Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC to support Community-Based groups through $250,000 grant from Google.org

 Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC to support

Community-Based groups through $250,000 grant from Google.org

 

Washington, D.C. – March 15, 2023 — Today, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) is excited to announce a grant from Google.org to distribute $50,000 each to five community-based organizations for the purpose of providing digital skills and job readiness training in their communities. The organizations selected represent communities across the United States ⁠from Seattle, Washington to New York City, New York, and they were chosen for their history of providing successful digital skills and workforce development programs in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

 

As internet access becomes even more essential for communities to thrive, Advancing Justice – AAJC, a national nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., that advocates for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and underserved allied communities, and Google.org know that digital skills and job readiness remain a challenge for many underserved AAPI communities.

 

“Advancing Justice – AAJC is proud to work with Google.org in support of local AAPI-serving organizations who are working to help bridge the gap in digital skills within their communities,” said John C. Yang, president and executive director at Advancing Justice – AAJC. “Local organizations with deep trust from their communities are most attuned to the needs on the ground, and with the right resources, can address current challenges with solutions that enable their communities to thrive. Digital skills are essential in today’s professional environment, and we will continue our work to address the digital divide and ensure that our communities are set up for success.”

 

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical importance of internet access and digital skills. It is clear that today’s jobs increasingly require digital skills training and that many opportunities will remain online. Several Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations have piloted and expanded their job training programs to include digital skills as a critical first step, but a lack of adequate resources, including funding, proper software/hardware, and limited staff time can hinder the growth of these programs.

 

The following are the beneficiary organizations serving Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

 

Arab American Association of New York

 

Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), a nonprofit organization in Brooklyn, New York, supports and empowers the Arab American and Arab immigrant community by providing services to help them adjust to their new home and become active members of society. AAANY additionally offers a workforce development program that includes resume coaching, job interviewing workshops, career exploration, and digital skills training.

 

Asian Counseling and Referral Service

 

Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ARCS), a Seattle nonprofit organization grounded in social justice, provides services that advance the health, well-being, dignity and empowerment of Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and other communities experiencing disparities in health, human services and education. ACRS's digital skills classes provide participants with essential computer and internet skills, technical resources, and one-on-one coaching in a culturally appropriate and linguistically accessible environment.

 

Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote Michigan

 

Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote Michigan (APIA Vote MI), a nonprofit organization in Hamtramck, Michigan, is a pan-Asian American organization committed to justice and equity for the Asian American community through grassroots mobilization, civic engagement, leadership development, and coalition building. APIA Vote MI additionally offers a job placement program that includes in-language digital skills  classes covering basic computer skills, technical software training, and interviewing and workplace culture courses.

 

Boat People SOS – Houston  

 

Boat People SOS – Houston (BPSOS-Houston), a nonprofit organization in Houston, Texas, provides social and legal services to empower, organize, and equip immigrant communities in their pursuit of liberty and dignity. BPSOS-Houston additionally offers basic computer skills courses and job search workshops.

 

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging

 

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA), a nonprofit organization in Seattle, Washington, preserves and promotes the dignity, well-being, and quality of life of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AAPNHPIs) as they age. NAPCA additionally offers courses in basic computer skills and professional development designed for the elderly community.

 

Together, these organizations offer services that focus on underserved and marginalized Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the United States, ensuring that these communities have equal opportunities to access professional opportunities online, improve their digital skills, and are able fully participate in today’s digital economy. 

紐英崙溯源公所迎兔年 八方宗親齊來賀

紐英崙遡源公所宗親與外埠到賀宗長在祭祖前合影。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙遡源公所本屆主席，左起雷展灝，鄺元傑，鄺炎彬
和上屆主席鄺國彬，聯袂招呼到賀的外部宗長。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙遡源公所3月12

紐英崙遡源公所3名現任主席，右起雷展灝，鄺元傑，
鄺炎彬在大埠總堂主席方錫光(後)陪同中切金豬。
(周菊子攝)

