查理貝克表態支持兩眾議員候選人

Friend -- I wanted to get in touch today about some very important elections coming up on March 1. In two special elections - in Fitchburg and in Peabody - there are some terrific candidates running who I hope you'll support. In the 3rd Worcester District - Fitchburg and part of Lunenburg - Councilor Dean Tran is running a competitive race and needs your help. Dean has been an advocate for fiscal discipline on the Fitchburg City Council for years, and would be a great addition to our team on Beacon Hill. Click here to get involved in his campaign: http://www.DeanTran.com/get-involved.html And in Peabody's 12th Essex District, Stephanie Peach has been a tireless advocate for her city as Rep. Leah Cole's legislative aide. Now she wants to continue that service as a state representative, and I know she will be a strong voice for her hometown on Beacon Hill. Get involved with her campaign here: http://www.peach4peabody.com/volunteer Karyn and I have been working hard to deliver on our campaign promises, and we've gotten a lot done in our first year. But to keep going, we need strong partners in the Legislature so we can continue to deliver for Massachusetts. Electing Dean and Stephanie to the House will be an big part of that effort. I hope you'll support them today. Thanks so much for all you do, Charlie Baker

Paid for by the MassGOP info@massgop.com | www.MassGOP.com

新舊安多福華人協會合併 褚真威、王藐若，庄輝壯當選正副會長

左起，王藐若，賴潔寧，褚真威，郭慧明，周燕沒，庄輝壯等人
日前出席新英格蘭華人專業人士協會新春慶祝會。（周菊子攝）

(Boston Orange 周菊子報導)

美國麻州安多福鎮在2016年初出現完美傳承。兩個新舊華人協會在1月31日合併成為大安多福華人協會（Chinese American Association of The Andovers，簡稱CAAA），並以“分享與服務”為口號，立即於2月13日在鎮上圖書館推出一場精彩文化表演，慶祝猴年新春。

在合併會議中，年輕一輩的褚真威，庄輝壯，王藐若依序當選為會長，副會長。

左起，周燕梅，赖潔寧，何健，王藐若，褚真威，曹轶参，
杜元泰，庄辉壮。（CAAA提供，涂濤攝）

褚真威表示，安多福華人微信群共有300多人，都來自安多福，北安多福，以及鄰近城鎮。今年1月16日，他們在52人出席理事選舉中，正式成立了“大安多福華人協會”，選出9名理事，以興趣分類，成立教育、會員服務、文化、外展、社區，以及管理等6個委員會，還建了網站，http://caAndover.org，歡迎住在鄰近市鎮的華人註冊成為會員。

當選理事的9人為褚真威，庄輝壯，王藐若，曹轶參，杜元泰，賴潔寧，何健，葉千芬，周燕梅。

褚真威透露，安多福華人微信群討論組織華人協會已有頗長一段時間，但他們是後來才知道，鎮上早在1985年就已成立有非牟利的安多福中華文化協會（Andover Chinese Culture Exchange，簡稱ACCE）。30餘年來，ACCE在安多福和周圍數鎮一直是弘揚中華文化的主角，舉辦過大大小小的文化展，研討講座，演出，教育和領導力培訓等活動，並積極推動華人社區關心之要務。
1月24日，他們第一次開理事會時，除了推選褚真威，庄輝壯，王藐若等人為會長，副會長，討論各委員會活動，籌備中國文化節，關注當地政府選舉等，就也談及和安多福中華文化協會的合作方式。

1月31日，CAAA應邀出席安多福中華文化協會（ACCE）的理事會，不但獲邀入會，褚真威，庄輝壯，王藐若等人還立即當選為ACCE的會長，副會長。CAAA和ACCE合併，也就順理成章的討論通過。

