Massachusetts Community Climate Bank and Partners Launch Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder

Massachusetts Community Climate Bank and Partners Launch Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder  

New digital tool will help residents access rebates and tax credits to lower energy bills and upgrade to new home appliances  

Visit massclimatebank.com/savingsfinder to learn more    

BOSTON – April 10, 2025 – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is announcing that the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank (MCCB), in partnership with Rewiring America, Abode Energy Management and a coalition of state government and energy efficiency program partners, is launching the first-ever Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder. This new digital tool will make it easier for Massachusetts homeowners and renters to get incentives and tax credits to lower energy bills, boost energy efficiency, and upgrade to new home appliances.   

The Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder allows residents to identify all available clean energy incentives, rebates and tax credit options across programs offered by energy efficiency program sponsors, municipal light plants, and state and federal agencies. The comprehensive, consumer-facing digital tool easily provides residents with incentive and tax credit options across a broad range of clean energy improvement categories, including weatherization and energy efficiency, heating and cooling electrification, electrical upgrades associated with solar panels and electric vehicles, and efficient appliances.   

“The Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder will save families time and money when upgrading their homes,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This is a core component of our Energy Affordability Agenda – lowering energy bills by boosting energy efficiency and helping residents access all the benefits they are eligible for, without a lot of hassle.”  

“Residents in different zip codes qualify for different rebates, and this new tool will help residents get support to upgrade their homes no matter where they live,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our Energy Affordability Agenda will help more residents get access to energy efficiency services, knocking big costs off their bills.”  

“So many of us are faced with a daunting pile of paperwork and research when our furnace breaks or when we want to make the switch to solar – the Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder is here to help,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The state and the federal government offer a lot of support. We encourage everyone to see what you might qualify for. There are a lot of ways to lower your bill and switch to electricity, and this tool will make it easier.”  

“Upgrading your home with energy efficient appliances like induction stoves and heat pump hot water heaters is a great way to save money, improve indoor air quality, and do your part to halt dangerous climate pollution,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “Our Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder is the easy-to-use tool you’ve been waiting for! Save time and maybe even have some fun plugging into programs and tax credits to bank major savings. Ka-ching for climate!”  

“The clean energy improvement landscape is well resourced, but it can feel disjointed and confusing to consumers,” said Maggie Super Church, Director of Policies and Programs at the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank. “This new interactive digital tool will help Massachusetts residents find and utilize benefits to help pay for clean energy improvement projects by centralizing available incentives and rebate programs in one simple, searchable location. No matter who you are or where you live, there are clean energy incentives available to you, and this new tool will make it easy to identify them.”   

“Massachusetts’s leading electrification and energy-efficiency programs are a prime example of a state seizing the opportunity to combat rising costs for its residents,” said Ari Matusiak, CEO of Rewiring America. Massachusetts’s innovative programs are expanding access to energy-efficient electric appliances and projects that lower monthly energy bills. Now, thanks to Rewiring America’s partnership with the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, Abode Energy Management, and so many others, Massachusetts residents can find and access these savings programs in just a few clicks.”  

“Collaborations like these help to streamline and simplify access to energy efficiency resources for Massachusetts residents,” said the Sponsors of Mass Save. “By connecting consumers and residents with resources across a number of programs in one place, we can empower them to take action and continue driving progress toward our shared energy savings goals.”  

“Massachusetts is committed to making clean energy more accessible, and the Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder is a game-changer for residents looking to take advantage of available incentives,” said MassCEC CEO Emily Reichert. “By simplifying the process of finding rebates and tax credits, this tool will help more households transition to clean energy solutions, make cost-saving upgrades, and lower their utility bills.”  

“ENE is pleased to have worked with and supported the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, Rewiring America, Abode, and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources in creating the Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder, a new digital tool designed to simplify access to incentives, rebates, and funding for clean energy programs,” said John G. Tzimorangas, President and CEO of Energy New England, LLC. “This consolidated view and location will hopefully give the customers all of the available information in one place and make their options and decision making easier and simpler to navigate.”   

