波士頓市和200機構合作 為青少年提供暑期工

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES APPLICATIONS FOR futureBOS - THE BOSTON’S YOUTH SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM - NOW OPEN The City announced futureBOS, a new streamlined hub for youth to access and navigate all jobs available, and new partnerships with banking institutions to ensure young people can access their earnings

 

photo by Chutze Chou BOSTON – Thursday, March 21, 2024 – Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity (YEO) today launched futureBOS, the 2024 Summer Youth Employment Program, including all Successlink job opportunities, for Boston youth and young adults ages 14 - 24. Young people interested can find summer job opportunities through futureBOS Anna Yu and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. (photo by Chutze Chou) , the newly redesigned webpage hub for all youth employment opportunities throughout the City. futureBos will guide young people to better navigate the application, onboarding, and hiring processes, ensuring that these employment opportunities  are centralized. To complement SuccessLink, futureBOS site will serve as a hub for all youth employment opportunities throughout the City, making resources easier to locate for young people and their families. Jobs young people can find on futureBOS including with nonprofits, local government, businesses and the healthcare industry.  “The future of Boston rests on connecting our young people to opportunities today so they can grow and lead our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We’re taking our nation-leading youth summer jobs program to the next level with more employers, more opportunities, and a guarantee for every BPS student to access a paid summer job.”  “As an organization, supporting the Youth of Boston through employment opportunities has always been our top priority. Through futureBOS, we plan to make employment even more accessible, helping Boston youth access available work opportunities & resources and kickstart their professional and personal development,” said Allison Vernerey, Executive Director of the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity. “Investing in youth jobs will always be a worthwhile endeavor. We are excited to continue our collaboration with employment partners, and the Mayor to bring even more opportunities to Boston’s youth community.”  Led by the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity, futureBOS (which includes opportunities from the SuccessLink program) is designed to not only recruit and hire youth, but also ensure that the employment experience is engaging and meaningful, and advances young people’s professional and personal development. According to research from Northeastern University, the program positively impacts a range of economic, academic, and criminal justice outcomes for youth. Recognizing the importance of this work, the City invested $18.7 million in youth summer jobs last year to expand and improve the program. As a result, nearly 10,000 young people were successfully employed in summer 2023. Building on this milestone, Mayor Wu is increasing Boston’s commitment to young people through the Mayor’s Youth Job Guarantee (MYJG), a pledge that any eligible BPS student who wants a summer job can get one.   “I am so proud to join Mayor Wu as the City of Boston launches futureBOS,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “We know that our young people who work a summer job or internship build their professional skills, have fun, meet other young people and new mentors, and are paid for their work. Last summer, more than 9,000 young people found jobs and internships through the City of Boston’s summer youth job program and I am excited that our young people will have access to this innovative new opportunity.”   Recognizing the importance of coordination and alignment across Boston’s youth employment providers, YEO partners with over 200 City agencies, non-profits, higher education institutions, and lead entities – Action for Boston Community Development, the Boston Private Industry Council, Artists For Humanity, and the John Hancock MLK Scholars – to offer high-quality employment opportunities to youth. To ensure that disadvantaged youth have equitable access to jobs, the City is supporting organizations that prioritize proven at-risk youth populations in partnership with the State's Commonwealth Corporation YouthWorks. YEO will also partner with the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) to provide immigrant youth with hands-on leadership and skills training, regardless of immigration status.   To increase private sector employment among young people, the City has created the futureBOS pledge, an invitation to companies and small businesses to commit to employing youth from Boston. Businesses interested in hosting internships for BPS youth will receive direct support from the Boston Private Industry Council, the City’s Workforce Development Board after completing the pledge. Deepening these partnerships brings the City closer to creating a more holistic and inclusive workforce development ecosystem for Boston’s youth.  "At Artists For Humanity, we couldn't be more proud to continue to be a part of summer youth employment in partnership with the City of Boston and the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity," said Anna Yu, Executive Director of Artist For Humanity. “For generations we have seen summer employment transform teen lives by inspiring creative avenues for post-secondary learning and career pathways. We are excited to play a part in fulfilling Mayor Wu's promise to give every teen a safe and productive place to work, learn and grow."  "Youth employment and work-based learning help students succeed both academically and developmentally. The summer months offer students an opportunity to learn what it takes to earn a paycheck and to imagine themselves in various careers,” said Neil Sullivan, Executive Director of the Boston Private Industry Council. “FutureBOS is making an extraordinary range of community-based opportunities available to Boston youth.  Simultaneously, Boston’s private sector and institutional employers are stepping up to provide career-oriented internships. These employers benefit by meeting the workforce of the future, while diversifying their workplaces in real time."  “We are pleased to once again partner with Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston for our Summer Youth Jobs program,” said ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler. “ABCD SummerWorks and the City’s mutual commitment to the employment, development, and empowerment for young people throughout Boston is undeniable and longstanding. We hope to reach as many youth as possible this summer – continuing some on their path to long term employment, success, and starting others on their journey.”  Beyond employment opportunities, YEO provides youth with career development, skills building, and financial education training. This year, three local banks – Citizens Bank, M&T Bank, and Metro Credit Union – have stepped up to provide special non-custodial, no-fee options that will make it easier for our youth to open safe, non-predatory bank accounts, facilitating access to their summer earnings and instilling good financial habits that will last a lifetime.  “At Metro, we are committed to giving people in our communities the knowledge and skills needed to feel confident with their money,” said Charlene Bauer, Senior Vice President at Metro Credit Union. “We are excited to be one of several partners working with YEO in providing a solid foundation of financial wellbeing for these students as they journey into adulthood.”  Youth are strongly encouraged to attend the Youth Job and Resource Fair at the Reggie Lewis Center on Saturday, March 23rd, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. to connect with over 100 summer employers, access career development resources, receive job application assistance, open bank accounts, and win prizes. Refreshments will be provided. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend.  Job applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Youth are encouraged to get their applications in early. There is a step-by-step guide available online to help youth navigate the application process. Youth can also visit the office in person, Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1483 Tremont Street in Roxbury, or call 617-635-4202 for additional assistance. For more information, visit boston.gov/futureBOS.  There will also be several job resource fair opportunities:  City Of Boston 2024 Youth Jobs And Resource Fair Saturday, March 23, 11-3pm Location: Reggie Lewis Track And Athletic Complex, 1350 Tremont Street, Roxbury Please register here  futureBOS Dorchester Neighborhood Pop-Up Fair Thursday, May 9, 4-7pm Location: BCYF Marshall Community Center, 35 Westville Street, Dorchester  futureBOS Chinatown Neighborhood Pop-Up Fair Saturday, May 11, 11-2pm Location: BCYF Quincy Community Center, 885 Washington Street, Chinatown  futureBOS Dorchester Neighborhood Pop-Up Fair Thursday, May 16, 4-7pm Location: BCYF Perkins Community Center, 155 Talbot Ave, Dorchester  futureBOS Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Pop-Up Fair Saturday, May 18, 11-2pm Location: BCYF Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain  futureBOS Allston Neighborhood Pop-Up Fair Tuesday, Mar 21, 4-7 pm Location: BCYF Jackson Mann Community Center, 500 Cambridge Street, Allston