日在帝苑大酒樓慶祝癸卯兔年新春，包括遡源總堂，大埠原宗公所，紐約遡源，舍路遡源堂等，到賀宗親之多，創歷年紀錄，加上與會嘉賓，席開40桌，盛況空前。

左起，雷國輝，總堂副主席雷振澤，鄺炎彬，鄺元傑，總堂
主席方錫光，雷展灝，總堂副主席鄺耀榮齊點金豬，
藉以表示齊向祖先獻祭。(周菊子攝)

                       當天晚宴在全美遡源堂永遠顧問雷華欽出資的贊助三頭醒獅舞動，採青，雷如鏡全場指揮，雷華欽、方錫光、雷振澤、方偉俠、雷權杜，雷超雄、鄺元傑點睛的開場後，由本屆主席鄺元傑代表鄺炎彬，雷展灝等共同主席致歡迎詞，感謝各埠宗親，以及波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn) ，代表波士頓市長的亞裔聯絡員黃楚嵐，波士頓經文處處長孫儉元，僑教中心主任潘昭榮，以及30多個僑團主席、會長等嘉賓的到賀。

               12日中午，紐英崙遡源公所先在波士頓華埠哈佛街會址祭祖，請超武館舞獅，還上香，敬酒，獻金箔，切金豬，請宗長們致詞，並分享公所特色菜炒粉絲，禮數週全的沿襲傳統。

晚上的新春敬老聯歡宴，送敬老金給15位年逾80歲的宗親，發獎學金給15名學子之外，還有十分豐富的文娛表演節目，以及倡盛行東主阮偉昌送出的花旗蔘，宗親鄺國彬、雷洪活捐出的香港小食，温莎餅屋等禮券的抽獎環節。鄺元傑指出，今年的紐英崙遡源公所春宴真是冠蓋雲集，高朋滿座，宗親們濟濟一堂，場面之盛大，隆重，讓人衷心感謝。

到賀宗長們在遡源員工所會址內一一致詞。(周菊子攝)

               當天到賀的宗親及僑團首長有遡源總堂有主席方錫光，副主席鄺耀榮、雷振澤，全美遡源堂永遠顧問雷華欽、雷超雄，大埠原宗公所副主席雷超漢、鄺炳威，舍路遡源堂的主席雷權杜，全美遡源堂永遠顧問方偉俠，紐約遡源公所副主席雷錦權，紐約原宗別墅樹長雷瑞廉，以及美國洪門致公堂總理余麗媖，黃氏宗親會元老團主席黄國威，伍胥公所美東總長伍焕華，余風采堂美東總長余文博等人。

             創立於1970年代前後，一度中斷，1980年代中期，由雷權達、方創傑、方偉明、雷梓焜、鄺鐵夫、雷如鏡等6人復會的紐英崙遡源公所，會址門口掛著「遡初宗族開三姓，源衍子孫聚一堂」對聯。

遡源公所到賀宗長留影。 (周菊子攝)

                       已有7年沒到公所走動的雷如鏡，這天也在宗親力邀中再次回到公所。他感慨表示自己年紀已大，但是很高興看到公所年輕一輩，事業有成，仍熱心族務，尤其是甫卸任的上屆主席鄺國彬，不但經營有香港小食等餐廳，還將把天滿街上的卡拉OK店擴張成全麻州最大的一家。

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝和紐英崙遡源公所共同
主席雷展灝是同在公所服務的父子檔。(周菊子攝)

                     紐英崙遡源公所復會創辦人之一鄺鐵夫的兒子鄺劍鋒，這天也和他的另一半，紐英崙至孝篤親公所主席陳文珊聯袂出席。他透露，第一個在紐英崙開辦武館的人就是他父親鄺鐵夫。曾任香港財政司司長，競選過香港特首的曾俊華，當年經常和他父親，以及他一起出外表演功夫。

紐英崙遡源公所今年祭祖時，還多了一名新宗親，紐英崙至德三德公所5名主席之一吳皓的夫人方柳君。她表示以前從沒想過，但年紀漸長後，覺得應該和宗親來往走動，有感於自己的本姓是遡源公所三姓之一，於是也開始參加遡源公所活動。

鄺劍鋒(右)的父親鄺鐵夫是紐英崙遡源公所復會
創辦人之一，嬌妻陳文珊(左)是紐英崙至校篤親
公所現任主席。 (周菊子攝)

