麻州教育首長請族裔社區多和政府溝通

麻州教育廳廳長馬龍（Matthew H. Malone）昨（20）日舉行族裔媒體記者會，強調教育固然和政治一樣，都要從地方做起，該廳希望透過族裔媒體協助，讓族裔社區知道全州性的教育措施。任何人對州內教育措施有意見，都可直接向該廳反映。

他也考慮在教育廳網站上提供雙語資料。加強為四歲學齡前兒童提供教育機會。

在2013年一月獲麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）指派出任教育廳廳長前，馬龍曾任布洛克頓（Brockton），史溫普斯考特（Swampscott）兩地的學校總監。

昨日他趁著學校即將開學之際，請族裔媒體幫忙，向民眾傳達派區克政府在教育上把彌平成就差距，加強科技應用，重視學校安全等列為優先要務的施政方針。

他指出，麻州政府在過去這一年中，推出了許多教育計劃。甫於八月中宣佈已找到兩家合作機構的“為成功付出（Pay for Success）“，更是全美第一個針對成人基本英語教育需求問題，提出解決方案的計劃。

麻州政府將和”猶太職業服務（Jewish Vocational Services）“，”針對未來的社會財務及工作（Social Finance and Jobs for the Future）“這兩個機構合作，以一千五百萬元為起點，著手解決一萬六千名成人還排在等候名單上，等著學習基本英語的問題。其中包括為說其他語言者提供的英語課（ESOL）。

“為成功付費”的做法是，這兩家合作夥伴自行籌款，並預先支付費用，如果項目辦理得成功，麻州政府才把錢付還給他們。

馬龍表示，該廳也為麻州政府七月份公佈，提出了29點建議的“學校安全（School Safety and Security)“報告，感到驕傲。他說這是麻州政府跨部會合作的好例子。麻州長在2015年度財政預算中撥出廿萬元，宣佈組成一個科技援助團隊，將應要求，幫助地方學校分析他們各自的學校可以怎樣改變得更安全，更讓人覺得受歡迎。麻州教育廳也設立了一個網站， mass.gov/edu/safety ，為學校列出一系列的安全資源。

馬龍還提及他們去年推出的RoxMAPP，把高中和大學結合起來的教育模式，容許麥迪遜公園高中學生在洛士百利（Roxbury）社區學院免費修課，並在六年內畢業後，取得高中文憑，技術證書，以及副學士學位。這創新的教育做法，旨在創造一種新的學術及人力發展模式，讓學生們早點在求學過程中，就接觸到將來可能有的職業選擇。

            麻州教育廳採行了的另一項計劃是“門戶城市英語學習者的增強學院（Gateway Cities English Language Learners Enrichment Academy）”。麻州政府在2015年財政年度中撥款二百五十萬元給這項目，將為多元化的學生人口提供有針對性的職業發展培訓。

            馬龍重申麻州長派區克一再強調的說法，民眾必須參與，政府才能做得更好。他鼓勵民眾出席早期教育及護理部（EEC），中小學教育部（ESE），高等教育部（DHE）等部門的公開會議，直接向政府反映意見。他也鼓勵民眾查看該廳推特 @MassEducation。

圖片說明：

            麻州教育廳廳長馬龍（Matthew H. Malone）希望族裔社區也了解麻州政府的教育措施。（菊子攝）

            麻州教育廳廳長馬龍（Matthew H. Malone）指著地圖表示，他上任以後，親自拜訪了幾乎所有的麻州學區。（菊子攝）

            麻州教育廳廳長馬龍（Matthew H. Malone）展示他辦公室中的照片。（菊子攝）

火災喪生BU學生李冰蘭家屬決定告房東

波士頓環球報昨（20）日指出，在該報焦點小組（Spotlight）發表火災當日現場重建詳情三個月後，波士頓大學殞命學生李冰蘭的家屬決定控告房東及房地產經紀。

波士頓市布萊頓（Brighton）的Linden街87號火災事件，發生在2013年4月28日，共約五人跳窗逃生，來自紐約布魯克林（Brooklyn），在波士頓大學就讀海洋科學系的22歲學生李冰蘭，卻被困閣樓，喪生火海。

