波士頓華埠居民會4月有警察局、水務局來報告 華埠牌樓旁空地計畫蓋6層高樓宇

華埠居民會在網上和前進會辦公室開月會。 (網路截圖)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 波士頓華埠居民會 (CRA) 4月3日舉行月例會，有波士頓警察局、水務局派員出席報告，另有黃氏代表出席陳述，打算在乞臣街8號蓋6層高，2層商用，4層住宅的樓宇計畫。

華人前進會社區組織員鄺寶蓮主持會議。

              這天的會議由華人前進會社區組織員鄺寶蓮主持，波士頓市長華埠聯絡員黃楚嵐，波士頓市市議員愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn)的助理盧善柔都出席關切。

波士頓市警察局A-1區警察Frank Wong報告最近治安狀況。

              波士頓市警察局A-1區警察Frank Wong在會議中報告了最近在波士頓華埠發生的一些案件，包括3月26日，位於夏利臣街 (Harrison) 62號的聚香坊 (Corner Café)麵包店，有一男子進店，拿走糕點，沒付錢。該名男子已被警方確認，將需出庭；3月29日，華盛頓街888號有居民舉報家中金錢和珠寶被偷，警方調查發現，民宅門窗並未損壞，猜測可能是居民忘了關門，給人可乘之機，此案已在調查中；另外有2宗華埠內路邊車輛窗戶被人敲破，車內手錶和高價衣物被偷案件。Frank Wong提醒民眾別把值錢物品留在車內。3月30日在王氏青年會和屋街之間，有車輛的窗戶被人敲破，警察已握有嫌犯照片，將追蹤調查。

部分華埠居民到華人前進會出席會議。

              居民Steve Liu在會中申訴，他已經定期清掃自宅街道，卻因有人亂丟垃圾，讓他頻吃罰單，希望知道可以如何處理。他還陳述，所物街 (Shawmut) 120號，早前發生槍擊案。

              波士頓市長華埠聯絡員黃楚嵐表示，波士頓市公共工程局已派員和居民會溝通過類似問題，他將繼續追蹤聯絡。

Steve Liu申訴收到許多垃圾罰單。

              水務局部分代表Ryan Shea在居民會中說明，水務局將於4月22日到7月間，在尼倫街 (Kneeland)和必珠街 (Beach)之間的泰勒街上施工，更換2個主要水管，以及2個大排水管。頭3個星期會是晚上7點起至凌晨3點或6點之間，在街道交界處施工，之後從5月中開始，在泰勒街上，白天施工。

              有居民擔憂施工期間，人行道及自行車道會被封閉，對來往行人造成困擾。盧善柔指出，晚上7點是民眾上餐館用餐的黃金時間，這時就開始施工，可能太早了一點，應再研議。她指出，塔芙茨大學樓宇的屋頂修繕工程，也遭遇類似的開工時間問題。

在尼倫街 (Kneeland)和必珠街 (Beach)之間的泰勒街，將更換大水管。

              乞臣街(Hudson) 8號的發展計畫案，由JBCD建築師 Jim Chen和代表黃是公所的黃展唐陳述。Jim Chen在會中報告，業主計畫把位於司徒麗英公園旁的兩塊空地合併成大約2400平方英尺，蓋6層高樓宇，其中地面一及二樓，留作商用，三至六樓，每層各有大約1800多平方英尺，蓋成2戶住宅，用來出租。

黃展唐代表黃氏宗親會，陳述華埠牌樓旁2塊空地，
打算蓋6層樓，2噌商用，4層住宅。

              黃展唐在回應居民提問時表示，他代表黃氏宗親會到場陳情，說明目前還在初步計畫階段，未想過一、二樓將做哪種商業用途，歡迎居民提供意見。

              出席會議的湯建華等居民，另外促請黃展唐等人，在華埠蓋房子，要為華人移民及工薪階層著想，給予優先權及廉宜租金。

              在會議結束前，鄺寶蓮再次提醒，希望黃展唐等人可以把華埠居民心聲，帶回去給業主，將來收取租金要低廉，商用空間考慮餐館以外行業，千萬別做成短期出租的AirBNB。

              黃展唐表示，這倒不需憂慮，波士頓市的法令目前不准許短期出租，所以這不可能會發生。

              宣佈事項部分，鄺寶蓮提醒居民，4月8日有日蝕，下午2點到4點，不要直接望太陽，而且天空有95%的可能會全黑。

哈佛MIT學術白話文六乘六 談機器人、夸克、酵素、運動分析

哈佛MIT「學術白話文六乘六」合影。 (主辦單位提供)