“The Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) is excited to make sure that the customers living in the Municipal Light Plant (MLP) towns we represent have access to accurate and comprehensive information on the rebates and incentives available to them, so that they can make the best electrification and energy efficiency choices for their home and lives,” said Zoe Eckert, Sustainable Energy Program & Policy Senior Manager for MMWEC.  

“This database we will not only help residents access funding for practical clean energy solutions,” said Dave Boettcher, CEO of Abode Energy Management. “But this will also serve as a resource for contractors and stakeholders throughout the state, enabling better utilization of incentives for residential decarbonization projects.”  

“The Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder will be an extremely helpful new online tool that will help Boston residents navigate the clean energy incentives available to them, making it easier and more affordable to improve their homes while cutting energy costs,” said Oliver Sellers-Garcia, the City of Boston’s Environment Commissioner and Green New Deal Director. “The Energy Savings Finder tool is exactly the kind of resource we need for our newly announced Boston Energy Saver program, a hands-on program that solves technical, financial, and logistical issues related to energy efficiency and electrification for Boston households. By lowering barriers to clean energy adoption, the Commonwealth and the City are working together to ensure that every resident — regardless of income or housing type — has the opportunity to be part of Boston’s transition to a carbon-free future.”  

The new Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder combines a comprehensive database of clean energy improvement incentives, created by the MCCB and Abode Energy Management in collaboration with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the MCCB’s Energy Saver Home Loan Program, with an interactive open-source portal coded by Rewiring America, a national nonprofit focused on building electrification. The new consumer-facing tool will create a no-wrong-door experience for Massachusetts consumers seeking home efficiency and clean energy improvements.   

Current clean energy incentives and rebates vary across Massachusetts depending on income, where a resident lives, who supplies their energy, and whether they rent or own their home. For instance, two residents of neighboring communities who own their homes and earn similar incomes will have different clean energy incentives available to them, if one community is supplied by a municipal light plant and another is served by a Mass Save sponsor.   

The Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder takes these variables into account and details the energy incentives available to residents of every Massachusetts community -- empowering residents to increase the efficiency of their homes, reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and lower their utility costs.   

How it works  

For example, in Holyoke, a homeowner looking to add solar power and storage could use the Energy Savings Finder to identify local and state rebates of up to $1,000 each for the installation of solar PV and battery storage systems, plus additional federal tax credits for each improvement. The Holyoke homeowner could also find incentives from Holyoke Gas & Electric of up to $200 for a new induction stove and up to $2,000 plus federal tax credits for home weatherization.    

In Adams, a homeowner looking to transition their home heating and cooling away from fossil fuels could use the Energy Savings Finder to discover a Mass Save rebate of up to $15,000 for a whole home ground source geothermal heat pump and additional federal tax credits. In order to maximize the efficiency of their new heating and cooling system, the Adams homeowner could also use the Energy Savings Finder to identify Mass Save weatherization incentives for 75 percent of qualified home insulation measures and 100 percent of home air sealing measures, plus federal tax credits.   

In Framingham, a homeowner could use the Energy Savings Finder to identify incentives to help electrify their home heating and cooling including up to $10,000 from Mass Save for partial or whole home air sourced heat pumps, plus additional federal tax credits. The Framingham homeowner could also use the Energy Savings Finder to identify incentives up to $1400 from Eversource for electrical wiring or an electrical panel upgrade to power a Level 2 EV charger.   

In Mattapan, a homeowner looking to replace an aging hot water heater and drafty single-pane windows could use the Energy Savings Finder to identify a $750 incentive for a new heat pump hot water heater and rebates of $75 per Energy Star certified window from Mass Save, plus additional federal tax credits for each improvement.  

The Savings Finder will be a live, ongoing resource that will update as the incentive landscape changes.  

The Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder is hosted by the MCCB, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the City of Boston’s Retrofit Resource Hub, Mass Save, the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, and Energy New England. 

The Massachusetts Energy Savings Finder will be promoted by the “Climate Action is for All of Us” statewide media campaign that encourages residents to explore ways to participate in state initiatives such as energy efficiency, weatherization, electric vehicle adoption, and residential solar programs. An integrated media strategy designed to maximize reach and engagement through statewide outreach via accessible and inclusive materials distributed online and in person will re-launch in May. 

