Chief Jemison welcomes new Director of Planning Aimee Chambers

BOSTON - Wednesday, February 8, 2023 - Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison today announced the hiring of Aimee Chambers, AICP as the new Director of Planning. Her professional experience includes a wide range of planning and urban design work from affordable housing development to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure design. The planning team led by Chambers, which is currently housed at the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), will move to a new City Planning & Design Department, which was announced by Mayor Wu in her 2023 State of the City, to restore planning as a core function of City government. As the City Planning & Design Department is being formed to drive the city’s planning function, the BPDA will continue to build out a strong planning team to deliver on the Mayor’s vision for resilient, affordable, equitable growth.  "I'm thrilled to welcome Aimee to our leadership team, where she will serve a critical role helping us create a more resilient, affordable, and equitable future for Boston,” said Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. “Aimee's experience in other municipalities will bring new perspectives and momentum for delivering our bold vision for the city.” Chambers will be responsible for implementing the Mayor’s vision for citywide land use planning strategies and action plans that shape equitable long-term growth. This vision includes a Citywide plan to rezone and enhance squares and corridors, creating the opportunity for thousands of new housing units and neighborhood small businesses, retail, and jobs. It also includes completing neighborhood plans, bringing them to zoning, and building out the zoning team to evaluate and modernize the zoning code.  “I am very excited to be joining the team at such a pivotal point in time for planning work in Boston,” said Director of Planning Aimee Chambers. “Thank you to Chief Jemison for recognizing and valuing my passion for equitable planning principles, service delivery, and zoning analysis. I look forward to serving the Wu Administration and delivering outcomes focused on resilience, affordability, and equity for the people of Boston.” As Director of Planning, Chambers will also work closely with Deputy Chief of Urban Design Diana Fernandez to ensure a seamless integration of planning and urban design policies to shape the built environment of the city. Another goal of this planning work is to make the development process more predictable for community members and developers, and to reduce the number of proposals that require relief from the Zoning Board of Appeal. Chambers has worked across the non-profit and public sectors for 12 years as a planner and project manager and, prior to that, as a foster care case manager. She most recently served as the Director of Planning for the City of Hartford, Connecticut, where she led planning and zoning for the city. Chambers also has experience in climate change-related disaster resiliency working for the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance as a contractor for the State of Louisiana Office of Community Development - Disaster Recovery Unit. In each of the communities that she has served, Chambers has centered her work on the implementation of programs that engage with and advocate for residents and worked to amplify the voices of people of color and underserved populations.  Chambers is a 2019 Next City Vanguard (Newark, NJ) and was nominated in CT Magazine’s 40 Under 40, Class of 2022. She graduated from Manhattan College with a degree in Sociology and Urban Studies. Her master’s degree in Community Planning is from the University of Maryland-College Park.

亞美正義促進會稱拜登政府及國會應著手除李基於族裔的暴力，投票權，移民及教育審查制

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Says Race-Based Violence, Voting Rights, Immigration, and Education Censorship Should Be at the Top of Biden Administration and Congress To Do List

 

Washington, DC — February 8, 2022 — Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC’s President and Executive Director, John C. Yang, issues the following statement about President Biden’s State of the Union address:

 

“In his State of the Union address last night, President Biden said there’s more work to be done…and he’s right. Now more than ever we need to have an administration and Congress willing to tackle the tough issues and make the right decisions.

 

Principal among the issues is to act on Biden’s call to Congress to fix our broken immigration system. Current policies are hurting our most vulnerable immigrant communities, prolonging visa backlogs, not protecting asylum seekers, and missing opportunities to give a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants. Americans agree on most of the basic steps necessary.  It is past time we had a more humane immigration system.

 

Congress has the power to restore and strengthen the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, so it protects a cornerstone of our democracy. This is an American issue, not a partisan one.

 

Lastly, there is clearly more work necessary to protect our communities of color from racist attacks, police brutality, and attacks on teaching the true history of our nation. Advancing Justice – AAJC tackles these tough issues every day and now we look to the Biden Administration and Congress to do the same.”