蕭育舜談「機器人的『速度與激情』: 極致性能與安全兼得的系統優化之道」。

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 哈佛大學和MIT台灣同學會合作，3月31日在哈佛大學馮氏禮堂 (Fong Auditorium) 舉行「學術白話文六乘六」。6名講者從語言模型，酵素分子機制，科技與運動分析，機器人的性能與安全，談到天災人禍與心理復健，短短2小時，資訊豐碩。

許祐湉分享「天然災害後老年族群心理與認知健康復原」。

              波士頓經文處科技組長蔡孟勳原本是台大生物科研所長，他直言，要在短短幾分鐘內把複雜的人文或科學議題講清楚，很考功夫，但也顯示了同學們真有兩把刷子。

              哈佛大學台灣同學會會長黃郁婷指出，「學術白話文」如今名聲響亮，彷如「兵家必爭」之地，同學們都爭取表現機會，原本的"五乘五"也不得不水漲船高，成為現在的"六乘六"。

盛子安用「燉一碗熱呼呼的圓仔湯」來形容他的夸克研究。
波士頓經文處科技組組長蔡孟勳代表主辦單位送紀念品。

       31日這天，得到簡報機會的同學及講題為，剛拿到哈佛大學電腦科學博士學位的蕭育舜談「機器人的『速度與激情』: 極致性能與安全兼得的系統優化之道」，已有博士學位，還是台灣科技、民主與社會研究中心海外研究員的哈佛大學社會及行為科學系博士許祐湉講「天然災害後老年族群心理與認知健康復原」。麻省理工學院電機系博士生莊永松的「大語言模型的前世今生」，哈佛大學生物及生物醫藥科系博士生廖庭尉的­「一粒酵素裡見世界-實況觀測顯微世界裡的分子機制」，麻省理工學院物理博士生盛子安的「燉一碗熱呼呼的圓仔湯」，哈佛大學電腦科學系博士生林滿新的「運動分析新境界-

哈佛博士許祐湉。

開創數據視覺化與沉浸式科技的創新未來」。

              其中的盛子安以「燉一碗熱呼呼的圓仔湯」來形容他正在研究，號稱全宇宙最高溫物質-夸克，可能會是清湯、濃湯、大秘湯的無拘無束奇特狀態，他的形容，當天備受寵愛，幾乎每個講者都借用   ”大秘湯”來形容自己所研究課題中的一部分。

哈佛博士蕭育舜。

              林滿新的「運動分析新境界」，則讓喜愛體育活動，看各種球賽的人發現，體育運動其實有科學的一面，職業隊伍現在都用SprtsXR之類的虛擬實境分析工具，來幫助教練及選手分析，研擬贏的戰術。

              許祐湉的研究，藉日本311東北大地震災民案例，得到人類遭遇重大變故後，一旦認知功能受影響而下降，若有家庭、團體，社會等支持系統，就能比較快的恢復。

              哈佛與MIT的「學術白話文六乘六」，一年舉辦兩次，下一次將在秋季舉行。 (更新版)

哈佛博士生廖庭尉分享­「一粒酵素裡見世界-實況觀測顯微世界裡的分子機制」

哈佛大學電腦科學系博士生林滿新分享「運動分析新境界-
開創數據視覺化與沉浸式科技的創新未來」。

麻省理工學院電機系博士生莊永松分享「大語言模型的前世今生」

波士頓慶祝台灣關係法45週年 麻州州長、眾議會發文支持

俞大㵢大使(左七)到麻州眾議會議事廳接受麻州眾議會議長Ron Marinao (左八)和
麻州眾議員黃子安(左十)，陳德基(佐久)等人簽署的支持台灣關係法決議文。
(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 駐波士頓經文處邀得中華民國第16任駐美代表俞大㵢夫婦助陣，4月4日在麻州州政府大樓慶祝「台灣關係法 (TRA)」45週年，不但有麻州眾議會議長簽署決議文，還破紀錄的連麻州正副州長也簽署了一份文件，支持台美關係。