ACCE的原會長司徒李察（Richard Soo Hoo），以及陳美玲（Viola Chan），張淑儀（Shuyee Huang），熊靜蓮（Chinglien Kirk），沙颖（Ying Schmitt），張海靜（Jennifer Zhang），賴潔寧（Jiening Lai），褚真威（Zhenwei Chu），葉千芬（Joanna Yeh），周燕梅（Mei Zhou），杜元泰（Yuantai Du），何健（Helen Yang），庄輝壯（John Zhuang），曹鐵參（Yican Cao），王藐若（Miaoruo Simmons ）等共15人，成為合併後的協會理事。

               根據美國人口統計局2010-2014的五年估計，麻州安多福鎮是個人口僅34,251的富裕小鎮，其中亞裔3,915人，佔11.4%，華人約1,625，佔4.7%。鎮民的平均家庭收入為15萬美元。

               1646年就已成立為鎮組織的安多福，在麻州也是名城，尤其是鎮內1778年成立的菲利普斯學院（Phillips Academy），更是全美最出名，錄取率最低，僅約16%，最富裕的私立寄宿高中。2008年時該校收到的捐款達8.2億美元，知名校友包括美國第41及第43任總統，喬治布殊（George Bush），喬治布殊二世（George Walker Bush），不丹國王吉格梅·凱薩爾·納姆耶爾·旺楚克等人。

               安多福鎮的有意思紀錄還包括，2011年被評為全世界網際網路（internet）速度最快的十個城市之一。安多福鎮上最出名的中國餐館，紐英崙藝術學會董事長趙羨藻所創辦的中國花（China Blossom）餐廳，也已有50年歷史。

HSBC TO PAY $4 MILLION, REFUND HOMEOWNERS FOR ACCEPTING COMPENSATION TIED TO FORCE-PLACED INSURANCE

HSBC TO PAY $4 MILLION, REFUND HOMEOWNERS FOR ACCEPTING COMPENSATION TIED TO FORCE-PLACED INSURANCE Mortgage Servicer Will Provide More than $2.5 Million in Refunds to Thousands of Massachusetts Borrowers

BOSTON – National mortgage lender and servicer HSBC has agreed to pay $4 million to resolve allegations that it received commissions and other kickbacks relating to force-placed insurance policies that it procured for struggling Massachusetts homeowners, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Under the assurance of discontinuance, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, HSBC will provide $2.675 million in restitution to affected Massachusetts homeowners, and pay an additional $1.4 million to the Commonwealth. The settlement provides for refunds to thousands of Massachusetts borrowers who were improperly charged force-placed insurance premiums that included commissions or other payments to HSBC. 

“Mortgage servicers should not enrich themselves through insurance products at the expense of struggling homeowners,” AG Healey said. “This agreement ensures that HSBC returns the money to Massachusetts consumers it received in violation of state laws.”

Force-placed insurance is property insurance that mortgage servicers obtain on behalf of homeowners when they believe homeowners have failed to maintain adequate homeowners insurance. Force-placement often occurs in circumstances in which a borrower has fallen behind on his or her mortgage payments and other bills. 

Mortgage servicers like HSBC often rely on force-placed insurance companies to monitor whether borrowers have maintained adequate homeowners insurance coverage. When a borrower is believed to have failed to maintain appropriate coverage, the insurer issues a force-placed insurance policy and the mortgage servicer charges the premium for the policy to the homeowner. Premiums for these force-placed insurance policies are high, often as much as two- or three-times as expensive as voluntary insurance, and the coverage provided is limited.

Until June 1, 2012, HSBC received compensation that was tied to the force-placed insurance premiums charged to HSBC’s borrowers, which the AG’s Office alleges created an improper conflict of interest and violated state consumer protection laws.

An affiliate of HSBC was allegedly paid commissions by the insurance company Assurant, Inc. (Assurant) for the sale of the force-placed insurance policies despite the fact that HSBC’s affiliate did not perform any of the traditional functions of an insurance agent. HSBC also participated in Assurant’s quota-share reinsurance program, which enabled its affiliate to share in the profits of Assurant’s highly lucrative force-placed insurance business. 

