The first three sessions of this course will explore the political history of Boston--past, present, and future. The group leader will make references to available texts for those who might want to review them and will share thoughts given his active participation in the life of the city for over 50 years. Although there will not be any assigned reading, relevant books of interest will be suggested to class participants. For each of the three lecture classes, Larry will deliver prepared remarks augmented by stories and recollections. Then the class will be opened up for lively questions and discussion. For the fourth session, class participants will see a private screening of a well-received documentary in which Larry is featured, dealing primarily with his role in public life in the 1970s and 1980s.
Boston Past, Boston Present, Boston Future
Group Leader: Lawrence DiCara
Venue: The Cathedral Church of Saint Paul
Meets on: Wednesday 10 AM
Starting: Oct 8
Sessions: 4
Class Size: 25
Teaching Style: Lecture and discussion
Weekly Preparation: None
Larry DiCara was the youngest person ever elected to the Boston City Council, where he served for ten years as both a member and president. He has been an active citizen of the Greater Boston community for five decades and has been appointed by mayors and governors to serve on a number of public boards. He chaired A Better City and the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, was an officer and member of the executive committee of the Boston Bar Association, and chaired the Audit Committee of the City of Boston for 30 years. While on the City Council, he actively participated in many of the decisions which made Boston the city it is today, including Quincy Market, Copley Place, and the Charlestown Navy Yard. As an attorney in private practice, Larry has represented a wide array of clients in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. In September 2022, Larry was the recipient of the Shattuck Award for “Providing the City of Boston with a quality of leadership that serves as a model for all who work for the public good. A lifetime commitment to bettering government, our community and following in the footsteps of Henry L. Shattuck by providing extraordinary public contributions.” Larry is a trained mediator and has been appointed to the Standing Committee on Dispute Resolution of the Trial Court. Also a published author, his Turmoil and Transition in Boston tells the story of Boston in the 1970s. He frequently lectures and writes about public policy issues. Larry is a graduate of Boston Latin School, Harvard College, Suffolk Law School, and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Massachusetts.