麻州長Healey指派3名高等教育委員會委員 曾參選州長的Danielle Allen側身其一

 Governor Healey Appoints Three New Members, Reappoints Chair of Department of Higher Education Board of Director 

Members All Bring Experience Uplifting Students and Communities Historically Underrepresented in Higher Education  

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura T. Healey appointed Harneen Chernow, Danielle Allen and Dr. Christina Royal to serve on the Board of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Governor Healey also reappointed Chris Gabrieli as Chair of the Board. These new appointments will help advance the Board’s mission of ensuring students can access high quality, affordable, and diverse post-secondary learning experiences at the state’s public and private higher education colleges and universities.    

“Equity is at the center of our administration. I’m proud to be appointing members of the Board of Higher Education who share this commitment and will work to expand access to affordable, high quality higher education for every student,” said Governor Healey. “Massachusetts has long been a leader in higher education, and I’m confident that under the leadership of Chair Gabrieli and the other board members, we will continue to lengthen our lead and deliver results for the people of Massachusetts.” 

“Chair Gabrieli has served the Board of Higher Education with distinction, and we are confident that with the addition of Harneen Chernow, Danielle Allen and Dr. Christina Royal, the Board will continue their excellent work on behalf of the people of Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “Every single one of our learners should have the opportunity to excel here in Massachusetts and as we expand other pathways to success, we must strengthen this path to higher education as well.”  

“I am thrilled that so many members of the Board of Higher Education will share our administration’s commitment to uplifting students historically underserved and underrepresented in our institutions of higher learning,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I am glad to continue working with Chair Gabrieli and I’m looking forward to the fresh perspectives brough by new members Harneen Chernow, Danielle Allen, and Dr. Christina Royal.”  

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education aims to improve the quality of higher education throughout the state and ensure that Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to benefit from a higher education that enriches their lives and advances their contributions to the civic life and economic development of the state. The high standard held for the state’s institutions of higher education allows for a concerte focus on equity, accountability, empowerment, and much more. The 13-member Board is responsible for defining and maintaining the mission of the Department of Education. 

“For the last eight years, I have had the privilege of serving on the board and am grateful to continue because our work is not finished,” said Chairman Gabrieli. “I am delighted to work with our terrific cohort of fellow Board members, our Secretary and Commissioner and our higher ed leaders and stakeholders who also all believe in making sure our colleges and universities have the tools and innovations they need to serve our students, educate our workforce and build more equitable communities. I look forward to working with my new colleagues and am excited to see what we will accomplish together.” 

Chris Gabrieli was first appointed to the Board of Higher Education in March 2015. He has been the co-founder of several non-profit education innovation and reform initiatives and a lecturer at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.  He is also the Chairman of the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, a groundbreaking partnership between the state, district and teacher's union aimed at accelerating innovation and success for students.   

Harneen Chernow is a Director of the 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds (TEF), a multi-state healthcare workforce intermediary providing education and training opportunities to over 300,000 members in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington DC and Florida. Of central importance in her work is TEF’s partnership with the public postsecondary education system, where members complete their degrees and obtain necessary credentials. Chernow’s focus and experience is in expanding career advancement and educational opportunities to workers who have been systemically excluded from succeeding in postsecondary education, helping them access family-sustaining jobs and careers. 

Danielle Allen is James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University, where she is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy. She is a seasoned nonprofit leader, advocate for democracy, and was a leading national voice on the pandemic response. She’s also a distinguished author and a mom. A past chair of the Mellon Foundation and Pulitzer Prize Boards, and former Dean of Humanities at the University of Chicago, Allen continues to serve as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and American Philosophical Society.  

Dr. Christina Royal is the president of Infinite Unlearning, LLC, and recently wrapped up her tenure as the fourth president of Holyoke Community College (HCC), and the first woman, multi-racial, and queer leader to lead the institution from 2017 to 2023. She has served in progressively responsible roles in both higher education, with experience with community college and private four-year institutions, as well as in corporate environments. In her presidency at HCC, she led the creation of the college’s first strategic plan, which prioritized equity by removing barriers for historically marginalized learners, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, first generation, adult learners, and students living in poverty. Dr. Royal also established the President’s Student Emergency Fund, collaboratively transformed the institution’s shared governance model, launched El Centro to support Latinx students as a Hispanic Serving Institution, expanded mental health services, and secured the largest philanthropic gift to a community college in Massachusetts, among other notable accomplishments.    