麻州州長Healey提名3人出任波士頓地方法院副法官

Governor Healey Makes Three Nominations to Boston Municipal Court  

BOSTON – Governor Maura T. Healey nominated Rebeca G. Figueroa, Vanessa Vélez, and Steven S. Kim as Associate Justices to the Boston Municipal Court. The nominees will now be considered by the Governor’s Council for confirmation.  

“I am proud to nominate these three attorneys to the Boston Municipal Court. Throughout the course of their careers, they’ve shown a clear and dedicated commitment to justice,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The nominees each have significant experience practicing law and would make for strong additions to the Court. We look forward to hearing from the Governor’s Council and thank them for their consideration.” 

“These three attorneys each have significant career experiences that will make them strong additions to the Boston Municipal Court,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re proud to nominate them to the Court and we’re grateful to the Governor’s Council for their consideration.”  

The Boston Municipal Court Department serves the City of Boston, handling both criminal and civil matters while maintaining a commitment to the rule of law, and protecting human dignity through respect, compassion, correction, and the fair resolution of cases. 

The Boston Municipal Court Department has 30 judges in 8 court divisions located in Brighton, Central (downtown), Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston, and West Roxbury. The Boston Municipal Court also has jurisdiction to review appeals of decisions made by some government agencies on issues such as unemployment compensation and firearms licensing. 

homepage.    