麻州政府指派 7人擔任退伍軍人之家協會董事

             (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 今 (8) 日宣佈，為退伍軍人之家協會 (Veterans’ Homes Council) 指派7名董事。

            2022年7月時，麻州為加強管理退伍軍人服務，通過法案，成立退伍軍人之家協會，向退伍軍人服務廳廳長 (Secretary of Veterans’ Services) 提建議，以確保州營退伍軍人之家居民都健康、安全，能得到公平、高品質的好服務。

            麻州副州長Kim Driscoll是海軍退伍軍人之女。她說自己了解退伍軍人得到完整的醫療服務有多重要。

            麻州健康及人民服務廳代理廳長Mary A. Beckman表示，這是實踐法案第144章的重要里程碑。

            退伍軍人之家協會的責任包括向退伍軍人服務廳廳長提交政策及改善，以及聘任或開除退伍軍人之家總監等的建議，同時也就退伍軍人之家的人口地理、財務、人手，效率，平等，以及居民的福利等。

            麻州州長今日公佈的指派名單，包括州長奚莉指派的4名個人，以及代理健康及人民服務廳廳長Mary Beckman指派的3名個人。

            麻州州長奚莉指派的董事有:

            Ziven Drake，擔任戰略飛機維修組長的美國空軍退伍軍人。她目前是Pile 司機本地56工會成員，以及北大西洋國家地區委員會木匠學徒培訓基金的助理執行董事。

            Mike Dunford，已退休的海軍陸戰隊預備役中校。現在是Covidien公司的資深人力資源副總裁，人力資源長，在企業圈很活躍，尤其重視退伍軍人就業、食物充裕、流離失所問題等。她也是鱈魚角及島嶼退伍軍人外展中心 (Cape & Islands Veteran Outreach Center) 董事長。

            Andrea Gayle-Bennett，退休陸軍准軍。在麻州陸軍國家衛隊服務35年有多，曾任主任醫師助理，營外科醫師。他目前也是州長處理性騷擾及家庭暴力的委員會委員，北岸社區學院董事會董事，以及退伍軍人企業主計劃公司秘書。

            Michael Jefferson，美國海軍退伍軍人，尚莫維爾IAFF本地76分會會長，也是消防員退伍軍人兄弟會 (Fraternal Order of Firefighter Military Veterans, Inc) 創辦人，以及麻州專業消防人員協助計畫主任。

            麻州健康及人民服務廳廳長指派的董事有:

            Louis Chow博士，紅襪隊基金和麻州總醫院的合作項目，Home Base的網路發展及訓練機構資深主任。他也是麻州總醫院的臨床心理醫師，心理學助理，哈佛醫學院的心理學講師，以及治療因戰爭患有創傷後壓力失調，眼睛所看不見創傷退伍軍人的專家。

            Tony Francis，企管碩士，波士頓非牟利頤養院Edgar Benjamin健康中心的董事長。波士頓醫療保健準備聯盟共同主席。

            Jill Landis，註冊護士。她是Integritus 醫療護理品管副董事長，麻州耆英護理協會成員。

            在麻州州長和代理健康及人民服務廳廳長指派的7人之外，退伍軍人之家協會的董事還包括退伍軍人之家及住宅的執行主任Robert Engell。她也是Chelsea和Holyoke士兵之家董事會主席。

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Appointments to the Veterans’ Homes Council  

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the appointment of seven members to the Veterans’ Homes Council. Established through a 2022 law aimed at strengthening the governance of veterans services in the Commonwealth, the Council is an advisory body that makes recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans’ Services to ensure the health, well-being, and safety of residents of state-operated Veterans’ Homes and access to equitable, high quality, and competent care for veterans across the Commonwealth.  

 

“The Veterans’ Homes Council will play a critical role in ensuring that we are providing the care that our veterans need and deserve. These seven appointees have an intimate understanding of the complex needs of veterans, including access to health care, mental health care, housing and food assistance,” said Governor Maura T. Healey. “Our administration is grateful to the Legislature and our teams at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and Department of Veterans’ Services for their hard work to create this important council.”  

