波士頓賠償工作小組徵奴隸歷史研究夥伴

MAYOR WU AND CITY OF BOSTON REPARATIONS TASK FORCE SEEK PARTNERS FOR RESEARCH ON HISTORY AND LEGACY OF SLAVERY IN BOSTON

BOSTON - Monday, September 25, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston Reparations Task Force today announced the release of a request for proposals (RFP) seeking researchers to study the history and legacy of slavery in Boston. Through the RFP, the City will select partners to produce a report on the City’s role in and historical ties to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the history and legacy of slavery, including original historical research and a comprehensive review of the secondary literature. The RFP and more information on how to apply can be found here. “To help our communities heal from the legacies of slavery and the systems of exclusion and injustice that persist today, it is essential that the City fully document the City of Boston’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I urge researchers to apply to this RFP and join Boston in our commitment to deliver justice for Black residents and bring equitable solutions to our City.” “The Reparations Task Force is pleased to be able to address its responsibility by issuing the Request for Proposals,” said Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., Chair of the Reparations Task Force. “I have full confidence that the RFP enables us to choose the best research partners who will clearly and honestly document our City’s history. I thank the Reparations Task Force members who were involved in the process of building the RFP, City officials, and the community for assisting us in this effort and look forward to the work ahead.”  “There’s an opportunity with this Request for Proposals not only to identify historically what has been collected and documented in the archive, in plain view, about our history, and prior attempts to erase it,” said L’Merchie Frazier, a member of the Reparations Task Force, “but also to excavate a continuum of identity and a continuum of property relations–one that continues to be complex in nature as we grapple with four centuries of suffering and resistance. This RFP will help us bring in the thinking of people who will rigorously present that historical fact, with the lens of restoration.” The City seeks to award six contracts through this RFP. One contract will be awarded for each of the six (6) “units of study” covered by the report, as follows: Boston and Bostonians' economic growth and involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trans-Atlantic slave economies during (1) 1620-1690, (2) 1690-1750, and (3) 1750-1800; Boston and Bostonians’ economic growth and involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trans-Atlantic slave economies and their legacies during (4) 1800-1860; and the economic, social, and political legacies of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and trans-Atlantic slave economies during (5) 1860-1940 and (6) 1940-Present. Candidates may apply to as many units of study as desired, but must submit separate proposals for each unit of study they intend to cover. The City hopes to not only thoroughly review and document historical findings on the City’s role in the history and legacy of slavery, but also to tell this story in a way that has never been told before. Research partners will be expected to produce both an original historical narrative and a comprehensive literature review of major themes and events for each unit of study for which they are awarded a contract. Partners will weave together work across units of study to create a thorough accounting of the City of Boston’s role in the history and legacy of slavery spanning from 1620 to the present.  The City also recognizes the importance of partnering with the community to properly build a shared understanding of the City’s history. In addition to their writing and research work, selected research partners will be expected to present an update about their findings prior to the publication of the report during a meeting of the Reparations Task Force, with the opportunity for community members to engage with that ongoing work.  Candidates will be evaluated based on the quality of their research proposal; the capacity of their plan to complete their research and understanding of the topic area of historical inquiry and relevant source material; their research background, expertise, and experience relevant to the specific time period they have applied to cover, the major themes over the course of the whole history being accounted for, and the specific connections between the history and the legacy of slavery as it relates to their chosen time period(s); past projects relevant to the objectives of the RFP and Task Force; their experience with community-engaged historical methods; their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the composition of their team; and the quality of the candidate’s interview/presentation.  “The impacts of colonization and the dehumanization of people are still experienced by our Black residents in every industry throughout the world,” said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “In Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Wu, we are taking a step towards a more just world by confronting our history. We encourage leaders in other industries to do the same.” “Together, the Task Force and Mayor Wu have taken another deliberate step forward in both acknowledging and addressing Boston's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “As the City played a leading role in advancing the trading of human beings from the African continent and the oppression of their offspring, the launch of this significant request for proposals is an effort to become a model for cities across the nation on how to appropriately move the conversation on reparations forward.” “Today’s announcement is a significant milestone that speaks to the recognition of hate, of harms, of trauma, of oppression, and of economic injustices rooted in slavery,” said Lori Nelson, Senior Advisor for Racial Justice. “It reflects this administrations’ commitment to fully acknowledge these harms and to take bold action that demonstrates truth and reconciliation.  The Task Force and Black residents have begun to write a new chapter in Boston’s history pages.” The City of Boston established the Reparations Task Force in accordance with a 2022 City Ordinance to study the impact of slavery in Boston. Members of the task force were announced in February 2023.  The Task Force’s process in developing recommendations to the Mayor will take place in three phases: 1) Research and document the City’s role in and historical ties to the Transatlantic slave trade and legacies of chattel slavery through the publication of a report 2) Assess the impact of the City’s actions to date to address the legacy of slavery 3) Make final recommendations for the City for Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations addressing the City’s involvement with the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The research partner or partners for the RFP will support the Task Force during Phase 1 through their comprehensive historical report.  An optional bidder’s conference, a public meeting designed such that anyone interested can ask questions about the RFP, will take place on October 12th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.. To join, please use this link: https://bit.ly/3EL9adB (Passcode: 560740). The deadline to submit questions regarding the RFP is October 20, 2023. The deadline to submit proposals for the request is November 6, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Please email reaprations@boston.gov with any questions or communications concerning the RFP. Proposers will need to register with the City as a “vendor” or “supplier” in order to submit an application electronically and, if selected, be paid by the City. Please visit boston.gov/departments/procurement/how-use-supplier-portal for step-by-step instructions to register as a new vendor and more. Additional information, requirements, terms and conditions, and all other related information is set forth in the RFP documents on the City's Reparations Task Force homepage.