俞大㵢大使夫婦(前右)，波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏夫婦(前左)
和麻州眾議會議長Ronald Mariano (中）等麻州議會人員合影。(周菊子攝)

             「臺灣關係法」是由美國國會制定，總統於1979年4月10日簽署，旨在維護西太平洋地區和平，授權美國人民與台灣人民繼續保持商業、文化等關係，成為台美關係基石的一項法案。

             俞大㵢大使在波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏陪同下，這天先拜會了麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)，晤談約半小時，再在麻州眾議員黃子安陪同下拜會麻州眾議會議長Ron Mariano，也晤談約20分鐘後，到麻州眾議會議事廳親自聆聽麻州眾議會又一度的通過支持「台灣關係法」決議案。

俞大㵢大使夫婦(右)，波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏夫婦(左)和麻州眾議會
議長Ronald Mariano (中）在臺灣關係法45週年慶祝會中合影。(周菊子攝)

             在慶祝麻州又一度支持「台灣關係法」的招待會上，廖朝宏處長，Ron Mariano議長，俞大㵢大使一一致詞。

             曾經到過台灣2次的Mariano議長，發言讓人十分暖心。他稱台灣為民主火炬，備受壓力，慶祝「台灣關係法」這樣的活動，因此十分重要，傳遞了”我們不會背棄夥伴，我們尊重而且支持他們的自由權利”的訊息。

俞大㵢大使夫婦(前右)，波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏夫婦(前左)
和麻州眾議會議長Ronald Mariano (中）等麻州議會人員
及支持僑胞合影。(周菊子攝)

             俞大㵢大使22年前就來過波士頓，到哈佛大學參加一簽署活動。他說，正如Mariano議長所言，他來美上任後出訪的第一站，必須是麻州、波士頓這個美國出生地，自由發源地，和台灣在很多方面都很像的地方，腦力、人力集中，將以人工智慧帶動下一波工業革命。他很高興自己被派駐到美國，這個重視民主自由價值，非常支持台灣的國度。他指出，民主自由是很珍貴的，人們一旦嚐到滋味，就不會回頭了。

之前一天應邀到哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院闡述台灣關係法，和哈佛大學副教務長歐立德 (Mark C. Ellott) ，哈佛大學費正清中心主任伍人英，哈佛教授賽奇 (Tony Saich)等人晤談的俞大㵢還說明，他們正在繼續推動台美「21世紀貿易倡議」，期盼落實後擴大雙邊的投資貿易活動。

麻州眾議會為支持台灣關係法，再次通過決議文。
(周菊子攝)

他指出，台灣是個小國家，比麻州略大三分之一，但卻是麻州第八大貿易夥伴，雙邊貿易額和比麻州和印度、巴西、義大利、荷蘭、法國等國家都高。

俞大㵢也提到台灣剛遭逢7級多的大地震，不幸的已有10人死亡，但災情比921大地震時輕得多，台積電的生產線也已恢復八成。

             在慶祝會活動現場，展示了麻州眾議會，由議長Mariano和眾議會亞裔核心小組的黃子安、陳德基等7名眾議員簽署的支持台灣關係法決議文，以及由麻州正副州長簽名的嘉許狀 (Citation)。

             麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 在這份嘉許狀中指出，她代表麻州人民承認台灣關係法在維持，奠定台美關係基礎上的重要性，以確保包括台灣與麻州之間，在共同擁有的民主自由價值觀下，持續交流、互動的雙邊關係，有光明未來。