 

“As the proud daughter of a Navy veteran, I understand how important it is that our veterans receive comprehensive services and care,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This Council will be critical for ensuring that families can trust that their loved ones are being well cared for in our Veterans’ Homes and that their health, safety and well-being are protected.” 

 

“We are pleased to reach this important milestone in the implementation of chapter 144 and appreciate the valuable perspective that today’s appointees will bring to the Veterans’ Homes Council,” said Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Mary A. Beckman. “The Council will contribute meaningfully to ensuring that the Commonwealth’s Veterans’ Homes provide high quality care and support the health, safety and wellbeing of our veterans.” 

 

The Council’s responsibilities include recommending improvements and policies for Veterans’ Homes to the Secretary of Veterans’ Services, submitting recommendations for appointments and removal of Veterans’ Homes Superintendents, and developing an annual report reviewing the Veterans’ Homes’ demographics, finances, staffing levels, efficacy, equity, and resident well-being. 

 

Today’s council appointees include four individuals appointed by Governor Maura Healey and three individuals appointed by the Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Mary Beckman, and as indicated in statute.  

 

Appointed by the Governor: 

 

Ziven Drake 

Ziven Drake is a US Air Force Veteran who served as a Crew Chief in Tactical Aircraft Maintenance. She is a current member of the Pile Drivers Local 56 Union. Drake currently serves as Assistant Executive Director of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship Training Fund.  

 

Lt. Colonel USMC (Retired) Mike Dunford 

Mike Dunford is a retired US Marine Corps Reserve Officer and served as the Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Covidien. Dunford is an active member of the business community and a veteran advocate focused on employment, food security, homelessness, case management and outreach. Dunford currently serves as president of the Cape & Islands Veteran Outreach Center.  

 

Colonel USA (Retired) Andrea Gayle-Bennett 

Andrea Gayle-Bennett, Retired Army Colonel, Brigadier General (Massachusetts), served for more than 35 years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, including as a chief physician assistant and battalion surgeon. Gayle-Bennett currently serves on the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services, the North Shore Community College Board of Trustees, and is corporate secretary for the Veteran Business Owners Initiative. 

 

Michael Jefferson 

Michael Jefferson, a veteran of the US Marine Corps, is president of Somerville IAFF Local 76 and founder of the Fraternal Order of Firefighter Military Veterans, Inc. He is also a member and director of the Member Assistance Program for the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts.  

 

Appointed by Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services: 

 

Dr. Louis Chow, PhD 

Dr. Chow is the Sr. Director of Network Development and Training Institute at Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Mass General Hospital program. He is a clinical psychologist, Assistant in Psychology at MGH, Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and a specialist in treating veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other invisible wounds of war. Dr. Chow has overseen the education and training of thousands of clinicians and health professionals across the Commonwealth seeking to care for veterans impacted by the invisible wounds of war.  

 

Tony Francis, MBA 

Tony Francis serves as the president and CEO of Edgar Benjamin Health Center, a non-profit nursing home in Boston and the only minority-owned nursing home in New England. Francis brings with him broad experience in long-term care, business administration and management consulting. He has served as chairman of the Central Boston Elder Services Board of Directors and is currently a co-chair of the Boston Healthcare Preparedness Coalition. 

 

Jill Landis, RN 

Jill Landis has been the vice president of quality management at Integritus Healthcare, a not-for-profit committed to fulfilling the health and residential needs of communities, since 2008. Landis previously was a regional nurse manager at Genesis Health Care, where her responsibilities included the management of quality outcomes for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Landis is certified in rehabilitation nursing and is a member of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association. 

 

In addition to the seven members appointed by Governor Healey and Acting Secretary Beckman, the Veterans’ Homes Council includes Executive Director of Veterans’ Homes and Housing Robert Engell, who serves as chair, and Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers’ Homes Boards of Trustees members, who are ex officio, voting members. 