About Rebeca G. Figueroa 

Rebeca G. Figueroa currently serves as a Designated Magistrate and Assistant Clerk-Magistrate in the Suffolk Superior Court Criminal Division. She began her career in 2003 as a Staff Attorney for the Committee for Public Counsel Services in the Roxbury Defenders Unit, representing indigent criminal defendants charged with felony offenses at the Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court and Suffolk Superior Court. Later, Attorney Figueroa entered private practice as a solo practitioner focused on criminal defense, family law, and real estate.  In 2017, she was appointed Assistant Clerk-Magistrate for Criminal Business at Suffolk Superior Court, and shortly thereafter, she was designated as a magistrate. In her current role, she conducts arraignments, bail hearings, appointment of counsel, initial probation surrender hearings, pre-trial conferences, and agreed-upon motions and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of assigned trial sessions. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Boston College and a Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law. She lives in Boston with her husband and family.  

About Steven Kim  

Steven Kim currently works in private practice, at Law Office of Steven S. Kim, as a trial lawyer, where he represents clients in all phases of criminal and civil litigation. Over the course of his career as a trial lawyer, he has worked as both prosecutor and defense attorney.  He started out his career as a law clerk for the justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court, then went on to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in Boston; but for the majority of his career has run a successful private practice, handling both civil and criminal defense matters. Kim is also a proud veteran, having served honorably on active duty in Afghanistan with the Judge Advocate General’s Corp. in the U.S. Army National Guard. He holds three degrees from Boston College, including his B.A. in English, a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration, and his J.D. He lives in Needham. 

About Vanessa Vélez 

Vanessa Vélez is currently the Deputy Chief Counsel of the Private Counsel Division for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, where she oversees the delivery of legal services to 80% of indigent clients in Massachusetts through assigned private attorneys. Her management extends to various units under the Private Counsel Division, including the Criminal Trial Support, Appeals & Post-Conviction, Parole Advocacy, Alternative Commitment and Registration, Innocence Program, Immigration Impact Unit, and Social Services Advocacy.  

Vanessa began her career as a solo practitioner, practicing civil and criminal law and as a bar advocate with the Essex County Bar Association Advocate Program. For 18 years, she has represented clients as a public defender for the Committee for Public Counsel Services and as a bar advocate in private practice. Vanessa served as the Attorney-in-Charge and the Supervising Attorney for the CPCS Boston Trial Office. She has also played a key role in the Veterans and Homeless specialty courts for several years. 

Vanessa has been a faculty member in the Trial Advocacy Workshop of Harvard Law School. Most recently, she participated in various commissions and subcommittees focused on increasing court access, equity and public trust in our legal system. She is a member of the Alternative Paths to Licensure subcommittee of the Massachusetts SJC's Steering Committee on Bar Admissions. She was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the United States at age 18 to further her education. She holds a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a J.D. from Suffolk University School of Law. She lives in Jamaica Plain.   

Jane Doe Inc. Leads 2024 Advocacy Day on Beacon Hill to Support Key Legislative and Budget Priorities

Jane Doe Inc. Leads 2024 Advocacy Day on Beacon Hill to Support Key Legislative and Budget Priorities

Along with survivors, advocates, and legislators, JDI called for critical policy action to support survivors and prevent violence

 

Boston, MA – On Friday, March 15, Jane Doe Inc. (JDI), the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, was joined by more than 300 people for its 2024 Advocacy Day at the Massachusetts State House. JDI coalition members, survivors, advocates, and partners from across Massachusetts came out in full force for the first in-person Advocacy Day since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The day kicked off with a speaking program in the Great Hall, before attendees participated in smaller group meetings with legislators and staff to discuss key priorities, including: 

• Vital funding in the FY2025 state budget, including fully funding the $60 million request for the VOCA Bridge, to mitigate impending cuts to the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and maintain essential services;

• H.4241: An Act to Prevent Abuse and Exploitation – which adds essential protections for survivors, including against image-based sexual assault and coercive control;

• H.1399/S.1079: An Act Relative to Controlling and Abusive Litigation – which will help prevent individuals from using the legal system to harm and control others;

• S.1979: An Act Establishing a Prison and Jail Construction Moratorium – which would pause the construction of new prisons and jails in Massachusetts in order to shift spending priorities to community investments;

• H.3084/S.1990: Language Access and Inclusion Act – which would require state agencies to meet language access, including for survivors; and,

• H.544/S.268: Healthy Youth Act – which would ensure age-appropriate, medically-accurate sex and relationship education critical to preventing future sexual and domestic violence.

State Representatives Natalie Blais and Michael Day and State Senator Robyn Kennedy spoke with attendees about the important bills before the legislature, and to express their support for survivors and those in attendance.

