波士頓市將分發1800件玩具 與0-17歲居民分享聖誕歡樂

(Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市宣佈，將在12月11日到21日的其中6日，分發1,800件玩具給住在波士頓市公屋 (BHA)，或參加波士頓青少年家庭中心 (BCYF)活動的0到17歲兒童及青少年，助力更多家庭有個更開心的聖誕節。

波士頓市這每年一度，在聖誕節期間徵集、派發玩具的活動，今年擴大舉辦，由市府的社區參與內閣 (Community Engagement Cabinet)和波士頓青年和家庭中心 （BCYF） 、波士頓房屋局 （BHA） 合辦，並得到亞馬遜、玩具基金會、美國州郡及地方政府員工聯盟(AFSCME），以及士頓建築工會的支持。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)表示，每個小孩子都應該在這節慶假日期間感到歡樂。波士頓是很幸運有機會和那麼的企業及社區組織合作，為市內許多家庭帶來假日氣氛，拿到些有趣的玩具。

              玩具基金會行政主任Pam Mastrota，亞馬遜 (Amazon)新英格蘭社區參與主管Jerome Smith，波士頓房屋局局長Kenzie Bok，美國州郡及地方政府員工聯盟(AFSCME）93協會行政主任Mark Bernard，社區參與內閣長Brianna Millor，BCYF局長Marta Rivera，平等及包容長Mariangely Solis Cervera等人，都為一眾機構合作，今年能夠照顧到更多兒童、青少年及家庭感到開心。

              第一次分發玩具活動，已於12月5日，由波士頓市社區參與內閣，波士頓青少年家庭中心，波士頓房屋局在查理士城的邦克丘房屋翻修大樓舉辦完畢。

              波士頓市長吳弭將於12月12日，率市府員工到波士頓青少年家庭中心的萬寧路社區中心分發玩具給住在波士頓公屋，以及在波士頓青少年及家庭中心附近的居民們。

              波士頓市平等及包容內閣(Equity and Inclusion Cabinet)將於12月21日在洛士百利的Bruce C. Bolling地方市政大樓舉辦波士頓回饋活動，分發免費玩具。參與支持的組織及機構包括

Fidelity Investments, Boston Public School Custodians, Artists Initiative for Revolution (AIR), Russell Paulding, Ocean State Job Lot, and TD Garden / Delaware North / Boston Bruins. 

              未來的分發玩具日期已排定為:

Wednesday, December 11，Commonwealth Apartments, 35 Fidelis Way, Brighton

Thursday, December 12，BCYF Menino Community Center，125 Brookway Road, Roslindale

Wednesday, December 18 ，Franklin Field Housing，100 Ames Street, Dorchester

Thursday, December 19 ，BCYF Gallivan Community Center ，61 Woodruff Way, Mattapan

Friday, December 20，BCYF Johnson，68 Annunciation Road, Mission Hill

Saturday, December 21，Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building，2300 Washington St, Roxbury

 MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF THE CITY’S ANNUAL TOY DRIVE 

City and community partners to distribute more than 1,800 toys to children and families in Boston 

BOSTON - Monday, December 9, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu announced that the City of Boston is expanding its annual toy drive, and will be distributing more than 1,800 toys to children and families in need. This year, the toy drive is led by the City’s Community Engagement Cabinet, Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF), and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) with support from partners Amazon, The Toy Foundation, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and Greater Boston Building Trades Unions. Over the course of six days, Mayor Wu will join City leadership and staff, union partners, community volunteers, and The Toy Foundation to distribute toys to children ages 0-17 living in BHA housing or neighborhoods surrounding BCYF centers.

 

“Every single child deserves to experience the joys of the holiday season,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are blessed to have the opportunity to partner with so many businesses and community organizations to bring the holiday spirit and some fun toys to families across our city.”

“When you give a child a toy, you are giving hope and joy. We’re grateful for our partners within the City of Boston, Amazon, and our toy distribution partner, World Vision, who are helping us place toys into the hands of thousands of children who need them most,” said Pam Mastrota, Executive Director of The Toy Foundation.

"Delivering smiles is at the core of what Amazon strives to do, which is why we are delighted to support the City of Boston's expanded holiday toy drive," said Jerome Smith, Head of Community Engagement for New England at Amazon. "We're proud to join with the City once again to not just distribute toys, but to deliver hope, happiness, and smiles to families throughout Boston this holiday season."

