Boston Scenes

Boston Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal traded in his uniform for a white tie and tails for a special appearance conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in their holiday signature piece “Sleigh Ride,” the Jackson 5 classic “Can You Feel It” and the Queen hit “We Are the Champions” on Dec. 20, as part of a Holiday Pops concert at Symphony Hall. (Stu Rosner photo)

Gov. Deval Patrick and Mission Hill’s Ron Bell are pictured at a thank you party last month for the governor’s campaign workers. Bell is the governor’s senior advisor for community affairs. Patrick thanked Bell by name in his victory speech on Nov. 2 after Patrick won re-election. (Frederick G.S. Clow photo)

Community Change, an anti-racism organization doing work in the Boston area presented their 2010 Drylongso, the Horace Seldon Emerging Leaders and Lifetime Achievement Awards recently at Simmons College. The purpose of the awards is to honor those who work selflessley to correct the wrongs of racism and to recognize those who are living the commitment toward making a more equitable society. Pictured are: (front row) Theresa Perry, Sarah-Ann Shaw, Jean Hardisty, (back row) Maya Honda, Agustine Herrera, Berta Rosa Berriz, Alexia Layne-Lomon, Laurie Holmes, Ron Marlow and Lynette Jones-Carradine. (Don West photo)

Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office (SDO, formerly known as the State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance — SOWMBA) held its Pre-Certification Seminar for Minority and Women Bussiness Enterprises at the Mattapan Branch Library on Dec. 10, 2010. Pictured (from l to r) are: SDO’s Executive Director Reginald A. Nunnally, CEO of Richardson Associates and host of the seminar Cynthia Younger and entrepreneur Eric Straughter. (Tony Irving photo)

International choreographer and dancer Geoffery Holder (l) stopped by Wheelock Family Theatre to say hello to the director of BalletRox Tony Williams (r) and one of the prinicipal dancers Ilonga. BalletRox celebrated its 10th anniversary of the “Urban Nutcracker,” which follows the storywline of E.T.A.Hoffman’s 19th century fairy tale set in contemporary Boston. (Don West photo)

Pastor Josh Fulton, wife Cynthia and daughter Rebecca host their annual Christmas holiday dinner at their home in Milton. Guests included Bishop Gideon A. Thompson and wife, Pastor Yvonne Thompson and friends Bernie Sigh and wife Rhonda Patrick-Sigh. (Tony Irving photo)

The tree shines in front of Trinity Church at Boston’s first tree lighting of the season at the annual Copley Square Holiday Tree Lighting on Nov. 30. The event is put on by the Boston Department of Parks and Recreation in conjunction with the Friends of Copley Square. The night featured an appearance by Santa Claus as well as live entertainment. (Steven Swyryt photo)