Under the terms of today’s settlement, HSBC agrees not to accept commissions, profit-sharing, or reinsurance proceeds or any free or below market value services from insurance carriers that it uses to write force-placed insurance policies on Massachusetts borrowers’ properties in connection with such policies. 

Boston Public Schools releases findings of investigation into Boston Latin School racism concerns

Boston Public Schools releases findings of investigation into Boston Latin School racism concerns

Office of Equity finds one violation; Superintendent pledges district-wide reform

BOSTON — Thursday, February 18, 2016 — Boston Public Schools (BPS) announced today that the district’s Office of Equity has completed an internal investigation of alleged violations of the district’s internal nondiscrimination policies at Boston Latin School (BLS). The executive summary of the investigation will be posted to bostonpublicschools.org.

“Racial intolerance should never be accepted in any Boston public school,” said BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang. “This is deeply personal to me as someone who had similar experiences growing up as an immigrant in the United States. I am fully committed to ensuring that no student should ever feel unsafe in any of our schools. BLS must take a critical examination of itself, in particular around issues of race and culture.”

According to the executive summary, the Office of Equity’s inquiry focused on all reports to BLS administrators of student incidents related to race and ethnicity between November 2014 and January 2016. The review identified a total of seven incidents during that time period, and determined that the internal policy was violated in one of those incidents.

The substantiated violation was in relation to a student using a racial slur and making a threatening remark toward another student. The review found BLS did not adequately investigate the incident, did not adequately discipline the student, nor take appropriate steps to ensure the support and safety of the targeted student.

In another November 2014 incident, in which students presented administrators a binder with printouts of social media posts that contained racist and offensive speech, the review found BLS did not violate district nondiscrimination policies and procedures. In this case, BLS administrators determined that the most offensive remarks were made by people who live outside of Massachusetts and who were not BLS students. Additionally, four BLS students who made racially insensitive remarks on Twitter, which were contained in the binder, were required to meet one-on-one with administrators to discuss their conduct, the review found. There were no further issues with the four students after these meetings.

The Office of Equity submitted a set of extensive recommendations to Superintendent Chang designed to enhance protocols and procedures at BLS; improve the culture and climate at the school; sustain an anti-racism initiative; and train students and staff at BLS and across the district on racial awareness and cultural proficiency, including student-, Equity Office-, and community-led workshops.

While student and employee discipline are subject to privacy protections under the law, the Superintendent stated he intends to implement all recommendations proposed by the Office of Equity, both at BLS and system-wide across the district.

“A guiding principle of Boston Public Schools is to ensure that every school provides a safe, respectful, and responsible environment for all students,” Chang said. “I am grateful for the Office of Equity’s comprehensive investigation and recommendations, which lay the foundation of important work at Boston Latin and throughout the district. We now have an incredible opportunity in Boston Public Schools to embrace a culturally sustainable education for all students.”

Proactively, prior to the investigation’s completion, BPS had already completed equity protocols training for all principals and headmasters, and begun planning educational sessions with students and staff around issues of diversity and cultural proficiency. As an immediate step, BLS shared a six-point plan with the BLS community last month.

Among the recommendations to improve the climate at BLS, the Office of Equity has asked BLS Headmaster Lynne Mooney Teta and others to institute a racial climate audit before the close of this school year and again next year; immediately launch dialogues on race and ethnicity with the school community, including members of the student social justice organization Black Leaders Aspiring for Change and Knowledge (BLS B.L.A.C.K.); and to work with the district to increase the hiring of Black and Latino teachers for the 2016-2017 school year.

BPS is using the recommendations as an opportunity to reset how it addresses allegations of racism in schools, with school administrators now being asked to report these types of allegations directly to the Office of Equity, which in turn reports directly to Superintendent Chang.

“The School Committee is supportive of Dr. Chang’s administration’s efforts to improve the cultural climate not only at Boston Latin School, but across the entire district,” said Boston School Committee Chairman Michael O’Neill. “We deeply appreciated the student leaders of BLS B.L.A.C.K. addressing the School Committee in January, and we look forward to working with Dr. Chang to ensure that the district provides the support necessary to fully institute the Office of Equity’s recommendations.”

