Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Philosophy of Nonviolence
On Martin Luther King Jr. day we honored his life and work by creating a community space to discuss his philosophy of nonviolence. We asked, “how can we bring these ideas into the present today?” and discussed at length the importance of being tender hearted (kind, compassionate, hopeful) and tough-minded (discerning and rational). It is…
Practical Philosophy for Living: Stoics
The Stoic philosophers have shown us through their words and actions that we must focus only on that which we can change. Focusing on anything else is a waste of time and energy – our limited resources – and it is up to us to recognize how to use these resources effectively. Doing so allows…
Holiday Celebration
It is truly a treasure to spend time with those that lift us up in the world. Thank you to everyone that has supported Acropolis Boston and connected with us to support our philosophical and local volunteering efforts. We hope to see you next year at our upcoming events!
Symbolism of the American Dollar: A World Philosophy Day Event
A wealth of wisdom and remarkable history lie hidden in plain sight within the American dollar bill. In honor of UN World Philosophy Day, we brought this topic to life in an open-house event at our philosophy center in Porter Square. This event explored America’s founding Ideals, from the triumph and innovation of the Iroquois…
Food Drive Fall 2022
As the days get colder, we are asking our neighbors to please support our food and supply drive to benefit the Somerville Homeless Coalition. Above is a list of suggested items, but any non-perishable supply is welcome, and no donation is too small! Acropolis Boston is a modern day school of philosophy which explores classical…
Fall Celebration
Members and students gathered together for the fall celebration with food and drink. We symbolically planted our seeds of intention. Fall is called the spring of the philosopher, offering us a time to go inwards and reflect on our experiences throughout the year. Doing so helps to extract the seeds of wisdom in order to…
Practical Philosophy for Living: Workshop Series
From June to August, we held a series of workshops featuring ancient wisdom from East & West. From the Stoic philosophers Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca, we learned how practical philosophy can help us tackle our everyday struggles. Our eastern philosophy workshops focused on how we can uncover our true selves amid the pressures of…
ArtBeat 2022
We continued our summer festival circuit in Somerville during ArtBeat 2022. The theme of the year is “Rise,” so we rose to the occasion and brought philosophy out of the ivory towers and into the streets. Between pupusas and meeting new friends in the nonprofit sector of Seven Hills park, we had a blast dispensing…
Philosophical Community Picnic
We enjoyed a beautiful philosophical discussion on July 4th with friends, food and drink at Danehy Park. Deep conversations, joy, and laughter were had by all. Locals, family, and friends as far as New Jersey gathered together after many years of being distant. Attendees agreed that there is no comparison to sharing space with fellow…
Waltham Riverfest
The summer festival circuit started in Waltham this year, where we presented a theme of nourishment. We gave passerbys the chance to spin the wheel of wisdom for tips and reflections on taking care of our inner world. One of our favorite quotes from the day comes from Paulo Coehlo: “We must never stop dreaming.…
World Environment Day
We celebrated World Environment Day on June 4 with a special presentation of local trees in the area. Did you know that oak tree seeds can make indelible ink? Can you tell which pine trees have edible sprouts? Our volunteers gave a tour around Danehy Park of the special qualities of each tree and how…
Philosophical Movie Night: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
We’re not armchair philosophers but we do enjoy a good movie! Philosophers gathered together Saturday night on May 21st to watch multiverse extravaganza Everything Everywhere All at Once. This very thought provoking film sparked a lively discussion over J.P. Licks ice cream in Davis Square. It’s important to make time & space to reflect on…
Deeper Dialogues: Bridging Divides
Community members brought their perspectives from a diverse blend of cultural contexts in honor of UN World International Day of Living Together in Peace. Our discussion topic for the evening: “how can we create greater understanding and foster togetherness today?” We came up with action steps inspired in part by Bryan Stevenson’s ideas to change…
Jedi Wisdom
In Jedi Wisdom, we explored the monomyth of the hero’s journey as described by Joseph Campbell. The Hero’s Journey involves many choices along the path. In Star Wars this translates into the choice between the Light or the Dark Side of the Force. Each choice defines who we will become. There is a dynamic tension…
Earth Day Celebration
What a better way to celebrate Earth Day than exploring Fresh Pond together! In April, lovers of nature participated in a walk around the pond as we observed Mother Nature in her first blossoms of Spring. It was a beautiful day as we discussed the collaborations and communications of trees as outlined in the fascinating…
Embrace your True Self
Which me is the real me? Is it the person others think of when they think of me? Is it the person that I want others to think of when they think of me? We often believe that within ourselves lies a deeply flawed being. We fear showing the world who we truly are so…
World Poetry Day 2022
The Call of Happiness by Savonne Johnson Happiness, tell me your secrets, show me your gifts. I’ve heard of your power, how it beautify and lifts, people off of their feet into new dimensions of thought. Someone once told me that you can be bribed and bought. Is this true? I wish for it not…
Women in Philosophy
On March 12th Acropolis Boston collaborated with Acropolis Montreal and Acropolis Chicago to honor the courage and wisdom of Hypatia, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Maya Angelou, and Delia Steinberg Guzman. These women have contributed to the world in innumerable ways. They have advanced the arts, culture, and philosophy for millions of people. Women and men have…
Annual Meeting