                    近年來，紐英崙遡源公所人才輩出，既有雷國輝是紐英崙中華公所現任主席，以及華埠社區議會共同主席，鄺炎彬是麻州亞裔商會共同會長，也有鄺元傑甫卸任台山鄉親聯誼會會長，鄺國添曾任波士頓洪門致公堂主席，加上有宗親另一半是另一姓氏公所的主席，今年的遡源公所春宴，也成為僑團首長中最多自家人的一年。

雷如鏡是紐英崙遡源公所復會的6名創辦人之一。(周菊子攝)

               

鄺國添 (左起) 曾任波士頓洪門致公堂及紐英崙遡源公所主席，和現任
主席鄺元傑，鄺炎彬一起，在春宴前歡迎宗親到埠。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn (右二) 頒表揚狀，紐英崙遡源公所
主席雷展灝 (右起)、鄺元傑、鄺炎彬代表接受。(遡源公所提供)
 

麻州將於5月11日起終止新冠病毒緊急狀態

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 今 (15) 日宣佈，預定5月11日，終止新冠病毒大流行的公共衛生緊急狀態。

州長辦公室員工需注射疫苗的第595號行政命令規定也將取消。

奚莉州長在聲明中感謝醫療護理供應者及社區的辛苦，麻州在對抗新冠病毒上已有重大進展。她說，「我們知道我們有管理這病毒的工具，包括疫苗，口罩，檢測，治療，還有生病時就留在家裏，現在已經達到可以更新指導原則以反映現狀的時候了」。

麻州前州長查理貝克在2020年3月10日時宣佈麻州進入緊急狀態。奚莉州長感謝貝克政府在危機嚴重時刻，採取了重要措施。

5月11日結束公共衛生緊急狀態和聯邦政府的腳步一致。

州長辦公室稱，疫苗幫助了州政府行政部門員工的已注射疫苗比率從76%提高到99%。

不過這也是個有爭議性的方法，導致大約2%。或約1000名州政府員工離職。

               奚莉政府稱，將提交新立法，將允許彈性員工在院外透析中心多待6個月，以給他們時間恢復到新冠病毒前的人員配置，另外永久性的把高階維持生命運輸的緊急救護車上人員，從1名司機，2名經過認證急救人員減少為1名司機及1名經過認證急救人員。

               麻州健康及人民服務廳廳長Kate Walsh表示，從病毒大流行迄今3年後，人們的處境已然非常不同。在人們和新冠病毒持續共存之際，社區及醫療護理系統現在能夠把病毒管理納為治療呼吸道疾病的常設方法。

Driscoll Administration Announces End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency in Massachusetts  

Administration also files legislation to extend certain staffing flexibilities for health care providers; Will rescind vaccine mandate for Executive Branch employees on May 11  

BOSTON – Today the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that the state’s COVID-19 public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023, to align with the end of the federal public health emergency. The announcement this week, ahead of the 45-day notice required by state law, allows additional time for impacted organizations to prepare for the end of the public health emergency.  

Governor Healey will also file legislation that would extend key flexibilities provided by the public health emergency, particularly around staffing for the health care industry and emergency medical services (EMS). The Governor also announced that on May 11 she plans to rescind Executive Order 595 that required all Executive Branch state employees to have received their primary series COVID-19 vaccines.  

“Thanks to the hard work of our health care providers and communities, we’ve made important progress in the fight against COVID-19,” said Governor Healey. “We know that we have the tools to manage this virus – vaccines, masking, testing, getting treatments and staying home when sick – and we’ve reached the point where we can update our guidance to reflect where we are now. I’d also like to acknowledge the leadership of Governor Baker and his administration, who saved countless lives by putting these important measures in place in a time of immense crisis.”  

“Executive Order No. 595 has been a successful tool for boosting vaccination rates and reducing the spread and severity of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. We’re grateful to the state employees who did their part to keep themselves, their coworkers and their communities safe,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “We encourage Massachusetts residents to continue taking important prevention measures to keep our communities healthy, like getting boosted, masking and staying home when you’re feeling sick.”  