波士頓青年大使慶元宵 做燈籠、湯圓 學客家文化

FASCA輔導老師張君芳(左一)和波士頓的青年大使們做燈籠、猜謎，慶祝兔年。(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮 (右起)和波士頓僑務委員郭競儒謝謝FASCA輔導老師張君芳
和客家會會長謝如鍵參加FASCA的元宵節慶祝。 (周菊子攝)

       (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導) 波士頓青年文化志工 (FASCA Boston) 2月4日下午在波士頓僑教中心慶祝兔年元宵節，既猜燈謎，又跟導師張君芳學做燈籠、湯圓，聽紐英倫客家鄉親會會長謝如鍵闡釋客家農曆年俗、天穿日，來了一場跨領域學習聚會，收穫豐富。

張君芳老師細心地準備了燈籠製作圖解。 (周菊子攝)

            又稱海外青年大使的「青年文化志工」波士頓分會，共有會員約20人，今年的正副會長是18歲的波士頓學院附屬中學許凱菲和沙朗高中黃冠予。他們平日參加社區活動，為社會公益出力，同時肩負起在海外推廣中華文化重任。

張君芳老師(右)和2名FASCA會長，許凱菲(左)、黃冠予(中)一起煮湯圓。 (周菊子攝)

        2月4日這天，他們難得的自己內部聚會，交流聯誼，還跟著在蔚藍 (Wayland)高中教中文，同時也是文化種子教師的輔導老師張君芳，學會自行用非常可愛的迷你打孔機，為剪紙打孔，選用「金玉滿堂」、「福壽雙全」、「心想事成」、「竹報平安」等吉祥詞句來做迷你燈籠，知道了用糯米粉加水，就可以搓製湯圓，還在12生肖紙燈籠下掛著的謎題，逐一猜答案。還在Natick唸中學的呂祐丞動作最快，三兩下就把燈籠做出來了，一旁的蘇奕軒、蘇奕杰兩兄弟彷彿深知慢工出細活哲理似的，不疾不徐。

迷你燈籠上還都有吉祥句。 (周菊子攝)

            紐英倫客家鄉親會會長謝如鍵這天也應邀到場，從除夕到年二十的簡述了客家人的過年習俗。他用簡報影片說明，客家人傳統習俗的過年，從農曆12月25日就開始了，還有個特殊名稱「入年假」，然後一直慶祝到初五的「出年假」。在入出年假期間，客家人會準備各種粄食，此外還有過年飯，點歲火，敬祖先，初一要吃長壽麵，小孩向長輩拜年，長輩發紅包，要親戚朋友家拜年要帶桔餅等。年二十的天穿日，更是客家人獨有的年俗。

            波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮和波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，這天也特地到場，和青年大使們打招呼，稱許他們平日為社區服務，熱心可佳。 (部分內容轉載自僑務電子報，https://ocacnews.net/article/332022) 

在Natick唸中學的呂祐丞燈籠做得最快。 (周菊子攝)

紐英倫客家鄉親會會長謝如鍵講客家人過年習俗。 (周菊子攝)

張君芳老師展示已經做好的燈籠。 (周菊子攝)

圍攏學做湯圓。 (周菊子攝)

糯米粉是做湯圓的基本材料。 (周菊子攝)

昆士市爐溪沿線正在施工防洪 預定今秋竣工

 爐溪 (Furnace Brook) 沿線正在進行的防洪工程

(Boston Orange編譯) 麻州昆士市西部，沿著爐溪 (Furnace Brook)一帶，早就該進行的防洪工程動工了。聯邦緊急管理局 (FEMA)的減災補助款，將用於支付增加沿溪蓄洪量堤防的設計費用。

米爾頓市的Flynn建築公司將承包工程，Woodward及Curran工程公司及大理石市夥伴公司將負責監管。昆士市天然資源局也協助監督工程，並盡可能的保護樹木。

昆士市市長柯奇 (Tom Koch)表示，昆士市西部居民長年忍受洪災損失，市府一直在推動多層面、多階段計畫，來保護市民，免於財物損失。

昆士市天然資源局和項目工程師及合約商合作，分析這工程會帶來哪些影響，並盡可能消除負面影響。堤岸或會影響現有的植物，但溪邊將來可以有蓬勃的重新種植計畫。

Flynn建築公司會重新設計溪流，製造更多彎道，以增加溪流蓄水量。他們也會在Quarry街和Fr. McMahon Way之間的堤岸坡道，沿路重新分級，以期雨量多時，蓄水量更好。

