MAYOR WALSH AWARDS $4.7 MILLION TO CREATE 157 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN BOSTON AS FIRST ACTION ITEM SUPPORTING NEWLY-RELEASED PLAN

MAYOR WALSH AWARDS $4.7 MILLION TO CREATE 157 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN BOSTON AS FIRST ACTION ITEM SUPPORTING NEWLY-RELEASED PLAN BOSTON - Thursday, November 21, 2019 - Building on his commitment to ending homelessness in Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined members of the City's Youth Action Board, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and community partners at Bridge Over Troubled Waters to release a new action plan, Rising to the Challenge, to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness in Boston. The plan is the collective result of input from the Youth Action Board, the City's advisory group of youth and young adults, who have experienced homelessness or housing instability, together with 240 community members representing more than 110 public and private organizations across Boston. As an immediate action item towards implementing the plan, Mayor Walsh awarded $4.7 million in grant funds to create 157 new housing opportunities dedicated to serving homeless youth and young adults.  "In Boston, it's imperative that we make sure that every young person has a safe stable place to call home," said Mayor Walsh. "I am proud that together we are Rising to the Challenge by putting forth a plan that will guide us as we take critical next steps towards ending youth and young adult homelessness in Boston. I want to thank the Youth Action Board members and all of the partners for contributing to the creation of this plan, and I look forward to our important work ahead." The new Rising to the Challenge plan focuses on gathering data on homeless youth, understanding the current system's capacity, identifying unmet needs of youth and young adults, and designing a plan to address gaps in the emergency assistance system. Youth and young adults are defined as a person age 24 years and younger. In some cases, youth and young adults may be under the care and custody of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  To prevent and end youth homelessness, the plan prioritizes ensuring that every youth individual at-risk of or experiencing homelessness is identified and immediately linked to the resources that will address their needs; and offering safe and stable housing that supports their needs; focusing on each individual's health and well-being; providing resources to meet their educational and employment goals; and making permanent connections so that each individual is able to build a support network that improves their ability to thrive, while providing a social safety net to prevent future homelessness.  To achieve these goals, the plan will implement four key strategies to make homelessness among youth and young adults rare, brief, and non-repeating. Strategies include: Develop a collaborative system that reorganizes the way that the City and various agencies work together and make decisions, with the goal of forming a clear, comprehensive and youth-specific system to end youth and young adult homelessness. Using national and local best practices, Boston has transformed its homelessness services into a coordinated and integrated system based on Housing First principles. Building on this success, the City and its partners are now turning their focus to tackling the prevalence of homelessness among unaccompanied youth and young adults.   Improve early identification and outreach to connect with youth who are at-risk of becoming homeless, or who are currently homeless. Current gaps in identification create a challenge in connecting individuals with housing and other needed services, such as employment, education, recovery and more.   Increase access to and effectiveness of existing resources by streamlining cross sector referrals and strengthening training for youth-serving agencies and homelessness services providers to better serve youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.   Invest in new housing and services resources in order to house all ages 18-24 unaccompanied youth who are experiencing homelessness. The report shows that within the next three years, the City will need to add 285 new housing opportunities dedicated to this population.  The $4.7 million grant awarded by the U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development will support the creation of 157 housing opportunities provided through Boston's non-profit partners that will meet the needs of the youth and young adults experiencing homelessness by offering services tailored to each individuals needs. "We are excited to be a part of this effort with the Youth Action Board and the City of Boston, which will create 157 new units of housing for homeless youth with this much-needed funding," said The Executive Director of Bridge Over Troubled Waters Elizabeth Jackson. "With a roof over their heads, youth will be able to work on getting jobs, furthering their education, and creating the stability they need to move forward on their path to a self-sufficient future."   