麻州府撥款300萬資助海事基因學院

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $3 Million to the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute and North Shore Schools

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center capital grants will grow the innovation economy and prepare a trained workforce

Gloucester - February 16, 2017 - Today Governor Charlie Baker announced a total of $3 million in capital grant funding for the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, and for middle and high schools in Gloucester, Lynn, and Salem. The grants, from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, advance the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to build a highly trained workforce and seed job creation in regions across Massachusetts.

Governor Baker announced the grant funding today at an event at the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI), alongside MLSC President and CEO Travis McCready, Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Sen. Bruce Tarr, Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, GMGI staff and students, and other area grant recipients.

The awards are part of a statewide grant round that is delivering a total of $39 million in MLSC capital grants to 14 research and educational institutions, and 49 middle and high schools.

“Our administration is proud of Massachusetts's global leadership in the life sciences, and we are committed to advancing that standing training the next generation of entrepreneurs, and connecting residents across the state to careers,” said Governor Baker. “The projects announced today, including the expansion of GMGI and grants for STEM equipment at four North Shore schools, demonstrate our commitment to investing in the innovation economy, supporting game-changing technological research, and creating jobs in every region of the Commonwealth.”

“These capital grants from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center deepen our administration’s efforts to build vibrant regions, from Cape Ann to the Berkshires,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By training middle school and high school students on state-of-the-art STEM equipment, and creating new pipelines for workforce development and scientific breakthroughs, these awards will create new economic opportunities on the North Shore, and help build a stronger Massachusetts.”

“One of our capital investment plan priorities is to make strategic investments in the future workforce of the Commonwealth, including STEM programs for our students,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Kristen Lepore. “By awarding these capital grants today, the administration is once again leveraging our resources to invest in the Commonwealth’s growing biotech industry.”          

“Massachusetts is building the nation’s most competitive economy by investing in workforce development, and in the infrastructure of innovation,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “By building a platform for marine genomics research in Gloucester, and improving the quality of STEM education for students in Gloucester, Lynn, and Salem, these awards will help make the North Shore a more dynamic place to live and work, and they will equip local residents with the skills needed to retain Massachusetts’s title as the most innovative state in the nation.”

“Our capital grant will enable the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute to pursue an exciting project that combines workforce training with cutting-edge innovation in genomics, a field where Massachusetts has consistently been a world leader,” said Travis McCready, President and CEO of the MLSC. “Through our STEM equipment and supply grants, area high schools and middle schools will be better positioned to connect students with job opportunities in the fast-growing Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem. In both cases, we are excited to play a role in supporting the economic resurgence of the Gloucester area.”

Today Gov. Baker announced $2.7 million in capital funding for the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute. The grant funds will build out and equip a world-class marine genomics research institute on Gloucester Harbor. By integrating the dynamic components of scientific discovery and workforce development, GMGI is working to bring a biotech hub to Cape Ann. The GMGI has already launched the Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, which prepares recent high school graduates for careers in the life sciences industries. The MLSC capital funding will allow the GMGI to construct a new center for genetic research grounded in marine organisms, with applications that include commercial fishing.

“We are honored to be one of the recipients of the MLS capital award,” said Chris Munkholm, Executive Director of the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute. “This generous grant allows us to build a marine genomics institute in which world-class research will unlock scientific discoveries that can impact human health and create opportunities we cannot yet imagine.”

Gov. Baker also announced more than $260,000 in STEM Equipment and Supply grant funding for the following area middle and high schools:

Gloucester High School, Gloucester - $109,154

Gloucester High School will establish a new biotechnology laboratory, and will launch a new program in biotechnology. The new program will enable Gloucester students to enter college programs of study in biotechnology with a solid knowledge of biotechnology concepts and lab skills, or directly enter the workforce in biotechnology laboratories.

O’Maley Innovation Middle School, Gloucester - $56,933

Grant funding will allow the O’Maley Innovation Middle School to expand Next Generation Science Standards programming, by providing equipment that will enable students to understand disease processes at the microbial level.