麻州國際學生人數全美排名第三

               (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 在國際學生簽證突然被取消的風潮中，人們開始注意到，麻州不但在新英格蘭地區各州中排第一，在全美各州最多國際學生排行榜上，也高居第三位，約 7萬8千餘人。

              移民政策機構(Migration Policy Institute)的美國移民項目副主任Julia Gelatt說，國際學生簽證主要有2種，一種是來上大學、研究所的F簽證，一種是上職業學校，或接受非學術訓練的M簽證。在2023會計年度中，持F簽證進入美國的國際學生有44萬5千人，持M簽證入境的約6千多人。

              在新英格蘭各州中，麻州的國際學生人數最多，約7萬8或9千餘人。新罕布夏州只有5,600人，羅德島州4,900人。

              以全美各州來說，麻州的國際學生人數排第三，僅次於加州的15萬4千名學生，紐約州的13萬6千名學生。

              根據「開門 (Open Doors2)」這研究機構，來美國就讀的學生中，印度人最多，佔29%，中國人其次，佔25%。南韓、加拿大、台灣也是許多留學生所來自國家，但人數遠不及印度和中國。

              來自網路的資料還顯示，東北大學約有1萬7000名國際學生，哈佛大學約有1萬2簽名國際學生，MIT共約3,430人，研究生中有約40%，波士頓大學約10,000名國際學生，塔芙茨大學生4000名國際學生。

哈佛又傳有7人 新英格蘭近百名國際學生簽證遭撤銷

               (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 國際學生簽證被取消事件，正在越演越烈。哈佛大學繼早前的5人之後，現在又有7名學生的簽證被取消，若加上麻州大學、MIT，布朗大學，東北大學，伍斯特理工 (WPI)等，新英格蘭地區各校受影響學生總數，已將近100人。

              哈佛校方是昨天 (10日)在國際辦公室的”簽證狀態更新”網頁上貼文公佈，又有7名學生簽證被取消這事，同時說明校方不清楚細節，但知道類似事件正在全美各機構發生。

              哈佛校方也未說明是哪幾名學生受影響。若加上之前的3名學生及2名校友，受影響的哈佛人數增至12人。

              從3月25日，塔芙茨大學一名來自土耳其研究生，正在尚莫維爾 (Somerville) 用晚餐時，突然被蒙面移民局逮捕開始，新英格蘭地區就傳出越來越多的國際學生簽證被取消事件。

              麻省理工學院、柏克萊音樂學院、愛默生學院、麻州大學波士頓分校和安赫斯特分校 (Amherst)，以及東北大學，布朗大學、水橋州立大學 (Bridgewater)，南新罕布夏大學，都發現聯邦政府宣稱，有些他們的國際學生，已不再有權合法待在美國，他們的簽證被撤銷了。

              美國國務卿Marco Rubio上星期說，簽證被取消，多半都和支持巴勒斯坦的抗議有關，因為那和”潛在的犯罪行動”有關聯。

              根據網路上的相關新聞報導，目前傳出有學生簽證被取消的學校及學生人數包括，哈佛大學12人，MIT 3人，麻州大學共約15人，其中的安赫斯特分校13人，波士頓分校7人，東北大學40人，伍斯特理工4人，克拉克大學12人，還有波士頓大學、布朗大學各數人。

              受影響學生的國籍，迄今至少有土耳其、中國、義大利、黎巴嫩 (Lebanon)等。中國籍部分，包括達特茅斯一名中國博士生，麻大安赫斯特分校一名中國學生，理由或者是可能和有害美國國家安全的活動有關，或者是學生資料有落差，或者是因為近來對亞裔學生的加強檢視。

包括哈佛在內，許多學校都是在檢查聯邦檔案，以移民和海關執法局的學生和交流訪客資訊系統時，才發現有學生的簽證被撤銷，理由也不全是參與支持巴勒斯坦的抗議行動，有的是有潛在犯罪行動，有的只是違反了交通規則等小事，有的還真不知道是為了甚麼原因。