As Boston continues to look for ways to address its housing needs, the City has identified an opportunity to utilize funds generated through Boston's Room Occupancy Local Excise Tax to enhance housing and homelessness efforts. Of the $5 million that will be generated, $1 million of that revenue will be used to provide supportive services for youth, including professional development opportunities and permanent connections, building on the City's action plan to support young Bostonians experiencing homelessness.  In addition, immediate steps laid out in the plan include making existing emergency shelter and housing programs more accessible, supportive, and effective for youth and young adults, as well as training nonprofits in the areas of housing, workforce development, and education on youth-centered care approaches, such as trauma informed care and  positive youth development. To oversee the implementation of this plan, the City is bringing on two new positions, a Housing Officer for the Initiative to End Youth and Young Adult Homelessness at the Department of Neighborhood Development and Youth, and Young Adult Homelessness Director at the Health and Human Services Cabinet. These two City positions, in partnership with a third position at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, will convene community partners, drive the alignment of programs addressing the housing, supportive services, education, and employment needs of young people, and monitor performance.  "This plan understands that the streets are not safe for young people at night. It means a lot to us know that we are a priority, and that the City of Boston is making a long-term commitment to build a better future for us and our peers. It makes us feel hopeful, and we know that lives will be saved," according to a statement from the Boston Youth Action Board. Boston's 2019 annual homeless census shows that on a given night, 325 youth and young adults are either sleeping in Boston's shelters or on the street. The City's data also shows that the average stay for young adults in Boston's shelters is approximately two months. The City's focus on ending homelessness among youth and young adults is part of our comprehensive approach to ending all homelessness in Boston through Boston's Way Home. Through the efforts of Boston's Way Home, Mayor Walsh's initiative to end veteran and chronic homelessness, Boston has made significant progress in preventing and ending homelessness among single adults, including ending chronic veteran homelessness. Through this initiative, over 880 chronically individuals have been housed, representing more than 5,400 cumulative years of homelessness ended. As a result, chronic homelessness has been reduced by 19 percent during a time that there have been increases in chronic homelessness nationally. Furthermore, the City's partners housed over 1,170 homeless Veterans and reduced homelessness among Veterans by 36 percent. "We all have an obligation to do more to help young people in our region who are homeless and isolated from their families," said Michael K. Durkin, President and Chief Executive Officer at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. "By bringing the right people and partners together, we can do this in Boston. Mayor Walsh and his administration have worked with young people who have experienced homelessness, as well as nonprofit and business leaders, to develop a comprehensive plan to help young people thrive. United Way looks forward to rising to the challenge to ensure all youth and young adults at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, are on a path toward stability and economic mobility."   "We have long supported local organizations that are doing the hard work to address the issue of youth homelessness," said Liberty Mutual Foundation President Melissa MacDonnell. "Our goal is to help give young people at risk a sense of stability and support, because we know they are full of potential, passion and purpose. We are honored to have been a part of the City's plan to help prevent and end youth homelessness, and thank Mayor Walsh for his leadership on this hidden epidemic. And, we are looking forward to announcing even more support in the new year." For more information on the City's efforts to assist youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, please visit boston.gov/youth-homelessness.