Lynn English High School, Lynn - $57,311

Lynn English will increase students’ science literacy, laboratory skill development, applications of technology, and interest in science related careers, by offering training in biotechnology laboratory skills to 9th grade students, and including new biotechnology techniques in Introduction to Biotechnology, Honors Biotechnology, Honors Biology, and AP Biology curriculums for 11th and 12th grade students.

Collins Middle School, Salem - $39,525

The Collins Middle School will purchase equipment and supplies to create a maker space, and implement Project Lead the Way life sciences and STEM courses.

“Gloucester is thrilled to be awarded this life sciences capital grant, which will further expand our workforce development initiatives throughout the region,” said Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken. “Our maritime heritage continues to evolve and by embracing the opportunities within genomic research and STEM-related fields, Gloucester is well positioned to empower the next generation of skilled workers across numerous industries. We are truly proud of the innovative approach that Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute has established here and we are excited to see more skill-based programs enrich our community for the better.”

“The Institute is moving forward in advancing our scientific understanding of marine biotechnology and its work is making Cape Ann a hub for developing much needed skilled workers and a resource for the type of sound information desperately needed to manage our fisheries,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. “America’s oldest fishing community is also the home of the newest world-class genomics research center whose mission is better understanding fish populations and the ecosystems of commercial fisheries.”

"I want to thank the Governor for coming to Gloucester and learning about the project first hand as well as for this extraordinary investment in Genomics on Cape Ann,” said State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante. “This funding will go far in helping GMGI achieve its next steps and making Gloucester a marine research and biotech hub in Massachusetts. I look forward to working with Governor Baker, Senator Tarr and Mayor Theken on other economic develop projects around our harbor."

Funding for the awards is drawn from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s Competitive Capital Program, and the Center’s competitive STEM Equipment and Supplies Grant Program.

The MLSC’s Competitive Capital Program provides grants for capital projects that support the life sciences ecosystem in Massachusetts by enabling and supporting life sciences workforce development and training, research and development, commercialization and manufacturing in the Commonwealth. The program funds high-potential economic development projects by nonprofit entities that make significant contributions to the state’s life sciences ecosystem. To date, the MLSC has awarded or committed more than $405 million to support capital projects across the state.

The MLSC’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Equipment and Supplies Grant Program funds the purchase of equipment and supplies for high schools and middle schools in the Commonwealth. The program helps schools train students for life sciences careers, increase student achievement and student interest in STEM fields, and support the implementation of the state's STEM standards. The competitive program is open to vocational-technical high schools, public high schools and middle schools located in Gateway Cities, and public high schools and middle schools with economically disadvantaged student populations. To date, the STEM Equipment and Supplies Grant Program has awarded more than $16.3 million to 149 different schools and organizations throughout Massachusetts, and leveraged more than $1 million in matching funds from industry partners

波市長推動兒童儲蓄戶口

MAYOR WALSH KICKS OFF LAUNCH OF CHILDREN'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT AT THE HARVARD-KENT SCHOOL IN CHARLESTOWN

