劍橋合唱團春季音樂會 以多元藝術呈現「流光歲月」

劍橋合唱團演出『流光歲月』音樂會。（周菊子攝）

         (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 劍橋合唱團5月11日以『流光歲月』為主題，在麻省理工學院Kresge禮堂舉辦2025年春季音樂會，以歌聲，樂器演奏，還有獨白朗誦配舞台默劇的豐富多元表演，讓逾百出席者讚嘆，原來合唱團音樂會還可以這麼辦。

波士頓僑教中心主任高家富（左二）恭喜指揮顏毓芬，團長陳韋同
和副團長林泓安成功舉辦音樂會。（周菊子攝）

5月11日這天適逢母親節正日，劍橋合唱團精心挑選的12首歌曲，把留學生長大成人，出國留學後，從初抵異鄉的青澀，求學期間的努力，陷入愛戀的掙扎，到學有所成後對未來的期盼，都以歌聲唱了出來，劍橋合唱團副團長劉姮秀、林泓安等人配合黃郁婷等人詩朗誦般的「時光日記」獨白做舞台默劇表演，讓這場音樂更為豐富，活潑。

指揮顏毓芬和曾任劍橋合唱團團長的丈夫陳立英，這天和兒子一起過母親節。
（周菊子攝）

12首歌曲從蒙古民歌改編的「牧歌」，臺灣童謠「天烏烏」，泰雅族民謠「收割歌」，到周杰倫編曲的「Mojito」，，「千里之外」，「菊花台」，方文山作詞的「青花瓷」，動感十足的「忠孝東路走九遍」，許美靜「城裡的月光」到張雨生的「我期待」等，包括其中萬芳的「猜心」，梁靜茹的「勇氣」，有許多首是由經典流行歌曲改編的合唱曲，

劍橋合唱團副團長劉姮秀配合演出默劇。（周菊子攝）

劍橋合唱團團長陳韋同在「團長的話」中表示，8年前，他孤身來到波士頓，進MIT讀大學本科，是創辦於1992年的劍橋合唱團陪他走過難熬的求學生涯，讓他在身處異鄉，面對孤寂時，感到溫暖，也讓如今已升讀研究所的他，有動力每週參加練唱。

劍橋合唱團原本是MIT麾下的一個學生社團，2021年獨立成為劍橋地區民間社團後，這還是第一次回到Kresge大禮堂表演。陳韋同形容這讓人感覺有如回家。

大提琴手葉子萱現場演奏。（周菊子攝）

這場音樂會還讓大波士頓愛樂人士看到許多本地音樂人才，包括伊利諾大學音樂藝術博士，現為劍橋合唱團音樂總監兼指揮，大波士頓合唱協會理事的顏毓芬，在波士頓音樂學院主修鋼琴的當晚鋼琴伴奏劉昕甯，伯克利音樂學院畢業的大提琴手葉子萱，吹單簧管的徐暄勛，曾獲法國拉威爾大獎賽特別獎的小提琴演奏家王樂晴等人。

波士頓僑教中心主任高家富這天特地出席音樂會，以示支持，並恭喜指揮顏毓芬，團長陳韋同等人，稱這場音樂會辦得很成功。

小提琴家王樂晴。（周菊子攝）

周晌昀領唱一首歌的最前面幾句。（周菊子攝）

副團長林泓安配合演默劇。（周菊子攝）

陳盈融朗讀時光日記。（周菊子攝）

Ryan朗讀時光日記。（周菊子攝）

高齡78的王北芃今年又回到劍橋合唱團。（周菊子攝）

逾百觀眾出席聆聽劍橋合唱團的2025春季音樂會。(周菊子攝）

劍橋合唱團回到MIT的Kresge禮堂表演。（周菊子攝）

麻州長Healey遞交“可負擔、獨立、創新能源法案” 要為付費者節省100億元

 Governor Healey Unveils Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act to Save Ratepayers $10 Billion 

Legislation saves billions through getting costs off bills, implementing an all-of-the-above energy approach including nuclear, and holding the utilities accountable 

Builds on actions already announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to save $6 billion for electric and gas customers over the coming years 

LEOMINSTER – Today, at the Leominster Veterans Memorial Center, Governor Maura Healey filed the Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act to bring down costs for residents and businesses.  

The legislation saves customers money, brings more energy into Massachusetts, and increases accountability of the utilities and drives innovation. Key reforms include eliminating and reducing certain charges on the bill, taking steps to create accountability and ensure utilities aren’t passing unnecessary costs onto ratepayers, and reducing barriers to new cutting-edge nuclear technologies. The administration estimates that the bill will save Massachusetts customers approximately $10 billion over 10 years, on top of the $6 billion in savings estimated from her Energy Affordability Agenda announced in March. 

“Our administration cut taxes and is working to lower costs on every front – from housing to child care to energy,” said Governor Healey. “Massachusetts families and businesses can’t afford big energy price spikes now, or in the future. This bill – along with our energy affordability agenda – gets costs off bills, saves people money, and adopts an all of the above strategy to bring new energy into Massachusetts.” 

“We need to build more housing, attract new businesses and lower energy costs at the same time – that's what this legislation does,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We worked with businesses, energy experts, developers and universities to put forward the best ideas to drive down costs and get things built in Massachusetts. We’ll help new businesses and housing developments get the energy they need faster, protect ratepayers from subsidizing infrastructure that doesn’t serve them and drive efficiency, accountability, and transparency.” 

“Our comprehensive proposal addresses head-on some of the biggest drivers of price spikes,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This legislation tackles Massachusetts' lack of homegrown energy, big charges on bills, and an absence of oversight of costly grid upgrades. We’re reining in those costs while still growing our economy and spurring new development across the state.” 

