柯克莉和查理貝克短兵相接 競爭白熱化

麻州州長一職的民主，共和兩黨候選人，柯克莉（Martha Coakley)和查理貝克（Charlie Baker）開始短兵相接，展開一連串的同台辯論。兩人之間的民調差距，已縮小進誤差範圍內。

有英文報章指出，在七日晚的電視轉播辯論後，民調顯示查理貝克的支持率躍升到42%，柯克莉39%。

昨（八）日，他們倆人早上在大波士頓商會假威斯汀酒店舉行的早餐會中辯論，下午在薩福克大學法學院舉行的能源，環境及創新經濟州長候選人論壇中繼續辯論。

昨日早上，他們倆人的主要分歧點，和七日晚的電視辯論並無太大差別，都在超級協議（Super PAC），兒童及家庭福利局（DCF）上爭論。查理貝克擔任哈佛朝聖者（Harvard Pilgrim）醫療護理公司執行長時，曾領年薪一百七十萬元，也成了互相攻訐話題，

        十一月四日的大選，只不過還剩27天，共和黨籍，現年五十七歲的查理貝克和民主黨籍，現年六十一歲的柯克莉，頻繁出現在選民面前。

            WBUR電台主持歐克斯（Bob Oakes）昨日早上在大波士頓商會的辯論中，逼柯克莉和查理貝克就超級協議表態，追問他倆是否願意當場表示，要求“超級協議”撤除對他倆的支持。他們倆人都不肯答應。

柯克莉指，這是場很艱苦的選戰，如果查理貝克也同意要求“超級協議”停止動作，她就也同意。

查理貝克指在這議題上，柯克莉沒有資格說話，因為是柯克莉這邊的“超級協議”先對他展開攻擊的，其中包括批評他當年領薪一百七十萬元。昨日早上他質問柯克莉，哈佛朝聖者是非牟利機構，由柯克莉的總檢察辦公室轄管，如果柯克莉對那數目有意見，當年為何沒有任何反應。

            在兒童及家庭福利局（DFC）這事上，查理貝克表示，他認為麻州政府應該想辦法整頓該局，而不是上法院提控訴，同時任由該局繼續瀆職。柯克莉表示，她的辦公室只能做到檢控該局的不妥當，她至今仍認為自己的決定沒錯。

            會後一名獨立無黨派人士表示，昨早的辯論，查理貝克佔上風，顯得對議題的認識比較深入。如果聽完辯論後即場投票，他會投票給查理貝克。

圖片說明：

            查理貝克（左）和柯克莉（右），昨日在大波士頓商會的早餐會中辯論。（菊子攝）

            麻州眾議員麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz，右）支持柯克莉（左）。（菊子攝）

            查理貝克對自己昨日的表現感到滿意。（菊子攝）

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION JOINS U.S. LABOR SECRETARY PEREZ AND U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY DUNCAN TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES UNDERWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION JOINS U.S. LABOR SECRETARY PEREZ AND U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY DUNCAN TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES UNDERWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS

Commonwealth celebrated as national model in aligning educational programs with employer workforce needs 

SPRINGFIELD – Wednesday, October 8, 2014 –Patrick Administration officials today joined U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) to recognize the Commonwealth’s leadership in developing a robust workforce pipeline to meet the needs of employers across Massachusetts.  

During today’s visit, Secretaries Perez and Duncan highlighted two rounds of grants, totaling $40 million, awarded to Massachusetts community colleges by the U.S. Department of Labor to further the Administration’s efforts to align educational programs at our community colleges with the needs of local employers. 

“Working together, we have strengthened the connections between our campuses, our employers and our workforce so that each and every one of our students has the opportunity to thrive,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Community colleges are a critical asset in our strategy to develop a middle-skills workforce for jobs in demand. I’m proud Secretary Perez and Secretary Duncan have recognized our successful model.”

The consortium of Massachusetts community colleges awarded in these two grant rounds has drawn national attention for building systems between community colleges, adult basic education programs and workforce development partners and industry leaders to offer students more training and education programs that better reflect the needs of local industry.   To date, 151 degree and certificate programs have been developed or redesigned for accelerated learning and credentials for 40 programs have been made stackable for more comprehensive certification of skills. Among students who go through these programs, 70 percent attained employment while 85 percent completed online credit hours. 

The latest round of federal funding received by the Massachusetts consortium will focus on reducing the time it takes students to complete certificate and degree programs that lead to careers in high-growth STEM sectors (science, technology, engineering and math) as well as advanced manufacturing and health care.

