MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES TO BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE, RESILIENT CITY AT GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Asks Boston businesses to join him in supporting projects that boost
inclusivity, accessibility across City
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BOSTON - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today addressed the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, sharing his vision and progress in making Boston a more equitable, inclusive and resilient city. From opening career pathways for public school students, to fighting to make the public transportation system more accessible in every community, to providing more training for Boston's diverse workforce, Mayor Walsh reaffirmed his commitment to shared growth and inclusivity by working toward a "Boston for everyone," and discussed his efforts to bring opportunity to every resident in every neighborhood.
"Our goal is to be a city for everyone--a city where every child can get the strong start they need, every worker can find good job opportunities, every business can get a fair shake, and every neighborhood can enjoy the great quality of life we love about our city," said Mayor Walsh. "Through our long-term plan, Imagine Boston 2030, we're focusing on supporting thoughtful growth while lifting up every resident in every neighborhood, and striving for a more equitable city that utilizes the diversity, talent, and culture the residents of Boston offer."
Some of the highlights of Mayor Walsh's remarks include:
The City of Boston is striving to be a more equitable city and planning for inclusive growth.
"The Veterans CARE project will provide our veterans with new tools to help them succeed in the workforce and it will further strengthen our relationship with the City of Boston," said Vincent Ng, Director, VA Boston Healthcare System. "This Pay for Success project is about supporting veterans with PTSD to help them achieve their goals for competitive employment.": Mayor Walsh will propose a pilot to increase service on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line. Two citywide plans, Go Boston 2030 and Imagine Boston 2030, share the goal of expanding opportunities and reducing disparities for residents who live in the Fairmount Corridor, through coordinated investments in mobility, education and neighborhood vibrancy. Today, residents in Dorchester, Mattapan & Hyde Park -- the residents on the Fairmount Line -- have some of the longest commutes and the highest transportation costs of any neighborhoods in Boston. By increasing the frequency of train service on the line, the City aims to increase access to good employment and cultural and recreational opportunities for thousands of residents in this corridor. "Providing frequent, reliable and equitable public transportation service for Mattapan, Dorchester and Hyde Park is key to ensuring the economic health of residents of these neighborhoods," said Dara Frederick, Hyde Park resident and Business Employment Specialist at the Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative. "It is important that we continue to work with the City of Boston to improve Fairmount Line service to guarantee that residents of these neighborhoods are afforded access to jobs located throughout the City. We look forward to bringing quality transit services into these communities and offering residents a mobility option that will help them to achieve their professional goals."
The City of Boston is forward-thinking and working to ensure a more resilient city for future generations.
"After two years of careful research and planning, the Trustees stand ready as a strategic partner with the City of Boston, to implement the Mayor's vision of equitable open space and climate resiliency along Fort Point Channel for all Bostonians," said Barbara Erickson, President and CEO of The Trustees of Reservations. "Our 126 years of land management experience along with our ability to generate community support makes the Trustees uniquely able to help see this vision become a reality.": A partnership with Paul English to create a world-class Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Boston. The goal of the Boston memorial is to inspire visitors by Dr. King's words, and to also reflect on Boston's history with race and civil rights. The City and Mr. English are currently forming 'MLK Boston' with the project set to be kicked off on September 20, 2017. An Executive Director will be chosen to oversee all fundraising and community engagement, and will also be the main liaison between MLK Boston, the City of Boston, and other relevant parties. Subsequently, the MLK Boston Art Committee will publish a Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) in October 2017 to solicit applications from artists from Boston and beyond. The Art Committee will then select five finalists to develop renderings for each of their proposals. An announcement of these finalists is expected close to MLK Day 2018, at which time a public engagement process will begin. MLK Boston will engage all local constituents including representatives from the African American community in Boston, public arts organizations, neighborhood associations, the labor movement, the immigrant community, Boston University, civil rights leaders and leaders from local ministry. The MLK Boston Art Committee will choose the artist to be commissioned for the work. Paul English has supplied the initial funding for the project and seeks to raise $5 million to carry out the Memorial. For more information, visit mlkboston.org. "Growing up in Boston, I was always aware of MLK's history here, and I have been inspired by his messages of love and social justice," said English. "I want to bring to Boston a world-class memorial to MLK to celebrate his teachings as well as to look at the work we all still have to do today to get to his promised land."
The City of Boston is setting all children up for success in and out of school.
"We are thrilled that the Boston Public Schools, Boston's Catholic Schools, and Boston's Charter Schools have all agreed upon a definition of College, Career and Life Readiness," said Kristin McSwain, Executive Director of the Boston Opportunity Agenda. "Having done so, we can collaboratively focus on providing young people with the learning opportunities that they need, both inside and outside of the classroom, to develop the skills that are necessary to fully participate in Boston's economy."
"Too many students believe they cannot afford higher education. Tuition-free community college shows a path forward," says Taneka DeGrace, the Director of RoxMapp at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. "This plan says: The limiting factor in your potential is not a bill, only your will to succeed.": The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) and the Private Industry Council (PIC) will work with BPS high school students to create awareness of career opportunities within city government and to develop workplace and life skills, as well as specific skills relevant to working in various city departments. BPS high school students will be eligible for internships that will help them gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare for entry-level positions that will support them while they pursue post-secondary education and training. This combination of work and learning will position BPS high school students and graduates for career advancement and the opportunity to secure positions in city agencies. "Students often ask me how to get a job with the City after high school," commented Dan Cuddy, a longtime PIC career specialist at Brighton High School. "Mayor Walsh's new initiative will provide an answer to that question without forcing them to choose between the job they need to support themselves after high school and the college education they need to advance their careers over time."
The City of Boston is supporting thoughtful growth while lifting up our residents and preserving the city's culture.
"It's going great!" said Brenda Atchison, one of the first participants in the program. "The City and
About Imagine Boston 2030
As Boston's first citywide plan in 50 years, Imagine Boston 2030 will guide growth to support our dynamic economy and expand opportunity for all residents. The plan prioritizes inclusionary growth and puts forth a comprehensive vision to boost quality of life, equity and resilience in every neighborhood across the city. Shaped by the input of 15,000 residents who contributed their thoughts to the plan, Imagine Boston 2030 identifies five action areas to guide Boston's growth, enhancement and preservation and is paired with a set of metrics that will evaluate progress and evaluate successes. To learn more visit, imagine.boston.gov.
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