這一工程涉及多個單位，包括聯邦緊急管理局，環境保護局，保護及娛樂局，海洋漁業，以及天然資源局。工程範圍將側重在Quarry街和十字街 (Cross)，預定2023年秋天竣工，並持續種植到2024年春。

Flood Control Project Underway Along Furnace Brook

QUINCY, MA – February 7, 2023 A long-awaited flood control project to help alleviate flooding in neighborhoods in West Quincy is underway along Furnace Brook. A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant is paying for the design to increase the brook’s capacity and regrading the banks along the brook to augment flood storage.

The work is being undertaken by Flynn Construction Company of Milton with oversight from Woodward and Curran Engineering and Granite City Partners. The City’s Department of Natural Resources has assisted with project monitoring and advocated for the protection of as many trees as possible.

“Residents in West Quincy have been enduring flooding losses for decades,” said Mayor Koch. “The City has been working on a multi-faceted and multi-phased plan to help protect our residents from the destruction of their properties. We have made gains in this fight and this project will be another positive way to protect our neighborhoods.”

The Department of Natural Resources has worked with the contractor and project engineers to analyze the project impacts and work to save as much native vegetation as possible. The regrading of the banks will impact existing vegetation but there is a robust revegetation plan for the areas around the brook.

Flynn Construction will redesign the brook to create more “meandering” design to increase capacity. They will also be regraded the slopes along the banks between Quarry Street and Fr. McMahon Way to allow for better flood storage during incidents of high rain.

This project is a multi-jurisdictional project with involvement from FEMA, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, MEMA, the Division of Marine Fisheries, and the Department of Natural Resources.  Work will focus on the area between Quarry Street and Cross Street. The project timeline has an approximate completion date in Fall 2023, with plantings continuing into Spring 2024.

麻州眾議員提案立法發給抵稅優惠 協助地方媒體生存

           (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州眾議會提出了一項新法案，要幫助州內掙扎中的地方媒體生存。

去年，麻州有郝家報章關門了，包括牛頓小報 (NewtonTab)，華森新聞論壇報(Waltham News Tribune)，以及水城小報 (WatertownTab)等。

轄區包括Winthrop 和 Revere的麻州眾議員Jeffrey Rosario Turco，一月中提出這法案，要讓訂閱本地報章的麻州居民，享有最高一年250元的抵稅優惠。他希望這可為麻州內的媒體，帶來額外收入。

                   這一優惠附帶幾個條件，一為這刊物的出版內容，必須以和新聞及時事相關的原創內容為主。該媒體也必須至少聘用1名住在所報導社區的本地新聞從業人員。

                 這法案以聯邦層次的類似法案為依據，這地方新聞業可持續發展法(The Local Journalism Sustainability Act) 將為訂戶提供抵稅優惠，也為支薪給地方新聞從業人員的新聞機構提供薪資稅抵繳優惠，為在地方媒體上刊登廣告的小企業提供抵稅優惠。不過該法案已在國會擱淺。

                   Jeffrey Rosario Turco表示，雖然全國層面做不到，應該在州級層面做些事。他的下一步是把這法案引進諸如稅收聯席委員會等的一個委員會，進一步討論。在議會正式討論前，恐怕還得等好幾個月，引進這樣的抵稅優惠法案，每年要花州政府多少稅款，還不清楚。這法案最終會落在麻州眾議會的稅收委員會去做會計年度分析。

                 東北大學新聞教授Dan Kennedy表示，抵稅優惠在刺激地方媒體上能發揮多少作用，還難說得很，其象徵意義可能比實質更大，因為大部分的廣播電台、電視台，都不收訂閱費，不過至少是個好的開始。

北卡大學Hussman新聞及媒體學院發現，在2004年到2019年之間，麻州報章數目減少了27%，同時期的訂閱量也下降了44%。有鑑於此，要拯救地方新聞，此時不動，更待何時。