羅德島州推"國際經濟大使"計畫 葉超、吳子平獲聘為首任大使

羅德島州推出"國際經濟大使"計畫，葉超(左10)，吳子平(左8)獲聘為首任大使。(波士頓經文處提供)

(Boston Orange) 羅德島州副州長麥基(Daniel McKee)於11月19日召開記者會，宣佈推出「國際經濟大使計畫」，並在近百名出席嘉賓見證中，即席頒發首任國際經濟大使聘書給羅德島華人協會主席葉超，會長吳子平。

駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典應邀致詞。(波士頓經文處提供)

麥基今年初才應邀訪台，並在羅德島華人協會主席葉超，會長吳子平引介，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典協助下，爭取到中華民國政府及民間企業捐贈6艘龍舟。

他在致詞時表示，這次出訪，他深刻感受到，在地居民本身的國際關係，可以更有效的幫助羅德島州打開國際市場，引進海外投資，創造商機，推動經濟發展，於是特地設計這一計畫，希望鼓勵更多有國際關係的羅德島州不同族裔居民，攜手合作，把羅德島州帶到世界各個角落。

"活力台灣號"龍舟。(波士頓經文處提供)

駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典做為「國際經濟大使計畫」成功案例的關係方，當天應邀致詞。他呼應麥基的說法，強調民間草根力量在對外連結上的重要，也不忘重申台灣和羅德島州已是堅實夥伴，將繼續加強合作。

羅德島州州政府當天特地在州議會大廈廣場前，展示中華民國外交部捐贈的「活力台灣號」龍舟，藉以佐證「國際經濟大使計畫」可發揮的力量。近百名各國駐新英格蘭總領館、商會、社團、組織等的出席代表，紛紛被吸引得駐足留影。

MAYOR WALSH TO HOST ‘WE ARE BOSTON 2019: UNITED WE THRIVE,’ HIGHLIGHT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

MAYOR WALSH TO HOST ‘WE ARE BOSTON 2019: UNITED WE THRIVE,’ HIGHLIGHT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Event will highlight accomplishments and vision for supporting the City’s immigrants

BOSTON –  Thursday, November 21, 2019 – Tomorrow, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) will host “We Are Boston: United We Thrive” at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a day-long event of interactive workshops to connect immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations with philanthropic foundations and corporate partners, followed by a reception to recognize Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship and the Irish International Immigrant Center for their work in immigrant advancement. 

“At this time in our nation’s history, this event is a reminder of how much we have accomplished through working together and of the tangible steps we should take to make our City even more welcoming and inclusive," said Mayor Walsh. “I am thrilled that we are honoring Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship, the City’s partner for our annual Citizenship Day in Boston, and the Irish International Immigrant Center, a leading advocate for immigrants from every corner of the world.”

Prior to the reception with Mayor Walsh at 5:30 p.m., there will be a presentation on the contributions of immigrants to Boston’s economy. The interactive workshops for attendees will include the “Welcoming Economies” workshop by Welcoming America that reviews programs and strategies that other communities have pioneered to help include immigrants in the local community and economic development efforts. The International Institute of New England will also give a demonstration with local storytellers to help attendees consider how migration and culture shape both personal identity and workplace communities.

Mayor Walsh will give remarks and recognize Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship and the Irish International Immigrant Center for their work in immigrant advancement. Veronica Serrato joined Project Citizenship in 2014 as its first executive director. In her first year, she formed a partnership with the City of Boston to offer Citizenship Day, the largest event of its kind in New England. Over the past six years, volunteers have served over 1,900 eligible immigrants with their naturalization applications through Citizenship Day and provided screenings to thousands more. In 2019 alone, low and moderate-income applicants saved more than $166,000 in application fees through fee waiver application assistance. 

“It is a privilege to partner with the City of Boston through my role at Project Citizenship to ensure that all immigrants understand and have access to the path to citizenship,” Veronica Serrato, founding executive director of Project Citizenship. “Immigrants are the Pride of Boston, and I am deeply honored to accept this honor on their behalf.”

Along with Project Citizenship, Mayor Walsh will recognize the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) for their work with immigrant and refugee families, providing a comprehensive, multi-service approach to supporting families from more than 126 countries. The Center provides the legal, wellness and educational support immigrants need to gain stability, security, and build pathways to success. The IIIC was recently recognized at the national level for its advocacy for children affected by the federal government’s sudden termination of “medical deferred action” for immigrants undergoing treatment for life-threatening medical conditions.

"It is an honor to be recognized with the City of Boston's Community Champion Award from Mayor Martin J. Walsh for our support of immigrant families from all nations,” said Ronnie Millar, executive director of the Irish International Immigrant Center. “Building a society where all are welcomed and valued requires the devoted support of government, and the City of Boston has been a tremendous leader across the country in welcoming immigrants and partnering with immigrant support agencies. Over the past 30 years we've received strong support from the City of Boston, and we are very grateful for this award." 

