中華耆英會慶52週年 表揚眾議員麥家威、中華公所

中華耆英會董事、工作人員及嘉賓一起敬酒。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 中華耆英會9月18日晚在帝苑大酒樓慶祝52週年，頒發傑出公共服務獎給麻州眾議會財政委員會主席麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz)，傑出社區夥伴獎給紐英崙中華公所，宣佈在林肯街216號成立「健康中心」，將針對患失智症長者推出新服務項目。

梅伍銀寬 (左一)和吳弭，中華耆英會董事會主席陳建立一起頒發
傑出公共服務獎給麥家威(左二)。(周菊子攝)

                         波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)應創辦人梅伍銀寬邀請，親自出席頒獎，令盛會更加隆重。

 這場晚會由中華耆英會白禮頓樓主任梅麗梨，以及林黎輝擔任司儀，出席嘉賓還有波士頓老人局局長Emily Shea，波士頓市議員Erin Murphy，愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn)，波士頓經文處副處長施維鈞，波士頓僑教中心主任高家富等人。

陳建立(右起)、吳弭，梅伍銀寬一起頒發傑出社區夥伴獎給紐英崙中華公所，
由主席雷國輝、財政陳余寶愛、財政張青梅、中文書記翁宇才聯袂領取。(周菊子攝)

              中華耆英會是梅伍銀寬、阮陳金鳳等人，當年眼見華裔耆英面對語言不通障礙，文化差異困擾，蟄居華埠之內，完全不知道，也不懂得使用政府提供的許多資源，有時甚至連餐熱食都吃不上，這才籌組成立中華耆英會。

              歷經52年的篳路藍縷經營後，中華耆英會如今已是大波士頓內，以華裔耆英為主要對象，最具規模的社會服務機構，不但在君子樓、康樂樓、白禮頓樓等地設有服務據點，籌款買下康樂樓，照顧耆英的居住問題，還每天要為逾千名老人家送營養餐。

波士頓僑教中心主任高家富(後右二)、波士頓經文處副處長施維鈞(後右三)
等人和中華耆英會行政主任梅伍銀寬(前左向右)、麻州眾議會財政委員會
主席麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz)、波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，波士頓
老人局局長Emily Shea合影。(周菊子攝)

              麻州眾議員麥家威當年早從為波士頓市長萬寧路 (Tom Menino)工作起，就已開始和華埠打交道，其後擔任眾議會議長助理，再到他自己當選麻州眾議員，成為眾議會中地位僅次於議長的財政委員會主席，更一直都是華埠的民代。許多看著他長大的波士頓華埠民眾，對他上任後聆聽民意，近年還為華埠多個社會服務機構爭取的政府經費補助，包括為中華公所爭取到10萬元辦理英語教學等，都讓華埠民眾窩心。

中華耆英會行政主任梅伍銀寬(左起)和董事阮愛玲、吳皓、方柳君夫婦，以及
嘉賓馬滌凡一起演唱。(周菊子攝)

              紐英崙中華公所在全權取得大同村管理權後，財庫充實，也開始更加照顧社區機構，今年8月的中華公所董事會，就批准三萬元，贊助中華耆英會的週年慶。中華耆英會為此十分感謝華埠社團對該會服務成績的認可。

              波士頓市長吳弭這晚不但親自出席，為中華耆英會頒獎給她的老朋友麥家威，及中華公所，還特地在致詞中感念當年陳毓禮對她的提攜。

波士頓市議員Ed Flynn (右一)、Erin Murphy (左二)和波士頓
老人局局長Emily Shea頒表揚狀，中華耆英會行政主任梅伍銀寬(中)
和耆英會董事會主席陳建立聯美領取。 (周菊子攝)

              18日晚，中華耆英會安排了君子樓舞蹈團表演「一條大河」、「傳奇」等舞蹈，準備了喜來登酒店住宿，龍鳳酒樓禮券，樂嚐軒禮券，王氏青年會家庭會員，易緹秀美容護膚，梅國治攝影作品「雪景」等10樣物品拍賣籌款，抽獎彩券的現金獎高達1000元。

              中華耆英會董事們還在吳皓、方柳君帶頭下，和行政主任梅伍銀寬，嘉賓馬滌凡一起高歌「月亮代表我的心」，為晚會落幕，畫下最佳句點。

君子樓舞蹈團表演。(周菊子攝)

梅氏公所主席梅麗梨和前任昆士中學校長黃伯勳夫婦等人。 (周菊子攝)

當年和梅伍銀寬一同創立中華耆英會的百歲人瑞阮陳金鳳(右二)在侄孫女，
波士頓節慶交響樂團創辦人王麗霞(右)，兒子Tim Chin (左二)及陳毓禮的兒子
陳孟君(左一)等人陪同中，出席耆英會周年慶。(周菊子攝)

