July's Second Sunday Speaker Series will be a special presentation recognizing a man who made history in Massachusetts. Edward W. Brooke, the first black ever elected to the US Senate, represented Massachusetts on Capitol Hill from 1967 to 1979, earning praise as a national leader as well as an important figure in the struggle for civil rights. In our "Juneteenth Plus" presentation, local historian Alan Earls will describe Brooke's rise from a childhood in a segregated Washington, DC, to service in a segregated Army regiment that trained at Massachusetts' Fort Devens. In his service in Italy he endured blatant racism yet won praise for his leadership and bravery -- and won the heart of an Italian girl whom he later married. A law degree from BU followed with an improbable rise through the tough political world of Massachusetts. Learn more about this fascinating, forgotten figure and his impact on our state and nation (and even our town!) Join us Sunday July 10th, doors open at 1:00PM