Turco說，” 我並不總是喜歡他們寫的東西，但是那不重要”。

波士頓市長吳弭指派10人組賠償工作小組 研究奴隸制對波士頓的持續影響

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF REPARATIONS TASK FORCE

BOSTON - Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the ten individuals that will serve on the newly formed Reparations Task Force, created to study the . The formation of this task force follows Mayor Wu signing a 2022 City ordinance, sponsored and led by Councilor Julia Mejia and co-sponsored by Councilors Tania Fernandes Anderson and Brian Worrell, to study the impact of slavery in Boston. Mayor Wu joined members of the City Council, Reparations Task Force, and Equity and Inclusion Cabinet at the African Meeting House to announce the establishment of the task force. "For four hundred years, the brutal practice of enslavement and recent policies like redlining, the busing crisis, and exclusion from City contracting have denied Black Americans pathways to build generational wealth, secure stable housing, and live freely," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "Our administration remains committed to tackling long standing racial inequities and this task force is the next step in our commitment as a city to advance racial justice and build a Boston for everyone. I'm grateful to the City Council, advocates and task force members for their critical work to  strengthen our communities and ensure that Boston documents and addresses the historical harms of slavery and its continued impact on our Black residents."  “As the lead sponsor of this ordinance, I want to thank Tanisha Sullivan of the NAACP for inviting our office to lead this effort and to Dr. Kamara and Yvette Modestin for their leadership in drafting the ordinance,” said Councilor Julia Mejia. “We are extremely proud of the work we did alongside the community and look forward to monitoring the processes moving forward” “The forming of this reparations task force is an important step in the ongoing process of bringing justice to the Black community of Boston,” said Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson. “This is so both for the historical legacies of anti-Black racism going back to the enslavement of kidnapped Africans, to the current manifestations of structural and systemic white supremacy that are embedded and entrenched within the political and economic status quo.” “This is a major step forward for the City of Boston,” said Councilor Brian Worrell. “I would like to thank the Mayor and my City Council colleagues for helping bring this important conversation to the top of the agenda. Since the late Senator Bill Owens began this journey, we are proud to now have a diverse group of people working towards a solution that will address past injustices in this City. As the representative of one of the most diverse districts in Boston, I look forward to bringing new opportunities to the district and fixing previous disenfranchising to build up what makes Boston diverse.” The members of the task force are community leaders in law, academia, community organizing, and education and represent diversity in age, gender, and discipline to fully encompass the Black experience in Boston. The task force’s duties will include leading research on the historical impact of slavery in Boston and exploring ways the City can provide reparative justice for Black residents. Over the next 18 months, the task force members will convene and work on proposing recommendations to Mayor Wu for reparative solutions for the descendants of enslaved persons.  The individuals appointed to the task force include: Chair Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., Esq., Attorney, former President of the Boston branch of the NAACP, current member of City’s Black Men & Boys Commission Denilson Fanfan, 11th grader at Jeremiah E. Burke High School L’Merchie Frazier, Public historian, visual activist, and Executive Director of Creative and Strategic Partnerships for SPOKE Arts George “Chip” Greenidge, Jr., Founder and Director of Greatest MINDS Dr. Kerri Greenidge, Assistant Professor of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora at Tufts University Dr. David Harris, Past Managing Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice Dorothea Jones, Longtime civic organizer and member of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee Carrie Mays, UMass Boston student and youth leader with Teen Empowerment  Na’tisha Mills, Program Manager for Embrace Boston  Damani Williams, 11th grader at Jeremiah E. Burke High School “I am honored to be asked by Mayor Wu to chair this Reparation Task Force and serve with such distinguished people,” said Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., Chair of Reparations Task Force. “We are looking forward to determining recommendations for how we reckon with Boston’s past while charting a path forward for Black people whose ancestors labored without compensation and who were promised the 40 acres and a mule they never received.”  The task force will be housed within the City of Boston’s Equity & Inclusion Cabinet and work closely with Lori Nelson, the City’s Senior Advisor on Racial Justice. In the coming weeks, the City and task force will launch a request for proposal (RFP) to select a research partner to study the legacy of slavery in Boston and produce a report on its impact. The results of the report will inform recommendations brought forth by the task force. For more information about the task force, visit boston.gov/reparations. “This is a historic moment for Boston, for this nation,” said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “We are creating an opportunity to intentionally address harms of the past and embed racial equity into the fabric of our city. I am thankful for the leadership, expertise, and lived experience this task force brings to the table and I look forward to working beside them.” “This important initiative will center the truth, acknowledgment, and reconciliation that history once ignored," said Lori Nelson, Senior Advisor on Racial Justice. "The task force will give us the chance to fully engage and challenge policies that have harmed and marginalized Black people in Boston for generations. I am eager to collaborate with the task force with the goal of repairing and restoring injustice to move our city forward.” Today’s action builds on Mayor Wu's work to acknowledge historic harms and build an equitable Boston for all. Last year, Mayor Wu established the Office of Black Male Advancement and the Commission of Black Men and Boys to create initiatives to improve outcomes for Black men and boys. The Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion has made strides to increase supplier diversity to include more businesses of color in City contracting and to close the racial wealth gap across the city.