梅麗梨(左)和林黎輝(右)擔任晚會司儀。他倆的當晚髮型由
琪棋髮廊贊助。(周菊子攝)

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ANNUAL LEGACY BUSINESS AWARD NOMINATIONS

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ANNUAL LEGACY BUSINESS AWARD NOMINATIONS Residents are encouraged to nominate iconic, long standing businesses located within the city by November 1, 2024

BOSTON - Friday, September 20, 2024 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu and the Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Cabinet announced that the nomination period for the third annual Legacy Business Awards is now open through Friday, November 1, 2024. Residents are encouraged to nominate long standing businesses that have been located within the city of Boston for at least 10 years and contribute to the cultural, historical, and societal fabric of their community or neighborhood. To nominate a business, residents can use the online form or fill out a physical form at their local Boston Public Library branch.   To date, 60 local businesses representing 2,267 years of service to all of Boston’s neighborhoods have been honored through the Legacy Business Program. By recognizing and supporting legacy businesses on an annual basis, this program supports Mayor Wu’s vision for Boston being a family-friendly and vibrant city that creates more opportunities for residents to build generational wealth. “The rich history of Boston is kept alive in these businesses,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The Legacy Business Program not only preserves that legacy, but also provides the recognition that leads to a more prosperous future for our small business community. I want to thank our partners and the Office of Small Business for all that they do in support of our legacy businesses.”  After the nomination period closes, the City Council will review the list of nominated, eligible businesses and create a shortlist of potential awardees. Then, a committee that includes representatives from City departments and Boston Main Streets will review this shortlist and submit a list of finalists to Mayor Wu. Selections are based on application scoring and community support. The committee ensures the list is representative of Boston by industry, neighborhood, gender, and race. “We are proud to continue this hallmark initiative of Mayor Wu, which invites residents across the city to honor the commitment, investment, and impact that small business owners make in our neighborhoods,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “Because of the work of the Office of Small Business, this initiative continues to ensure the stability of these community bedrocks for generations to come.”    The City of Boston will recognize the 30 Legacy Business Award winners at a public awards ceremony in spring 2025. The Office of Small Business will provide awardees with access to grant funding, a commercial lease toolkit, free legal consultation, and other technical assistance focused on succession planning and employee ownership.  “Every year my office has the honor of highlighting 30 small businesses through a community-driven process. These businesses are the heartbeats of our city,” said Aliesha Porcena, Director of Small Business for the City of Boston. “We continue to build on this program, ensuring these businesses have the resources, tools, and support they need to continue to thrive. This is an aspect of the larger work of our office, which seeks to create a community where businesses feel supported, and are not alone. Through partners, programs, policy, and people, it is our mission to support businesses to start, grow, and build in Boston.” "We were so honored to be recognized as a Legacy Business by the City," said Courtney Flynn, Trident Booksellers and Cafe. "The Trident has been independent and family-owned for 40 years, and as a small business, we are always looking for ways to innovate, adapt, and stay successful. Winning this award is providing us with additional resources to make it another 40 years!" The nomination form is available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, Somali, Russian, and French. Nominations are limited to one per resident. To learn more, visit the Legacy Business Program website.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates First Place in Digital Government Experience Award

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates First Place in Digital Government Experience Award    

Center for Digital Government’s GovX award recognizes Massachusetts for its use of technology to better serve constituents    

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that Massachusetts has received the first-place Government Experience (GovX) award from the Center for Digital Government. The award recognizes the state’s efforts to continually improve the experience for residents accessing services and information via the web.    

The central component of Massachusetts’ leadership is the Commonwealth Digital Roadmap, which aims to provide accessible, simple, consistent, and secure digital experiences that meet the expectations and needs of our residents as they navigate the digital landscape of state government.   

Developed by the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) and the Massachusetts Digital Service (Mass Digital), the roadmap incorporates diverse perspectives from across the state in the form of direct resident feedback and cross-agency collaboration. Recognizing the critical role that technology plays in the delivery of government services and in the lives of our residents, this enterprise initiative places people at the center of the state's digital strategy.   

“The Digital Roadmap is a game-changer, and the GovX award is a testament to our state’s leadership in digital government. Thanks to the hard work of Secretary Snyder and his team, we are making government more accessible and focusing our state agencies on the customer experience to deliver the services and information people are looking for, tailored to their needs,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The Digital Roadmap is how we pair this vision with investment in our state, and we are so proud to accept this award for our nation-leading progress in this area.”   

"The GovX award shines a light on our mission of keeping people at the heart of everything we do,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This project is the culmination of cross-agency collaboration to center the needs of the constituent when we think about service delivery. We are so proud to receive this award and look forward to continuing to lead by making government more accessible, safer and more responsive to all residents.”   

