波士頓市長公佈2021SPARK委員會41名成員 Anita Yip再次代表華埠

           (Boston Orange 整理報導)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)今(30)日宣布2021年度的”閃耀波士頓(SPARK Boston)”委員會，有 33名新人，8名連任者。

這41名年紀在20到35歲年輕人，在94名申請者中獲選，分別來自波士頓市24個鄰里的其中21個。有40%在波士頓出生，其餘來自德州，俄亥俄州，佛羅里達州，紐約州，加州等地，甚至有遠從中國，巴基斯坦搬來的。他們將從1月4日起，在未來12個月中藉由虛擬平台，代表市內年輕人和市府領袖溝通。

波士頓市政府計畫及發展局(BPDA)的”2020年從數目看波士頓(Boston by the number)”報告指出，在2018年時，39%的波士頓居民年齡在18歲至34歲之間。波士頓市前市長萬寧路(Tom Menino)顯然也有鑑於此，在2004年創辦了”三中有一(ONEin3)”這個促請年輕人向市府提意見的組織。

從”三中有一”衍變到”閃耀波士頓(SPARK Boston)”，這項目共辦理了16年，有超過400名20到35歲的年輕人擔任過委員。

SPARK由Audrey Seraphin擔任主任，隸屬於在波士頓市長的公民參與內閣(Civic Engagement Cabinet)，主要任務是就影響千禧年及Z世代人口事務，位市長當顧問，並與市府各部門合作，改善年輕人在波士頓市的生活品質。

SPARK委員每月開會，並舉辦活動推動年輕人互相認識，接近市政府。

今年的SPARK委員，有8人續任，其中包括代表華埠的Anita Yip。在全部41名委員中，從姓名看，共有4人為華裔，1人為越南裔。他們分別為奧斯頓(Allston)的Jessica Lau，東波士頓的48.            Xi Zhao Viola，南端(South End)的Anja Young，以及多徹斯特的Anthony Nguyen。

查詢有關SPARK詳情，可上市府網站 boston.gov/sparkboston。

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF 2021 SPARK BOSTON COUNCIL Incoming members tasked with promoting civic engagement among young Bostonians virtually   BOSTON - Wednesday, December 30, 2020 -  Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the incoming Mayor's 2021 SPARK Boston Council. The diverse 41-member group, composed of 33 new and eight returning members, will spend the next 12 months working to continue the program's work virtually, opening up new lines of communication between young adults and leaders in City government. Originally started as ONEin3 in 2004, SPARK Boston is celebrating 16 years of civic engagement with over 400 20- to 35-year-old Boston residents having served on the council over the years. Thirty-nine percent of Boston residents were between the ages of 18 and 34 in 2018, according to the Boston Planning & Development Agency's Boston by the Numbers 2020 report.  "The SPARK Council has worked with my administration to highlight and advocate for their shared values - voter participation and activation, a more equitable and affordable child care system, comprehensive climate change policies, resiliency in our immigrant communities, and much more," said Mayor Walsh. "I look forward to working with the incoming SPARK Boston Council to ensure our young Bostonians voices are heard."  The 2021 SPARK Boston Council members live in 21 of the 24 different Boston neighborhoods, and include people born and raised as far away as Pakistan and China. Over 65 percent of council members are people of color. Approximately 40 percent of the Council are native Bostonians, while others are from Texas, Ohio, Florida, New York, and California.   "I am so excited to engage this council virtually," said SPARK Director Audrey Seraphin of her new colleagues. "They have completed the entire application and interview process through the technologies that have allowed us to connect throughout the pandemic, and I look forward to seeing this cohort's creativity and passion in action. We have an incredibly talented group that highlights how bright Boston's future can be."  SPARK Boston, housed in the Mayor's Civic Engagement Cabinet, is responsible for advising Mayor Walsh on issues affecting millennial and Gen Z populations, and working with City departments and community stakeholders to improve the lives of young people in Boston. The Council holds monthly meetings and puts on programs focused on connecting millennials with the City and one another. Historically, programs included many events, including neighborhood meetups, voter registration pop-ups, salary negotiation workshops, and Chief Chats, an event series which allows citizens to hear directly from Mayor Walsh's cabinet members on a variety of issues. This programming has moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and expanded to include virtual town halls; #CiviCoffees, a 30-minute monthly Facebook Live interview show with local civic leaders; and social media campaigns to promote proper mask usage, flu vaccines, voting, census participation, and more.   "Coming back to SPARK Council is how I'm choosing to respond to this moment in time," explained returning council member Anita Yip of Chinatown. "I see 2021 as an opportunity to not only create and continue conversations for change, but also an opportunity to reimagine civic engagement and ways to meaningfully connect with each other. I'm looking forward to continuing conversations on how Boston is increasing access to opportunities and driving inclusive economic growth in the wake of the pandemic with a focus on equity."  "When I heard the news that I was selected to be part of the SPARK Boston 2021 Council, I was elated and overcome with joy because an opportunity like this will cement my path to making a substantial difference in the city of Boston," said Bassil Bascare, new council member and native of Hyde Park. "I am eager to be part of a group that has the drive to initiate change for the better. I look forward to meeting and collaborating with the rest of the council."  This year, the SPARK Boston program received 95 applications for the Council, showing a continued interest in community engagement, despite the new virtual format. New council members, which include academic counselors, students, non-profit workers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, medical professionals, and consultants, will begin their work on January 4, 2021.  Returning 2019-2020 Council Cristian Morales, Allston Kat Waxstein, Brighton Anita Yip, Chinatown Kathleen Carroll, Dorchester Monee Vance, Hyde Park/Mattapan Daphney Pacouloute, Mattapan Nikki Shults, Roslindale Kaitlin McCarthy, West End/Downtown  New 2021 Council Jessica Lau, Allston Alessandra Panares, Allston/Brighton Tara Wilson, Bay Village Spencer Crawford, Beacon Hill Julia Bogiages, Brighton Sumali Dey, Brighton Victor Franco, Brighton Nyambura Barrow, Dorchester Anthony Nguyen, Dorchester Dennisse Rorie, Dorchester Romy St. Hilaire, Dorchester Alia Thompson, Dorchester Mia Healy-Waldron, East Boston Amanda Sabia, East Boston Xi Zhao Viola, East Boston Lindsey Santana, Hyde Park Albert Jimenez, Jamaica Plain Thomas Pelkey, Jamaica Plain Nicholas DiCairano, Leather District Genevieve Bien-Aime, Mid-Dorchester  Antonio Centeio, Mid-Dorchester Stephen McBride, Mid-Dorchester Dianna Bronchuk, Mission Hill/Jamaica Plain Lilly Stairs, North End Kensha Grandoit, Roxbury Nate Lash, Roxbury Adriana Lasso-Harrier, Roxbury Karol Mendieta, Roxbury/Jamaica Plain Mohammad Haider Ali Abbasi, South Boston Aishwarya Bhadouria, South End Anja Young, South End Ramie Schneider, South End Bassil Bacare, West Roxbury/Hyde Park  For more information, please visit boston.gov/sparkboston.