星期日, 6月 02, 2024

中華民俗藝術工作坊許順堯接團長 「龍的傳人」演出觀眾讚嘆

中華民俗藝術工作坊「龍的傳人」公演,謝幕。(周菊子攝)
           (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 「震撼」。駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏527在衛斯頓鎮 (Weston) 瑞吉斯學院 (Regis College) 欣賞中華民俗藝術工作坊的25週年公演「龍的傳人」後,讚嘆不已,直說臺灣小朋友的表演簡直有專業水準,實在應該讓更多人看見。

中華民俗藝術工作坊老師李明子(左起)、團長許順堯歡迎駐波士頓
台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏出席欣賞表演。旁為創辦人張昆,
僑務顧問馮文鸞。
(周菊子攝)
2003年創辦的中華民俗藝術工作坊,在大波士頓早已揚名立萬。這三、四年來由於疫情肆虐,學員招收人數銳減,營運頗受影響,不過有張昆、黃美琴這2創辦人輔佐新一屆團長許順堯、彭文麗,和學員及家長們認真投入,27日的下午、晚上2場演出,都讓已看過該團演出許多年的觀眾,仍感眼前一亮,讚嘆工作坊的舞蹈服裝,編舞設計,舞台燈光,音響,更上層樓。

中華民俗藝術工作坊新任團長許順堯()、副團長馮文麗。(周菊子攝)
                               表演共有14舞目,從開場的「齊鼓震天」,接下來的「花之夢」,「獅承少年」,「喜水」,「從鈴開始」,「逆流而上」,「青青竹兒」,「武林傳承」,「鯉躍龍門」,「相遇」,「舞動精鈴」,「草地漫步」到「扇舞春秋」,「龍的傳人」,含括傳統民俗舞蹈,霓虹龍,扯鈴,擊鼓,還有現代舞,都由武術老師蕭靖穎和紐約大都會劇院專業舞者李明子編排,非常多元。

                  中華民俗藝術工作坊的服裝,更是該團特色之一,由黃美琴親自參與設計,修改,每年都能推陳出新,給人新鮮感。

吳子平(左一)帶了十幾人從羅德島州來看表演。(周菊子攝)
                    去年卸任勒星頓中文學校校長,接下工作坊團長一職的許順堯坦言,工作坊的表演水準,外界風評極佳,而他的2個小孩都喜歡穿美麗舞服,這才讓他決定接手傳承,希望擔當起工作坊今年20多名團員中又有2人畢業,學員減少,家長分工變得更需要磨合等的挑戰。

中華民俗藝術工作坊今年參加表演的男學員們。(周菊子攝)
                  主要負責營運,和家長溝通的副團長彭文麗也直言,工作坊很幸運,2位創辦人雖然交棒,在舞蹈專業及藝術上,對工作坊仍不離不棄,輔佐他們繼續走下去。

                    這天,吳子平和十幾、廿名羅德島州民,遠程開車來欣賞表演。他讚許表示,演出真的好,讓他簡直要為自己從21年前就開始贊助,感到榮幸。







開場擊鼓表演。(周菊子攝)

謝幕。(周菊子攝)
中華民俗藝術工作坊的彩虹龍。(周菊子攝)

波士頓有望增加205張酒牌 眾議會已通過

               (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州議會日前通過重新草擬的眾議會4696號法案,波士頓餐飲業的酒牌數量,有望新增加205張。

              麻州議會這法案由麻州眾議員 Chris Worrell提出,在未來3年內發放180張不可轉讓的酒牌,給12個郵遞區號內的食肆,包括落士百利 (Roxbury)、多徹斯特 (Dorchester)、麥特潘 (Mattapan)、東波士頓(East Boston)、羅森岱爾(Roslindale)、西洛士百利( West Roxbury)·、海德公園 ( Hyde Park)、查理士城Charlestown,以及牙買加平原。Jamaica Plain

              麻州眾議會財政委員會發言人Blake Webber527日公佈這法案時說,這些酒牌必須發給在現場準備食物的食肆。

              在這3年期限內,每一個郵遞區號可以每年分得3張不可轉讓的有限制酒牌,用於銷售在現場飲用的所有烈酒、淡酒飲料,以及2張不可轉讓的有限制酒牌,用於銷售在現場引用的葡萄酒和麥芽飲料。

3張不可轉讓酒牌是指定給布萊頓(Brighton)的橡樹廣場(Oak Square)社區,另外 15 張不可轉讓酒牌指定用於“社區空間”,包括戶外空間、劇院和非營利組織。Blake Webber說,該法案還訂出七張沒有地點限制的可轉讓酒牌。