At the reception, Mayor Walsh will share accomplishments of the Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) and highlight his vision for MOIA moving forward. Launched in 2017, the City partnered with private donors and philanthropic foundations to form the Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund, which strives to increase education and access to legal services to defend its many immigrant communities, refugees, and temporary status holders. Over the past two years, the Fund has raised over $1.11 million, which has allowed nonprofits to create new positions for six immigration attorneys and eight community advocates. The fund has increased the region’s capacity to serve immigrants, and as a result, 363 legal cases have been opened and nearly 54,000 people have attended 796 community education events. In its third year, the fund has raised $515,900, including $50,000 in City funds. 

Mayor Walsh has been outspoken in supporting federal policies that recognize immigrants as full members of our society. Most recently, he has signed onto an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and provided economic analyses on the harmful effects of proposed changes to the public charge rules under immigration law to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Proceeds from We are Boston last year gave 10 immigrant-led community organizations the capacity to host immigration legal screening clinics, support hurricane evacuees, and organize family preparedness workshops through a total award of $100,000. This year’s event will fund capacity building trainings in the short term, while MOIA will partner with philanthropic foundations to better support this capacity building work collectively in the long term.

For more information, please visit https://www.boston.gov/calendar/we-are-boston-2019.

文協喜齡會慶感恩節

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前右三)與喜齡會成員合影。(僑教中心提供)

(Boston Orange)大波士頓區中華文化協會(GBCCA)喜齡會11月19日慶祝感恩節，30餘名耆老歡聚一堂，享用佳餚，共話家常，唱歌助興，歡喜非常。

歐宏偉(後左一)與黃姆婆婆(前右一)，趙鍾英(後左二)，李國富(後右一)
等人合影。(僑教中心提供)

喜齡會是GBCCA為老人家服務的麾下組織，今年由李國富主辦感恩節餐會。他指出，儘管11月28日星期四才是今年的感恩節正日，但為因應感恩節在美國是家庭團聚的大日子，該會特地提前在19日舉辦慶祝餐會，讓老人家們打牙祭，唱唱歌，熱鬧的多開心一次。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉這天應邀出席，欣見已認識20多年的叔伯嬸母，尤其是看到已高齡98歲的黃姆婆婆，早已年逾80的趙鍾英阿姨，更是開心非常。他說，感恩節是一個最適合道謝及感念的日子，他當然得轉達僑務委員會委員長吳新興博士，以及駐波士頓臺北經文處處長徐佑典對與會耆老的問候與祝福。

大波士頓中華文化協會現任會長劉偉珊的廚藝，在會內早已聞名，這天更是義不容辭地親自做了多樣點心，佳餚，來豐盛這場餐聚。

Drought Conditions Across Commonwealth Return to Normal

Drought Conditions Across Commonwealth Return to Normal
Monitoring of Water Resources to Continue

BOSTON – With the Commonwealth experiencing above normal rainfall over the course of the previous month, all indices across Massachusetts have fully recovered. As a result, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today announced that conditions have returned to normal, and updated the drought levels throughout the state:

• Connecticut River Valley: Level 0 – Normal Condition levels (down from a Level 1 – Mild Drought in September); and,
• Western, Central, Northeast, Southeast, Cape Cod, and Islands Regions: Level 0 – Normal Conditions levels (remains unchanged since October).

The declarations were the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, which is comprised of state and federal officials, and other entities. Additionally, the declaration of a Normal Condition means that the Drought Management Task Force no longer meets on a regular basis; however, state agencies will continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across the state, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal and local agencies prepare additional responses that may be needed in the future. Moreover, even though conditions have improved since the previous month, dry conditions continue to be observed within the Deerfield River Watershed.

“Throughout the last several weeks, Massachusetts has greatly benefited from above average precipitation, enabling water systems to reach normal conditions following several months of running a deficit,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “And although the state is not currently experiencing dry conditions, we should all continue to practice water conservation methods in an effort to not strain water supplies.”

