Newton Mayor Warren's Last Prayer Breakfast

NEWTON, MA – What did you have for breakfast? It's a simple question that can be quite telling. It can tease out information about who you are, where you come from and who you associate with. So said Rev. Douglas Robinson-Johnson chairman of the Newton Clergy Association this morning at the 43rd annual Mayor's Community Prayer Breakfast - Mayor Setti Warren's last.

What did he have? He - and a room full of city employees and leaders - had eggs, potatoes and listened to a call to action imploring them to tell their stories and listen to the stories of others.

"At this critical moment in history it's absolutely imperative that we not only share our individual unique stories and experiences but we do so in places that are unfamiliar and uncomfortable," said Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell, whose district includes the neighborhoods of Dorchester and Mattapan, and parts of Roslindale and Jamaica Plain. "How often do we step out side of those ... comfortable places to visit unfamiliar places?" she asked, adding that she doesn't make it out to Newton very often.

Born and raised in Boston, Campbell spoke of her unique path out of Boston and her work to get to Princeton and then her return to the city after earning her undergraduate and law degrees. She spoke of how her mother died when she and her twin brother were only babies, and how she only met her father when she turned 8, because he was incarcerated. She spoke about bridging division through compassion.

She also talked about economic inequality and the power of grassroots campaigning, touchstones of Warren's bid for governor.

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And check out the Lovetones. They got everyone on their feet at the end.

Photos: Setti Warren approaches Campbell after she gives her keynote/ The Community Prayer Breakfast program/ Prayer Breakfast eggs and potatoes. By Jenna Fisher/ Patch Staff