李冰蘭的家人決定向薩福克郡（Suffolk）高等法院控告房東，房地產經紀出租沒有足夠逃生路徑，火警警報器不靈的公寓。

波士頓環球報焦點小組的調查顯示，該一過於擁擠住宅一直都有問題，該住宅樓宇的過去和現有業主，以及市府官員，都有責任。

當李冰蘭在2012年搬進那洞房子時，房東Anna Belokurova 幾乎把房子裏的每一個空間都當做睡房出租了，使得三樓的租戶，只有走樓梯一條路可以出去。

火災發生那天，是走廊天花板的煙霧偵測器響起來時，三樓的人才知道大火逼近，但那時熊熊大火伴著瀰漫濃煙，他們根本無法用樓梯逃生。

做裁縫的鄺徐美（譯音，Xu Mei Kwong）表示，她很想念獨生女兒，每天都覺得不舒服。

根據李家律師Albert L. Farrah Jr.遞交的抱怨信，該公寓沒有兩個出口，火警偵測系統要不是壞了，就是沒有依照法律規定的彼此連接，以及實在樓上發出警報響聲，不符合樓宇規定。

五名從三樓窗戶跳出逃生的住戶，各有傷勢，有的吸入濃煙，有的背折，腳扭，腕傷。消防員控制住火勢後，在睡房窗戶旁幾尺處發現李冰蘭的屍體，全身燒傷得體無完膚。法定死因為吸入濃煙。

在過失致人於死的這宗控案中，被列為被告的包括房東 Belokurova，以及出租公寓給李冰蘭及其他六名承租者的門戶地產集團（ Gateway Real Estate Group）。

Linden街87號在波士頓市府的樓宇登記中，是一棟有六個睡房的房屋，但被改造成有12個睡房。在火警發生時，住有14人，其中包括 3人住在地下室，在Belokurova擁有這棟房屋前，波市檢查員已於2011年指那不合法。

麻州莎士比亞慶廿週年 九月芬衛球場演莎劇

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company 20th Anniversary Season Kick Off “Shakespeare at Fenway” On September 19, 2014 Tickets On Sale

BOSTON, MA. - August 20, 2014— BOSTON, MA— Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) will celebrate its 20th year serving the community in 2015. It will kick off its anniversary season on September 19, 2014 (7:30pm), with a once-in-a-lifetime gift to the City of Boston — Shakespeare at Fenway. This is a first- ever event of this kind to be presented at a major league ballpark. CSC will offer a limited number of seats around the perimeter which will be available free of charge to the public and local non-profit organizations including CSC’s key educational partners. "All Star" tickets grant preferred seating and cost $35 each. A limited number of special "MVP" tickets, featuring priority seating and access to an exclusive post-performance reception with the cast, support the next 20 years of CSC’s service to the community and are currently available for $125 each. Visit redsox.com/shakespeare or commshakes.org for more information on how to order tickets. Generous event support has been provided to Commonwealth Shakespeare Company by Babson College, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Foundation.
Directed by CSC’s Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler, CSC will bring a starting line-up of local and national celebrities to the iconic ballpark for an evening of famous scenes from William Shakespeare’s plays. Currently scheduled to appear are actor/writer Mike O’Malley(Glee, Yes Dear, Shameless), actress Kerry O'Malley (CSC's Twelfth Night, Broadway's Into the Woods, A &E Those Who Kill), and actor Neal McDonough (Suits, Desperate Housewives, Band of Brothers).
“All the ballpark's a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino. “We look forward to welcoming the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company to Fenway Park as they perform scenes from one of the world’s pre-eminent dramatists. We hope our ‘lyric little bandbox of a ballpark’ will be the perfect backdrop to the plays of the Bard and the performances of the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s talented artists.”
“Shakespeare at Fenway builds on a long and productive partnership between Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and the City of Boston,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh noted. “From free performances on Boston Common to workshops in our public schools, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has made these great works accessible to all. Thanks to their generosity, even more citizens and non-profit groups will now be able to experience Shakespeare at this spectacular evening inside the legendary Fenway Park.”
Tickets will go on sale Friday, August 22, 2014 at 12pm, and can be purchased at redsox.com/shakespeare, by calling (877) REDSOX-9, or by visiting the Fenway Park ticket office. Fans with disabilities can call (877) REDSOX-9 to purchase accessible seating. The Red Sox' TTY number for hearing-impaired fans is (617) 226- 6644.
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is dedicated to bringing the works of William Shakespeare in vital and contemporary productions to the people of Boston and to exploring Shakespeare’s plays with local youth in innovative and creative ways. Best known for its annual free performances on Boston Common, CSC also presents several free play-reading events during the year—Theatre in the Rough, Shakespeare & Law, and Shakespeare & Leadership. The Company fulfills its educational mission with training programs for both high school students and pre-professional actors through its Summer Academy. Throughout the
year, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company partners with area high schools and Boys & Girls Clubs to provide in and after-school theatre activities to inner-city youth. Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is the Theatre in Residence at Babson College. For more information visit commshakes.org. 