大波士頓商會發聲明 揚言持續推動薪酬公平

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 大波士頓商會今 (25)日發表聲明，稱該會為能與麻州政府在薪酬公平上持續合作，推動有意義的改革，加強眾議會法案1849號和參議會法案1191號而感到自豪。

              大波士頓商會會長兼執行長James E. Rooney表示，這法案已通過了委員會流程，該會將繼續和議員們對話，以確保這法案對雇主來說是可行的，實在的，旨在更公平、包容的對待所有人。

Chamber Statement Regarding Pay Transparency Legislation

"We are proud of our ongoing partnership with the Legislature on advancing pay equity in Massachusetts.  The Chamber thanks the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development for working in collaboration with the Chamber on meaningful changes to strengthen H.1849 and S.1191.  As this bill moves through the committee process, we will continue our dialogue with legislators to ensure this legislation is workable and practical for employers with the goal of a more equitable and inclusive business environment for all," said James E. Rooney, President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Data Reveals Time Savings from Quick-Build Huntington Avenue Bus Lan

 Data Reveals Time Savings from Quick-Build Huntington Avenue Bus Lanes

MBTA and The City of Boston Announce Upcoming Striping Work to Complete Permanent Huntington Avenue Bus-Bike Lanes to Improve Transit for Thousands of Bus Riders

 

Quick-build bus-bike lanes along Huntington Avenue deployed to support the month-long Orange Line shutdown last fall have resulted in time-savings for bus riders on Routes 39 and CT2; MBTA and City of Boston to complete work on shared bus-bike lanes on Huntington Avenue this fall.

 

Photo caption: Crew member installs roadway markings for initial phase of Huntington Avenue shared bus-bike lane near the intersection of Vancouver Street in October 2022. Crews will be completing the bus-bike lane striping this fall. Photo credit: MBTA

 

BOSTON – The MBTA and City of Boston today announced upcoming roadway striping to complete the Huntington Avenue shared bus-bike lanes between Brigham Circle and Gainsborough Street in Boston. An initial phase of striping work, which was expedited last year to help mitigate regional mobility impacts from the MBTA’s month-long Orange Line closure last year, has already yielded considerable time-savings for bus transit riders.

 

In a preliminary evaluation of the shared bus-bikes lanes along Huntington Avenue between Brigham Circle and Gainsborough Street, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the MBTA found that Bus Route 39 and CT2 riders are saving up to two minutes per trip during evening and morning rush hours compared to the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an MBTA analysis. This adds up to a total time-savings of 125 hours for bus riders every work week along the approximately mile-long corridor, providing better mobility for nearly 5,000 daily trips. The City of Boston and MBTA expect that the completion of the shared bus-bike lane markings this year should make the lanes more clear to road-users and improve overall compliance.