“Today, your stories are reverberating in this Great Hall and echoing throughout the hallways of this building,” said Representative Blais. “Your efforts are making a difference in impacting lives across the Commonwealth as we strive to end violence for everyone.”

Senator Kennedy shared a similar sentiment, saying “Legislation is moving here because your voice matters. Because you’re speaking up, you’re representing the survivors across our Commonwealth, who need to make sure our laws are changing [and] improving to protect them.”

Representative Day added “The work that you all do educating us on what survivor-centric and what trauma-informed truly means has made the difference in what we’ve been able to accomplish and what we’re going to accomplish here in the legislature moving forward.”

JDI Executive Director Debra Robbin spoke to the tangible impact of collective advocacy on ensuring that available resources more fully reflect the needs of survivors and direct service organizations. “It’s important to understand how much our advocacy means and how successful we have been at collectively raising the funding that supports services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault,” she said. “Just for perspective, 10 years ago, we asked for about $31 million for survivor services. And now, in 2025, we are asking for $67 million. We have more than doubled funding in 10 years.”

JDI is incredibly thankful to all of those who attended to share their stories and raise their voice in support of critical policies that will strengthen services, uplift survivors voices, invest in communities, and advance life-saving protections for those experiencing sexual assault and domestic violence. We look forward to continuing the work alongside survivors, advocates, and policymakers to ensure this legislation succeeds.

波士頓市撥款2100萬元資助精神及行為健康服務

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES $21 MILLION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES  Boston Public Health Commission and Boston Public Schools’ initiatives will add more behavioral health specialists, improve BPS policies and systems, and develop a more diverse workforce to serve youth in Boston