BOSTON - Thursday, February 16, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh tonight will celebrate the launch of Boston Saves, the City's Children's Savings Account (CSA) program, at the Harvard-Kent Elementary School in Charlestown. The program is designed to give families the opportunity to create a long-term savings plan for college, post-secondary education and training, for their children. The Harvard-Kent is one of five schools selected as part of a pilot phase to prepare the City for a universal rollout in Fall 2019. "Children's Savings Accounts are building blocks of opportunity and are important savings tools," said Mayor Walsh. "I am excited to join with students, parents, school leaders and community partners to celebrate our collective investment in our students' future. Even a small amount over time can make a big difference, and there is no better time than now to begin saving for the future." At the event, parents and students are invited to access their CSA through an online platform created in partnership with InvestCloud. The platform allows families to link any savings, checking or 529 account to a secure online platform that makes it easy to save, earn rewards, track progress and gain financial tips. "We jumped at the opportunity to provide our financial technology tools to power this outstanding new program by Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston," said John Wise, CEO of InvestCloud, Inc. "Boston families deserve a savings plan that helps them easily and efficiently plan for the future. InvestCloud software will allow parents access to their children's accounts anytime, on a platform that's simple and easy to use. We think that this program will be a game-changer for the city's families, and we're thrilled to be on board." To date, four of the five schools included in the pilot program have launched CSAs, including: the Harvard-Kent Elementary School in Charlestown, the James Otis Elementary School in East Boston, the Franklin D. Roosevelt K-8 in Hyde Park and Conley Elementary School in Roslindale. The McKay K-8 School in East Boston is scheduled to launch the program in early March 2017. "The Harvard-Kent School community is very excited for this opportunity to teach our Kindergarten students how to save money for college," said Harvard-Kent School Principal Jason Gallagher. "Financial literacy is an important skill to learn, especially at a young age, and we are thrilled to teach this concept to our students through the Children's Savings Account program." The program, run by the Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE), has three goals: Set expectations that every child in Boston will enroll in and complete some form of post-secondary education or training. Increase the percentage of Boston's children who graduate from high school and the percentage of BPS graduates who enroll in and complete college or some form of post-secondary education or training. Increase Boston's children and families' financial capability to help create lifelong savings and investment habits, a key for success in college and beyond. Possessing a Children's Savings Account can positively impact children's and families' mindsets towards post-secondary education and training. Research and practice across the country strongly suggest that CSAs are an effective tool in impacting higher education outcomes: families with CSAs are more likely to see college as a goal for their children, and low-income children with $500 or less in a savings account, dedicated to higher education, have been shown to be three times more likely to enroll and four times more likely to graduate from college. All kindergarten (K2) students at the selected pilot schools will have an initial seed deposit of $50 set aside for them. Families will be able to save for post-secondary education and training, and will have opportunities to earn incentives along the way. The pilot program is supported by various private foundations, including the Eos Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by investing in children's future. Programmatic support is provided by Metro Credit Union, the Boston Educational Development Foundation, and ReadBoston, with financial literacy support from OFE and Santander Bank. Building on OFE's mission to build, grow and reinforce a holistic financial inclusion strategy for the City of Boston, OFE has been awarded a two year grant from the National League of Cities' "Cities Building Systems to Promote Financial Inclusion" to support the CSA program. Boston was one of eight cities chosen to participate in a Mayor's Institute on Financial Inclusion in April 2016 to receive in-depth technical assistance. The participating cities were invited to apply for up to two rounds of funds from a grant pool of $15,000-$50,000 based on the proposed project and budget. For more information about Boston Saves, please visit here.

BCNC聘胡善怡出任"一華埠"藝術中心主任

BCNC One Chinatown Names Cynthia Woo as Director

BOSTON, MA – February 14, 2017 – Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, (BCNC)is pleased to announce that Cynthia Woo (胡善怡) has joined the agency as the new director of One Chinatown Arts Center located at 99 Albany Street in Boston.

A Southern California native, Cynthia started her work in the arts and culture sector as part of the staff which opened the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles in 2003. Fueled by a commitment to strengthen the connection of arts to the community, she relocated to Boston to obtain her Masters of Arts in Art History and Museum Studies certificate from Tufts University.

Over the past ten years, Cynthia has worked in the Boston-area arts sector, first as the Director of Programs and Special Events at LynnArts, Inc., and most recently as the Director of Community Relations at the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA). Over seven years at the BCA, she developed community partnerships, managed audience-building activities, and created access to the arts through public programs. Cynthia is also an adjunct educator at the Museum of Fine Arts, through which she was first introduced to BCNC by serving as the Community Arts Initiative Liaison. 

“I am excited to once again be working in the Chinatown community and having the tremendous opportunity to establish One Chinatown as a vital resource for artists, residents, and visitors to our city,” said Cynthia. “Arts and creativity are so important in building curious young minds, engaged families, and healthy communities.”

“Cynthia’s wealth of experience in the cultural sector makes her a key addition to the BCNC team,” stated Giles Li, Executive Director. “Boston has an incredible cultural sector that Chinatown, unfortunately, is largely disconnected from. With Cynthia at its helm, One Chinatown will support the master artists and aspiring artists in our community, and build a bridge to the world-class institutions Boston has to offer.”