The first toy giveaway led by the Community Engagement Cabinet, BCYF, and BHA was held at the Bunker Hill Housing Redevelopment in Charlestown on December 5. Mayor Wu will distribute toys directly to residents in Roslindale on Thursday, December 12 at the BCYF Menino Community Center alongside City staff and partners. The toy giveaways are open to Boston residents who live in Boston Housing Authority sites and in neighborhoods surrounding BCYF centers. 

"It’s wonderful to have so many partners come together to make the holidays a little brighter for BHA families," said Boston Housing Authority Administrator Kenzie Bok. "By delivering toys to children in our communities, we’re not only spreading joy and hope but also creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime."

The upcoming 2024 holiday toy giveaway dates are as follows:

Wednesday, December 11

Commonwealth Apartments 

35 Fidelis Way, Brighton

Thursday, December 12 

BCYF Menino Community Center

125 Brookway Road, Roslindale

Wednesday, December 18 

Franklin Field Housing 

100 Ames Street, Dorchester

Thursday, December 19 

BCYF Gallivan Community Center 

61 Woodruff Way, Mattapan

Friday, December 20

BCYF Johnson 

68 Annunciation Road, Mission Hill

Saturday, December 21

Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building

2300 Washington St, Roxbury

“AFSCME Council 93 leaders and members feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Mayor Wu to make the holiday season brighter for Archdale Families,” said Council 93 Executive Director Mark Bernard. “Given the work that the Mayor, her team and the AFSCME Boston leadership has accomplished together to improve the lives of our members, it’s nice to work with her directly on something good for our community as a whole.”

“Bringing holiday cheer to children and families directly to neighborhoods is essential to continuing to meet constituents where they are,” said Community Engagement Cabinet Chief Brianna Millor. “BCYF and BHA have always been a place of gathering for residents. We are grateful for their partnership to help spread joy this season.”

“The Mayor’s Toy Drive is truly a community event, and we’re thrilled to be part of it,” said Boston Centers for Youth and Families Commissioner Marta Rivera. “We’re especially grateful to the donors who join with us in making sure all families can bring joy to children this holiday season.” 

In an effort to ensure all residents who do not live in BHA housing or close to a BCYF community center will have toys for their children during the holidays, the City of Boston’s Equity and Inclusion Cabinet will host a Boston Give Back event on Saturday, December 21 in Roxbury at the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building. Free toys will be distributed to children in the community. This event is supported by partners Fidelity Investments, Boston Public School Custodians, Artists Initiative for Revolution (AIR), Russell Paulding, Ocean State Job Lot, and TD Garden / Delaware North / Boston Bruins. 

“The holidays can be a beautiful and complex season for many of our residents, and at the City of Boston we are aware of this reality because many of us have lived it, too. That is why we close the season of giving with an event called Boston Gives Back, a day filled with holiday magic, food, and toys,” said Equity and Inclusion Cabinet Chief Mariangely Solis Cervera.

波士頓華埠社區議會7席位同額當選 新科議員只有黃新平

 

           (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠社區議會 (CNC) 的年度改選，12月8日共123人出席投票，7個席位又一年的由參選人同額當選，投票率再創新低。其中唯一的新科議員，香港小食老闆 黃新平 (Henry Wong) ，贏得這次選舉的最高票，79票。

              根據波士頓華埠社區議會印製的2025年選舉選票，7名參選人的參選類別及得票數分別為，機構類一席，在塔芙茨醫療中心任職的曾雪卿 37票；商戶類2席，保險代理業的陳國航39票，做物業管理的余麗媖75票；團體類一席，在州政府任職的阮鴻燦66票；居民類2席，在銀行任職的陳黛嫦72票，社工游誠康 44票；其他類一席，香港小食老闆黃新平78票。

              這7名參選人的任期將於2027年屆滿，其中6人為當選連任，只有黃新平為新科議員。

香港小食老闆黃新平日前出席華埠居民會月會，介紹自己。

              波士頓華埠社區議會共有議員21人，每人任期3年，每年改選7名議員。根據該會共同主席雷國輝公佈的2024年度議員名單，任期將於2025年屆滿的有機構類的梅伍銀寬、顏銘，商戶類的阮愛玲、翁偉健，組織類的李洪文、湯偉雄，其他類的湯瑞雲。

              將於2026年任期屆滿的議員為機構類的中華公所主席雷國輝，商戶類的大同藥房及房地產公司負責人周樹昂，團體類在塔芙茨醫療中心任職的黃競雄，居民類在華人醫務中心任職的李有香，中華耆英會白禮頓樓主任梅麗梨，其他類在銀行界工作的李典儒、中華公所物業發展經理鄭欣豪。