“We are fortunate that in Massachusetts, the wide availability of vaccines, tests, effective treatments, and PPE changed the course of a pandemic that brought loss and hardship to so many. Three years on from the start of the pandemic, we are now in a very different place,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh. “While we will continue living with COVID-19, we can now incorporate the tools to manage this virus into our standing response to respiratory illness within our communities and healthcare system.”  

Governor Healey’s legislation would:  

Continue flexibilities currently in place regarding staffing for out-of-hospital dialysis centers. This would apply for 6 months to allow dialysis centers time to return to pre-COVID staffing levels.    

·        Authorize certain non-Medication Administration Program (MAP) certified staff to administer certain prepackaged medications in community settings. This would apply for 6 months to enable DPH to finalize reforms that streamline the MAP program training requirements. 

·        Allow staffing of Advanced Life Support level ambulance transports with a single EMT provider and a first responder driver (rather than 2 certified EMTs). This would be a permanent change based on the positive experience of this staffing model over the last three years.  

Executive Order No. 595 helped raise the percentage of fully vaccinated executive department employees from around 76 percent to over 99 percent. Mandates for staff in certain roles and settings will remain in place, per CMS and EOHHS regulations. 

吳市長和婦女進步辦公室宣佈產後教育和支持小組試點

MAYOR WU AND OFFICE OF WOMEN’S ADVANCEMENT ANNOUNCE POSTPARTUM EDUCATION AND SUPPORT GROUP PILOT This new initiative supports the reproductive wellness needs of parents, particularly Black and Brown women, who have recently given birth or are expecting to give birth soon.

 

BOSTON - Monday, March 13, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement (MOWA) today announced the launch of a Postpartum Education and Support Group pilot in partnership with Love Your Menses. The pilot will support and educate Boston residents, particularly Black and Brown women, who have recently given birth or are expecting to give birth soon, and create a safe space for people experiencing pregnancy and postpartum. This 10-week, free, virtual program will have an initial cohort of 32 participants.  “Ensuring that we are supporting all of our City’s parents during their postpartum period is critical in our work to make Boston a city for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to MOWA and Love Your Menses for this free program that will connect and support people experiencing pregnancy and postpartum across our neighborhoods.”  “As Chair of the Strong Women, Families, and Communities Committee in Boston City Council, I am pleased to see the City embark on a grassroots partnership project focused on pregnancy and postpartum,” said Councilor Liz Breadon. “My mother and two aunts were midwives in rural Northern Ireland who guided and supported families in childbirth and postpartum care. I look forward to learning about the results of this pilot project aimed at building capacity for persistent dialogue and education about the stressors of childbirth.”  The program consists of weekly virtual sessions including but not limited to peer-mentorship, consultations with OB/GYN providers, guest speakers, and a postpartum care box. Sessions will begin on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023 through June 5th, 2023. A virtual informational session for interested residents will be held on Wednesday, March 15th, 2023 at 6pm.  “As a woman of color, Latina and first time mom, I understand the first hand struggle women face during childbirth,” said Alexandra Valdez, Executive Director of Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement. “MOWA is committed to making resources accessible to all women in the city of Boston, especially those in communities that are underrepresented.”   The pilot’s sessions will be organized and facilitated by Love Your Menses, Inc, which was founded in 2019 in response to the growing wellness need present across Boston, especially communities of color. Their vision is to provide support by using community dialogue, evidence-based health education, featuring guest expert speakers, and postpartum care package distribution.  “We are excited for the collaboration to bring this important resource to our community,” said Asriel Walker, Executive Director at Love Your Menses, Inc. “We hope to continue to work with MOWA to put all parents FIRST during their postpartum period.”  The postpartum recovery period is the time where a person recovers from the crucial changes that occurred to their body during the antenatal period to the delivery period. New mothers of color are at higher risk of having postpartum depression yet are less likely to receive treatment. Research shows that social support has been proven effective in helping individuals cope with psychological and physical stressors in the postpartum period.  “Black and Latinx mothers experience poorer birthing and pregnancy-related outcomes than their white counterparts in part because of lack of access to high quality care and resources,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “BPHC is grateful for MOWA’s partnership in addressing these disparities. The pilot initiative with Love Your Menses will be an opportunity to break down barriers and reduce health inequities, better supporting Boston’s Black and Brown families.”  The Equity and Inclusion Cabinet and the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement are focused on empowering women and removing systemic barriers to their advancement. The City defines equity as ensuring every community has the resources it needs to thrive in Boston.  “Postpartum care is essential for the overall health and wellness of those who give birth and the child they bring into this world,” said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “This is an opportunity to provide a space for new parents to receive guidance from clinicians while building community with others who share the same lived experience.”  The registration form is available in 11 languages. Registration will close on Wednesday, March 29th, 2023. Interpretation and translation accommodation services during the program will be available upon request. To learn more information about this newly launched program, please visit boston.gov/women.  The Healthy Start Systems Division at Boston Public Health Commission also includes programs for pregnant and parenting families, including free, voluntary, and confidential home visiting to pregnant and parenting families with children under age five who reside in Boston. Through the Healthy Baby Healthy Child and Boston Healthy Start Initiative programs, BPHC promotes the health and well-being of women, children, and families in the City of Boston, particularly those living in communities that are disproportionately impacted by infant mortality and other health disparities. To learn more about BPHC’s programs, please visit boston.gov/bphc-newbornhealth.