About One Chinatown

One Chinatown is an arts center at 99 Albany Street in Boston; it was developed by BCNC in partnership with Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC). The 5,000 square-foot space includes a theater, gallery, and classrooms. Slated to open in Spring 2017, One Chinatown will provide an artist-in-residence program; arts and cultural series featuring performance, exhibitions, and workshops; arts education programs; a flexible artist’s workplace; and rehearsal space rental. One Chinatown will also offer credit-bearing college courses through BHCC.

One Chinatown was awarded a prestigious National Creative Placemaking award from ArtPlace America in 2016, just one of 29 awardees out of more than 1,400. Because of its unique role in the Chinatown community, it has garnered the support of public officials, philanthropy, and residents alike.

About Boston Chinatown Neighborhood CenterBoston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) is the largest nonprofit social service provider dedicated to Asian families in the Greater Boston area, supporting over 2,000 children, youth, and adults each year at three locations in Boston and Quincy. The mission of BCNC is to ensure that the children, youth, and families we serve have the resources and supports they need to achieve greater economic success and social well-being. BCNC helps families access the resources and services available to them, provide opportunities for them to learn and acquire skills, and create a community of mutual support and encouragement.  For more information, go to www.bcnc.net.

Boston Schools to Host Diversity Career Fair on 2/16

Boston Schools to Host Diversity Career Fair

Mayor Walsh and Superintendent Chang to Highlight the Importance of Diverse Educators

Boston, MA - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Tommy Chang will join educators from the three largest sectors of Boston's schools tomorrow for a recruiting event designed to help schools build a team of educators that reflects the racial, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds of Boston's students.   The Diversity Career Fair for Teachers, hosted by the Boston Compact (Boston district, charter and Catholic schools), will include short remarks from Mayor Walsh and BPS Superintendent Chang to welcome attendees to the district's headquarters in Roxbury.  This is the third annual diversity career fair for teachers that the Boston Compact has sponsored.  In previous years, roughly 200 candidates have participated.

波城藝聯慈善社春宴 捐助僑校及福利機構

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪伉儷(前排右二、中)、僑教

中心主任歐宏偉(前排左一)、中華公所主席陳 家驊(後排右一)與主席

鄭慧民(後排中)、黃賢池(後排右二)、鄭慧民主席夫人(前排左二)

等人合影

波士頓藝聯慈善社2月13日晚間在華埠帝苑大酒樓慶祝雞年新春，450多人歡聚，欣賞祥獅獻瑞，請來歌手演唱，敦請嘉賓高歌，喜氣洋溢在觥籌交錯中。

藝聯慈善社主席鄭慧民和黃賢池當晚代表該社封了大紅包，支持中華廣教學校、中華頤養院及僑立學校等非營利公益組織，聊表一貫的關懷僑社發展心意。

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪伉儷、僑教中心主任歐宏偉和中華公所主席陳家驊等嘉賓在應邀致詞時，分別向與會各界人士賀歲拜年，肯定藝聯慈善社對僑界努力付出的貢獻，也感謝鄭慧民和黃賢池兩位主席以及元老、職員們對僑務工作的支持與協助。

波士頓藝聯慈善社全體職員合影

藝聯慈善社春宴醒獅表演

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪致詞

波城藝聯慈善社主席鄭慧民(左)和黃賢池(中)捐贈善款給中華廣教學校，

由蔡倩婷女士(右)代表接受

波城藝聯慈善社主席鄭慧民(左一)和黃賢池(右二)捐贈善款給中華

頤養院，由陳毓璇先生(左二)代表接受

Governor Baker Nominates Claudine T. Wyner to Hampden County Probate & Family Court

Governor Baker Nominates Claudine T. Wyner to Hampden County Probate & Family Court

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Claudine T. Wyner, an attorney based in Western Massachusetts, to the Hampden County Division of the Probate and Family Court. The Probate and Family Court is the Commonwealth’s adjudicating body over matters including divorce, child support, parental rights and wills and estates.

“Over the last 17 years, Claudine’s dedication to serving Massachusetts families during trying and complicated domestic legal proceedings is commendable,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am confident that if confirmed, her addition to the court will be valuable to residents in need of fair and impartial decision-making.”