Normal Condition levels, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, indicates precipitation and groundwater levels that have returned to normal, and warrants routine data collection and distribution amongst government agencies. 

State officials ask the public to be mindful of the amount of water being used, reduce indoor water use, and address leaks as soon as possible. Additionally, managers of larger buildings and businesses are asked to conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities. All these steps will greatly help reduce water use to ensure essential needs are being met, such as drinking water and fire protection, and habitat and environmental use.

For further information on water conservation and what residents can do, visit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ drought page, the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s drought management page, and the MassDEP Water Conservation page.

黃氏婦女部慶感恩節 波士頓市議員出席同歡

黃氏婦女部慶感恩節，波士頓市議員愛德華費林到賀。(黃周麗桃提供)

波士頓僑界急難救助協會宣佈新工作團隊

波士頓僑界急難救助協會宣佈新工作團隊。前排右起，前會長王志維，僑務委員蔣宗壬，波士頓經文處處長徐佑典，現任會長歐陽露，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉。

紐英崙藝術學會刻在Brookline圖書館展30幅中國書畫

林浩宗作品"不怒而威"。(紐英崙藝術學會提供)

(Boston Orange)紐英崙藝術學會應布魯克蘭(Brookline)公共圖書館之邀，刻正於2019年11月13日至2020年1月7日，在該館舉辦中國書畫藝術展，並訂11月30日和12月21日(週六)下午，舉行兩次招待會。

王玉雙，王果春，王惠毅，林卓培，林浩宗，梁小玲，郭義芳，梅宇國，梅國治，楊雲，譚嘉陵等，按姓氏排序的紐英崙藝術學會成員，共11人參展，展出國畫及書法作品共30幅，其中包括二幅攝影大師梅國治的黃山詩意黑白照片。

11月30日和12月21日的週六下午，紐英崙藝術學會將舉辦兩次招待會，以音樂表演（下午2-3點），現場書畫示範（下午3-4點），以及茶點，與出席者交流、暢聚。

11月30日將有林卓培，林浩宗現場示範書畫，女高音張婉哲及 Emily Xiao Wang，男中音李炯濤，鋼琴家施珈，二胡演奏家林戰濤，長笛演奏家張正山，和揚琴演奏家黃少堅等人唱奏音樂。

12月21日則有楊雲，王果春，林卓培現場示範書畫，鋼琴家駱奇偉，徐小培，廉翔雲等人將鋼琴獨奏和四手聯彈“遠離美國土壤”。吉他演奏家暨作曲家Micah Huang 的“美國土壤”，將於當日做世界首演。

畫展和音樂演出活動入場免費，在現場展出的大多數藝術品可供購買。布魯克蘭公共圖書館的地址是361 Washington St. Brookline。音樂廳和畫廊(Hunneman Hall Gallery) 位於二樓。圖書館地下室可免費停車。圖書館開放時間為：週一至週六：上午10點至下午5點，週日下午1點至下午5點，www.brooklinelibrary.org。查詢紐英崙藝術學會詳情可上網www.cafarts.org。

首屆哈佛台灣藝術季 開幕式逾200人觀展

首屆哈佛台灣藝術季策展人及參展藝術家，右起藍凡耘，李涵霈，
劉家樑，甘泓儒，涂豐恩，鍾宇善，蕭雅云，施博堯，鄭乃慈。
(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)由一群熱心台灣人籌辦，4人策展，5名來自台灣，目前在美的繪畫，設計，建築，文物，攝影藝術家參展的首屆哈佛台灣藝術季，11月13日在哈佛大學史密斯中心開展，將展至22日。16日揭幕時，逾200人觀展，盛極一時。

藝術季總召藍凡耘向觀展者解釋展出作品。(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

             藝術季總召藍凡耘是哈佛大學台灣學生會前任會長。他在開幕致詞時表示，自己在台灣出生，長大，刻在哈佛修讀博士，從小受益於台灣的環境與人文多元化，來美後發現哈佛和台灣有共同價值觀，也鼓勵多元化，促使他和志同道合者萌生心念，想藉由藝術，來視覺化展現台灣多元背景裏的包容，自由與民主。