 

波士頓市議會議長Flynn召開公聽會 擬訂條例要求製作槍枝流向年度報告

Council President Flynn and Councilor Worrell Held Hearing on Ordinance to Study the Trafficking of Illegal Firearms 

BOSTON - Boston City Council President Ed Flynn and Councilor Brian Worrell held a hearing on Monday, September 18, 2023 at 10 a.m. to discuss the ordinance that they sponsored to have a study and annual report with data on the flow of firearms and information on illegal firearms recovered in the City. The hearing was chaired by Councilor Ricardo Arroyo in the Committee on Government Operations, and was attended by officials from the Boston Police Department and numerous City Councilors. The ordinance and hearing follows the unanimous adoption of a City Council Resolution declaring gun violence as a public health emergency in October 2022. 

Gun trafficking and the illegal flow of firearms is a major contributor to gun violence, with the Boston Police recovering close to 900 firearms in 2022. Since 2015, there have been over 1,700 shootings recorded in the City of Boston, with more than 170 shootings in 2022. According to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, only 10 percent of the firearms recovered at crime scenes that were traced were purchased in Massachusetts, while the rest were brought into Massachusetts from 18 other states. Having a comprehensive study and review of the flow of firearms into the City of Boston would help law enforcement and policymakers better understand the impact of illegal gun trafficking, and help us develop strategies on gun violence prevention.

At the hearing, Councilors spoke of the importance of curbing gun violence, the trauma brought on by gun violence in the community, as well as the concerning uses of 3D-printed “ghost guns” and modifiers such as switches. The Boston Police Department’s Regional Intelligence Center is responsible for collecting and tracking data on firearm recoveries, while overall number of shootings and shooting victims are trending downward, possession of firearms still remains a big concern. So far the Boston Police recovered 602 guns in 2023, 415 were crime guns, including 59 “ghost guns”. Most of the data requested in the ordinance are already collected, and the Boston Police expressed willingness to collaborate on this ordinance.  

“Data on the flow of firearms will help our law enforcement and policymakers better understand the impact of illegal gun trafficking, and allow us to develop more effective strategies to reduce gun violence,” said Council President Flynn. “I want to thank the Boston Police Department for the work that they do in keeping our communities safe, and Councilor Worrell and my colleagues for their partnership on this issue. I look forward to continuing collaborating with our Boston Police, and passing this ordinance so that we can work together to stop the illegal flow of firearms into our neighborhoods.”

"Generations of underinvestment in marginalized communities have led to violent incidents such as Sunday night's shooting in District 4 that injured five people including two minors and traumatized our residents," Councilor Worrell said. "It's important that we follow the data being collected to see how we can better understand the flow of out-of-state guns, ghost guns and modified guns that are flowing through the city. I look forward to engaging with the Boston Police Department, Council President Flynn, my council colleagues, community groups and our city's families in curbing gun violence." (Update version from Ed Flynn's office)

麻州中小學教育廳無異議通過Healey州長的健康及體育教育新框架

 Governor Healey’s New Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Framework Receives Unanimous Approval 

LGBTQ+ inclusive, medically accurate and developmentally- and age-appropriate update is the first since 1999 

Includes mental health, personal safety, healthy relationships, nutrition,  substance misuse education & more 

 
MALDEN – Governor Maura Healey announced today that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has unanimously approved an updated comprehensive health and physical education framework today, the first time the guidelines have been updated since 1999. 

The updated framework (download) is inclusive, medically accurate and developmentally- and age-appropriate. It outlines standards for what a comprehensive and LGBTQ+-inclusive health and physical education program should include: mental and emotional health; personal safety; physical health and hygiene; healthy relationships; nutrition and balanced eating; physical activity and fitness; substance use and misuse; sexual health; and public, community, and environmental health.  

The Board’s vote came after more than 60 days of public comment in which the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) received nearly 5,400 responses through a survey, email and regular mail. 

“Massachusetts is leading the way by providing a health and physical education framework that is inclusive, medically accurate and age-appropriate to help them make decisions that are right for their health and wellbeing,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are grateful to the Board for approving the first update to the health education frameworks in more than two decades, and we appreciate the input we received from residents across the state.” 