 

“This project shows how the MBTA can efficiently and effectively implement meaningful measures that improve bus service and reliability for thousands of transit riders in partnership with municipalities,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “I want to thank the T’s Bus Transformation staff for their dedicated efforts on this project, and BTD and the City for continuing to collaborate with us on bus lanes and improvements, which benefit so many.”

 

In addition to the time savings for bus riders, the evaluation showed that the quick-build lanes have coincided with improved traffic safety conditions. Project implementation has coincided with slightly lower speeds along the corridor, providing safer conditions for all road users. While bus riders are experiencing time savings of up to two minutes per trip since the first wave of implementation last year, BTD’s analysis found that the average one-way automobile travel times on the corridor have increased by less than 45 seconds.

 

“This project demonstrates the benefits of rebalancing our street space to prioritize transit,” said Boston Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge. “Dedicated bus lanes save bus riders time and are one of the most effective ways that the City can improve transit and make it a more convenient and reliable option for our residents.”

 

The MBTA and City of Boston will be completing the roadway markings for the new lanes during this fall’s construction season by finishing painting the existing bus-bike lanes with additional red paint. Work is expected to start imminently and is expected to last several weeks, weather depending. Additionally, the City of Boston will be finalizing bus lane markings for several streets around Copley Square, which Mayor Michelle Wu announced after the end of the Orange Line shutdown last fall.

 

Building on the successes of the Huntington Avenue bus-bike lanes, BTD, in partnership with the MBTA, is leading a process to look at the entirety of the Route 39 bus from Forest Hills Station to Back Bay Station. The Route 39 Transit Priority Corridor Project will further identify other opportunities to improve transit reliability and pedestrian safety along the route with a first phase of implementation slated for sometime in 2024. Community engagement will begin over the next few months and will be key to informing the study’s findings and recommendations.

 

The building of infrastructure to support public transportation and bicyclists builds off of Mayor Wu’s commitment to reimagining City streets and making all forms of transportation safer and more convenient. Late last year, Mayor Wu announced a 9.4-mile expansion of bike lanes providing key connections within the City’s existing bike network and the launch of a Citywide design process to bring safer streets to every neighborhood.

 

The MBTA Transit Priority Group is part of the Better Bus Project which aims to transform bus service throughout the MBTA system and is responsible for designing and implementing bus priority infrastructure. The group works closely with the City of Boston, other municipal partners, and fellow state agencies. To date, the group has delivered over 40 miles of bus lanes and activated transit signal priority at 85 locations in 12 municipalities.

 

The BTD Transit Team works within the Policy and Planning group in the Streets Cabinet to improve transit service wherever it hits City streets. Their work spans from quick-build, targeted interventions to full-scale corridor redesigns to ensure that all Bostonians, regardless of how they travel, are able to get around safely, efficiently, and equitably.

 

For more information, please visit mbta.com/BetterBus, or connect with the T on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTA and @MBTA_CR, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta.

Mary Skelton Roberts將代表波士頓出任麻州地鐵董事

Mary Skelton Roberts。 (圖片來自推特)

         (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州政府終於讓波士頓市擁有麻州地鐵 (MBTA)董事會的一個席位之後，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 今 (25) 日要宣佈，由Mary Skelton Roberts出任此職。

                  麻州地鐵服務範圍最大的麻州市鎮是波士頓市，包括地鐵、輕軌、通勤火車、公共巴士、渡輪，還有輔助客運系統等服務。麻州地鐵的營運效率不佳，對波士頓市民的有著巨大的影響，但是監管麻州地鐵的董事會，波士頓市以前卻從來都沒有過一個席位。

               現在，橘線地鐵和39號巴士的常客Mary Skelton Roberts，將出任這新設席位。

                Mary Skelton Roberts目前是即將成立的氣候火矩會議 (Climate Beacon Conference) 董事長，致力於確保麻州有公平能源過度的非牟利機構氣候火矩計畫的資深顧問。