波士頓市長吳弭宣佈3/17起市府廣場擺出"藝術家市場"

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES “BOSTON ARTISAN MARKET,” A NEW CITY HALL PLAZA ACTIVATION

 

BOSTON - Monday, March 13, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced Boston Artisan Market (BAM), a new activation featuring Boston-based vendors in the recently opened pavilion building on City Hall Plaza. BAM is being hosted in partnership with Bogosplit, a Black, woman-owned tech company committed to supporting and promoting all small businesses, and will open Friday, March 17, 2023. The market will showcase local designers and vendors displaying their clothing lines, skincare products, jewelry, wearable art, and more. The pavilion is a new building that was added to the City Hall Plaza footprint during the City Hall Plaza renovation project, and is an example of the City’s efforts to create family-friendly public spaces and to bring vibrancy to Downtown Boston.  BAM will kick off the start of each weekend with “Fashion Fridays,” which will include a fashion show highlighting local models, influencers and DJs, including DJ Maverik. There will also be a Ratata Chimi Food Truck on site, which celebrates Dominican culture through authentic, local cuisine.  “We reopened City Hall Plaza with the intention of creating spaces for people of all ages to come together Downtown. BAM is one piece of our ongoing vision for the Plaza, building community while supporting local entrepreneurs,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I encourage residents to visit BAM and enjoy the rotating vendors and designers.”  BAM will be open Fridays from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., Saturdays from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m., and Sundays from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. starting on March 17th and running through May 6th.  “We are extremely excited to host this program and expect it to be the first of many. Visitors to the Boston Artisan Market will have the opportunity to explore and discover all of the wonderful features of the City Hall Plaza including the new pavilion, the green spaces and the playground,” said Eamon Shelton, Commissioner of Property Management.    “This market serves as an opportunity to activate the new City Hall Plaza and attract residents and visitors downtown for a fun, family-friendly event,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “I am excited as BAM will also allow us to continue the work to support and promote our small business community moving forward.”   “This event is a great opportunity for us to test new ways of utilizing the improved plaza and showcase local artisans and vendors,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston. “We look forward to working with our new City Hall Plaza Engagement Manager to bring more cultural programming like this to City Hall Plaza this year.”  The vendors for the Boston Artisan Market will be a mix of Boston based and Greater Boston based vendors, such as Oblige Boutique, run by two Boston-based sisters. Other vendors range from skincare and makeup to accessories to luggage. The vendors and featured designers will rotate every weekend.   “We are very excited for this opportunity to broaden our reach and introduce our brand to fellow locals and tourists in the heart of Boston,” said Tania Shabazz, Owner of Oblige Boutique. “The Boston Artisan Market is another great example of the city supporting local small businesses and expanding the footprint of marketplaces that connect entrepreneurs and neighboring communities with a centralized shopping experience!”  “We at Bogosplit have a true commitment to community building. Our mission is to create a vibrant and inclusive shopping experience that celebrates and elevates the creativity and diversity of the Boston community,” said Keyla Williams, Co-founder and CEO of Bogosplit. “Join us in celebrating the vibrancy of Boston's local businesses and artisans at BAM…where creativity meets community."  The pavilion building opened as part of the official City Hall Plaza reopening last November. More about the renovations to make City Hall a more welcoming, sustainable space can be found here.  About Bogosplit Bogosplit is excited to partner with the City of Boston for the Boston Artisan Market (BAM)! Bogosplit was founded by Kenelly Cineus, Adriano Pinto, and Keyla Williams, a team of passionate entrepreneurs with a deep commitment to technology, innovation, and community.  With their combined expertise and experience, they are dedicated to empowering local communities and businesses to succeed in today's digital age.  Bogosplit is a dynamic and forward-thinking tech company that is committed to supporting small businesses in expanding their reach and visibility. By providing a range of cutting-edge online resources through our platform and automated storefronts, Bogosplit empowers small vendors to grow their business. Bogosplit’s mission is to support independent vendors so they can focus on what they do best - creating high-quality products.