美国南加州侨学界纪念抗日战争胜利69周年

http://www.aacyf.org/?p=4384

美国南加州侨学界纪念抗日战争胜利69周年

近日， 美国南加州侨学界在洛杉矶中国城举办“美洲华侨与抗日战争”论坛，重温当年华侨在海外为抗日战争所做出的巨大贡献，纪念抗日战争胜利69周年。论坛由美国华人公共外交协会、全美中华青年联合会、美洲中华青年促统会等机构联合主办。来自中国广东江门五邑大学的博士生导师、张焜教授等一行4人应邀参加了当天的论坛。

罗省中华会馆主席伍尚齐在发言中指出，在艰苦卓绝的8年抗日战争期间，美洲各地的华侨持续不断地以各种方式在海外全力支持抗日战争，表现出了对民族和祖国的高度责任感。 当年的美洲华侨以江门五邑籍移民为主。1936年8月21日，中华会馆召开全侨大会，通过并成立了“旅美华侨抗日统一义捐救国总会”， 有４７个分会遍布美国、加拿大、墨西哥以及中南美洲大小城市３００余处，为美洲各地华侨抗日救国会规模最庞大的组织。显示了美洲华侨一致抗日的团结精神。　

  五邑大学党委书记张焜教授表示，据学校的有关华侨史专家介绍，五邑华侨在美洲以多种形式开展抗日救国活动，在捐款、认购公债、侨汇、捐物、宣传等方面做出了巨大贡献。据有关统计，８年抗战期间，美洲各地华侨捐款总额近七千万美元。抗战期间、国民政府为解决军事开支所造成的财政困难，先后发行了6期总额近30亿元的救国公债，海外华侨认购了11.1亿元的公债。

美国华人公共外交协会会长任向东表示，美洲华侨在抗日救国宣传方面也做出了巨大的努力，除原有的报纸以外，还开办了电台，广泛发送抗日救国传单。向广大华侨和主流社会宣传中国抗日战争的艰难困苦以及正义所在，获得了社会大众的同情和支持。

在纪念抗日战争６９周年之际，对于日本政府现时对当年侵略战争的态度，以及试图改变战后国际秩序的举动，我们需要学习华侨前辈们的精神和方法，进一步向美国社会揭露和谴责日本政府的劣行。

全美中华青年联合会理事长朱冰峰、南加州华人华侨联合会詹瑞娥表示，明年将隆重举办纪念抗日战争胜利70 年活动，让海外华人新生代永远铭记日本军国驻日对世界和平的危害，以及中华民族不屈不挠的坚强意志。

南加州华人华侨史研究会、全美华裔优秀青年联谊会、美华国际青年商会、北美深圳青年联合总会等机构的代表参加了当天论坛。（AACYF洛杉矶讯）

Being the Change: Boston Youth Learn to Help Create Healthier Communities

Being the Change: Boston Youth Learn to Help Create Healthier Communities

148 teens graduate from health careers & education summer courses

BOSTON— For many teens, the summer months are an opportunity to relax and unwind away from the classroom atmosphere. However, for 148 teens that participated in summer enrichment programs at the Boston Public Health Commission, the learning never stopped.