On January 31st, leaders within Acropolis Boston gathered to celebrate the progress made in 2021 building a stronger school and strengthening the ties that bind us together. Not only did we dine, but there were great moments of laughter and joy. Good food and even better company makes the heart fill with gratitude and appreciation…
Finding your Superpower
November 2021 In honor of the United Nations’ World Philosophy Day, philosophers from Boston and Chicago discussed the importance of our inherent superpowers, otherwise known as the virtues. Some superpowers discussed included humility, duty, courage, and wisdom. During the group discussion, participants shared insights from their experiences when these powers helped them to conquer their…
Philosophy in the Park
November 2021 It was a great day in Seven Hills Park. Philosophers came from far and wide to participate in various interactive booths intended to foster reflection, sharing, and self-discovery through experience. The journey to know oneself is a long tradition, for which the ancient teachings offer us pearls of wisdom to seek the eternal,…
Stoics in Davis Square
October 2021 On a cool, brisk, October morning in Davis square, members of Acropolis Boston celebrated Stoic week. In the spirit of Zeno, lively conversations with passers by about the principles that have strengthened the hearts and minds of human beings throughout the centuries were had by all. Ideas such as the ability to recognize…
Philosophy in the Park – Deeper Dialogues
October 2021 Philosophers gathered in Seven Hills Park to discuss and share philosophy. First participants reflected on some famous Stoic quotes such as: Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be One. — Marcus Aurelius He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a man who is alive. —…
Old Manse House
September 2021 Members of Acropolis Boston gathered together at The Old Manse in Concord to celebrate the season of introspection brought by Autumn, a period of harvest and change as marked by the colors of Nature. Fall offers a unique opportunity to reflect and discover the endless vitality within ourselves that mirrors the essence of…
New Acropolis Birthday
July 2021 Acropolis Boston volunteers got together on July 17th to engage in some jovial and philosophical activities to celebrate the anniversary of New Acropolis. The day was colored by an assortment of experiences such as expressive performances of music and theater, a contemplation on the teachings of the I-Ching, discussions on the fictional and…
Philosophical Retreat
June 2021 Leaders gathered for training and renewal around the philosophical ideal on the cape. Working together on various tasks and projects allowed participants to deepen their bonds with one another, and to enjoy Nature together, both inner and outer!
Bryan Stevenson MIT Commencement
Bryan Stevenson at TED2012: Full Spectrum, February 27 – March 2, 2012. Long Beach, CA. Photo: James Duncan DavidsonCC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons June 2021 On June 4th, MIT welcomed Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, as the guest speaker for the Commencement 2021 online celebration program. Stevenson,…
The Hero’s Quest
April 2021 A litany of thought-provoking questions along with some remarkable quotes from the movies provided the necessary fuel for a lively discussion. Reflections from the life experiences of the participants encompassed themes such as making choices, how to persevere, and what it means to sacrifice on our hero’s journey through life. We were compelled…
May 2021
On May 8th, in honor of the White Lotus Day and Vesak, Acropolis Boston members came together to celebrate the legacy of all the great Masters of Wisdom and the chain of its transmission. The ‘Cine-Magicians’ group offered us an insightful and engaging presentation on Jill Bolte Taylor’s Ted Talk on “A Stroke of Insight.” The presenters…
Earth Day 2021
April 2021 Acropolis Boston volunteers and friends came together at Walden Pond State Reservation to celebrate Earth Day and share joyful moments admiring the park – rendered all the more beautiful by the perfect weather. We learned about Henry David Thoreau’s life and pioneering thinking and imagined his 2 year retreat in the woods of Walden…
Book Discussion for The Novice by Thich Nhat Hanh
Thoughts and reflections during the book discussion for The Novice that took place on February 26, 2021:To live a full life we must be willing and able to open the windows of our soul to engage with the world.However, with all things, we need to limit our exposure, like an inner dark room where we produce ideas…
Man’s Search for Meaning
December 2020 New Acropolis Boston conducted a discussion on the book Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl. Two members of Acropolis Boston presented the material in a way that even someone who had not read the book would be able to absorb the main ideas. Frankl’s ideas about tragedy, suffering, and healing provided the…
World Philosophy Day
November 2020 New Acropolis Boston celebrated World Philosophy Day which was established in 2005 by the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Participants were interviewed by two of our members and asked about the teachers in their lives. Not just the teachers in the academic realm, but human beings that helped bring out…
Ancient Wisdom, Stoicism
November 2020 Acropolis Boston conducted a class on the Stoics and reflected on the Latin phrase “Carpe Diem” which means “Seize the day”. This phrase is integral for Stoic philosophy, but also speaks to how we view and utilize each moment in our lives. The Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius once said, “Live each day as…
Siddhartha: Discovering the Middle Way
October 2020 Acropolis Boston presented Siddhartha: Discovering the Middle Way as an interactive event open to the public. The presentation was based on the book Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Several thought-provoking questions were posed to the participants, making them reflect on key events in their lives where, like Siddhartha, they had to undergo trials that…
Member Outing to Honoring the Fall
September 2020 New Acropolis Boston volunteers brought some beauty and the spirit of Fall to a city park by drawing Fall-related themes and words on park chalk boards for visitors to be inspired: renewal, hope, giving, inner growth.