麻州政府指派6人組成下任州警主管搜尋委員會

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Update on Search Process for Massachusetts State Police Colonel 

Search Committee to Guide Process and Partner with Executive Search Firm 

 to Identify the Next Leader of the State Police  

 BOSTON – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced an update on the search process to identify the next Massachusetts State Police Colonel. The Administration has formed a six-member search committee, composed of diverse public safety professionals and community leaders with wide-ranging expertise, to guide a robust process to identify the new executive and administrative leader of the State Police.   

The Committee will guide the search process and partner with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders with vast experience identifying prospective applicants for executive-level public safety roles.  

Search Committee members include:   

• Molly Baldwin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Roca 
• Kevin Burke, Former Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety, former Essex County District Attorney 
• Gayle Cameron, Former Commissioner of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, retired Lieutenant Colonel of the New Jersey State Police 
• Mark Leahy, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, retired police chief (Suffield, CT and Northborough, MA) 
• Liam Lowney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) 
• Natashia Tidwell, Litigation Group Member at Mintz, former federal prosecutor and Cambridge police officer  

“The next Massachusetts State Police Colonel has a unique opportunity to enhance public safety across Massachusetts, build public trust and advance meaningful reforms,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are grateful to the remarkable members of the search committee for their service and commitment to identifying strong applicants with the vision and values to lead the State Police into the future.”   

“The selection of the Department’s future leader reflects a pivotal moment and transformative opportunity for the State Police and Massachusetts. Our administration is committed to conducting a comprehensive search that is thorough and expeditious,” said Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll. “We look forward to engaging with the search committee and appreciate their dedication to identifying highly qualified and diverse candidates.”  

By law, the Governor appoints the colonel based upon the recommendation of the Secretary of EOPSS. The governing statute, Massachusetts law G.L. c. 22C Section 3, requires that the colonel be qualified by training and experience to direct the Department’s work. At the time of appointment, the colonel must have 10 years of full-time experience as a sworn law enforcement officer and five years of full-time experience in a senior administrative or supervisory position in a police force or a military body with law enforcement responsibilities. Once appointed, the colonel will become a uniformed member of the MSP. The colonel will also require certification from the Massachusetts POST Commission.   

On February 17, 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration appointed Lt. Colonel John Mawn to serve as Interim Colonel, succeeding Colonel Christopher Mason upon his retirement.  

Search Committee member bios:  

Molly Baldwin is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roca. A graduate of UMass Amherst, Molly began her professional life as a youth worker and community organizer and soon founded Roca in 1988 for a small group of high-risk young people.  

For 35 years, she has been a tireless advocate, mentor, and community convener, reaching out to the young people at the center of violence in Massachusetts’ most troubled urban communities, and bringing together the major institutions, agencies, and corporations affecting their lives. With the help of engaged institutions and Roca’s committed staff, Baldwin’s efforts at Roca have helped over 25,000 young people make positive and profound changes in their lives. 

Under Baldwin’s leadership, Roca’s Intervention Model has become one of the nation’s most effective interventions for young adults at critical risk. Baldwin holds a master’s degree in Education from Lesley University and honorary Ph.D. degrees from Salem State University and Lesley University. She was a 2020 recipient of the prestigious Heinz Award in the Human Condition category.  