                之前，她是能源基金資深副董事，在那兒負責監管旨在縮減碳排放的補助款。她也擔任過Barr基金會氣候項目的共同主任，負責管理交通、氣候韌性，以及土地使用計畫及項目的補助款，包括波士頓市的「波士頓向2030出發」交通計畫流程。

                Mary Skelton Roberts表示她對自己的麻州地鐵董事新角色，感到非常激動。她說，現在真正是要大力支持公共交通的時候。

           她說，「麻州地鐵應該得到我們給予更多時間與關注，而而我們將做到。如果我們做得好，我們就會有更強勁的經濟，會有公平，因為人們能夠獲益，像是整個麻州、整個波士頓市都會有工作機會」。「一樣重要的是，我們必須要處理氣候變遷，而沒有一個能夠發揮功效的交通系統，你不會能夠做到」。

           波士頓市在今夏請居民提交誰該出任此一董事席位的建議。吳弭市長說，有100多人提供了回饋意見，包括延長橘線地鐵，標準化通勤火車票價，以及改善告示標誌等。

           吳弭市長表示，這只是顯示了公共交通對波士頓市有多重要，每天在搭乘的那許多人知道什麼會真正的使地鐵更好。吳弭說，「我們很急切地想要確保我們不只能在促進公共交通系統將如何擴展的大遠景上，以及把交通系統改善到其應有的模樣上有幫助，還要每天的也關注立即有影響的事」。

           麻州前州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)在2015年成立財政控制委員會來監管麻州地鐵時，並未包括給波士頓一個席位。麻州議會在2021年組成的這現有董事會，也沒給波士頓一個席位。

           多年來，吳弭一直在推動麻州地鐵董事會應有波士頓市一個席位。2019年她還是波士頓市議員時，在波士頓環球報上發表過一篇一件文章，呼籲波士頓市及其他市鎮得到席位。

           根據麻州地鐵的營運預算，在今年六月截止的會計年度中，麻州地鐵從地方市鎮收得1億8400萬元的車費。麻州地鐵顧問委員會提供的數據為，在麻州地鐵服務的176個市鎮之中，波士頓佔比最大，約9400萬元。

            在今年7月開始的新會計年度中，麻州預算有2個新的麻州地鐵董事會席位，把整個董事會席位增至9席。 Mary Skelton Roberts的董事席位是其中之一，另一個還空著的席位，將由麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)指派一名在麻州地鐵服務範圍內，有市鎮政府經驗，以及交通營運，計畫，房屋政策，市區計畫或公共及私人財務經驗的人來出任。

          4月份時，奚莉州長中止了包括主席Betsy Taylor等，前州長查理貝克指派的3名董事職務，以奚莉政府指派的3人取代，包括麻州港務局前局長暨曾任麻州地鐵總經理的Tom Glynn，曾任麻州參議員及Lynn市市長的 Tom McGee，以及商業銀行家Eric Goodwine。

           由查理貝克指派，繼續留任董事的有Onyx集團土地發展商Chanda Smart，國際金屬板材、航空、鐵路和運輸工人協會東北區域分會會長Robert Butler，以及昆士市市長柯奇 (Tom Koch)。

             Mary Skelton Roberts將於週四出席她的第一次麻州地鐵董事會，也將Gina Fiandaca本月初離任後，成為麻州交通廳代理廳長的Monica Tibbits-Nutt ，第一次出席麻州地鐵董事會。