波士頓市重新設計社區象徵圖案 徵藝術家設計

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CALL FOR ARTISTS TO REDESIGN BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNS

BOSTON - Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the launch of the Neighborhood Sign Redesign program in partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture, the Department of Property Management, and the Department of Innovation and Technology. Across Boston, neighborhood signs welcome residents and visitors to the diverse communities that make up the City. The City of Boston is seeking artists to redesign these signs. Artists are invited to submit up to three conceptual designs based upon a template provided by the City.    “Our neighborhood signs are often the first thing residents and visitors see when they cross into different areas throughout Boston,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m excited for this program to empower our residents to create welcoming, creative signs to reflect the unique, vibrant neighborhoods and communities they live and work in.”  "This is an exciting, new opportunity to recognize that Boston's arts community is embedded in every neighborhood of Boston," said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture. "Whether someone is a longtime resident of a neighborhood or a visitor seeing a neighborhood for the first time, they'll be greeted by vibrant, inspiring artwork that reflects the talent and creativity of our city. We look forward to supporting local artists in this new initiative and creating new opportunities to celebrate their work!"  "Boston is home to many talented artists. This is such a great opportunity to continue to financially invest in artists' practices while beautifying our neighborhoods," said Brianna Millor, Chief of Community Engagement. “Boston is a city of amazing neighborhoods rich in culture, creativity, and filled with diversity. We are proud to take every opportunity to promote our artists, including engaging them in developing our neighborhood welcome signs. I’m very much looking forward to seeing their talents displayed across our city,” said Dion Irish, Chief of Operations. Artists must be at least 18 years old and must live or work in the City of Boston to participate. Preference will be given to artists who live or work in the neighborhood where each sign is located. Selected artists will receive a $1,000 stipend for their artwork. This program is funded in part by an investment from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to aid in Boston’s local recovery and will support local artists.  Submitted artwork should align with the City of Boston’s Curatorial Vision. The Curatorial Vision for the City of Boston is to foster the creation and collection of artworks that reflect the people, ideas, histories, and futures of Boston, the traditional homeland of the Massachusett people and the home of the neighboring Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples. The City aims to commission and approve artworks that engage communities and directly respond to, enrich, and enliven the urban environment. The City seeks public art that is driven by an artistically strong vision, enhances the diversity and equity of the existing collection, and possesses durability appropriate to the lifespan of the work. The deadline for artists to submit designs is March 3, 2023. The City will select artists by mid-March and will work collaboratively with them to refine final designs.  Interested artists can apply and learn more at boston.gov/sign-redesign.