理查國王市集今年第44屆 訂8月30日開季

             (Boston Orange 編譯) 新英格蘭地區規模最大、歷史最悠久的文藝復興節慶「理查國王市集 (King Richard's Faire)」，今年第44屆，將搬到麻州Carver的埃德維爾家庭主題公園(Edaville Family Theme Park)，訂8月30日(週六) 打開大門，迎接新季節。

「理查國王市集」將把數十年的魔法與記憶，和新場地特色結合，以更大更好規模，有著深紅色蔓越莓沼澤和鏡面池塘等景觀的場地，給觀眾全新感受，讓行動不便者也能自如享受。

踏進「理查國王市集」，遊客彷如來到一個脫離現實的世界，可以遊逛8個世界級的現場表演舞台，1個精英工匠市場，一個有騎士比武的錦標賽場地，以及適合國王的美食，欣賞魔法，留下許多美好回憶。

              過去30年來一直擔任市集製作人和總經理的市集原始創辦人之女Aimée Shapiro Sedley，以及市集擁有者Dick 和 Bonnie Shapiro說，「傳統對我們所有人來說都很重要，保留我們傳奇事業的重要特色，會讓長期粉絲感到安慰」。Aimée Shapiro Sedley相信藉由埃德維爾家庭主題公園帶給人的新體驗，後代子孫將繼續在「理查國王市集」得到快樂、興奮。

主辦機構強烈建議遊客在kingrichardsfaire.net網站上預購門票，以隨意選擇並確定參觀日期。活動現場不可攜帶寵物，不准攜帶食物或飲入場。購票或查詢詳情，可上網kingrichardsfaire.net。