             以”揭幕(Reveal)”為主題的這一展覽，安排有甘泓儒，施博堯，涂豐恩，劉家樑，王其萱等5人，依序展出他們的繪畫，建築，文物，攝影，繪畫等作品。

11月6日開幕式這天，由劍橋合唱團以快閃方式演唱”台北的天空”，”張三的歌”，拉開活動序幕，現場分區佈展各藝術家作品，還安排放映了3場，由台灣電影展協會推薦，林佑學執導的”垃圾山水”，以及畢業於耶魯大學藝術史系的麻州藝術學院教授嚴守智出任與談人的”藝術家座談”。

波士頓經文處處長徐佑典(右)致詞。(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

參展藝術家中的甘泓儒，1993年出生，台灣藝術大學畢業，目前在麻州藝術設計學院研修平面藝術，主要探討東方古典和西方當代藝術共有的美學概念。他用壓克力和油畫來鋪陳霧狀形象，揉合台灣曾經被荷蘭，中國，日本統治，本世紀接受來自東，西方各種不同文化洗禮的”記憶”與”感情”。

劉家樑是哈佛大學公衛學院研究生，小時候被祖父交給他的一台佳能550D相機吸引後，就一頭栽進攝影世界，當過一年婚紗攝影助理，還跨進拍電影產業。在這次的展覽中，他以膠捲拍攝台北街貓和人類的互動，藉以展示數位攝影和影片拍照可以和諧共存。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典(右)和劉家樑討論作品。
(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

施博堯曾就讀淡江大學建築系，2016畢業於南加大建築系，2019取得哈佛大學建築系碩士學位，目前住在紐約布魯克林，有志於在現有城市環境中更進一步的探討把社交功能納入空間應用的設計構思，以及翻新與保存建築物。在這次的展覽中，他挑了三項建築物翻新作品來展現挑戰傳統保存建築物的做法。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉夫婦(右)聽施博堯講解她的作品。
(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

涂豐恩於2019年取得哈佛大學東亞語言系的歷史博士學位，目前是哈佛燕京圖書館的東亞數位人文馮氏學者。他曾在台大數位人文中心任職，這次的參展作品是”台灣:香水之島”，藉由從燕京圖書館收藏品中挑選出來的文物，展示台灣是如何變成香水之島的，以及殖民歷史和台灣島之間的關係，台灣又是怎麼變成日本新興香水業的整合地。

王其萱在2019年5月取得哈佛設計學院碩士學位，目前在紐約的Richard Meier & Partners建築師事務所工作。她這次的參展作品是”聲明(日記型式)”，捕捉了她對台灣及其複雜特徵模糊記憶的系列。她認為台灣直白，荒誕，又兼具仁愛，精緻特色的文化氛圍，使得台灣在亞洲各國中別具一格，有如色彩盤一般，藏著令人無法預測的驚喜。這次參展的作品嘗試反映她每次回台灣時所捕捉到的印象。

麻州企業發展署助理署長范文南(左)聽施博堯講解作品。
(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

藝術季工作人員包括總召藍凡耘，執行秘書鍾宇善，策展及展場設計施博堯，鄭乃慈等人。

包括駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典，科技組組長謝水龍，僑教中心主任歐宏偉，波士頓本地來自台灣藝術界名人，譚嘉陵，朱蓉，謝茵，新台北奈米生醫科技執行長朱景沛，以及麻州企業發展署助理署長范文南(Nam Pham)，麻州難民移民辦公室主任張瑪麗(Mary Truong)兩夫婦，這天有眾多嘉賓出席。

劍橋合唱團演唱台北的天空。(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

活動贊助包括美南報系，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處，科技部，蕭惠菁，呂宗禧，彭淑敏，劉泰國，歐陽露，以及在GoFundMe上捐款的許多人。