“Claudine is an active participant in the Hampden County community and I am pleased that she will continue to aid families in Western Massachusetts if confirmed,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Her extensive trial experience and leadership will serve the Court well.”

For more information on the Probate & Family Court please visit:http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/pfc/

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February, 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April, 2015.

About Claudine T. Wyner

Claudine T. Wyner has practiced with a focus on family law including divorce, custody, paternity, and guardianships as an attorney and shareholder at Marien & Hodge, P.C. in Springfield, Massachusetts for fifteen years. She has extensive trial experience in all aspects of divorce cases and in representing children in family law cases and matters of Special Education. Ms. Wyner began her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk in the Juvenile Court Department in Boston before serving as Assistant Regional Counsel in the Department of Social Services in Springfield prosecuting care and protection petitions in the Springfield Juvenile Court and adoption petitions in the Hampden County Probate and Family Court. She was the co-chair of the Hampden County Probate and Family Court Bench Bar Committee from 2011 to 2013 and served on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts from 2010 to 2013. Wyner received her Bachelor’s in Elementary and Special Education from Boston University in 1994 and her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1999.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $22 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $22 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Funding will create or preserve 602 units in Boston's neighborhoods; Walsh Administration has committed nearly $100 million to affordable housing

BOSTON - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - Building on his commitment to create more affordable housing in the City of Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced nearly $22 million in funding for ten affordable housing developments in neighborhoods across Boston. This funding will help preserve or produce 602 housing units, 77 units of which are reserved for homeless or extremely low-income households in Boston. Today's announcement contributes to the goal of creating 6,500 new units of affordable housing outlined in  Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030, Mayor Walsh's housing plan, and supports Boston's Way Home, the administration's plan to end chronic homelessness by 2018. "Preserving Boston's affordability is key to ensuring everyone who wants to live here can afford to do so, and I'm particularly pleased this funding will both preserve and add to our existing affordable housing stock," said Mayor Walsh. "This will help us continue to build a pipeline of affordable housing, and put us one step closer towards reaching the ambitious goals laid out in our housing plan. I want to thank the Neighborhood Housing Trust for making these funds available and supporting these worthy developments. Working together with our partners, I am proud we are building a better Boston." The funding is made possible through more than $13 million of federal and local resources awarded by the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), and more than $8 million of linkage funds, awarded through Boston's Neighborhood Housing Trust.    With the awarding of these funds, the Walsh Administration has now committed nearly $100 million in affordable housing funding since Mayor Walsh took office. In total, the Walsh Administration has helped create or preserve more than 3,000 units of affordable housing, which includes nearly 500 units of housing for the homeless. The following is a complete list of the developments that have received funding awards: Dorchester Hearth at Four Corners In response to an RFP for City-owned land, Hearth Inc. was designated by the Public Facilities Commission to create 54 units of elderly housing affordable to a range of incomes. The development includes 16 units that will be set aside for extremely low income elders.   Wilshire Apartments Urban Edge plans to rehabilitate and refinance an existing 29-unit, Section 8 project.  The site was troubled, with a history of foreclosure and disrepair. Urban Edge plans to rehabilitate and refinance the development, preserving the existing Section 8 contract, which is scheduled to expire in 2019.   Indigo Block Boston Capital, Escazu Development &  Dorchester Bay EDC were designated to develop the City-owned site known as 65 East Cottage. The development team will create a mixed-used development, to include 89 units of housing: 80 units of low-, moderate-, and middle-income rental housing; 9 market-rate ownership units; and a light industrial commercial building. Four Corners Plaza Codman Square NDC is proposing to create a 31-unit development along with 9,920 square feet of commercial space. The project would be developed on two City of Boston parcels.   Jamaica Plain Jackson Square Building M Jamaica Plain NDC is proposing to create a 44 unit affordable rental development. Building M is the fourth project to be built under the Jackson Square Master Plan. 250 Centre Street - Building N The Community Builders will create a 112-unit mixed-income rental development along with 2,140 square feet of  retail space. Building N will be the fifth project to be constructed under the Jackson Square Master Plan. Mattapan Olmsted Green Phase IV Lena New Boston is proposing to create a 47-unit mixed income rental development on the former Mattapan State Hospital site.    Roxbury: Michael Haynes Arms Cruz Development proposes to combine five city-owned parcels and two privately owned parcels to create a 51-unit mixed-use development. Cruz Construction and Management will use the commercial space as their new headquarters.   Downtown 48 Boylston Street-Phase II St. Francis House and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs will create a 93 unit mixed-income development on Boylston Street in downtown Boston.   The Fenway Burbank Gardens Fenway CDC is proposing to acquire and rehabilitate a 52-unit expiring use development on Burbank Street in the Fenway. The proposed development will protect the existing tenants from displacement and preserve the long-term affordability of this mixed income development. To help choose appropriate developments for funding, the City of Boston has established funding priorities, based on the goals outlined in Housing A Changing City: Boston 2030.  Proposals submitted are expected to fall under at least one of the priority criteria: Affordable housing developments that utilize City-owned land. Affordable housing developments targeting a mix of incomes: from units for homeless households to units targeted and restricted to incomes representative of Boston's workforce. The City prioritizes proposals that, in addition to the homeless set-aside, provide some portion of units targeting extremely low income tenancies.  Affordable housing developments that have reduced the cost to build and/or efficiently use subsidy so that the project is able to move into construction more quickly.    Affordable housing developments that provide units that serve the disabled community, vulnerable or special needs populations, elders, veterans, artists, aging out youth, etc. Acquisition of unrestricted housing developments in order to stabilize the tenancies, and provide long term affordability for a mix of incomes (i.e. unrestricted properties). Developments that are at risk of losing their affordability within 5 years.  Large projects with more than 50 units of housing, of which at least 51 percent will be deed-restricted affordable units. Projects creating new affordable units in high-cost neighborhoods where most of the IDP funds are generated. Projects that contain affordable units that cannot be funded from other subsidy sources available under this RFP, or through the Neighborhood Housing Trust RFP. Projects that can quickly acquire existing unregulated units and convert them into long-term affordable housing.