             麻州老人事務廳廳長陳倩，麻州參議員William Brownsberger，John F. Keenan，以及十幾名麻州眾議員，包括Paul Donado， Kay Khan，James O’Day，Sean Garballey等人，都出席了慶祝會。

             大波士頓僑界到會的有波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，波士頓僑務諮詢委員蔣宗壬，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，英文書記阮鴻燦，台灣人公共事務協會全美副會長鍾佳君，波士頓台灣世衛協進會創會會長蘇鴻昌，波克萊台灣商會會長李孟潔，新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長王志維，紐英崙至孝篤親公所主席陳文珊等人。

台灣駐美大使訪麻州 慶祝臺灣關係法45週年 (視頻)

 

波士頓市長公佈鄰里咖啡時間日程 6月7日會晤華埠居民

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES 2024 NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE HOUR SERIES

BOSTON - Thursday, April 4, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will host the 2024 Neighborhood Coffee Hour Series in partnership with Dunkin’® in parks citywide from April 22 to June 26.  Mayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hours offer a unique opportunity to speak directly with the Mayor and staff from City departments about open space and their neighborhoods. Through these conversations, and a suggestion box at each site, Mayor Wu looks forward to hearing how the City of Boston can improve upon parks, public areas, and City services. “Every neighborhood and every resident has their own diverse set of concerns that deserve to not only be heard, but to be acknowledged and addressed,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am excited for all of the conversations and connection that will come from Neighborhood Coffee Hours.” Leadership and staff from the Community Engagement Cabinet will be at each Coffee Hour. Community members will have an opportunity to meet their neighborhood liaisons, who will share updates on each neighborhood, including how many 311 cases have been resolved, streets repaired, as well as the City’s investments in housing, local businesses, and the arts. The City is again releasing a Community Input Survey, which provides an opportunity for constituents to ask questions and inform what will be presented during Coffee Hours with the Mayor. Last year, this proved to be a success, allowing constituents to hear directly from the  Mayor and City leaders as they addressed concerns and answered constituents' questions at each Coffee Hour event. “Coffee Hours with the Mayor is an intentional effort to meet community members in the heart of their neighborhoods,” said Brianna Millor, Chief of the Community Engagement Cabinet. “I encourage residents, including our youth, seniors, civic organizations, business owners, and local leaders to attend this neighborhood-centered event. Boston 311 will be present to connect residents to essential city services.”   Dunkin’ will be on-site with freshly brewed Iced Coffee and MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats. Dunkin’ will have lawn games and gift card giveaways. Residents at each event will also be eligible to win a raffle prize from Dunkin’. Individuals in attendance will receive a free flowering plant provided by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, while supplies last. Fresh fruit will be provided by Star Market. “Mayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hours are vital for community engagement, allowing residents to share their thoughts directly. We're grateful for their participation,” noted Ryan Woods, Commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Department. “These events not only foster dialogue but also mark the kickoff for our exciting summer calendar of events. From outdoor concerts to movies to arts and crafts workshops for kids, our programming breathes life into our parks, fulfilling our core mission of creating vibrant spaces for all to enjoy." All coffee hours will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., weather permitting. Visit boston.gov/coffee-hours for more information. The full schedule of Mayor Wu’s 2024 Neighborhood Coffee Hours is as follows:  Monday, April 22 Billings Field 369 LaGrange Street West Roxbury Wednesday, April 24 Training Field (Winthrop Square)  55 Winthrop Street Charlestown Thursday, April 25 Adams Park 4225 Washington Street Roslindale Monday, April 29 Horatio Harris Park  85 Harold Street Roxbury Wednesday, May 1 Walker Playground 550 Norfolk Street Mattapan Monday, May 6 Peter’s Park 230 Shawmut Avenue South End Tuesday, May 7 Mozart Street Playground 10 Mozart Street Jamaica Plain Thursday, May 23 McConnell Park 30 Denny Street Dorchester Wednesday, May 29 Noyes Playground 86 Boardman Street East Boston Friday, May 31 Medal of Honor Park E 3rd and M Street South Boston Thursday, June 6 Iacono Playground 150 Readville Street Hyde Park Friday, June 7 Elliot Norton Park 295 Tremont Street Bay Village/Chinatown Tuesday, June 11 Langone Park 529 Commercial Street North End Friday, June 14 Back Bay Fens (Near Kelleher Rose Garden) 73 Park Drive Fenway/Kenmore Monday, June 17 Brighton Common 30 Chestnut Hill Avenue Allston-Brighton Tuesday, June 18 Commonwealth Avenue Mall (Arlington Street entrance)  15 Commonwealth Avenue Back Bay/Beacon Hill Monday, June 24 Mission Hill Playground 1497 Tremont Street Mission Hill Wednesday, June 26 Mother’s Rest 410 Washington Street Dorchester For more information and updates on possible rain locations, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505 or @bostonparksdept on X, Facebook, or Instagram, or by visiting boston.gov/parks