波士頓經文處長徐佑典和康麗雪，譚嘉陵等部分出席者自拍留影。
(康麗雪提供)

新台北奈米生醫科技執行長朱景沛(右起)，哈佛大學醫學博士
賴文福，波士頓經文處長徐佑典一起看畫。(康麗雪提供)

石雕藝術家謝茵和畫家甘泓儒在會場合影。(朱蓉提供)

首屆哈佛台灣藝術季在史密斯中心展出。(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

Governor Baker Announces New State Police Superintendent with Goals to Modernize Training, Increase Diversity, and Emphasize Accountability

Governor Baker Announces New State Police Superintendent with Goals to Modernize Training, Increase Diversity, and Emphasize Accountability

BOSTON – Governor Baker tapped Lieutenant Colonel Christopher S. Mason as the next colonel and superintendent of the State Police, effective Friday, November 15th. At a press conference today in the State House, Mason identified a series of proposals to focus on accountability and conduct, increasing diversity within the agency, and updating training.

In remarks today, the 26-year veteran of the Department expressed his deep pride in New England’s largest police force as well as his commitment to modernizing it, including some initial first steps:

• Ensuring all Troop E Internal Affairs investigations are completed, and that the cases for terminated or retired troopers are referred to the State Retirement Board for pension forfeiture consideration if wrongdoing is found;
• Implementing mandatory ethics training for all members, focusing on time and attendance issues and supervisors’ duties;
• Directing the State Police Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity to immediately review options for promoting women and people of color into key positions; and
• Changing the State Police Academy curriculum to rely less on paramilitary training and more on modern policing skills such as empathy, de-escalation, identification of vulnerable populations, and the response to emerging public safety threats

“At a pivotal time for Massachusetts State Police, Chris Mason has the experience and vision to lead the Department forward with reforms and innovation that will shape its future,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is grateful for the changes put in motion under Colonel Kerry Gilpin, and supports Colonel Mason as he completes critical reforms to finish Troop E internal affairs investigations and fully implement AVL technology and the body camera procurement. Drawing on his years of experience, we are confident Colonel Mason will lay out a vision for the Department’s future that will bring meaningful reform and restored public trust to the Commonwealth.”

“Colonel Mason’s decades-long and wide-ranging career in law enforcement has well equipped him to lead the Massachusetts State Police with integrity and dignity,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Governor Baker and I are appreciative of the hard work and commitment demonstrated by Colonel Kerry Gilpin and we look forward to our continued collaboration with the Massachusetts State Police and the new leadership Colonel Mason will bring to the department.”  

“I look forward to a continued partnership with Colonel Mason, whose commitment to excellence has been evident in every position he’s held,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Thomas Turco. “He’s brought the highest levels of integrity and professionalism to the job as a trooper, an investigator, a commander, and an administrator. He understands the values of both tradition and reform, and he reflects an outstanding selection by Governor Baker.”

“I am grateful for the remarkable trust that Governor Baker and his Administration have placed in me,” said Colonel Mason. “I promise to earn that trust every day with the men and women of the Massachusetts State Police who reflect our values of honesty, integrity, and service.  These values are foremost in my mind as we move the Department and our public safety mission forward.”

Mason currently serves as a lieutenant colonel and deputy superintendent of the Department of State Police. Prior to that, he commanded the Division of Investigative Services, a position in which he oversaw all State Police detective units and forensic personnel. He has also served as deputy commander of the Division of Homeland Security and Preparedness, acting as director of the Commonwealth Fusion Center and supervising the Cyber Crimes Unit, High Risk Victims Unit, Identification Section, and Fraud Identification Unit. Mason also worked for many years as a trooper, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and commanding officer for the Cape and Islands State Police Detective Unit, where he investigated homicides, sexual assaults, and other violent crimes.

Mason graduated from the State Police Academy in 1993 after serving as a natural resource officer in Barnstable for eight years. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and attended the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Unit Commanders Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School’s Fusion Center Leaders Program.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College.