註:

                 華埠社區議會是個成立於1980年代，波士頓市政府認可，已有三、四十年歷史的民間社區組織，共有機構，商戶，組織，居民及其他等5個類別的議員共21人，每年改選7人，任期各3年，每年一月改選下一屆議會主席。        

             波士頓市內，早年地方社區組織不多，政府仰賴社區議會等機構蒐集民意，舉凡土地發展，牌照申請，市政府相關單位都要求申請者到社區議會等機構陳情，徵得民意支持後，市政府再進一步審核其他條件。

             隨著時代演進，社區發展，波士頓華埠內的華埠居民會、華埠社區聯盟也漸受波士頓市政府重視，於是曾經一度，凡是在華埠一帶的企業經營，餐飲酒牌，娛樂許可，或是土地發展的蓋樓建屋等，凡是需要申請政府證照者，市政府都會要求申請者先到華埠社區議會、華埠治安委員會、華埠居民會，華埠社區聯盟等組織陳情，做簡報。

             在競爭激烈的年份，例如2013年，波士頓華埠社區議會的選舉，曾出現逾千人出席投票盛況，其他時候，包括2010，2014，2015，2016，2018，2023，2024等至少7個年份，都因缺乏競爭，參選者同額當選，投票率是高或低，全看參選人是否催票。

新英格蘭台商會推出創業系列講座 王力遠介紹能源部等政府資源

新英格蘭台灣商會辦創業系列講座。

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會 (TCCNE) 展望2025年，12月3日推出創業講座系列第一講，請Loop CO2聯合創辦人暨執行長王力遠 (Aone Wang) 分享個人經驗、介紹政府資源，另安排海外信用保證基金介紹創業資金來源途徑。

Loop CO2是一家把二氧化碳轉化成特殊軟質生物可分解與低溫化學回收塑膠，適用於食品包裝，醫療器材及可回收半導體研磨墊等環保材料的公司，由王力遠和明尼蘇達州大學教授Ian tonks教授，技術長邱信淳等3人創辦，經歷過能源部考驗，在起始的25萬美元做研發後，獲選在2年間得到160萬元，進一步開發產品，驗證市場。

王力遠分享創業經驗，介紹美國政府資源

              在能源部的輔佐下，Loop CO2還得到退休執行長當顧問，與不同行業創業家腦力激盪等的協助，經由和至少80家企業洽談，發現了企業初創時的盲點，做過不下3次產品定位調整，來找到產品在產業中的核心價值。王力遠直言，這樣的磨練，從顧客需求角度去思考產品，多元化團隊等，對一家企業的奠定成功基礎有很大助益。

新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長王志維為商會推出創業講座系列。

在分享SBIR創業經驗的過程，王力遠也鼓勵聽眾參考能源部的產業發展方向來開發與參與其他產業。

              王力遠是從台大機械系畢業，在鴻海工作10年後，決定自行創業，提供印刷科技海報的服務，在新冠病毒疫情爆發，公司停擺一年半的期間，他研究了2000個小時和環保議題相關的youtube影片，其後憑藉曾有的產學合作經驗，在競爭能源部的項目中脫穎而出。

波士頓僑教中心主任高家富提醒有心創業者可利用海外信保基金申請貸款。

              王力遠為此總結其SBIR創業經驗，建議有意創業者先搞清楚自己的創業目的，手上有何資源及個人能力，廣泛了解所創事業內容的相關細節，找專長，才情和自己互補的夥伴合作，然後至少堅持2年。

海外信保基金經理周雅娜，業務副理何欣茹介紹海外信保基金，

王力遠最後還提供了5項創業資源，供有心者參考，包括 Podcast: How I Built This with Guy Raz，SBA.gov網站，MassCEC實習，Venture Deals這本書，麻州挑戰(Mass Challenge)。

在當天的講座中，應邀參與的波士頓僑教中心主任高家富特地安排海外信保基金來介紹基金業務，鼓勵僑臺商在事業經營有資金需求時，運用信保基金所提供服務，取得融資。信保基金經理周雅娜和業務副理何欣茹在會中簡報信保基金服務內容，分享實際案例，指出企業經營者最高可申請高達200萬美元貸款。