Launched in July 2022, the Commonwealth Digital Roadmap initiative has already improved the experiences of millions through the implementation of MyMassGov, a multilingual chatbot, strategically organized web content to make it easier for residents to find what they’re looking for, and other personalized features. MyMassGov is a secure single sign-on solution currently serving 1.5 million residents, allowing them to use a single account and password to sign in to all participating Massachusetts state services and applications. Soon, those residents will be able to store additional profile information and choose to share that with agencies to make applying for, accessing, and updating services quick and efficient. Longer term, MyMassGov will enable universal profile management and identity verification to Massachusetts constituents interacting with the state. The multilingual chatbot “Ask MA” serves over 700,000 active monthly users, answering an average of 3.75M visitor messages and 94.7% of responses.  Mass Digital has launched a Live Chat pilot with one agency and will soon launch a pilot LLM-chatbot with another agency partner.  

The Roadmap is supported by Governor Healey's FutureTech Act of 2024, which she signed into law in July, authorizing an additional $110 million for its implementation.  

The Roadmap will continue to deliver value across five focus areas: 

• Defining Identity: Helping people create and manage a single secure and recognizable user profile they can use to gain access to all government services. 
• Tracking Progress: Improving end-to-end service delivery and better keeping people in the loop about the progress of their requests and transactions. 
• Streamlining Communications: Improving our communications channels to meet people where they are, provide simple and clear instructions in their language, and use their feedback to continuously improve. 
• Tailoring Moments: Providing personalized and accessible experiences that can adapt and cater to people's diverse and changing needs. 
• Finding Answers: Making up-to-date information about the state available online so people know the Commonwealth is a reliable source of truth when making decisions.    

“We are deeply humbled to be recognized by the Center for Digital Government for our work to make government more accessible and responsive,” said Technology Services and Security Secretary Jason Snyder. “We are now at a point where the vast majority of residents’ first interactions with government are through the web, and we are actively working to make that experience seamless and fully integrated for all our constituents.”  

“We have been working hard to ensure that you do not have to be an expert in state government to access the critical services that you need,” said Technology Services and Security Assistant Secretary and Chief Engagement Officer Matthew Moran. “By prioritizing research and design, and leveraging feedback and analytics, we are able to deliver the simple, accessible and frictionless end to end experiences our constituents have come to expect in their daily lives.”  

“Excellent digital experiences aren’t about technology, they’re about people.” said Massachusetts Chief Digital Officer Devyn Paros. “Our roadmap is having an impact because we’re designing and delivering digital services for and with the people we serve. We’re excited to be recognized for our efforts to date and look forward to driving even more progress across state government.”   

 “We are at the beginning of a new era where agencies must now focus on building the infrastructure to support the multiple paths and technologies constituents will use to interface with their government,” said Dustin Haisler, President of e.Republic. “While many experiences were enhanced by emerging technologies, it was notable to see leading agencies continue their human-centered approaches to service delivery and management.”  

麻州長和總檢察長發佈更新版中小學因應仇恨、歧視指南

Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell Issue Guidance on Addressing Hate and Bias in K-12 Schools 

Healey-Driscoll Administration awards $1.3 million in Genocide Education Grants, $338,000 in Hate Crime Prevention Grants 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura T. Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released updated guidance to K-12 schools on how to address hate and bias-motivated incidents consistent with their legal obligations. The guidance comes amid a rise in antisemitism, racism, anti-LGBTQ+ hate, Islamophobia, and hate across the globe, the country and Massachusetts – including a rise in hate-fueled assaults, incidents of white supremacist propaganda, discriminatory bullying and harassment in Massachusetts K-12 schools. 

The guidance has been specifically updated to help school districts distinguish between protected student speech and unprotected bullying and harassment. It reminds school districts of their legal obligations to allow for discourse and expression of different viewpoints while also promptly investigating and responding to any and all incidents of alleged harassment or bullying. It also calls on school districts to take affirmative steps to create school environments that are safe and inclusive for all students and prevent hate and bias incidents from occurring.   

“It pains me to see the rise in antisemitism, anti-LGBTQ+ hate, racism, Islamophobia and hate happening across our state, our country, and the world. I’m particularly concerned about the prevalence of hate and violence in our schools. I know that our communities are hurting, and they are frightened,” said Governor Healey. “Attorney General Campbell and I are issuing this guidance to send a clear message that hate has no place in Massachusetts – especially not in our schools. This guidance and these grants are giving our schools the tools they need to better prevent and respond to hate. Together, we can ensure that our schools are safe, welcoming, inclusive environments for all students.” 

“Our administration strongly condemns hate of all kinds. But with hate crimes on the rise across our state, it’s essential that we act,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This guidance empowers schools to better prevent hate, support the mental health and wellbeing of their students, and celebrate our amazing, diverse, and inclusive communities.” 