PLANNING DEPARTMENT ADVANCES NEW SQUARES + STREETS ZONING IN ROSLINDALE SQUARE

BOSTON - April 10, 2025 - The Planning Department this month recommended approval of new Squares + Streets zoning for Roslindale Square, real estate actions, and five new development projects to the BPDA Board. All were approved. The newly approved development projects represent approximately 588,382 square feet (SF), will create 591 new residential units, including 87 units that are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 539 construction jobs and 15 permanent jobs. These projects will make Boston a more resilient, affordable, and equitable city. Planning & Zoning Roslindale Squares + Streets Zoning advances to Zoning Commission The Planning Department advanced new Squares + Streets zoning for Roslindale Square through the BPDA Board. It will next need to be approved by the Zoning Commission before being implemented. The new Squares + Streets zoning districts are aimed at creating a more mixed-use neighborhood center that supports walkability, small businesses, outdoor gathering spaces, and new housing growth. This new zoning directly responds to the needs of the community advocated for through the Roslindale Square Small Area Plan, specifically the need to expand areas in Roslindale that allow and welcome more housing opportunity and small business activity. Each Squares + Streets district allows for mixed-use development and the creation of multifamily housing, which the plan identifies as appropriate along the major streets of the area, near the Roslindale Village MBTA Commuter Rail Station, and along nearby connecting streets.  The six districts range in height and density and were mapped onto certain areas of the plan area based on a year of community process and feedback from Roslindale residents on the small area plan, and additional two months of engagement on the proposed zoning map. The new zoning districts support creating more transit-oriented housing in the plan area. In addition, new zoning will overall make it easier to: build more housing in the area, make modifications to existing housing that will help preserve the existing supply and build generational wealth, create a backdrop for community development by allowing new cultural anchors in the plan area, and allow new growth and opportunities for small businesses.  Real Estate Construction to begin on Charlestown Peace Park The Board authorized a contract with the Haven Contracting Group for construction work to begin at the Charlestown Peace Park, with completion expected before the end of the year. In March of 2021, the City of Boston awarded the Charlestown Coalition, in conjunction with the Charlestown Preservation Society, a Community Preservation Award of $500,000 as an opportunity to fully design and build a renovated park to bring infrastructural improvements, new park furniture, and new plantings to the Peace Park. In order to facilitate the construction of the project, the BPDA acquired the Peace Park property from MassDOT in April 2024. Planning Department staff have worked with community members and elected officials to identify additional funds for the remainder of the construction cost. The scope of the work includes clearing and remediating the site, putting in new sidewalks and planters, and new seating to create a central gathering space. There will also be new landscaping and preservation of the existing, healthy trees. The Peace Park was originally dedicated to the late Robert McGrath, a beloved Charlestown resident who was the victim of community violence 30 years ago, and is now proposed as a gathering spot for community groups and serves as a space for reflecting, grieving, and celebrating loved ones lost to gun violence and drug addiction. Once construction is complete, the Peace Park will be transferred to the Parks and Recreation Department. RFP to redevelop Chain Forge building in Charlestown The Board authorized the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to redevelop the publicly-owned Chain Forge building in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Community feedback over the past several months has shaped the development and design guidelines of the RFP, which focuses on the potential for the site to have a mix of uses, including public access and amenities. Additionally, proposals should include detailed plans for historic preservation and coastal resilience. Designs should include the restoration of the historical architecture of the property, which was originally built by the US Navy in 1904, and retain some of the historic chain-making equipment still on site. The RFP will be open to a variety of uses, including hotel, retail, arts and culture, or community use. Proposals should also prioritize sustainable and resilient development, equitable access to the waterfront, and community amenities. Parcel R1 in Chinatown given final designation for redevelopment The Board awarded final designation to the Asian Community Development Corporation (Asian CDC) for the redevelopment of a parking lot in Chinatown, what is known as Parcel R-1 or 49-63 Hudson Street. This lot will be converted into a 12-story affordable housing development made up of 110 rental and homeownership units, with the new Chinatown branch of the Boston Public Library (BPL) on the ground floor. The Article 80 project was originally approved in 2022. Disposition planning for this publicly owned parcel originally began in 2020. Development Projects 1 Harvard Avenue project to resurrect former Great Scott music venue in Allston with housing above Housing: 139 housing units, 21 income-restricted units Jobs: Approximately 105 construction jobs Community: Return of beloved Great Scott music venue, rebuilding O’Brien’s Pub, public realm improvements Sustainability: LEED Gold, Passive House housing, reduction of embodied carbon Located in Allston, this project will resurrect the former Great Scott music venue and build eight floors of housing above it. Great Scott originally closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This development will include 139 new homes, 21 of which will be income-restricted, as well as new retail space, and a new O’Brien’s Pub on site. The Pub exists on site today as a smaller music venue. This project falls within the boundary of the Allston-Brighton Needs Assessment, which showed a need for creative spaces and performance venues in the neighborhood. As the project aims to reintroduce Great Scott and revitalize O’Brien’s Pub, two small-scale music venues, it will help create opportunities for emerging musicians and ensure that arts and cultural spaces can continue to serve the community. This project will make public realm improvements, such as safer and more accessible sidewalks, and adding new trees on site. In addition, the project will add a new public art mural on the building in consultation with the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture. This project will contribute $49,000 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the bikeshare system, and $86,000 to the Parks and Recreation Department for the maintenance of nearby green spaces.  Former radio station site at 83 Leo Birmingham Parkway to become 333 new homes in Brighton Housing: 333 residential units, 52 income-restricted units Jobs: Approximately 325 construction jobs Community: New open space, connection to adjacent neighborhood, biking amenities Sustainability: Passive House, Zero Net Carbon Ready, LEED Gold, all-electric building This project will demolish and redevelop what was formerly space for various radio stations into 333 new homes in Brighton, 52 of which will be income-restricted. This project falls within the boundary of the Allston-Brighton Needs Assessment, which showed a need for more affordable housing in the area. This project will make various improvements to the public realm including: a new connection between Leo Birmingham Parkway and Soldier Field Place, a new public plaza with trees to mitigate heat island effect, better sidewalks, and 100 new trees across the site. The project will also provide a new bikeshare station on site.  36 Parker Hill Avenue project to bring new homes to Mission Hill Housing: 38 residential units, six income-restricted units Jobs: Approximately 29 construction jobs Community: Public realm improvements Sustainability: All electric building  This project will build a new five-story residential building in Mission Hill on what is currently a parking lot. The building will contain 38 new homes, six of which will be income-restricted, and will be a mix of studios and two-bedroom apartments. The project will improve the public realm by improving accessibility to the site, creating a new crosswalk, adding new street trees, and new open space on site. In addition, this project will contribute $10,450 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the bikeshare system.  Project at 586-598 Canterbury Street in Roslindale will build new housing Housing: 46 residential units, eight income-restricted units Jobs: Approximately 43 construction jobs Community: Public realm improvements Sustainability: All electric building, Passive House Located in Roslindale, this project will create 46 new one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, eight of which will be income-restricted. The project will improve the public realm by adding new trees, enhancing sidewalks on site, and continuing clean-up and maintenance of Canterbury Brook buffer by removing invasive species. This project will contribute $12,650 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the bikeshare system.  98-100 Condor Street project to create new housing in East Boston Housing: 35 residential units Jobs: Approximately 37 construction jobs Community: Funding for transportation infrastructure, public realm improvements Sustainability: Heat island mitigation, EV charging stations, adaptive reuse of existing building What was formerly a manufacturing building in East Boston will be renovated and converted into 35 new apartments. The project is in full compliance with PLAN: East Boston and its resulting zoning. To improve the public realm, the project will provide new, accessible and improved sidewalks on site and the project vicinity, as well as new street trees to mitigate urban heat island effect, and a new crosswalk across Condor Street. The project will contribute $9,625 to the Boston Transportation Department to support the bikeshare system. In addition to these projects, the board approved: An update to a previously approved project at 231-245 Grove Street to increase the amount of parking on site. The transfer of 27-29 Hancock Street to the Fenway CDC for redevelopment into income-restricted housing as part of the IDP commitment for the 33-61 Temple Street project. New public art on view in the Charlestown Navy Yard beginning in May.