For teens throughout Boston, the last six weeks have provided an opportunity to learn about a variety of health careers, public health topics and how to make positive changes in their communities. Participants were recognized for their hard work at a graduation ceremony last Thursday, August 14, at the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in Dorchester.

“We view young people as valuable partners in creating a healthier city,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the Commission’s executive director. “Our summer programs offer a chance to share and reinforce important health information, but also show teens how rewarding health careers can be. The programs also offer leadership skills and support to help keep teens motivated for the coming school year,’’ added Dr. Ferrer.

Supported by the Boston Youth Fund, the summer enrichment programs work with teens entering grades 9 through 12. The initiative focuses on empowerment and education through different training programs: the Boston Area Health Education Center’s Youth 2 Health Careers program (Y2HC), the Peer Leadership Institute, Start Strong, and the Violence Intervention & Prevention program. The motivational theme for this summer was based on Mahatma Gandhi’s quote “Be the Change that you wish to see in the world.”

BAHEC’s Youth to Health Careers (Y2HC) program aims to increase the diversity of youth pursuing careers in health. This summer, 75 Boston teens learned about a broad range of health occupations through coursework and job shadowing at Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Tufts School of Dental Medicine, as well as a number of programs within the Commission.


The Peer Leadership Institute trained teens as expert peer health educators, and emphasized their responsibility as role models in the community. Forty students participated in workshops and discussions on substance abuse prevention, sexual health education, and health equity. In partnership with Emerson College, the 40 students also developed and designed health education materials on a range of topics.

Another 25 students worked as part of the Start Strong Initiative to develop tools and organize events, including the annual Break-Up Summit, that empowers young people to build healthy relationships and develop conflict resolution skills.

“The young men and women who have given their summer to advancing themselves and their community should be proud of all they’ve accomplished,” said Dr. Philomena Asante, a pediatrician and newly-appointed Director of the Child and Adolescent Health Division of BPHC. “They are leaders and role models now, and we believe they will make great contributions to the health of their communities in the future.”


The Commission’s summer enrichment programs have served more than 10,000 teens over 35 years by helping young people become local health leaders, serve their communities through activism, and enter college.

For more information on the Commission’s various youth programs, visit bphc.org/bahec.


BPS invests in building upgrades with green guidelines in mind

BPS invests in building upgrades with green guidelines in mind

BOSTON – This school year students will benefit from many renovations and upgrades across Boston Public Schools. Construction crews from the BPS Facilities Department have been working in at least 30 schools with projects ranging from painting hallways to building modular classrooms.  Most projects will be completed by the first day of the 2014-2015 school year, while more extensive projects will be ongoing.

The district is installing new science labs at Boston Latin Academy in Roxbury while the Haley school will expand with modular classrooms. Students and staff at the Haynes Early Education Center in Roxbury will return to find a new schoolyard in progress.  Another project is being planned at the former Wilson building, where crews will install an elevator to make the building wheelchair accessible. The building will be home to the Henderson K-12 Inclusion School, the district's first K-12 inclusion school.

Providing educational learning spaces that are eco-friendly, healthy, safe and welcoming is a high priority for the district. On every construction project BPS seeks to improve the learning and teaching environments through the use of low toxic and durable materials; ventilation, plumbing and lighting systems that are energy and water efficient; and more accessible outdoor spaces that encourage student learning and play.

The most ambitious project is at Alighieri Montessori School in East Boston where BPS is spending $4.3 million on interior/exterior refurbishments at the school, including a HVAC upgrade. A new boiler system will also be installed at the new P.A. Shaw Elementary School located in Dorchester. Students at Umana Academy in East Boston will spend the 2014-2015 school year learning beneath a completely new roof. The energy efficient heating and cooling system upgrades at the Alighieri and P.A. Shaw Elementary schools as well as the roof replacement at the Umana will contribute to energy savings each year. 

“This time of year we are very busy, but every project is looked at with an eye towards greening our buildings. Our goal is to reduce greenhouse emissions, and reduce our utility cost, which is more than $20 million per year,“ Khadijah Brown.