Healey-Driscoll Administration to Explore Shared Campus Model for Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community College

 Healey-Driscoll Administration to Explore Shared Campus Model for Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community College 

Seeks Community Input to Help Modernize, Expand Access, and Deliver Effective Educational Opportunities at Both Institutions  

BOSTON –Today, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced initial steps to explore a shared campus model for Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School (WT) and Northern Essex Community College (NECC) on NECC’s Haverhill campus, a collaborative effort with state and local partners that aims to meet the evolving educational needs of the region’s students and communities, efficiently and affordably. 

This partnership with NECC and WT will explore ways to create a new, modern facility for Whittier Tech, allow for expanded access to postsecondary education across northeastern Massachusetts, and increase enrollment capacity at both institutions and make them more affordable. It will also open up new avenues for potential additional funding sources beyond cities and towns in the Merrimack Valley. 

“Our administration knows that a new, modern facility is needed for Whittier Tech, but we also understand the communities’ concerns about cost,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This potential collaboration between Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community College aims to meet the needs of our students and communities in an efficient, affordable and innovative way. In the coming weeks, our administration will be engaging with local officials to provide information about this vision and receive their feedback. We’re grateful for the leadership of NECC President Lane Glenn and Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch and look forward to our continued partnership as we work toward a solution that will benefit our students, educators, communities and economy.” 

“This is a pivotal moment for education and workforce development,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This effort is intended to generate a shared commitment across the district to develop a plan that will meet the demands of our students in an ever-changing economy, while also accounting for the financial demands of municipal budgets.” 
“NECC and Whittier Tech have similar missions and have been successfully collaborating on Early College and adult vocational programs for years,” said Lane Glenn, President of Northern Essex Community College. “With better paying jobs requiring some kind of postsecondary education and training, exploring an innovative shared campus model has tremendous potential for students, families, communities, and the regional workforce needs of the Merrimack Valley.”   
“Whittier Tech is excited about the possibility of working with NECC and exploring opportunities to combine our resources to support our students and our workforce,” said Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch. “We’re grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration for their leadership on this innovative proposal that has the potential to be truly transformative for our school and our economy.

“We know that the spaces that our students and educators spend time in can facilitate or inhibit learning,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I look forward to working with NECC President Lane Glenn, Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch and our state and local partners on this innovative collaboration and shared commitment that centers student and educator experiences and sets them up for success, while also supporting the local community and economy.” 

The Healey-Driscoll administration will work collaboratively with Northern Essex Community College and Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School to convene legislators, municipal officials, and other regional stakeholders to discuss this initiative, obtain feedback, and foster collaboration to explore the possibility of a new high school building and site proposal for Whittier Tech.  

In collaboration with NECC and Whittier Tech, the administration intends to engage the communities of Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Ipswich, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury to address previous challenges, drive innovation for our students, and garner excitement across the district. 

麻州政府撥款290萬給20個多元組織處理濫用藥物問題

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $2.9 Million to 20 Diverse Organizations to Address Substance Use 

Awards are part of a new initiative aimed at increasing future grant funding opportunities for organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color  

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded $2.9 million to 20 organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to address substance use in the communities they serve, which continue to be disproportionately impacted by increases in overdoses.  