“It’s crucial that our schools take a firm stand against hate, discrimination, and bullying while also protecting students’ rights to free speech and expression, particularly in the context of ongoing violence both here and abroad,” said AG Campbell. “I am proud to partner with Governor Healey to release this updated guidance, which will help school districts navigate their legal obligations in this area and foster safe and inclusive environments for all.” 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration and Attorney General’s Office’s approach to addressing hate is focused on awareness, education, and understanding. Their goal is to create environments that are safe for self-expression and conducive to dialogue and learning. This requires celebrating diverse perspectives, teaching the histories of marginalized communities, honoring their contributions to Massachusetts society, and creating safe forums for self-expression and discourse. 

The updated legal guidance is accompanied by a Q&A designed for school leaders, families, and community members, and a “quick guide” flyer for families and students on responding to hate and discriminatory bullying and harassment. These documents help to ensure that all school officials have the information and tools they need to proactively create school environments that promote learning and dialogue, prevent and denounce hate in all its forms, and effectively address hate incidents when they occur. 

Next month, the Attorney General’s Office will hold a Webinar training session for school leaders/principals, superintendents and school district attorneys to educate them about this updated guidance and answer any questions.   

To further bolster schools’ efforts to respond to hate crimes, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has also awarded over $338,000 in Hate Crime Prevention grants to eight school districts. These are designed to support or expand programs that help educators, staff, administrators, and students reduce incidents of bias in schools. Funding supports educator professional development, community engagement and other costs associated with tackling the reduction of acts of bias and hate crimes in Massachusetts K-12 schools. This investment promotes school partnerships and collaboration with local community organizations and law enforcement, including local human rights organizations that have relationships and expertise in promoting equity, building positive school climates, preventing hate crimes, and addressing bias-motivated incidents.  

DESE has also awarded $1.34 million in Genocide Education Grants to 43 Local Education Agencies, which supports districts in selecting and/or developing curriculum, providing professional development, and creating enrichment experiences related to genocide education. The program aims to train educators in content knowledge and teaching skills relevant to genocide education, more fully and sustainably incorporate genocide education resources into core curricula and provide meaningful learning experiences for students relating to genocide education.  

“Schools should be places where all students, staff, and families are welcomed, and diversity is championed. Here in Massachusetts, we stand firmly against hate – and we are backing up that commitment by delivering this guidance and these investments, so schools are equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to foster safe and inclusive environments that allow every student to feel supported and thrive,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.  

“These grants are important investments in building safe and respectful school communities where all students are known and valued,” said Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Russell D. Johnston. “Both the hate crimes prevention and genocide education grants are built on avoiding the mistakes of the past and recognizing the dignity in everyone.”  

To report a school-based incident of hate or bias, individuals may contact the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division online or at 617-963-2817.  

Fiscal Year 2024 Hate Crime Prevention Grant Round Two Recipients: 

School District Recipient	Award
Boston Collegiate Charter	$50,000
Danvers Public Schools	$50,000
Hadley Public Schools	$35,945
Lynn Public Schools	$43,000
Middleborough Public Schools	$19,000
Sandwich Public Schools	$50,000
Wayland Public Schools	$50,000
Westport Public Schools	$40,120

FY24 and FY25 Genocide Education Grant Recipients: 

Local Education Agency Recipient	Award
Andover	$40,000
Arlington	$39,500
Boston Collegiate Charter	$20,000
Bridge Boston Charter	$20,000
Brookline	$60,000
Cambridge	$60,000
Codman Academy	$16,000
Community Day Charter	$36,225
Collaborative for Regional Educational Service and Training	$20,000
Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District	$15,000
Fitchburg	$40,000
Gloucester	$40,000
Hadley	$1,900
Haverhill	$60,000
Holliston	$31,150
Holyoke	$33,700
Littleton	$40,000
Lynn	$60,000
Lynnfield	$40,000
Malden	$40,069
Manchester Essex Regional School District	$30,000
Marshfield	$15,300
Mashpee	$21,600
Mendon-Upton	$39,370
New Heights Charter	$6,000
Newburyport	$40,000
Newton	$59,750
North Andover	$39,500
Northampton	$18,400
Northborough and Southborough (joint award)	$20,000
Northboro-Southboro	$16,500
Peabody	$60,000
Phoenix Charter Academy	$20,000
Randolph	$15,390
Salem	$15,085
Shrewsbury	$19,320
Somerset Berkley Regional School District	$20,000
South Shore Charter	$40,000
Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical	$29,250
Stoneham	$40,000
Woburn	$14,080
Worcester	$50,000

麻州經濟發展廳廳長郝依平推廣MA250 (視頻)