“This framework was approved after years of work by advocates and education leaders, and thousands of pieces of feedback,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said. “I’m glad to see that so many people were involved in the process, and I hope districts find this a valuable resource.”   

“The framework the Board approved today is the combined result of contributions and feedback from educators, parents, community members and health and physical education content experts,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “It provides a solid foundation for school districts and health and physical education teachers.” 

 “I’d like to thank my fellow Board members for seeing this process through and recognizing the importance of this update,” said Board Chair Katherine Craven. “Students deserve a health and physical education framework that is up-to-date and relevant.”  

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, educators, and health experts began the process of revising the framework in 2018, ultimately leading to the draft shared in June. As part of the process leading up to the draft, DESE worked with educators, administrators, families, students, subject matter experts, and representatives of different types of schools and districts, professional roles and professional and community-based organizations. After the draft was released in June, the public comment period ran through the end of August. 

“I’m grateful to everyone who contributed to this process,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley. “With the hard work of drafting and refining the update behind us, our staff will now focus on providing implementation resources and support for districts.”  

State law (G.L. c. 71, § 1 and G.L. c. 71, § 3) requires all public schools to teach health education and physical education, but school districts have discretion to determine how standards are implemented at the local level, including what curriculum and materials they will use. 

State law (G.L. c. 71, § 32A) also gives parents the right to opt out their children from lessons related to sex education, which is a small portion of the knowledge covered in this framework. 

中華耆英會和布魯克蘭老人中心攜手慶中秋 百人同歡

中華耆英會表演者和主辦單位。 (周菊子攝)

左起，梅麗梨、Jamie Jensen、張昆、王睿、徐思佳。
(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 中華耆英會 和布魯克蘭鎮 (Brookline) 老人中心合作，9月18日下午舉辦了一場近百人出席的盛大聚會，慶祝中秋節，耆英們和專業歌劇演唱家同台演出，搶盡鏡頭。這天屋外大雨，但絲毫未減室內熱情。

右起，黃靖懿、萬兵傳、王子釗、李潤等人專業水準，就是不一樣。
(周菊子攝)

              中華耆英會白禮頓樓主任梅麗梨指出，該會和布魯克蘭鎮老人中心從1998年起，就開始合作舉辦中秋節聯歡會了，迄今已20多年，深受老人家歡迎。他們的目的是藉這些表演，讓來自各個社區的不同背景人士，認識更多中華文化，進而增進彼此了解，以及相處樂趣。

出席者捧著三隻熊貓玩偶，要求和樂趙令瑜合影。
(周菊子攝)

              今年的這場中秋節慶祝會，由梅麗梨、布魯克蘭鎮老人中心經理Jamie Jensen，樂趙令瑜、余詠宇、王睿等人策劃，樂趙令瑜和徐思敏擔任司儀，安排了10項表演節目。中華耆英會副行政主任張昆也出席與耆英同樂。

              陳萍、毛倩婷、馬愛慈以「相思月」舞蹈開場後，陸續有余詠宇博士填詞，中華耆英會歌唱組樂趙令瑜、譚潤金、李積秀、朱華琴，朱惠才，黃永耀，姚鎮鉅等人演唱粵曲「高歌獻唱月長明」，余詠宇和耆英惠歌唱組演唱英文歌「雪絨花」，樂趙令瑜和耆英惠舞蹈組在花好月圓的背景音樂中，走場展示中國傳統服裝，陳萍跳「藍色天夢」。

近百人出席中華耆英會和布魯克蘭老人中心合辦的
中秋慶祝會。 (周菊子攝)

              表演環節中和往年不同的是，請來數名專業歌劇演唱家演出。男低音王子釗唱舒伯特的「多瑙河上」，女高音黃靖懿演唱選自普契尼( Puccini)歌劇”波西米亞人 (La Boheme)”中的「漫步街頭」，男高音萬兵傳演唱「我的太陽 (O Sole Mio)」後，他們3人在李潤的鋼琴伴奏中，再演唱一曲「飲酒歌」。