MAYOR MICHELLE WU DECLARES APRIL 10, 2025 AYO EDEBIRI DAY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

MAYOR MICHELLE WU DECLARES APRIL 10, 2025 AYO EDEBIRI DAY IN THE CITY OF BOSTON Mayor Wu and Emmy award-winning actor and BPS alum Ayo Edebiri visited Boston Latin School today

BOSTON - Thursday, April 10, 2025 - Today Mayor Michelle Wu joined Boston Public Schools alum, writer and Emmy award-winning actor Ayo Edebiri to visit students at Boston Latin School (BLS). At the school, they greeted the BLS’ improv group, Yellow Submarine Improv Troupe – which Edebiri was a part of during her time at BLS – before participating in a fireside chat and taking questions from students. She graduated from BLS in 2013. They discussed Edebiri’s experience as a Boston Public Schools student, how she achieved becoming a writer and award-winning actor, and what keeps her inspired. “It was a true delight to speak with award-winning actor, comedian, writer, producer, and Dorchester girl Ayo Edebiri about how BPS and our city helped shape her path, said Mayor Michelle Wu. "We’re so proud of our BPS alums making a difference in the world, and it was an honor to welcome Ayo back home to Boston to inspire the next generation. Thank you to all our BPS educators for pouring into our young people and supporting them to explore their passions. I’m so grateful to Ayo for spending time with our students at BLS sharing her story and giving advice about the many opportunities and paths they can take to reach their dreams.” The proclamation declaring today Ayo Edebiri Day in the City of Boston can be found here. Video from the fireside chat can be found here. Photos from the event can be found here.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches K-12 Statewide Graduation Council Listening Sessions

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches K-12 Statewide Graduation Council Listening Sessions

 

First listening session April 10 at Taunton High School;

Public input will help develop a new statewide graduation requirement

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today a series of listening sessions across the state to inform Governor Maura Healey’s K-12 Statewide Graduation Council’s recommendations on how Massachusetts can ensure all students graduate with the skills necessary to succeed in college, careers, and civic life, regardless of background or circumstance and demonstrate these qualities through a consistent statewide set of expectations.     

 

The six evening listening sessions, including one virtual option, begin April 10 at Taunton High School and will engage a broad range of stakeholders, including students, parents and caregivers, educators, school counselors, labor representatives, education advocacy organizations, legislators and the business community.  