Superintendent Chang announced he is backing the Office of Equity’s recommendations, including a commitment to study exam school admission practices with the intent to draw qualified students from a broader demographic pool. Dr. Chang is also pledging to find funding to support the district’s Office of Opportunity and Achievement Gaps; and said that, effective immediately, the Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Equity will report directly to the Superintendent.

Chang thanked the student leaders of BLS B.L.A.C.K. for bringing their concerns into the public dialogue through a thoughtful and powerful social media campaign last month. [Chang first praised the students at the Jan. 27 School Committee meeting.]

“These two young women took a very courageous stance by demanding that issues of race be at the forefront at BLS and across the district,” Chang said. “Racism has a long history in this country and city. We will not solve this issue overnight, but we are committed to using this investigation as a systemic intervention. I look forward to working together with students and faculty to lead Boston Public Schools toward positive change.”

The Office of Equity findings and recommendations were reviewed by Kenneth B. Grooms & Associates. Grooms is a longtime Boston-area civil rights attorney, investigator, and adjudicator.

“I believe the Boston Public Schools conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation,” Grooms said. “It is encouraging to see the district begin to make deep structural shifts toward an inclusive climate for all.”

ACMES 承辦教育論壇2/13與新英格蘭華人聯歡

牛江河撰稿

群英荟萃波城生辉，ACMES领衔教育论坛

由十四家专业协会学会联合举办的新英格兰华人专业人士猴年盛大春节联欢于2月13日在Burlington Marriott 隆重成功举行。到处张灯结彩，灯笼高挂，精美的摄影展，美术展美不胜收，其它几十个摊位展点。于此同时进行的还有教育、投资与企业、交流技巧、文化沙龙论坛以及“找到你的另一半”

美中医学交流学会和美国艺术与科学教育协会在联合举办的教育论坛上提供了内容丰富的教育讲座，比如Needham银行高级副总裁Eric Morse 做的目前银行趋势和就业机会演讲，波士顿教育集团吴丹叶主任介绍如何申请大学，他笑道：招生办的人都阅人无数，你若是用的同一份个人陈述，他们是看得出来的呢，还有就是你心仪的学校你是知道的，申请十个学校足够了。

美中医学交流协会会长孔学君医师以“医生职业之路”为题讲演，从医生职业概貌，如何申请医学院，怎样成为执业医生以及医生生涯四个方面做了详尽介绍。她说医生是个受人尊重的职业，对于大多数医生而言，治病救人所得到的精神回赠比起高薪收入更为重要。她说选择医学生涯之前，要认识其漫长的培训过程及工作的艰辛，并培养综合分析及解决问题的能力，交流沟通技巧，热情，爱心及耐心等软实力。到2020年，预计美国会短缺9万医生，而医生与居民的比例高低直接影响着整体健康水平。在哈佛医学院执教的孔医生呼吁有志青年投身医林，她和ACMES的其它医生将提供帮助及指导。哈佛医学院学生刘君以她本人为例，具体介绍了她的医学院申请过程，她的感想是医学院偏爱“成熟”的申请者，她就是在取得了哲学博士学位后再申请的医学院。医学院的招生官们在面试时还“热衷”于和你聊聊你在课堂之外的兴趣和活动。她的志向是成为学术型神经科医生。

美国艺术与科学教育协会的余品澍告诉听众的是怎样在大学入学中申请音乐教育。他其中强调的一点是申请人的经历并不代表申请人的成就。比如你参加了多少次比赛，并不能说明什么问题。全美每年有大小五百多个钢琴比赛，有的比赛非常奇葩：一半参赛人均荣获三等奖，另一半参赛人的其中半数荣获二等奖，另外半数荣获一等奖。与其马不停蹄参加这样的比赛，莫不如静下心来好好发掘你的音乐才能，比如你若能在申请时提交你做的一支小曲，哪怕它不成熟，效果也很好。