2000麻州民主黨代表羅爾開年會 麻州長Healey籲支持拜登總統

Massachusetts Democrats Outline Bold Agenda for Year Ahead at Annual Convention

Governor Healey Calls on Democrats to Rally Behind President Biden, Senator Warren in Upcoming Elections to Protect Democracy     LOWELL, MA - Democrats from across Massachusetts gathered in Lowell Saturday for the state Party’s annual convention, coalescing around a bold agenda to ensure the strength of the Democratic party in Massachusetts and nationally in the year ahead.    Governor Maura Healey was among the elected Democrats who rallied the approximately 2,000 delegates who traveled from cities and towns across the state to the convention at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.    “You know I believe in teams. If we want to continue our progress, we need our best teammates with us,” said Governor Healey. “That starts with re-electing our fabulous Senator, Elizabeth Warren. It means supporting our mayors and state Senators and representatives, and our local officials who are on the front lines of these issues. And it means doing everything we need to do to re-elect President Biden.”   Senator Warren, who is running for re-election in 2024, enthusiastically reminded Democrats what is on the line in the next year.    “We are in a flight, a fight for our democracy,” said Senator Warren. “In 2024 democracy will be on the ballot and Democrats will be there to defend it. Our democracy is worth fighting for. Democracy is what we do together.”    Senator Ed Markey also drove home the need for Democrats to unite in common purpose.    “When we come together and we fight, we win,” said Senator Markey. “We are going to keep fighting, protecting our planet, protecting our people, protecting our democracy from the attacks by MAGA right-wing Republicans.”   Delegates, the majority of whom are elected by their city or town ward committees, passed four amendments to the Party’s charter during the convention proceedings, including an amendment to designate military veterans as an add-on delegate category for future state conventions. Add-on delegates help the Party ensure its convention includes a wide variety of historically underrepresented communities.    “This is the Democratic Party. This is Massachusetts,” said Party Chair Steve Kerrigan, as he kicked off the Convention. “When those we care about are threatened or confronted by injustice and unfairness, we band together, full speed ahead and we fight. And, my fellow Democrats, there are big fights ahead. This is no time to celebrate past successes.”   During the convention delegates contacted more than 17,000 Democratic voters via text message in support of Rep. Jon Zlotnik who is running for an open state Senate seat in a special election. They also texted more than 10,000 voters encouraging them to volunteer in support of Democratic candidates across the country.    A number of elected Democrats spoke at the Convention calling on their fellow Democrats to collectively push democratic ideals here in Massachusetts and across the country.   “As we head into this critical 2024 election season, we know our country only gets stronger if we lead with Massachusetts values,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “With Senator Warren, Senator Markey, our entire Congressional delegation, President Biden, Vice President Harris. Now is our time, Democrats. To show that, in Massachusetts, we don’t follow, we lead. It’s time to get stuff done.”   Before the annual convention officially began Saturday morning, delegates and guests took part in training sessions on how to support Democratic campaigns in swing states and tight races from Congress to the White House, create a town and ward committee, and best practices for digital fundraising.    “We have a long history of showing the rest of the country what is possible,” said Attorney General Andrea Campbell. “Think about all we can accomplish in the next few years, if we, Massachusetts Democrats, make focused investments of time and money and organize in every city and town across the Commonwealth, and work not to just protect incumbency but to also create a pipeline of diverse elected leadership.”   Other speakers throughout the day included Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin, Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Auditor Diana DiZoglio, Congresswoman Lori Trahan, Senate President Karen Spilka, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau, State Senator Ed Kennedy, State Senator Cindy Friedman, and Steven Tolman, President Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

BLO 蝴蝶夫人舊劇新作 觀眾起立鼓掌 24日下午亞裔場

演員謝幕。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓抒情歌劇院 (Boston Lyric Opera) 製作，由陳肇中 (Phil Chan) 導演，何佳陵（Karen Chia-ling Ho）領銜，在古色古香的愛默生Colonial劇院演出的改編版「蝴蝶夫人 (Madama Butterfly) 歌劇，22晚贏得全場觀眾的起立，熱烈鼓掌。

何佳陵(中)和演員們一起謝幕。 (周菊子攝)

              這齣歌劇的故事源頭，有將近150年的歷史，波士頓抒情歌劇院刻意邀集許多亞裔表演，製作人員，耗時一年多精心打磨後推出，從9月14日迄今，幾場演出，全都非常成功，有1700個座位，從1900年營運迄今的這戲院，22日晚幾乎座無虛席。

有逾百年歷史的愛默生Colonial劇院古色古香。 (周菊子攝)

              「蝴蝶夫人 (Madama Butterfly)」這故事，原本是John Luther Long 以他自己於1898年撰寫的短篇小說「蝴蝶夫人」為藍本，再揉合他從姊姊 Jennie Correll那兒聽來，1887年由Pierre Loti所撰寫的法國半自傳小說「橘子夫人 (Madame Chrysanthème)」而成就的新篇章，後來再經由David Belasco做戲劇化處理，成為「蝴蝶屋人:一個日本悲劇」的一幕劇，1900年在紐約首演時，然後搬演到倫敦。