The Hero’s Journey through the Star Wars Saga
September 16, 2020 New Acropolis Boston presented a virtual lecture on ‘The Hero’s Journey through the Star Wars Saga’, encouraging participants to identify ways they can be inspired by the Jedi to transform the current difficult times into opportunities for growth. Presenters asked important questions such as Have you ever asked yourself: “is there more…
Helen Keller Plaque – Fully funded!
Cambridge, MA Acropolis Boston is leaving a legacy for peace by funding the Helen Keller commemorative plaque at The Peace Abbey. We’d like to thank all who donated!
Digital course: ‘Renaissance Now!’
Acropolis Boston has reached the community “digitally” during this period of quarantine with its first online classes. The 3-part course, ‘Renaissance Now!’, aimed at inspiring people to think about the need for a current-day rebirth in light of the difficult times we are currently experiencing. The historical Renaissance saw the explosion of human imagination, vision,…
Thank you!
A big thank you to students and members for their patience as we transition to a virtual classroom. The teachers of old would be thrilled to still be able to talk to their students during a time like this, and so we are grateful for your continued optimism and support.
The 4 Agreements
October 2019 Our member presentation led by Yana was a thoughtful and lively discussion on the main ideas of Don Miguel Ruiz’s book The Four Agreements. The agreements include being impeccable with our words, not taking things personally, never assume and to always do our best. These Toltec agreements are essential no matter where or in what time…
‘Strength to Love’: Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
January 2020 New Acropolis Boston paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an interactive event open to the public about his ideals, his values, his life and legacy, as well as his book Strength to Love, containing a collection of his sermons, many of them written during the tumultuous years of the Civil Rights…
Delivering Creativity Bags to DCF
NOVEMBER 2018 Volunteers delivered donated musical instruments and crafts supplies in hand-made bags designed by Crafts for Humanity to the Department of Children and Families of Massachusetts in Cambridge. Happy holidays everyone!
MFA Egypt Tour
November 2019 The permanent Egypt collection at the MFA is so rich, one could never tire of spending time with some truly remarkable pieces of history. In his guided tour, Savonne shared some fascinating myths and traditions of the great ancient empire that continues to wow us with its mystery and intrigue. Everyone left with…
Montpellier, Quebec
August 2019 Boston members came together in Montpellier, Quebec to join schools across North America including Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Los Angeles and Chicago. Over the course of one weekend at the school-owned country house, members worked together to cook and share daily meals, attend development workshops, share musical and artistic performances, and enjoy a night…
Cambridge Riverfest 2019
June 2019 At this year’s Cambridge River Festival, we’re celebrating The Renaissance: a time in history where the rediscovery of classical philosophy led to a cultural, artistic, economic and political rebirth. This is a call for people everywhere to actively cultivate wisdom. Why? “Philosophy” or love of wisdom is something that, at its foundation, can change the…
ArtBeat 2019
July 2019 ArtBeat in Davis Square is one of our favorite festivals, and we’re celebrating The Renaissance yet again! This time in history showed how the rediscovery of classical philosophy led to a cultural, artistic, economic and political rebirth – one we can see happen again today. This is a call for people everywhere to…
Crafts for Humanity – Cards for Homeless Mothers
In May, Crafts for Humanity celebrated Mothers Day by honoring the women at the “Women’s Lunch Place” in Boston. We made cards and collected toiletry donations to support and encourage these homeless or struggling women
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