昆士市第35屆農曆新年慶祝會 老天回暖再現往年熱鬧

昆士市第35屆農曆新年慶祝會在北昆士高中體育館舉行。(周菊子攝)

昆市市長Tom Koch感謝所有人的努力，已使得農曆新年慶祝變成昆士市的一大活動了。
(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子昆士市報導) 亞協服務中心 (QARI) 2月5日在昆士市北昆士高中體育館舉行第35屆農曆新年慶祝會，迎接兔年。週五，週六才剛被零下溫度凍僵了的人們，這天趁氣溫回暖，興高采烈的來逛攤位，看表演，拿贈品，摩肩擦踵的享受熱鬧。

            這場兔年慶祝會，形式和往年差不多，先由超武館醒獅賀新歲，再由美國第42童軍及昆士女童軍團領導升旗禮，宣誓效忠美國。

麻州眾議員陳德基代表多名政要致詞。 (周菊子攝)

               在亞協服務中心行政總裁莊建浩 (Philip Chong)的主禮中，昆士市長柯奇 (Tom   Koch) 、轄區包括昆士市的麻州眾議員陳德基，亞協服務中心副董事長暨金門超市總經理胡運炤，贊助機構代表華人醫務中心新任執行長 Eric Tiberi等人一一致詞。昆士市第六區市議員Bill Harris和昆士市議會議長Noel T. DiBona還為美國郵政局發行的兔年郵票，象徵式揭幕。

            麻州參議員John Keenan，麻州眾議員Bruce J. Ayers，諾福克郡地方檢察官Michael W. Morrissey，昆士市學校委員會委員Douglas S. Gutro等政要，這天也都到會同慶。         

亞協服務中心行政總裁莊建浩主持開幕式。 (周菊子攝)

             表演節目豐富是昆士市農曆新年慶祝會的一大特色。在舞台總監鄒毅、羅芝華統籌，司儀蔣家卉報幕中，在主舞台那兒，共有不下15場表演輪番上場，除了每年都有的樂舞族，新星社區藝術學校，大波士頓中華文化協會，廣州聯誼會這些社團的表演之外，還有波士頓韓國舞團，王氏青年會舞團，夕陽紅舞團跳廣場舞，1名8歲小孩表演印度舞等等。可慶恩的以京胡演奏「夜深沉」更是再次博得人們讚嘆。

昆士市第6區市議員Bill Harris   (左起) 和昆士市議會議長Noel T. DiBona 一起為兔年郵票揭幕
後，還秀出去年的虎年郵票。 (周菊子攝)

            副舞台設在北昆士高中禮堂，定名為金聲愛心文藝社演唱會，由李芹芳擔任司儀，安排有18項演出，包括新世界歌劇公司的Julianna Feng演唱電影花木蘭插曲「Reflection」，Aaron Feng演唱「A million dreams」，以及「爺爺奶奶闔家歡」的喜慶舞蹈，「相聚」藏族舞蹈，「心之尋」蒙古舞蹈，柳葉的琵琶演奏，甄巧兒、何鳳兒、文潔蓉、陳桂枝等人演唱粵曲，黃曉玲及黃啟華獨唱，全體合唱「早安隆回」等。

華人醫務中心新任執行長 Eric Tiberi致詞。    (周菊子攝)

             印在節目冊上的表演節目則有日本太鼓的擊鼓表演，以及夢舞團，廣州聯誼會，茉莉花舞蹈團，NaFFAA麻州舞團， Westwood中文學校舞團等的現代舞，旗袍舞，菲律賓竹舞，民族舞蹈等各種舞蹈表演。最後由鄒毅扮財神，派利是，為農曆新年慶祝會拉下帷幕。

           亞協服務中心行政總裁莊建浩坦言，新冠病毒疫情對昆士市的打擊也不小，但昆士居民士氣極佳，這天的慶祝會，攤位仍然擺滿會場，有逾百名志工穿梭會場為民眾服務，新的一年，充滿希望。

金門超市總經理胡運炤致詞。

大波士頓中國文化協會的揚琴表演，小朋友上場。

北昆士高中禮堂的節目以粵曲、演唱、舞蹈為主。

畫臉是節慶活動中小朋友的最愛之一。

美國第42童軍及昆士女童軍團。

划龍舟隊伍Wolfpack到場展示。

在台灣非常流行的夾娃娃機，今年也現身在昆士市農曆新年慶祝會上。

到場民眾都很喜歡拿起這說明35週年慶的框框拍照留念。