PRIM BOARD APPROVES TREASURER GOLDBERG’S PROPOSED PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES ON BOARD DIVERSITY AND WAGE EQUALITY

PRIM BOARD APPROVES TREASURER GOLDBERG’S PROPOSED PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES ON BOARD DIVERSITY AND WAGE EQUALITY 

Reforms Build on Goldberg’s Commitment to Advance Shareholder Engagement and Ensure Responsible Corporate Governance Strategies for Pension Fund’s Investments

BOSTON – The Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board, which oversees the state’s $62 billion pension fund, voted 7-0 today to approve new custom proxy voting guidelines, proposed by State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, designed to strengthen corporate governance and protect the value of the fund’s investments.

The new guidelines, which impact how the fund votes as a shareholder in the roughly 9,000 companies it owns stock in, build on previous reforms introduced by Goldberg and implemented by the board during the last two years.  Effective this proxy voting season, the PRIM Board will now vote against or withhold from all board nominees if less than 30 percent of the company’s board is diverse in terms of gender and race.  In 2015, Goldberg proposed, and the PRIM Board approved, a similar policy setting the board diversity standard at 25 percent.  Due to this diversity policy implemented in 2015, the PRIM Board has since voted against or withheld in 65 percent of director elections.

Other reforms approved today include voting for proposals requesting an internal wage audit and for proposals requiring the company to share the results of an audit with shareholders.

“The pension fund invests billions of dollars in publicly-traded companies, and we want to do all we can to protect the value of our investments – not only today, but for decades to come,” said Treasurer Goldberg.  “These reforms advance effective, responsible corporate governance strategies by ensuring companies hear from a diversity of views in the boardroom and pay their employees the wages they deserve.”                                           

Additionally, as a result of a new proxy voting policy implemented last year, effective this month, the PRIM Board now votes against or withholds from individual directors who are not CEOs of public companies and sit on more than four public company boards.  For CEOs of public companies, the PRIM Board will vote against or withhold from directors who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own (withholding only at their outside boards).

The proxy voting guidelines do not restrict or determine which companies the pension fund invests in.  Instead, they allow the fund to use its power as a shareholder to support and advocate for policies that advance effective corporate governance strategies and foster long-term, sustained economic growth and fiscal stability.  