最后美国艺术与科学教育协会还宣布了钢琴演奏和科技创新奖学金，用以鼓励培养青少年对艺术与科学相关的兴趣爱好和刻苦努力的钻研精神。

抑郁症容易侵袭青少年以及正在求学、努力职业的成年人，自然他们的学业和职业也就受到影响。ACMES特邀哈佛医学院副教授, 抑郁症专家 Albert Yeung医生根据他多年的研究和从医经历，提出抑郁症三位一体生物-心理-社会的模式以及三级防治机制。

 美中医学交流协会是由美中医学界专家共同组成的以医学教育培训和学术交流为主的非营利性组织。本协会总部设在美国波士顿，是在美国联邦税局 Internal Revenue Service （IRS）正式注册的501c（3）非营利机构。本协会旨在利用强大的美中医学界专家阵容，包括华人医师，医学科学家，以现代网路技术及本会出版的中英文医学期刊为平台，建立多方位美中医学教育及交流的跨国学术性实体。对于有志学医的人士，ACMES提供相关实习机会及职业辅导，谢谢大家持续关注我们。

MAYOR WALSH OPENS SEARCH FOR BOSTON'S FIRST CHIEF DATA OFFICER

MAYOR WALSH OPENS SEARCH FOR BOSTON'S FIRST CHIEF DATA OFFICER TO LEAD THE CITYWIDE ANALYTICS TEAM, RELEASES CITYWIDE ANALYTICS TEAM 2015 YEAR-IN-REVIEW

BOSTON - Thursday, February 18, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston has opened the search for its first ever Chief Data Officer to advance Boston's position as a leader in data-driven government, build collaborations with outside partners and serve as a public face for the City's data analytics efforts. The Citywide Analytics Team also released its first annual Year-In-Review, which highlights several case studies from 2015 in which data was used to improve quality of life and improve government operations. "The citywide analytics team is an invaluable asset that allows us to hold ourselves to the highest standards to ensure that we are delivering excellent city services to the people of Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "I am excited to expand the team to include a Chief Digital Officer, who will oversee the city's efforts to incorporate data into operations throughout the city and I look forward to working closely together to make our city safer and smarter." As a member of the leadership team of the Department of Innovation and Technology, the Chief Data Officer will manage Boston's Citywide Analytics Team. The Chief Data Officer will also also work closely with other Chiefs and Commissioners to expand the use of visualization and analytics to improve operations throughout the City. The application for the Chief Data Officer is available online at next.boston.gov/join-us. "In the year since it was announced by Mayor Walsh, the Citywide Analytics Team has built an amazing track record helping City departments use data to better serve the people of Boston," said Chief Information Officer Jascha Franklin-Hodge. "Our Chief Data Officer will build on this legacy, and enhance Boston's role as a leader in modern, responsive, data-driven government." The Citywide Analytics Team has led more than a dozen projects across the city, which are highlighted in their first annual Year-In-Review.  A few highlights include: Launched CityScore, an initiative that compiles key performance metrics from city departments every day to provide an at-a-glance view of the City's overall performance;   Created data dashboards, which provides the Mayor and executives with tools for data-driven management and ways to measure the impact of City services on quality of life;   Building Intelligence System, which combines data from many sources to give firefighters up-to-date hazard information en route to fire scenes;   Used traffic data from the Waze app to improve the flow of vehicles on the roadway and increase safety for vulnerable road users   Hosted Hub Hackathons to engage the community with Boston's Open data portal and help residents explore topics that matter to their community.   ABOUT BOSTON'S CITYWIDE ANALYTICS TEAM The Citywide Analytics Team uses data to improve quality of life and enhance government operations in the City of Boston. By combining modern data analysis and visualizations with a deeply engaged approach to performance improvement and change management, the team works with departments across the City to solve challenging problems, build a more effective government, and deliver better outcomes for the people who live and work in Boston.