         TCCNE會長王志維在會末表示，該會將陸續舉辦講座，為有心創業者提供相關且實用的資訊。

王力遠提供的創業資源參考。

Rich Driscoll 接任A-1區警察小隊長 波士頓交通局邀民眾參與設計重建菲利普廣場

華埠居民會會長黃國威(右一)和居民們在華人前進會的會議室內
舉辦月例會。

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠居民會 (CRA)12月4日的月例會。介紹新警察，晤見香港小食老闆，給菲利普廣場重新設計提供意見。波士頓市華埠聯絡員黃楚嵐提醒居民，12月8日下午3點，吳弭市長將帶著聖誕列車進華埠點亮聖誕樹。

              波士頓警察局這天來了3名警察，除了Frank Wong之外，還有警官Crossen，以及取代Sean Martin的新隊長Rich Driscoll。

Rich Driscoll (下)接任A-1區警長。

              警察們循例向居民們簡報上個月的罪案紀錄，另外說明警察局正在招聘新警員，歡迎有意加入警界者和Frank Wong聯絡。

              在會議中，警察挑了3宗案件做簡報。

11月5日，有人偷走了亞馬遜 (Amazon)送到必珠街64號的包裹。很不幸的，由於沒有監控錄影可查，警察無法進一步處理。

              11月23 日，華盛頓街660號，遞送人員踏著滑板送包裹，結果滑板被偷。警察正在調查。

              11月16日，下午5點，在波約斯頓街 (Boylston) 2號地下室的華埠圖書館內，一名居民正在用電腦時，有個他不認識的人打他的頭，要搶電腦，他全力反擊，保全了自己的東西。嫌犯在警察來到前逃逸，但警察根據監控視頻抓到了嫌犯，並發現他是慣犯，將進一步處理此案。

香港小食老闆黃新地 (Henry Wong)自我介紹，盼為社區做事。

              警察們在會中還說明，由於滑板在華埠及城中區對行人造成困擾，將加強執法力度，計畫限制人們任意踩騎滑板，超速，闖紅燈。大約1週前，警察沒收了12輛非法，未登記滑板。警察計畫進一步的取締濫用滑板者。

              關於有人在街頭售賣偷盜來的物品一事，警察表示已聽到民眾關切的聲音，儘管警局正忙於遞補數名離職警員遺缺，已成立偷盜扒竊工作小組。就在12月4日這天，一名便衣警察在631號的CVS，就執行了6次逮捕。警察將持續巡視。

波士頓交通局派員出席華埠居民會月會，徵詢民眾對
菲利普廣場重建的設計有何意見。

              香港小食的老闆黃新地 (Henry Wong)這天出席華埠居民會。他說自己在華埠長大，上過昆士小學，長大後第一份工作就是在華埠的會賓樓，大約14、15年前，他自己開的第一家餐廳是”肥仔燒臘”，後來再開了家韓國餐館Waku Waku，如今再擁有了香港小食。這次他來介紹自己，是因為香港小食要慶祝開店35週年，他希望為華埠做事，回饋社區。

設計團隊考慮菲利普廣場的過去、現在及未來。

              華人前進會組織員鄺寶蓮表示，希望他加入保護華埠居民，避免逼遷處境的行列。黃新地欣然同意。有居民希望他保留華埠傳統文化，黃新地表示自己經營的餐廳都很傳統，他也樂意支持保留傳統文化。

              波士頓交通局 (BTD) 這天派員到場，向居民介紹菲利普廣場修繕計畫，已綠化整個社區為目標，正在完善設計，希望聽取民眾意見。

波士頓市府的菲利普廣場重建設計團隊。

設計建議之一是把菲利普廣場建為華埠的北門入口。

波士頓酒店食品業工人支持吳弭競選連任

BOSTON’S HOTEL AND FOOD WORKERS UNION ENDORSES MAYOR WU

Union Credits Mayor with Long Record of Partnership; Is First Private-Sector Union to Endorse Mayor

Boston, MA – The Boston-area hotel and food workers union, UNITE HERE Local 26, today announced their endorsement of Michelle Wu’s candidacy for Mayor. The 12,000-member union is one of the most diverse and politically powerful organizations in the City of Boston, playing key roles in recent municipal races. According to Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo: “Affordable housing, clean air, and making sure one job is enough to raise a family on – these are Mayor Wu’s priorities and they are, without question, hotel workers’ and food workers’ priorities. Hospitality workers are ready and eager to begin knocking on doors with Mayor Wu to achieve these goals.”

UNITE HERE Local 26 was an early backer of Michelle Wu when she first ran for Boston City Council in 2013. Since then, the Union has worked closely with Wu on everything from successfully crafting regulations regarding short-term rentals to support on picket lines leading to one of the highest standards of living for hotel workers in the country. The Mayor was instrumental in helping to secure recent major victories for hotel workers, which included $10 wage increases and landmark job protections in historic contracts citywide.

