波士頓 公佈43名新 SPARK 青年委員 代表華埠者非華裔

                 (Boston Orange編譯) 波士頓市今 (29) 日宣佈43人獲選為2023-2024年的SPARK青年委員會新屆委員，將就影響波士頓市內20到35歲年輕人事務，向波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 提建議。

              SPARK 青年委員會的新任主席為Anthony Nguyen，之前曾任委員，他將以其本身經驗幫助其他委員為各自所來自社區發聲，發揮影響力。

              SPARK青年委員會去年推動的項目包括「假日捐贈指南 (holiday giving guide)」，在麥特潘(Mattapan)舉辦的「愛你的街區 (Lover Your Block)」清掃鄰里活動中，和市長的公民組織辦公室 (Mayor’s Office of Civic Organizing)合作，填滿了許多的「社區冰箱」，經由SPARK的談話長和市府領導聯絡，參加選民登記活動，經由「和計畫人員互動 (Pint with a Planner)」學習波士頓市的發展流程，以及創作了一個「波士頓，你是我的家 (Boston You’re My Home)」的社區繪圖計畫等。

            根據波士頓市政府公布的名單，有43名來自16個社區的年輕人獲選進入本年度的SPARK青年委員會。從姓名看，其中約有5名華裔，包括奧斯頓 (Allston)的Fred Lu，Abigail Chan，牙買加平原 (Jamaica Plain)的Thienan Dang，羅森岱爾 (Roslindale)的Long Tong，以及南波士頓的Soo Ji Jung。

            代表華埠 (Chinatown) 入選的2名青年委員，Emma Noble Smith，Ben Swisher，從姓名看，都不是華裔，似乎彰顯了華埠居民已經沒那麼多華裔的現實。

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES 2023 - 2024 SPARK BOSTON COUNCIL

BOSTON - Friday, September 29, 2023 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu announced the newly-selected 2023-2024 SPARK Boston Council. The 43-member group will spend the next year working to connect young adults to leaders in local government, City services, and one another. The SPARK Boston Council will advise Mayor Wu on City policies and programs affecting 20- to 35-year-olds in the City of Boston. “We’re excited to welcome our newly expanded SPARK Boston Council to address the issues and interests of Boston’s young adults,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This rising generation of leaders reflects our city’s talent, diversity, and experience, and I look forward to collaborating with them.” This year’s Council members come from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds including public service, higher education, and scientific research. Sixteen SPARK Boston council members are multilingual and the Council represents almost all of Boston’s neighborhoods. SPARK Boston’s new Director, Anthony Nguyen, is a former council member. He plans to use his experience to create space and empower more council members to become advocates in their neighborhoods, especially those that have been historically underrepresented and overlooked. “I look forward to working with such a passionate and skilled group of young professionals this year in SPARK Boston. Young people in Boston are driven. They are our City’s future leaders, first responders, organizers, business owners, homeowners, teachers, parents and more,” said SPARK Boston Director Anthony Nguyen. “This year’s council will create programming that addresses the needs of millennials and gen-z young adults. This opportunity also greatly connects members to ways that influence the City of Boston, so that it is a place where Boston-born residents and those who are new to the city want to continue to live, socialize, and work.”  “I believe that by serving on the council, I can work alongside other decision-makers who share my passion for driving positive change in Boston,” said SPARK Boston Council member and Dorchester resident Keenan Ottley. “My motivation to join the council stems from a deep sense of civic responsibility and a desire to give back to the community. I see it as an opportunity to use my skills, knowledge, and expertise to help address the challenges facing the city and to help create a more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future for all Bostonians.” Last year, SPARK Boston Council members spent time leading projects that included creating a holiday giving guide, filling community fridges in the winter, partnering with the Mayor’s Office of Civic Organizing during their Love Your Block neighborhood cleanup in Mattapan, connecting with City leaders through SPARK’s Chief Chats, participating in voter registration events, learning about the Boston development process through their Pint with a Planner, and creating a Boston You’re My Home community mapping project and more.  “The future of SPARK Boston is bright! The individuals that are serving on this year’s council will continue the legacy of past members who lead with intention to put community first in all that they do inside and outside of the City,” said Chief of Community Engagement Brianna Millor. “I look forward to partnering with SPARK Boston in meaningful ways this year.”  SPARK Boston is housed in the Mayor’s Community Engagement Cabinet. This office is responsible for advising Mayor Wu on issues affecting millennial and gen-z populations and working with City departments and community stakeholders to create innovative solutions. The Council meets monthly with City Hall leaders and creates free programming for their peers including voter resources, events highlighting the City’s on-going initiatives, and professional and social networking opportunities across Boston’s many neighborhoods.  The 2023-2024 Council includes: Allston Fred Lu Abigail Chan Back Bay Begum Agca Okutgen Robert Harrington Beacon Hill Sarah Sharpe Brighton Devin MacGoy Coleman Nee Nadaje Hendrix Ashley Slay Jeffery Sierra Chinatown/Downtown Emma Noble Smith Ben Swisher Dorchester Fiex Thevenin Keenan Ottley Reginald Fils Farhana karmali Aisha Donna Alex Burdulis  East Boston Amanda Miner Kacthary Sanclemente Katie McCoid Fenway Anh Nguyen Liz Cormack  John Kaywood Hyde Park  Johanne Antonie Jamaica Plain Leila Dixon Thienan Dang Mattapan Rosalyna Felix Edosa Osemwegie Genelle Faulkner Roxbury Olivia Grant Tanesha Beckford Anuradha Sahu Roslindale James Glenister Long Tong Evan Zinner Seaport  Brianne Gump South Boston Soo Ji Jung Adna Mohammad Collin Kelly South End Nina Kalluri Denzel Samuel Greg Kinlan For more information on SPARK Boston programming and initiatives, please visit boston.gov/sparkboston.