法案提議人,麻州眾議員Chris Worrell稱這是議會改變遊戲規則的時刻,而且是為有色人種社區刺激經濟機會的令人難以置信的勝利。他指出,被人稱為麻州最繁忙商業街道,卻只有35家有座位餐廳的藍丘大道(Blue Hill Avenue),就有很有發展潛力。

Chris Worrell也說明,這重新草擬的法案,刪除了申請原件中給目標社區的45張酒牌刪除了。

Chris Worrell和麻州參議員Liz Miranda原本遞出的法案,是要在5年之內,給10個郵遞區號增加250張酒牌。

麻州眾議會通過的這一法案,將交由麻州參議會審議,若也通過,再交付麻州州長簽決。

波士頓市酒牌稀缺,由來已久,一張酒牌如今甚至可賣到60萬元,波士頓市為此已爭取了不下10年之久。

星期六, 6月 01, 2024

City of Boston Funding updates

 

CITY OF BOSTON

The Funding Update

 

FEDERAL

The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, 6/20/2024
The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program provides capital advance funding for the development of supportive rental housing for very-low-income persons aged 62 years or older and project rental subsidies in the form of a Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) to maintain ongoing affordability. This program provides elderly persons with the opportunity to live independently, but with important voluntary support services such as nutritional, transportation, continuing education, and health-related services. In addition, this year’s NOFO includes funding to support the development of intergenerational housing for elderly caregivers raising children. Funding of approximately $115,000,000 is available through this NOFO. 


Justice Department, Grants.gov deadline: 6/24/2024 or Just Grants deadline: 7/8/2024                              The National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Community Awareness Projects program seeks to enable organizations to provide financial and technical assistance to approximately 300 communities (100 each year) nationwide to conduct public education and awareness activities on crime victims’ rights and services in their jurisdictions during the 2025–2027 National Crime Victims’ Rights Weeks. The program furthers the DOJ’s mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights. Anticipated maximum dollar amount per award will be up to $1,750,000. 

Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program, 6/28/2024
The Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Project (RFCCMED) seeks to provide refugee participants with training and technical assistance in professional childcare, microenterprise development, and financial literacy; assist refugee participants in navigating the childcare licensing process; and provide direct financial assistance as needed to enable participants to prepare their homes for childcare business operation. The three main objectives of RFCCMED are to help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency by establishing licensed family childcare businesses, help refugee families gain access to licensed family childcare businesses which will meet the early care and developmental needs of refugee children, and assist refugees in learning how to navigate mainstream childcare services. Grants up to $250,000.00.



National Endowment for the Arts, Grants.gov deadline: 8/1/2024, NEA Portal deadline: 8/15/2024
Our Town is the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, the program supports projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities over the long term. Successful projects demonstrate a specific role for arts, culture, and design as part of strategies for strengthening local communities, ultimately centering equity and laying the groundwork for long-term systems change tailored to community needs and opportunities. All applications must be submitted by one organization and require one partner organization. The applicant/partner pair must include a nonprofit organization and a local government or quasi-government entity. Applicants may request an amount between $25,000-$150,000, with a required minimum non-federal cost share/match equal to the grant amount.


SYSTEM FOR AWARDS MANAGEMENT UPDATE:
The federal government has transitioned from DUNS to the Unique Entity ID.
A UEI is required to apply for and receive federal awards.
The process is extensive; plan ahead.
For more information, go to the FAQ page at SAM.gov.


Federal funding opportunities are continuously updated on grants.gov


STATE


Massachusetts Dept of Early Education & Childcare, 9/1/2024 

The Early Childhood Scholarship provides financial assistance if you are currently employed in an early childhood field. This includes all licensed and funded EEC program types (group and school aged, out-of-school time, family child care and residential & placement programs).The scholarship supports early childhood staff who are enrolled (or plan to enroll in) a higher education certificate, associates, bachelors or masters degree program at an approved institution in Massachusetts. Supported certificates and degrees include Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education, Child Development, Family Studies, Child and Family Studies, Human Services, Psychology, Child Psychology, Child Care Administration, and Social Work.


CITY



Food Bank Local Support Grant Program, 6/4/2024
The Mayor’s Office of Food Justice (OFJ) is accepting applications for funding to support bulk purchase of food by the food bank for food pantries in Boston. Food banks play a critical role in ensuring that food pantries have a steady supply of healthy, nutritious food and to provide culturally relevant options and perishable food where possible. The City of Boston seeks to continue ensuring all food pantries in Boston have a consistent supply of food despite the increasing cost of groceries. This grant will provide the food bank with resources to support food pantries' availability to purchase this food from the food bank directly. Grant up to $100,000.00



The Opportunity Fund, 6/9/2024

 MOAC is streamlining the Opportunity Fund into a single unrestricted grant of $3,000. The revised grant program aims to increase creative workers’ social impact by uplifting artists' creative practice, assisting their professional creative career development, and bolstering economic opportunities for artists within the City of Boston.