“This type of collaborative effort between our community colleges and our local businesses bridges career and education, allowing the Commonwealth to lead the nation in career development,” said Secretary of Education Matthew Malone. “This vital combination of skills will give our students the competitive edge they will need to succeed in the global workforce.”

“The advanced training programs at our community colleges are another example of how Massachusetts is leading the nation in innovation,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. “Building a talented workforce is how we will compete and succeed in the 21^st century.” 

“This collaborative approach in workforce training led to the deployment of new data tools to analyze employer job openings in a region,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian.  “This information provides critical insight for colleges, boards, career centers and partners on hiring trends, employer skill needs, and the actual names of employers with job openings.  For the first time, these institutions have direct access to critical hiring trends.”

In 2012, Governor Deval Patrick launched his landmark reform to the community college systems to address the skills gap and expand employment opportunities for workers across the state. By aligning a unified community college system with employers, vocational-technical schools and Workforce Investment Boards, Governor Patrick has made workforce partnerships among the community colleges a key component of his efforts to help people get back to work.

Political candidates should court Asian American voters, survey indicates

Political candidates should court Asian American voters, survey indicates

Asian American voters plan to turn out in November and don’t affiliate with a political party

WASHINGTON, DC – New polling released today by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) shows that at least 60 percent, and up to as many as 77 percent, of Asian American registered voters are planning to vote in the 2014 Midterms. In addition, 46 percent do not affiliate with a political party, compared to 37 percent that are Democrat and 17 percent that are Republican.

See our infographic for summary of findings.

These results, coupled with the fact that Asian Americans are rapidly growing in population in the Southand Midwest, indicate that this community will be a sought-after political power force in years to come. 

“Asian Americans should no longer be an afterthought in our political process,” said Mee Moua, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. “It is clear that Asian Americans will have a say in shaping future elections and the future direction of our country. Candidates from both sides of the aisle should be making inroads with this community, and yet, most Asian Americans have yet-to-be contacted by either political party. The polling results found that 66 percent of Asian Americans haven’t heard from Democrats and 74 percent have not heard from Republicans.”  

In more than 60 House races across the country – in congressional districts in Georgia, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, California and Hawaii – Asian Americans make up eight percent or more of the voting-age population, large enough to close the gap in some of these races.

To counter challenges to voting – such as discriminatory voting laws and practices, language barriers, lack of access to voter resources and unfamiliarity with the voting process and political candidates, the Asian American community is building civic and political infrastructures across the country. This includes on-the-ground organizing in states like Nevada and Virginia, where in close House races, Asian Americans make up 10 percent more of the citizen voting age population.

“This growing base of Asian American voters remain mostly undecided,” said Christine Chen, executive director of APIAVote. “Many are disengaged from politics because the parties and candidates are not directly addressing them. As many as 64 percent of those surveyed believe politicians don’t care much about what they think. APIAVote and partners have launched grassroots efforts engaging 200,000 households with direct voter contact and we encourage the campaigns to do the same. Our polling indicates what they should already know - these votes are up for grabs.”  

The survey was conducted by AAPI Data and polled 1,300 Asian American registered voters nationwide in-language. Findings reflected voter attitudes on social issues as well as political leanings.

“The Asian American electorate is growing rapidly and is already a significant presence in many states and Congressional districts,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, director of AAPI Data and lead researcher on the survey. “In-language polling of Asian Americans is now getting to be critical, in order for us to have a more accurate picture of what voters care about, and how they will vote.”

CLICK HERE to download the report and to view the powerpoint presentation from today's webinar briefings.  Speakers included: 

• Mee Moua, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC 
• Christine Chen, executive director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote
• Karthick Ramakrishnan, director of AAPIData
• Rozita Lee, chair, APIAVote Nevada
• Genie Nguyen, president of Voice of Vietnamese Americans (Fairfax, Virginia)
• Theresa Tran, executive director of APIAVote Michigan

    

波士頓華埠展書畫攝影慶雙十

紐英崙中華公所會議廳，刻正舉辦“漢字文化節雙十書畫攝影展”，從上週末起就滿室墨香，會場內琳琅滿目的張掛著近百件作品。

            波士頓華僑文教服務中心與紐英崙中華公所，紐英崙藝術學會，北美藝術家協會，波士頓中華書法會，中華表演藝術基金會等六機構合作的這書畫攝影展，共有不下廿，三十名本地藝術家送作品參展，將在波士頓華埠泰勒街的中華公所會議廳，展至十月十一日。