BOSTON – Wednesday, March 20, 2024 – Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and Boston Public Schools (BPS) today announced $21 million in transformative funding for mental and behavioral health programs and services to support the City’s youth and families. The investments are part of the City’s response to the urgent need for more mental health supports for young people and to develop a larger and more diverse behavioral health workforce. These investments over five years will serve more than 50,000 students, directly impact 21 BPS schools, support more than 600 people in pursuing behavioral health careers in Boston, grow and diversify BPS’s mental health staff, and provide more than 1,000 people with behavioral health training to better serve youth and families in Boston.  “The past several years have been difficult for all of us, and that’s especially true for our young people,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “That’s why it is so important for us to make life saving investments now, to support Boston families and make sure our youth get the high-quality care they need.” According to BPHC’s newly released Health of Boston Mental Health Report, there has been a significant increase of sadness, hopelessness and anxiety among Boston’s youth, especially youth of color. Currently, more than 40% of BPS students report feeling persistent sadness and hopelessness, while in 2015, 27% of youth reported feeling this way. An increasing number of our high school students are reporting suicidal thoughts. These data are even more severe for students that are marginalized or identify as female or LGBTQ+. Unfortunately, less than half of BPS high school students report that they received help when they experienced mental health challenges. “Our young people are in crisis, and it is clear that we need to develop more mental health services, especially those that address the unique needs of Black, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQ+ and other underserved communities,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “We created BPHC’s Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness to find meaningful and strategic ways to reduce behavioral health inequities. This partnership between Mayor Wu, BPS, and the Center demonstrates our commitment to providing culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate services to young people and their families in Boston.”  “I am hopeful and eager to uplift our youth and families by addressing the urgent mental and behavioral health challenges they face,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “These investments and partnerships with educational and youth-focused institutions are vital steps toward strengthening our systems of care, and in doing so, nurturing the emotional well-being and educational development of our students.” The $21 million is from federal funding and grants, including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the U.S. Department of Education, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This funding will add behavioral health specialists to BPS schools, provide behavioral health training to youth-facing workers and community organizations, and invest in career training in communities of color to develop a more diverse workforce to serve youth in Boston. This will increase the number of diverse, highly qualified mental health staff that work in BPS while also developing the skills of the current mental health staff, creating a better pipeline to retain providers and fill vacancies. In addition, a pilot program between BPHC and BPS will examine policies in BPS to examine trauma, disciplinary issues, racism, stress, and other factors to create safer and more positive environments for students.  “Through this collaboration between Mayor Wu, BPHC, BPS, and our communities, we are investing in a future where every child has access to the care and support they need to flourish,” said Dr. Kevin M. Simon, Chief Behavioral Health Officer of the Boston Public Health Commission. "This commitment is a testament to the power of collective action in supporting the well-being of our children and families."   "Consistent with UMass Boston’s anti-racist, health-promoting ethos, our grant will prepare cohorts of culturally, linguistically, and racially diverse Fellows to become human service and mental health providers,” said UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco. “We share the Mayor and Commission and BPS’s goals to advance racial justice, health equity, and more accessible behavioral health services so we can address the growing need for mental health resources among minoritized and marginalized youth.”  “As one of the largest providers of pediatric behavioral health services in Boston, we have seen the need for behavioral health services grow exponentially, especially in underserved communities,” said Joseph Mitchell, MD, President of Franciscan Children’s. “We are thrilled to receive this grant so we can continue to meet the rising needs of children and youth in Boston through our school-based and other mental health programs, train the next generation of behavioral health professionals, and create a more diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve.” In addition to these programs and services that serve youth, a BPHC program will support families with Black and Latinx children under four years old in need of early childhood mental health and care. The full breakdown of investments is detailed below: Boston Public Health Commission $2.5M (ARPA) - Grant to UMass Boston for “Transforming Boston Access to Mental Health” focuses on preparing diverse, youth-facing practitioners to serve Boston communities. Fellows will receive education, training, and fieldwork and commit to practicing in Boston. Across three years, 185 students will be trained to serve 1,750 clients, with over 850 being youth. To date, 39 students are enrolled and 34 youth and 44 non-youth have been served.   $2.5M (ARPA) - Grant to Franciscan Children’s to expand the “Children’s Wellness Initiative,” which provides mental health clinicians and psychiatry services in BPS schools. The grant will enable Franciscan to expand to an additional 10 BPS sites for a total of 22 BPS sites over three years. The grant will also grow recruitment efforts and provide at least 180 people advanced training in behavioral health. To date, nine clinicians have been placed across nine schools, serving 200 BPS students. The additional schools are: Blackstone Elementary School; Jeremiah E. Burke High School; Joseph Lee K-8 School; Rafael Hernandez School; Dr. William W. Henderson K-12 Inclusion School; Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School; and another four schools are to be announced.  $2.3M (ARPA) - BPHC and BPS will pilot a “Trauma-informed School System Transformation” at 10 BPS schools, reaching up to 3,500 students and 750 staff. Starting in April 2024, Flourish Agenda will use trauma-informed methodologies to examine and improve BPS policies and systems of care. The 10 BPS schools are: BCLA-McCormack 7-12 Pilot School; Ellis Elementary School; Excel High School; Joseph Lee K-8 School; Madison Park Technical Vocational High School; Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School; Richard J. Murphy K-8; TechBoston Academy; Dr. William W. Henderson K-12 Inclusion School; Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School  $1.3M (ARPA) - Funds will go towards BIPOC youth-focused, public awareness campaigns and other resources, including BPHC’s Cope Code Club and creative arts projects with The Family Van.  $1M (ARPA) - BPHC just released a RFP for vendors to provide behavioral health training for community-based organizations that serve youth of color in Boston. $1M (ARPA) - BPHC’s Boston Area Health Education Center helps train youth in careers in health education, particularly from BIPOC populations underrepresented in health. This funding will go towards after school and summer programs focused on behavioral health careers and will train 400 students over three years. To date, 25 students are enrolled in an afterschool program. $700K (ARPA) - BPHC’s “Capacity Building and Training Initiative” will provide trauma and equity training for City employees who serve youth and families. Training will reach about 600 staff over three years. $4M (SAMHSA) - BPHC’s “Boston Children’s Mental Health Initiative” will work with Children’s Services of Roxbury to support Black and Latinx children under four years old who are connected to the state child welfare system or BPHC family support services and in need of early social and emotional development. Over the next four years, this includes training at least 37 family partners, nurses, social workers and case workers; providing services for 275 children; screening 1,800 families for social and emotional wellness; providing more behavioral health services; and increasing awareness of early childhood mental health.  Boston Public Schools $5.8M (Dept. of Education) - BPS, in partnership with UMass Boston, Boston University, Brown University, and community partners will launch “Project PROVIDE,” which prepares 200 school psychology, school counseling, and social work students to serve Boston youth over five years, serving more than 46,000 students. The goal is to increase the number of diverse, highly qualified mental health staff that work in BPS while also improving technical and supervisory skills of the current mental health workforce that works in BPS or with BPS students. This grant will enable BPS to more effectively convert trainees into employees in order to fill vacancies and support the retention of mental health providers. For more information about behavioral health resources or other needs, call the BPS Helpline at 617-635-8873 or visit BPHC’s website.