“Thank you to the hardworking hotel and food workers of UNITE HERE Local 26 who keep our city running everyday and whose inspiring leadership has changed the lives of families across Boston and beyond. I am honored to work in partnership with the members and leaders of Local 26 advocating for families across the city so that one job should be enough, and Boston can be a home for everyone,” the Mayor said.

MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND OFFICE OF BLACK MALE ADVANCEMENT LAUNCH THIRD ANNUAL COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT GRANTS

MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND OFFICE OF BLACK MALE ADVANCEMENT LAUNCH THIRD ANNUAL COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT GRANTS

Applications open now for organizations to apply for grants totaling $500,000 to build capacity and increase programming and support for men and boys across Boston’s neighborhoods

BOSTON - Thursday, December 5, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Advancement (BMA) today announced that applications are open for BMA’s 2025 Community Empowerment grants. The Community Empowerment grants represent a $500,000 investment designed to support non-profit organizations dedicated to empowering and improving outcomes for men and boys in Boston. These grants will support organizations in expanding their work and amplifying their impact across the city’s neighborhoods, with funding provided through the Black Male Advancement operating budget. Applying organizations may request financial support up to $20,000.  “I’m grateful to the Office of Black Male Advancement for their critical work to invest in and empower our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We’re excited to relaunch these Community Empowerment grants and look forward to partnering with the community in our shared goal to provide multi-faceted, comprehensive programming and support that uplift our Black men and boys across neighborhoods.” "The third year of our Community Empowerment Small Grants represents a commitment to build stronger, more resilient communities by investing in organizations that uplift our Black men and boys,” said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “By pairing these grants with capacity-building support, we aim to create sustainable change and foster lasting opportunities that resonate across Boston's neighborhoods." Building on this series of grants entering a third consecutive year, BMA is providing more resources and support to ensure that selected grantees are supported throughout the process and beyond. To build community amongst new awardees, BMA staff will facilitate a community of practice for grantees. Grantees will also now gain access to BMA’s Capacity Building and Impact Institute and enhanced mentoring opportunities through a partnership with Mass Mentoring. Together, these two new programs offered to grantees will provide personalized coaching, nonprofit training courses, expert tools, and resources to selected organizations aimed at enhancing their impact in the short term and building long-term capacity.   “For three years, our Office has supported local organizations doing critical work in Boston neighborhoods,” said Frank Farrow, Executive Director of the Office of Black Male Advancement. “On a daily basis, their direct impact is felt within our communities. We are investing in their systemic work to create lasting change for Black men and boys across Boston today.” The Community Empowerment grants will prioritize programs that expand one of the following seven focus areas: Mentoring and Out-of-School Time: providing quality mentoring, literacy and out-of-school time programs when and where they are needed, offering developmentally appropriate learning environments that support social emotional and physical wellbeing.  Youth and Young Adult Pathways: providing educational and career pathways for youth and young adults navigating their own course to economic prosperity. Housing Mobility: providing a continuum of housing opportunities, resources, and supports that are effectively resulting in pathways to affordable housing and homeownership. Economic Inclusion and Wealth Building: supporting individuals to experience financial empowerment and economic mobility. Workforce Training and Development: helping unemployed and underemployed individuals attain livable wage jobs and helping businesses with training for employees to support a pipeline of skilled workers. Fatherhood Engagement: supporting fatherhood education, case management, and peer-to-peer support to strengthen positive father-child interaction, improve social and economic outcomes for fathers and their families and improve healthy relationships. Mental Health and Wellness: helping support and improve the mental health and wellbeing of men.  Applications are now open and are due Monday, January 6, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Grant applicants must be based in Boston, and have a successful track record of working positively with Black men and boys.  In 2023 and 2024, the BMA Community Empowerment Grants, totaling $1.5 million dollars, were allocated to 115 community-based organizations across Boston neighborhoods. The Office of Black Male Advancement will hold a virtual information session on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 at 12:00 p.m for interested applicants through Zoom. Interested applicants can also visit the BMA website to register. To explore additional funding opportunities offered by the City of Boston, visit www.boston.gov/grants. For questions regarding City of Boston grant programs, please email grants@boston.gov. The Office of Black Male Advancement works to empower Black men & boys and to ensure they have equitable access to opportunities in the City. The Office also focuses on policies, programs, resources, and local and national partnerships. Additionally, BMA directs and supports the efforts of the Black Men and Boys Commission and My Brother’s Keeper Boston.