普契尼 (Giacomo Puccini)是在倫敦看到「蝴蝶夫人」這齣戲的。當該劇於1904年2月在米蘭首演，但彩排得不充分，票房慘澹後，經由普契尼改編，1904年5月28日在義大利Brescia演出，卻大獲成功，並開啟了「蝴蝶夫人」熱潮，後人至少推出5種版本，包括「西貢小姐」也是其中一個變異版。

愛默生Colonial劇院一景。 (周菊子攝)

              波士頓歌劇院 (BLO) 製作的這最新版本「蝴蝶夫人」，故事大綱基本不變，但時空卻拉近到1940年代的舊金山唐人街，把第2次世界大戰，日本偷襲珍珠港，美國在亞利桑納 (Arizona) 設立日本集中營的時代背景融入劇中，彰顯在美國出生的日裔美國人「蝴蝶夫人」，遭遇2重背叛，一是身為美國人，卻不被美國人當作美國人，一是純情等待Pinkerton回歸，卻等來郎君另娶的消息。在原版故事中，蝴蝶夫人刎頸自縊而亡，這新版本卻是蝴蝶夫人堅強的活了下來，並藉由整齣戲以舞台上有一名老太太比試衣服，做蛋糕，來展現今人憶往，帶出這齣戲與台下觀眾屬於同一時代的味道。

愛默生Colonial劇院一景。 (周菊子攝)

              這齣戲特地把創辦了「告別扮黃臉 (Final Bow for Yellowface)」非營利組織，改變了亞裔在世界芭蕾舞台機會的芭蕾舞者陳肇中，找來擔任舞台導演，也把亞裔近年又面歧視氛圍高漲這議題和歷史情境連結了起來。

愛默生Colonial劇院一景。 (周菊子攝)

              這齣歌劇的領銜主演者何佳陵（Karen Chia-ling Ho），畢業於國立台北藝術大學 (TNUA)，東海大學的聲樂表演系，獲有伊士曼 (Eastman)音樂學院音樂碩士學位，以及辛辛那提音樂學院的藝術家文憑，今年她以Cio Cio San，首次登上費城歌劇舞台後，回到紐約大都會劇院演出Mimi，Le boheme，再到舊金山演出Cio Cio San。她曾獲得Mildred Miller國際聲樂賽首獎，也曾和上海交響樂團合作演出，和美國作曲家交響樂團合作演唱過中國作交響樂團原創中心作曲家李劭晟的曲目。

                           其他的許多亞裔演員，工作人員包括飾演Suzuki的Alice Chung，歷史劇作家兼影人Arthur Dong，得過獎的燈光設計師Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew等等。

              24日下午3點，將是這次演出在愛默生Colonial劇院 (106 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116)的最後一場。由於全劇亞裔演員之多，在波士頓例來罕見，劇團特地向亞裔社團推出折扣票價，訂票時輸入AAPI50，就可解鎖50元的折扣票價。這齣歌劇的一般票價為40元到200多元。訂票可上網https://blo.org/butterfly/。

拜登總統在亞美服務機構週中頒發歷來第一份表揚公告

(Boston Orange 摘譯) 今天，拜登總統就全國亞裔美國人和美洲原住民太平洋島民服務機構(AANAPISI) 週，發布了有史以來第一個公告，以表彰AANAPISI 計劃在賦能許多世代未得到充分服務的學生上，發揮重要作用。 A Proclamation on National Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week, 2023

Today, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever proclamation on National Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week to honor the AANAPISI program’s essential role in empowering generations of underserved students.