在今年參展的書法，繪畫，攝影家中，包括伍育俊，陳綺怡，林卓培，周長，張小茵，梅宇國，林蘭詩，朱紹昌，黄定國，郭天涵等人，都是波士頓華埠藝術圈的熟面孔，其中有不少人還不斷做新嘗試，左手寫字，右手繪畫的跨領域揮灑。近幾年追隨父親後塵，提筆作畫的梁小玲，要算其中的新人。退休前是學者的王又衡，也拿出他自己題字的扇面，當作書法作品展示。

原本從事航天科技工作，新近回歸本地武術界，加入藝術家行列，最近剛在華人醫務中心昆士據點辦畫展的伍振中，不但拿出好幾幅書法作品參展，還把他自己的彩墨花畫做成了卡片，分送給到會者做紀念。

        當天致辭的嘉賓，包括新到任的駐波士頓經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，以及經文處副處長陳銘俊，波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文等人。中華書法會前後任會長黃周麗桃，陳綺怡，做開場發言。

            陳綺怡表示，近日坊間烽煙四起，傳說紛云，但她相信華人會憑著國父孫中山精神，堅持為民主自由努力。她還特地感謝本地資深書法家伍育俊每年都把他那幅“國父遺囑“書法送來參展，使展覽更貼切雙十慶典意義。

            賴銘琪發言全用廣東話。他指書法，國畫都是中國傳統文化精髓， 波士頓僑社選擇用書畫攝影展來慶祝雙十，讓人感動。他也稱讚會場中的作品水準高，反映出波士頓的確是地靈人傑，臥虎藏龍的好地方。

            陳銘俊表示，波士頓僑胞的確很有心，每年都舉辦這雙十慶祝活動。經文處新處長賴銘琪和他，以及僑教中心主任郭大文三人，將一起盡力為僑胞服務，聊以感謝波士頓僑胞這一百多年來的支持情誼。

            僑教中心主任郭大文感謝中華公所主席阮鴻燦支持，與僑委會合作開辦了圖書館，希望僑胞充分利用，隨時捐贈書籍字畫。

圖片說明：

            黃周麗桃（右），陳綺怡（左）一起為展覽開幕發言。（菊子攝）

            駐波士頓經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪稱許波士頓僑胞藝術文化水準高。（菊子攝）

            到會嘉賓與部份參展者合影。（菊子攝）

            黃定國已是波士頓華埠知名攝影家之一。（菊子攝）

            伍振中退休後在華埠社區藝術圈活躍。（菊子攝）

            林蘭詩（右）師從梅宇國不過五，六年，她身後的書法顯示出她已寫得比許多人都好。左邊的王又衡，帶了他的書法扇面到會參展。（菊子攝）

            右起，郭大文，陳銘俊，陳綺怡，阮鴻燦，賴銘琪，黃鏡明合影。（菊子攝）

美中醫學交流會10/18辦年會

美中醫學交流學會將於十月十八日在以色列醫院舉行2014年會，標榜四大主題，三大新意，其中的持續教育論壇，將與麻省中醫學會合作。

主辦單位表示，一整天的會議，將邀專家綜論中美兩地醫療體系，探討丙型肝癌，糖尿病的最新療法，現代醫學實踐誤區，並從法律角度談醫療糾紛訴訟級醫師保護等。

華中科技大學醫學和健康管理專業的兩名專家，將出席介紹中國的健康管理模式、趨勢、改革以及存在的問題。哈佛醫學院教授暨麻省總院麻醉科副主任毛建人醫師將講談美國醫療及科研發展、走向與現存的問題。

加州大學爾灣分院主任胡克勤，及新英格蘭 Sinai醫院醫務長Lawrence S. Hotes將分別講談丙型肝炎及糖尿病的最新臨床療法。

在探討臨床實踐誤區上，該會議將就鈉攝入量與病人健康、發燒和疲憊的64歲老人、小兒肌肉問題等做病例討論等。

本屆年會還有三大新意，包括介紹醫療業生涯，與麻省中醫學會合辦“幾乎效應（The Almost Effect）”持續教育論壇。另有美國PMPH-USA和中國人民衛生出版社的高級主編，介紹醫療業報告，論文的出版情況。

會議中還將闢專區，舉辦自閉症兒童繪畫展。

美中醫學交流學會年會的舉辦時間為10月18日（週六）上午8: 30到下午5: 30，會議地點在330 Brookline Ave, Boston, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Shapiro building (Brookline Avenue 和Longwood Avenue 交叉口)十樓。註冊費用，包括午餐 $50，學生、博士後、退休人員等＄20。                     

報名可上網https://acmes2014.eventbrite.com，查詢可發電郵info@acmes.net，或電洽734-355-9682。