            In 2015, months after taking office, Goldberg proposed, and the PRIM Board approved, a series of other reforms, which in addition to targeting board diversity and wage equality, also focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, human rights standards and executive pay.  Click here to view a fact sheet detailing these reforms.

As she did in previous years, Treasurer Goldberg worked closely with PRIM staff and consultants before presenting the proposed reforms to the Administration and Audit Committee earlier this month, which approved them unanimously.

700创业者投资人齐聚南加华人创业颁奖礼 南加十一家华人企业获颁创业奖

轉載

700创业者投资人齐聚南加华人创业颁奖礼  南加十一家华人企业获颁创业奖

http://www.aacyf.org/?p=6939

第二届南加州华人创业颁奖典礼2月12日下午在洛杉矶帕萨迪纳市隆重举行，吸引超过700位观众与40多家南加州顶级风投参与。本次活动分享了中美跨境创业机会，2016年南加创业报告，新媒体，医疗，智能交通，游戏，体育大数据等南加州优势产业的发展趋势，并为由南加州华人创办的企业颁发了创新突破奖，特殊贡献奖，最聚发展潜力奖等十一项大奖。颁奖典礼全程气氛热烈，被誉为南加州华人创业圈形成以来最大规模和最具影响力的盛典。

在这次颁奖典礼上，最具商业价值奖由利用大数据来为客户提供网络广告服务的公司Channel Factory 获得。最具行业突破奖由Totum wealth 获得，这家企业利用人工智能给人们提供理财产品的领域。最佳硬件创新奖由全世界第一家家用啤酒酿造机生产公司IGulu 获得，这家公司也在今年的电子消费品展CES上获得的创新奖；最佳文化输出奖的获奖团队Firefly在2016年以估值一亿美金完成融资，被洛杉矶主流媒体评为2017年最值得关注的50家洛杉矶公司之一；最具平台影响力奖，被美国最大的亚洲产品电商亚米网获得，该平台已经有超过40万用户，营业额突破5千万美金收入；最佳技术升级奖的团队Moving Analytics，将斯坦福多年研究的远程疾病监控信息系统电子化推广到市场，用黑科技为老年人、在于康复中的病患带来了福音。

此外最佳产业转型奖由提供手工油画网络租赁的Hmazing 获得,该公司主要提供了油画租赁服务；最受投资人期待奖则由北美生活服务团购平台You World 获得；最佳商业模式创新奖由二手车销售平台懒人汽车获得；获得最具发展潜力奖的是游戏团队BOXI Interactive；最受期待创业新星奖则由索回购物差价的全自动化应用智能软件PriceHacker 获得。

在颁奖礼上，著名媒体人，财经专栏作家石述思先生分享了中国在医疗，交易，消费升级等的新万亿对于创业者的新机会；美国智能公司总裁初连禹博士为观众解读了无人驾驶，车联网等智能交通领域领域创业的新方向；Zuma Partner合伙人Henry Shi介绍了美国目前在人工智能医疗领域领跑的初创企业；中关村电子商会会长，北京金和网络股份有限公司董事长栾润峰先生看好体育大数据中竞技体育和消费体育中数据的挖掘的市场，同时新媒体创业者马亚伦分享了00后在短视频，内容消费上的新趋势。

普创理事长，赛伯乐基金洛杉矶合伙人张晨辰还在颁奖典礼上与大家分享了去年最新的洛杉矶创业数据报告。数据显示2016 年资本寒冬对洛杉矶影响不大，呈增长趋势。 尽管美国在去年风投融资下降了11%。 她指出，2016 年有408 家企业获得融资，融资总额达到67.7 亿美元，与2015 年持平，但是退出金额达到了167.7 亿美元，是2015 年的2 倍，这说明从2011 年洛杉矶创投圈开始形成之后，生态系统已经愈发成熟。

南加华人创业颁奖典礼是非营利组织普创创办的一年一次的颁奖活动，旨在鼓励和支持南加华人创业者，不仅让人们了解创新项目，把握南加创业动态，更能集成南加的创业资源，最终服务并加强华人创业生态圈。