 

“Our administration is committed to ensuring every high school graduate is prepared for success, not just in college and careers, but as engaged members of their communities. The work of the Graduation Council is critical to advancing this goal,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These listening sessions will give our communities the opportunity to share their voices and shape the recommendations that will ultimately strengthen our education system for years to come.” 

 

“The Graduation Council will guide how we define and support success for all Massachusetts students. These listening sessions are a vital step in that process,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re eager to hear directly from people across the Commonwealth about how we can ensure every student has an opportunity to realize their dreams.”  

 

“Massachusetts has long been a leader in education, but we know there’s more work to do to make sure every student has access to the skills and knowledge they need to thrive,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “The Graduation Council’s listening sessions will allow us to hear directly from students, families, educators and stakeholders. I encourage everyone to share their perspectives so we can build a graduation system that truly reflects the hopes and needs of our communities.” 

 

These listening sessions will inform the Graduation Council’s recommendations on a new statewide graduation requirement, including the role of assessment, the potential for differentiated pathways to earning the competency determination, and the completion of additional experiences that demonstrate civic, college, and career readiness. 

 

For more information on the council, members and listening sessions, visit Mass.gov/K12GradCouncil.  

 

Schedule of Listening Sessions: 

 

Date	Location	Time
Thursday, April 10	Taunton High School	5-7 p.m.
Thursday, May 1	Worcester Technical High School	5-7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 28	Somerville High School	5-7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 3	Virtual	6-8 p.m.
Thursday June 5	Holyoke High School	5:30-7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 9	Barnstable High School	5-7 p.m.

 

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TFFB春季影展四部曲揭幕 WPI放映「山椒魚來了」

TFFB踏進WPI，放映「山椒魚來了」。 (TFFB提供)

          (Boston Orange) 波士頓台灣影展協會 (TFFB) 4月3日踏進麻州伍斯特理工學院（Worcester Polytechnic Institute, WPI），以「山椒魚來了，Good Moeni MIT」為TFFB春季影展的四部曲系列拉開序幕。

                接下來在4月26日，TFFB將和藝術愛默生 (Arts Emerson)合作，放映「愛子歸來(Come Home, My Child)」，5月8日在Gleason Public Library放映「依諾物語(The Tale of Ino Yumin)」和「野生之路(Wild Road)」。

TFFB在WPI放映會現場。

             TFFB表示，和WPI合作放映「山椒魚來了」，是由於該校東亞研究中心共同主持人杜雯華副教授想要藉電影向WPI學生展現台灣之美，2024年時主動聯繫TFFB，才促成了這場放映會。

             「山椒魚來了」一片，由「MIT台灣誌」製作人麥覺明導演，歷時17年拍製，記錄了台灣特有品種山椒魚生長的生態環境研究，以及保育調查研究結果。杜雯華和TFFB商討後，決定選映此片，藉以展現臺灣的高山景觀，自然環境，以及臺灣在物種保育上的努力。

WPI杜雯華副教授說明選片緣由。

當晚出席的WPI學生與當地民眾，有許多人還是第一次看台灣影片，見到片中的壯麗山河，呆萌山椒魚，都驚嘆不已，震撼十分，映畢座談時，頻頻提問，對臺灣大感興趣。

              TFFB共會長林致中、宣傳組蕭全亨和影展友人楊志祥還特地在會場擺攤位，放了來自台灣的紀念品，小點心，讓人不僅「看到」台灣，也「嚐到」台灣滋味。

WPI東亞研究中心的另一名共同主持人-Jennfe Rudolph教授、聖十字學院 (Holy Cross College)的Ke Ren教授，還有波士頓台灣同鄉會會長張馨云都出席了這場跨地域、跨文化的電影交流活動。

            TFFB表示，該會感謝中華民國文化部「台灣文化光點計畫」、僑務委員會，以及伍斯特的貢茶贊助，希望能在各方支持中，持續透過電影介紹台灣之美，讓台灣的故事走得更遠、觸及更多心靈。

            贊助或連繫TFFB，可洽funding@taiwanfilmfest.org。 (更新版)

會場擺放台灣小吃。