The grants are the first to be awarded through the Redefining Community Wellness program, a new initiative intended to support BIPOC-led organizations committed to addressing substance use disorder, including by focusing on underlying social, economic, and environmental conditions that can put people at greater risk for substance misuse. Additionally, this funding will help the organizations expand their substance use program capacity to improve their ability to qualify and apply for future grant funding through the Department of Public Health (DPH). 

Recognizing that communities of color often have inadequate access to culturally responsive substance use programs and that underserved communities experience higher rates of poor health, DPH’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services developed the program last year in partnership with Health Resources in Action (HRiA) and in collaboration with a community advisory board comprised of BIPOC residents and organizations. 

“Our administration is deeply committed not only to preventing overdoses in our state, but also providing the incredible organizations doing the work in communities with the tools they need to improve health outcomes and save lives,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By investing in these diverse organizations now, we are laying the foundation for them to have the resources they need to address the overdose crisis appropriately and quickly in the future.” 

“So many cities and towns throughout the state have been devastated by the overdose crisis,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This initial round of awards helps these organizations address the root causes of the overdose epidemic and take action to prevent further harm.” 

“Centering health equity and preventing overdose deaths is extremely important not only to our administration, but to the people who are impacted by the loss of their friends, family members, and loved ones,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh. “Instead of merely making decisions for the communities that are impacted most by substance disorder, we look to these organizations for their leadership and hope they can help us make it so that substance use programming is more accessible and culturally sensitive, especially since our data shows where it is needed the most.” 

“Improving equity in access to programs and services, especially for residents struggling with ubstance use disorder, is a priority for DPH. This initiative intentionally centers voices and organizations from Black and Brown communities and leverages a culturally sensitive approach to reducing structural and institutional barriers to programs and services,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Substance use disorders and the devastating overdose crisis continue to shatter far too many families in Massachusetts. We must invest in evidence-based, equitable solutions that can help restore hope and rebuild lives.” 

Each organization will receive up to $145,000 over 17 months from February 2024 through June 2025. The funding will support programming to address substance use directly – through overdose prevention, intervention, and recovery services – or indirectly by focusing on social determinants of health, including addressing housing, job, and food insecurity and other basic needs. Services will prioritize communities of color, with additional focus on people who do not speak English, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQ+, people who are unhoused, and people who were previously incarcerated.  

By helping the organizations build their program capacity, the Redefining Community Wellness initiative also aims to improve the grantees’ ability to qualify for future grant opportunities through DPH, which ultimately helps increase diverse representation within the Department’s grant award process. 

“We recognize the disturbing reality that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color have inadequate access to substance use programs and are disproportionately affected by policies that do not respond to, or consider their specific needs,” said DPH’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services Director Deirdre Calvert. “We launched the Redefining Community Wellness grants program to address this challenge and to support a wide variety of community-led programming.”  

Redefining Community Wellness grant program awardees: 

• African Cultural Services, Inc. - Waltham serving the Metrowest region 

• B FREE Wellness – South Yarmouth serving the Southeast region 

• Black Behavioral Health Network, Inc. - Springfield serving the Western region 

• Calvary Pentecostal Church – East Freetown serving the Southeast region 

• Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell (CMAA) - Lowell serving the Northeast region 

• Chastity’s Consulting & Talent Group – Boston serving the Boston and Central regions 

• Choice Recovery Coaching, Inc. - Springfield serving the Western region 

• Dwelling House of Hope, Inc. - Lowell serving the Northeast region 

• Follow My Steps Foundation, Inc. - Springfield serving the Western region 

• Future Hope Apprenticeship and Recovery Program – Boston serving the Boston region 

• Latin American Health Alliance of Central Massachusetts – Worcester serving the Central region 

• Mandela Yoga Project, Inc. - Boston serving the Boston, Northeast and Central regions 

• Merrimack Valley Dream Center, Inc. - Lawrence serving the Northeast region 

• MotherWoman d/b/a Women of Color Health Equity Collective – Springfield serving the Metrowest and Western regions 