FY24 Cultural Affairs Mini Grant Program, 6/10/2024
Boston-based community organizations are invited to join the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs by hosting a community building event, welcoming the general public to build connections with Boston’s vibrant cultures and communities. The purpose of these one-time community building events are to foster belonging and promote social integration and cohesion among our diverse immigrant residents and allies, as well as raise awareness of existing community programs and services and elevate the contributions of the various cultures to our City. Grants up to $5,000.00.



Senior Homeowner Services Program, 6/18/2024
The City of Boston’s Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH), is seeking experienced non-profit agencies  to administer services for its Senior Homeowner Services (SHOS) Programs for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026. Senior Homeowner Services is a unit of The Boston Home Center Division. SHOS is making Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) funds available to award. Grants range $180,000 to $350,000.


FOUNDATIONS





Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, 6/15/2024                                                                                                                 Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog accepts grant applications semi-annually for essential equipment, training, & purchase of K-9 dogs. Essential equipment includes specialized equipment for the K-9 dog (bullet/stab-protective K-9 vests, K-9 first aid kits, canine oxygen masks, reflective K-9 gear, specialized harnesses), training/protective clothing (bite suits/pants/jackets/sleeves/hand protectors/helmets), K-9 cruiser specialized items (kennels, heat detector/door popper units, secure storage units, door panels, window guards/fans, rear A/C systems), training aids (scent kits), training equipment (K-9 agility structures, scent-training boxes).



Fuller Foundation, 6/15/2024
The Fuller Foundation primarily funds non-profit agencies that support youth at risk, protect wildlife, and showcase the arts. Grants up to $7,500.00.


Barbara McDowell and Gerald S. Hartman Foundation, (LOI) 6/15/2024                                                    The foundation awards grants to organizations that undertake systemic social justice litigation across the fifteen issue areas of access to benefits, children’s rights, disability rights, discrimination, domestic violence, due process, environmental justice, health care, homelessness, housing, Native American rights, prisoner’s rights, refugee and immigration rights, veterans’ rights, and voting rights. Applications must be for a specific social justice legal case, including the filing of an appeal. Grants are made for the sole purpose of paying for litigation costs, including attorney time charges and litigation related expenses, and grant funds are to be used only for attorney time charges and litigation expenses related to the specific case for which an organization is applying to be funded.


The Collective Futures Fund, 6/16/2024

The Collective Futures Fund is now accepting applications. The Collective Futures Fund is a grant program administered by the Tufts University Art Galleries and is a part of the Regional Regranting Program of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The Collective Futures Fund will award a total of $80,000 to collaborative and public-facing projects by visual artists, curators, and collectives across Plymouth, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Middlesex counties. Grants range from $2,000 to $7,500.


Bank of America Charitable Foundation, 6/21/2024
Provides philanthropic support to build thriving communities by addressing issues fundamental to economic mobility, including workforce development and education, community development and basic needs. Through partnerships, the foundation supports vulnerable populations, including working families, youth, seniors, individuals living with disabilities, veterans, and those impacted by the criminal justice system – enabling them to move forward in their goals. While there are local variations, as a general guide, grant amounts in larger markets can range from $5,000 to $50,000. Grant amounts in smaller markets can range from $2,500 to $25,000.



Circle for Justice Innovations’s Leadership Circle, 6/21/2024
Circle for Justice Innovations’s Leadership Circle supports grassroots organizations working to transform and reimagine the current U.S. criminal legal system, build new alternative community-based solutions, and organize to stop the criminalization of marginalized identities and communities. Support will be provided for movement-building organizing efforts that build alternatives to create safe and healthy communities that don't rely on arrest and incarceration, invest in approaches to end mass criminalization and incarceration. Eligible organizations must be led by people who have been incarcerated or others who have been directly impacted by the system, have budgets of $1 million or less, and be committed to achieving systems change through organizing.



Nature’s Path, 6/24/2024
The Nature’s Path Gardens for Good grant program supports nonprofit organizations with community garden projects in the U.S. and Canada. For 2024, grants will be provided to nonprofit organizations that have an urban organic agriculture feeding project or program providing food to serve low-income communities, soup kitchens, food banks, emergency pantries, school feeding programs, shelters, or similar types of organizations.