              幾名專業歌劇演唱家的歌喉之佳，一開口就引人專注聆聽，曲音方落，全場立刻報以久久不歇的熱烈掌聲。節目結束後又紛紛擠上前去要求合影拍照，送上小禮物，表達激賞心意。

              會中有一名洋人特地抱了3隻熊貓玩偶出席，會後更要求和樂趙令瑜等人合影，佐證了這場慶祝會，不但撫慰了離鄉華人思家心情，也發揮了文化交流作用。

陳萍跳「藍色天夢」 (周菊子攝)

中華耆英會時裝表演走秀。 (周菊子攝)

包氏文藝中心體驗華埠藝術節展示6幅壁畫 9/30有現場表演

 September 18, 2023 - Boston, MA- Pao Arts Center’s Experience Chinatown Arts Festival returns to celebrate the rich cultural fabric of Boston Chinatown and the Asian American Pacific Islander creative community through vibrant window murals, live performances, and creative activities for all.  

Throughout the festival’s duration from now through October 14, visitors and residents are invited to view colorful and bold window murals at participating local businesses and organizations, addressing the 2023 Experience Chinatown mural prompt of “What makes a community thrive?” This year, six original murals were created by local artists including one by a group of youths from the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) led by Boston-based artist and educator, Nell Valle. 

“I felt really inspired returning to create a second mural, this time working with youth. I knew these bright teens were so capable of the entire artist process from researching, sketching, and painting, so I encouraged them to really lean into the adventure. Guiding them through the mural felt like I'm passing my paintbrush down to others and sharing that love for art, community, and what's possible is why I love this work. Plus, I learn from them too where they give me hope for the seasons to come. Thank you to all the youth and Pao Arts Center for having us!” shares Nell Valle. 

Murals on display throughout Chinatown by artists include:

-       “What Makes a Community Thrive” by BCNC Youth Center, 38 Ash Street

-       “A Communal Blend” by Jennifer Duan at APM Coffee, 99 Kneeland Street

-       “Unity” by Jinyi Duan at Crave Chinatown, 75 Kneeland Street

-       “Welcoming Dishes” by Yuan-yuan Wang at WakuWaku, 2 Tyler Street

-       “We Protect Each Other” by Yixuan Zeng at Q Restaurant, 660 Washington Street

-       “Let’s Eat” by Jialu Zou at Happy Lamb Hotpot Boston, 693 Washington Street 

This year’s celebration of Experience Chinatown Arts Festival will be held at Auntie Kay and Uncle Frank Chin Park on the Greenway on Saturday, September 30 between 11 am to 3:30 pm. Visitors are invited to celebrate the rich cultural fabric of Boston Chinatown through a variety of creative activities:

-       Guided tours of Experience Chinatown murals at 11:15 am or 1:00 pm

-       Live performances by local musicians including soft-punk solo project TIFFY, singer-songwriter Maddie Lam, and Canto-pop cover band JukSing

-       Contemporary Dance performance by the Continuum Dance Project as part of the Momentum Greenway Dance Program

-       Traditional Chinese lion dance by Nuwa Athletic Club 

All events are family-friendly, free to the public and open to all. For more information, please visit www.paoartscenter.org/events/experiencechinatown2023 

This years' Experience Chinatown Arts Festival is particularly unique in that the festival is part of  Chinatown HOPE, a collaboration between eight Chinatown organizations and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, to activate open space in the neighborhood through free gardening brigades and wellness programs featuring creative activities. 

Pao Arts Center Director, Cynthia Woo, shares, “Activating outdoor and green spaces in Chinatown has been a longstanding wish from the neighborhood and the wider Chinatown community. Now, as the climate crisis and gentrification both accelerate in the neighborhood, it is even more important to ensure Chinatown has agency to activate its green and open spaces to serve community members’ wellbeing and recreational needs. We are so excited to bring our wellbeing and community-grounded perspective in the arts to this multi-organizational initiative.” 

This event is made possible by our supporters and partners, including: Capital One, Chinatown HOPE, City of Boston, Comcast NBCUniversal, Emerson College, Hult International Business School, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Northeastern University Office of City & Community Engagement, Orange Barrel Media, Point32 Health, Reimer and Braunstein LLP, Rockland Trust, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Sasaki Foundation, Sensata, South Cove Community Health Center, State Street Corporation, Suffolk University Center for Community Engagement, TD Charitable Foundation, The Kensington, , The Tower at One Greenway, TJX Companies, Tufts University, and Tufts Medical Center.