Kevin Burke’s five decades of public service includes several roles in Massachusetts state and county government. Burke served from 2007 to 2010 as the Secretary of Public Safety in the Patrick-Murray Administration after concluding his 24-year tenure as the Essex County District Attorney. As a legislator, Burke represented the 4th Essex District from 1975 to 1979 in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.  

He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a law degree from Boston College.  

Gayle Cameron is a former commissioner at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) and retired Lieutenant Colonel of the New Jersey State Police. Appointed in 2012 as one of the initial commissioners and reappointed in 2016, Cameron was instrumental in successfully building a new and sustainable public agency while simultaneously implementing a multifaceted expanding gaming law. Before becoming an MGC commissioner, Cameron served in New Jersey State Police (NJSP) for 28 years, beginning as a Road Duty Trooper in 1980 and rising through the ranks to Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Superintendent, retiring in 2008 from NJSP’s second highest rank.   

Cameron was appointed as a Commissioner to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). She was responsible for policy decisions around creating appropriate law enforcement standards. In this role, she worked to strengthen crime prevention, solidify interagency cooperation, and improve community confidence in the agency.   

Cameron is a founding member and past president of New Jersey Woman in Law Enforcement (NJWLE) from 2004-2011. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Bridgewater State College and a Master’s Degree in Education from Seton Hall University.  

Chief Mark K. Leahy, Ret. has served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association since 2016. He began his law enforcement career in 1976, when he was appointed as a Connecticut State Trooper, retiring in 1997 at the rank of Captain. He went on to serve as the Chief of Police in both Suffield, CT and Northborough, MA until his retirement from Northborough in 2016.   

A Past President (2011) of the Mass. Chiefs, Chief Leahy sat on the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission – ultimately becoming its President – and on the Commonwealth’s Municipal Police Training Committee for eleven years. He sat on the Executive Board of the New England Association of Chiefs of Police; the Police Administration Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police; and on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s Public Safety Committee. He is currently the Chair of the Executive Director’s Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.  

Liam Lowney is Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA). He was appointed to this position in 2012 by the Victim and Witness Assistance Board. In this role, he leads the state agency’s administration of state and federal funding, training for service professionals, and policy efforts on behalf of crime victims.   

In January 2007, he was appointed as the Chief of Victim and Witness Services by the Massachusetts Attorney General, overseeing the office’s services to crime victims and the Massachusetts Victim Compensation Program. Lowney began working in the field of Victim Services in the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in 1998 as a Victim Witness Advocate.   

Throughout his career, Lowney has advocated for policy changes that impact crime victims, including gun safety legislation, updates to the victim compensation and assistance statute, and Massachusetts’ first Human Trafficking Law.    

In 1994, Liam’s sister Shannon Lowney was murdered while working at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Brookline, MA. Since then, Liam has served as a survivor advocate and spokesman to addressing violence, responding to mass violence, training professionals and empowering survivors.    

Natashia Tidwell is Litigation Group Member at Mintz, focusing on white collar defense and government investigations with a special emphasis on assisting educational institutions in identifying and managing internal and external challenges. She leverages her experience as a former federal prosecutor and police officer to provide pragmatic counsel to schools on federal and state constitutional issues and to advise individuals and institutions on government enforcement actions. Her clients include colleges, universities, secondary schools, cities and towns, hospitals, and other organizations.  

In connection with the nationwide focus on social justice following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Tidwell led many investigations of alleged discriminatory conduct by schools, local police departments, corporations, and other organizations. As the lead monitor in Ferguson, Missouri, Tidwell is providing oversight on city police department and municipal court reforms stemming from a civil rights investigation by the US Department of Justice. In Newark, New Jersey, Tidwell serves as a subject matter consultant for the monitoring team instituting court-ordered reforms within the city’s police force. 

Tidwell previously served as counsel at a global law firm and a Boston-based law firm and as an Associate Professor of New England Law | Boston. Before attending law school and while earning her JD, Tidwell worked as a police officer for the Cambridge Police Department in Massachusetts, where she rose through the ranks to become the department's first female lieutenant.