P.E.A.R.L. Pledge is Pearl Milling Company, 6/26/2024
P.E.A.R.L. Pledge is Pearl Milling Company’s community funding initiative focused on championing the empowerment and success of Black women and girls across the U.S. A total of $1 million will be provided to nonprofit organizations doing work or offering programming that serves Black women and girls in alignment with the following P.E.A.R.L. Pledge pillars: prosperity, with a focus on alleviating systemic barriers and inequities in areas such as food, housing, employment, financial support, and generational wealth; empowerment, including inspiring and encouraging Black women and girls to attain holistic wellness and success in areas such as confidence building, self-esteem, and mental and physical health; access, with a focus on enhancing equal opportunity to education and entrepreneurship in areas such as scholarships, grants, capital, and financial literacy; representation, with a focus on elevating Black women and girls in areas such as culinary arts, food innovation, science, and media; and leadership, including advancing skill development and access to resources for emerging talent in areas such as public speaking, strategic thinking, team building, and mentorship. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities based in the United States and align with one or more P.E.A.R.L. Pledge pillars. Grant amount: $10,000 to $100,000. 


lululemon Centre for Social Impact, (LOI) 6/3/2024 & 6/28/2024                                                    Applications are invited for the lululemon 2025 Here to Be Grant, which will award general operating support of up to $50,000 to community-led nonprofit organizations working to create equity in well-being, and serving populations most impacted by systemic inequity. Applicants must be working to create access to physical, mental, and/or social well-being. Applications from organizations working at the intersection of environment and well- being are also welcomed. An annual budget of less than $2 million is preferred. 


Family Medicine Cares USA, 7/15/2024
The grants support the purchase of durable medical equipment and instruments necessary for diagnosis and treatment related to primary care. Priority is given to new clinic applications, but when funds are available, existing clinic applications will be considered for funding. Applicants for a new clinic grant must have opened or will open within six months of the application deadline, have received or are in the process of receiving the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics Seal of Excellence, and have an American Academy of Family Physicians member in a leadership role within the clinic. Up to $25,000 for new clinics and up to $10,000 for existing clinics.


The Morgan Stanley Alliance, 7/8/2024
The Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health Innovation Awards provide seed funding for transformative mental healthcare solutions for children and youth across the U.S. The Awards seek new or piloted projects from direct-service organizations that will help address the far-reaching challenges of stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues in children and young adults in the U.S. Projects must tackle specific issues and address unmet needs, with a goal of reducing stigma, increasing access to care, improving equity in mental health, enabling early identification and prevention, or enhancing intervention, especially among disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities are eligible, with a focus on those with an annual total revenue under $5 million. Five winners will receive grants to scale their innovative work as well as leadership training and other opportunities, while a broader group of applicants will be invited to join a leadership learning series. Five winners receive $100,000 each in seed funding.


The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, 9/1/2024                                                                                                       The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation awards grants to organizations that operate a lending bookmobile that travels into neighborhoods populated by underserved youth. The grants are for purchasing books published for young people preschool through grade 8. Bookmobiles operated by charitable [501(c)(3)] and other non-taxable agencies, including public libraries or schools, are eligible. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that serve economically or socially at-risk children, have limited book budgets, and demonstrate real need.Grants range from $500 to $3000 and are specifically for book purchases, and cannot be used for administrative or operational uses.

Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, 10/01/2024
The foundation invites applications to its National Grassroots Organizing Program (NGO), which offers two-year, unrestricted, general operating support grants of up to $30,000 per year—with an average grant size of $20,000 per year—to small, constituent-led grassroots organizations across the United States and its territories. While the foundation’s broad goals are to further social and environmental justice, its primary purpose is to support the local leadership and grassroots organizing activities of our grant partners rather than any specific issues the organizations are addressing. The foundation is interested in supporting groups that are carrying out activities that build support and collective action to address impacts of inequity and injustice in their communities.


Toshiba America Foundation, 10/01/2024                                                                                                          The mission of Toshiba America Foundation is to promote quality science and mathematics education in U.S. schools. Grants are made for programs and activities that improve teaching and learning in science and mathematics, grades K-5. The Foundation focuses its grant making on inquiry-based projects designed by individual teachers, and small teams of teachers, for use in their own classrooms. Summer projects or after school programs cannot be considered. Salaries, facility maintenance, textbooks, video production, audio-visual equipment (e.g. electronic white boards, Smartboards, document projectors, student response systems) and education research will not be funded. No grants are available for computer hardware. Other funding opportunities, with different deadlines, are available to support grades 6-12.  Average award is $1,000.00.


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