fundraising events, with proceeds going to The Dimock Center. This year’s event featured local and national entertainers representing many genres. Attendees included (from left): VaLynda Robinson, Bernadette Rucker, Frank Wilkins, Cleo Wilkins, Nichelle Mungo. (Tony Irving photo)

Filmmaker Ken Burns (left), whose documentaries have enjoyed widespread critical acclaim over the past three decades, paid a visit to the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School last month. Burns participated in a discussion of the themes of race and citizenship in his films. Burns, historian Geoffrey Ward (center) and cultural critic Stanley Crouch discuss aspects of Burns’ films before an audience of 200 people. (Tony Irving photo) 

Five members of the New England Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen traveled to Tuskegee, Ala., last month for the official opening of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at Moton Field, which was the only primary flight facility for African American pilot candidates in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. (From left): Harvey Sanford, George Hardy, Jack Bryant, chapter president Willie Shelman and William Vickers. (Photo courtesy of Judith Sanford-Harris)

Construction has begun on the new Fisher House Boston facility, which will provide free accommodations to families of New England veterans undergoing medical treatment at the West Roxbury VA Hospital. Among those in attendance for the groundbreaking at the new site were (from left): Dr. Michael Mayo-Smith, network director of VA New England; Michael Lawson, director of VA Boston Healthcare System; Michelle Keating, chairwoman, Fisher House Boston; Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass.; and David Coker, Fisher House Foundation. (Photo courtesy of John Toothaker/toothakerphoto.com)

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) recently awarded Dorchester resident Rolanda Dinkins with its “Outstanding Achievement” award. The award honors employees who have made a noteworthy contribution to the operation of the authority. Dinkins was recognized for providing exceptional customer service. (From left): Richard Dinkins, Massport CEO/Executive Director Thomas J. Kinton, Rolanda Dinkins and Lena Taylor. (Photo courtesy of Massport)