• SaveSouls, Inc. - Canton serving the Northeast region 

• Sueños Basketball – Lawrence serving the Northeast region 

• Talbot Avenue Church of Christ – Milton serving the Boston and Southeast regions 

• Transformational Prison Project – Boston serving the Boston region 

• Urban Impact Initiative Massachusetts – Springfield serving the Western region 

• Vietnamese American Civic Association, Inc. - Dorchester serving all regions in Massachusetts 

波士頓市房屋局慶祝南端Lenox大樓285戶可負擔住宅大翻修

MAYOR WU, BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY CELEBATE MAJOR UPGRADES TO HISTORIC LENOX APARTMENTS IN SOUTH END AND ROXBURY Renovations including new kitchens, bathrooms, in-unit washers and dryers, and a transformed community building, mark the most significant upgrades to the Lenox Apartments since first constructed in 1939 as first public housing in Boston designated to housing Black residents

BOSTON - Thursday, April 4, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu today joined the Boston Housing Authority, Beacon Communities and Roxbury and South End residents to celebrate the completion of significant upgrades to 285 affordable units at Lenox Apartments in the South End and Lower Roxbury. The 13-building complex, a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, was originally constructed in 1939 as the first public housing in Boston that had been designated to housing Black Bostonians and later became a focal point for the push to desegregate public housing. The renovations mark the most significant upgrades since Lenox Street’s construction, and ensure the preservation and long-term affordability of the community as quality family housing. “The transformation of Roxbury’s historic Lenox Apartments demonstrates our efforts of making sure Boston is an equitable, accessible city for all walks of life," said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We remain committed to preserving the history and character of this community as we invest in the well-being of Lenox residents.” The extensive upgrades to the community included brand new kitchens, bathrooms and in-unit washers and dryers. This major investment included the transformation of the community building which now includes a computer learning center, music room, fitness center, offices for management and the resident task force. In addition, accessibility, safety and security upgrades were made as well as overall ground improvements including a new playground, a children’s water play area, and bike share stations. “For nine decades, the Lenox community has served to anchor housing affordability for hundreds of families in the South End and Lower Roxbury,” said BHA Administrator Kenzie Bok. “This project has not only given those families better homes and a better quality of life, it has honored the community’s legacy by securing its future.”  “We are grateful to our partners at the Boston Housing Authority for championing the preservation and renovation of 285 family apartments serving the Roxbury neighborhood,” said Beacon CEO Dara Kovel. “This investment significantly improves the quality of these homes and ensures long-term housing affordability for generations to come.” Built in the late 1930s,  Lenox was the first public housing in Boston authorized under federal policy to serve exclusively Black families, a designation that was challenged in the 1960s, when Melnea Cass, Boston chapter president of the NAACP, filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination citing Lenox as an example of segregation in public housing, leading ultimately to its formal desegregation in the 1980s. Lenox has nevertheless always celebrated the history of the African American community in Boston. Its interior landscaped courts were named in honor of prominent African American Bostonians, including William Monroe Trotter, founder of the Boston Guardian newspaper and Boston Equal Right League; Dr. Andrew B. Lattimore, a physician who practiced in the Lenox neighborhood; and Edward A. Ditmus, a distinguished veteran of the Civil War. The community, management and maintenance space were reconfigured and fully renovated to include new amenities designed to promote health, learning and interaction. The landscaping-originally designed by the distinguished Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm was refreshed while continuing to honor the prominent Black Bostonians for whom the Lenox courtyards have been named. “Congratulations to all the residents of Lenox Apartments who now have brand new apartment homes where they can live and prosper in the Roxbury community,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay. “MassHousing was pleased to be a partner in this transformative effort by Beacon Communities and the Boston Housing Authority to improve and preserve this important affordable housing resource for many years into the future.” Funding for Lenox Apartments came together through a combination of federal and state LIHTC and historic tax credits. The Boston Housing Authority provided Section 8 Project Based Vouchers (PBV) in conjunction with MassHousing taxable and tax-exempt bond financing. Almost all units are restricted to households earning 50% Area Median Income (AMI) or below, making them deeply affordable.