THE WHITE HOUSE September 22, 2023   During National Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) Week, we celebrate all the possibilities that these institutions unlock for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) students, particularly those from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds. Every generation of Americans has benefited by opening the doors of opportunity to include those who have been left behind. By putting higher education within reach of AA and NHPI students, our Nation’s nearly 200 AANAPISIs embody my belief that diversity is our strength as a Nation. For so many, higher education is a ticket to a better life. But while talent, creativity, and determination are found in people all across this country, not everyone has an equal shot at higher education. AA and NHPI communities encompass more than 50 ethnicities with a variety of identities, cultures, histories, and backgrounds — many come from lower-income backgrounds, or are the first in their family to graduate college, indigenous, or recent immigrants, or have faced a legacy of discrimination in our Nation. That is why the work of our AANAPISIs is so critical for broadening the opportunity of higher education to more Americans and realizing the full potential of AA and NHPI communities.   AANAPISIs enroll nearly half of all AA and NHPI undergraduates, and they confer almost 50 percent of associate degrees and nearly 30 percent of baccalaureate degrees of all AA and NHPI students. These vital institutions empower students to earn degrees and reach their full potential while providing culturally responsive services and culturally sustaining programs that include tutoring, advising, career development and counseling, and more. With the Supreme Court’s recent decision to effectively end affirmative action in college admissions, the work to make higher education accessible to all is as essential as ever. We need to keep open the doors of opportunities and ensure that the promise of America is big enough for everyone to succeed. My Administration is committed to strengthening these critical institutions and supporting our Nation’s AA and NHPI communities. Through the American Rescue Plan, we have invested $5 billion in AANAPISIs. Further, I re-established the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and I released a National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for AA and NHPI Communities — addressing everything from combating anti-Asian hate to making Government services more accessible. We are also fighting to make higher education more affordable for students across the country. My Administration has increased Pell Grants for low-income families by the largest amount in over a decade and fixed the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program so borrowers who become teachers, police officers, social workers, service members, and other public servants get the debt relief they are entitled to under the law. When the Supreme Court wrongly struck down our most ambitious student debt relief plan ever, we moved immediately to open an alternative path to debt relief that could further reduce costs for many AA and NHPI borrowers. My Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan will cut payments on undergraduate loans in half, bring many low-income borrowers’ loan payments to $0 per month, and provide early forgiveness for borrowers with low balances.    This generation of students is the most gifted, talented, and tolerant in American history — and it is up to all of us to give them the resources and opportunity they need to reach their full potential. During Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week, may we recommit to supporting these institutions as they raise the next generation of AA and NHPI dreamers and doers. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 25 through October 1, 2023, as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week. I call on public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that acknowledge the many ways these institutions and their graduates contribute to our country. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.   JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

拉脫維亞總統Edgars Rinkēvičs到訪 麻州府第二度鋪出紅地毯

拉脫維亞總統Edgars Rinkēvičs到訪。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 上任不到一年，麻州政府大樓前門鋪出2次紅地毯，繼今年4月的南韓總統尹錫悅之後，今 (22) 日又再接待一名總統，來自拉脫維亞的Edgars Rinkēvičs。

                     麻州州政府大樓的前門，一般只在3種情況下會打開大門，一是州長卸任和同僚揮別時，一是當麻州州旗被永久收藏時，還有就是當美國總統或是外國總統到訪時。

                     拉脫維亞總統Edgars Rinkēvičs最近到紐約參加聯合國會議，今早應邀到麻州華森市(Waltham)出席由美國拉脫維亞商會舉辦的「聚焦拉脫維亞2023」。這一活動主要目的是幫助美國人了解到拉脫維亞做生意的好處。

                  Edgars Rinkēvičs是歐盟國家的第一個公開的同性戀總統，和身為美國第一個公開同性戀州長的奚莉 (Maura Healey) 或心有戚戚焉。

                    拉脫維亞是北歐波羅地海地區，在蘇俄東邊的一個國家，在俄烏戰爭中，他一直很支持烏克蘭。

                 在全世界各國中，目前約有7個國家領袖是公開的同性戀者。1973年9月21日出生，昨天才過50歲生日，今年7月8日才上任總統一職的Edgars Rinkēvičs是其中最新的一個。

                 Edgars Rinkēvičs從2011年起出任拉脫維亞的外交部部長，2014年11月出櫃，公開他的同性戀身分。

              其他幾名公開同性戀身份的國家首長有冰島總理Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (2009-2013)，比利時總理Elio Di Rupo (2011-2014)，盧森堡總理Xavier Bettel   (2013迄今)，賽爾比亞總理 Ana Brnabić (2017迄今)，愛爾蘭總理 Leo Varadkar (2017-2020，2022迄今)，聖馬力諾執政長 Paolo Rondelli (2022年4月至10月)