BCNC Youth and Adult Students Actively Engage with Senate Candidates

BOSTON – Students from the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center’s Adult Education program and Youth Center attended a community-based forum held March 16, 2016. This was the first time most of the students have had an opportunity to engage with their civic leaders. The seven Senate candidates were vying for the state seat previously held by Senator Anthony Petruccelli of East Boston. The forum was held at the Josiah Quincy Elementary school with approximately 200 audience members in attendance.

    BCNC Adult Education students exercised their civic duty and gained in their feeling of empowerment, as they expressed their concerns and became familiar with the candidates’ views on important issues, including:  language access, affordable housing, transportation and employment opportunities. To prepare, the Adult Education teachers taught lessons on government structure, civic rights and responsibilities and the role of government. Adult Education students also assisted with forum tasks, including voter registration, ushering, timekeeping and greeting attendees.John Wang, a BCNC youth, represented Asian American youth at the forum and asked the candidates about their views on the Charter School Cap and its implications for Boston Public School students.  

     Senate candidates faced off in the Democratic primary on April 12^th with Joe Bancore besting the six other candidates. A special election is slated for May 10 to fill the vacant seat.

     The Candidates Forum was sponsored by the Asian and Pacific Islanders' Civic Action Network, otherwise known as APIs CAN!. Co-Sponsors included: Asian American Civic Association, Asian Community Development Corporation, Chinatown Resident Association, Chinese Progressive Association, Chinese Progressive Political Action, MassVOTE and the South Cove Community Health Center.

     The district includes Revere, Winthrop, and areas of Cambridge and Boston including Chinatown. The six candidates attending the forum were Joseph Boncore, Lydia Edwards, Diana Hwang, state Rep. Jay Livingstone, Revere city councilor Steven Morabito and Paul Rogers. Candidate Dan Rizzo was not present.