Getting Costs Off Bills 

The administration is proposing to eliminate or significantly reduce charges on the bill. Massachusetts has the highest net metering compensation rates for large, standalone facilities in the country. Reducing the value of net metering credits for new large net metering facilities will lead to a lower net metering surcharge, saving customers an estimated $380 million over 10 years. The legislation also phases out the Alternative Portfolio Standard charge, which costs ratepayers up to $60 million per year and is set to increase. To reduce bill volatility and rate shocks, the legislation requires the DPU to review and reform all charges on bills and establish of a cap on month-to-month bill increases.  

Governor Healey’s proposal uses innovative financing mechanisms to lower the impact of infrastructure and program costs on customer bills without adding new fees or taxes. The legislation allows utilities to finance Mass Save, Electric Sector Modernization Plans, storm response, and other programs through rate reduction bonds, creating the ability to reduce ratepayer costs by up to $5 billion in the first 10 years.  

Bringing More Energy into Massachusetts 

This legislation continues the Governor’s all-of-the-above strategy to bring more energy into Massachusetts and meet rising demand. The bill allows Massachusetts to explore cutting edge nuclear technologies and expands the state’s authority to procure new sources of energy generation, energy storage, and demand response. These reforms will accelerate the development of low-cost electricity generation throughout the region. Giving the state authority to procure energy directly eliminates the fees the state is currently required to pay the utilities for entering into the same contracts, which will save ratepayers billions of dollars over the life of the contracts. The legislation also requires the utilities to update their interconnection process to reduce the time and cost for customers to connect new loads, solar, and storage projects to the grid.  

Governor Healey also proposes to provide the DPU and electric utilities more flexibility in how electric power supply is purchased and prices are set by eliminating the requirement that forces utilities to buy electricity every six months, regardless of current market conditions. This will avoid situations where the utilities are forced to sign bad supply contracts. 

Creating Accountability 

Customers should only be charged for costs associated with delivering power to their homes and businesses. The legislation authorizes the DPU or an outside firm to audit the utilities’ management and operations. Governor Healey’s proposal also explicitly bans the use of ratepayer funds for advertising, lobbying, entertainment, and other costs. This legislation would also empower the DPU to fine the utilities for non-compliance. 

Transmission costs are driving an increase in delivery charges. The bill provides new oversight authority to the Energy Facilities Siting Board to ensure that transmission projects are properly sited and permitted and do not result in unnecessary costs being passed onto ratepayers.  

Powering Innovation & Smart Growth 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is working to maximize the electric grid. Governor Healey’s proposal establishes “Energy Ready Zones” to proactively build out utility infrastructure that supports housing and economic development without increasing costs to ratepayers at large.  

Supporting the Customer 

Governor Healey is putting forward a compromise proposal to end unscrupulous practices in the competitive supply industry. The legislation bars the most predatory marketing practices, eliminates automatic renewals and variable rate contracts, establishes new licensing requirements for door-to-door and telemarketing firms, and strengthens oversight. These reforms will help stop the industry from overcharging residential customers while retaining the ability for customers to shop for their own electricity supply.  

The legislation also authorizes gas companies to own and operate geothermal heat loops that serve individual customers, helping support universities, hospitals, and other large building owners afford geothermal heating and cooling – the most efficient heating and cooling technology available – while insulating other ratepayers from associated costs.  

Governor Healey’s bill prohibits utility shutoffs during periods of heat waves due to financial hardship. The bill also expands the moderate-income discount rate to gas customers, which will help hard-working people and families pay their heating bills.  

Additionally, the Governor’s proposal authorizes the utilities to establish programs that allow individual customers to finance clean heating, weatherization and other home upgrades through their bills over time, reducing the need for up-front incentives paid for through utility rates. 

The legislation builds on the Energy Affordability actions already announced by the Healey-Driscoll administration that lowered energy bills for Massachusetts residents by $220 million starting in April and will save nearly $6 billion for electric and gas customers over the coming years. This started with a $50 credit on electricity bills in April. 

MAYOR MICHELLE WU, BUILDING TRADES UNIONS, AND CARPENTERS SIGN LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO CREATE NEW PATHWAYS FOR DIRECT ENTRY FOR MADISON PARK GRADUATES INTO UNION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

 MAYOR MICHELLE WU, BUILDING TRADES UNIONS, AND CARPENTERS SIGN LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO CREATE NEW PATHWAYS FOR DIRECT ENTRY FOR MADISON PARK GRADUATES INTO UNION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

Project Labor Agreement for Boston Public Schools will also ensure a consistent supply of skilled workers for the Long-Term Facilities Plan

BOSTON - Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu today signed a landmark agreement with the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions and the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters to create a new and expanded direct pathway for graduates of Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to good-paying, stable union jobs in the construction trades. This commitment is part of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Long-Term Facilities Plan, ensuring a consistent supply of skilled, union labor for major BPS capital projects. 

“It is a historic day for Boston Public Schools and Madison Park. This agreement is a statement on the City of Boston’s values, delivering three major wins, for our schools, our students and our partners in the trades,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are doing this because our students deserve every improvement, every opportunity, and expansion of resources now. They deserve spaces to build lifelong friendships and expand professional networks and develop the skills to serve at every step of their journey.”

"After graduating Madison Park, I didn’t have a clear plan. I didn’t have access to college or a roadmap to a sustainable career. That all changed when I discovered a pre-apprenticeship program called Building Pathways that prepared me for a career in the building trades unions. After graduating Building Pathways, I got the chance to start my career on a site covered by a Project Labor Agreement. Through a PLA negotiated by the unions, I didn’t just get a job, I built a career. When we commit to union labor through a PLA, we’re not just hiring workers, we're investing in families. We're putting real wages into the hands of parents who are raising the next generation. We’re investing in our neighborhoods, small businesses, and community centers. This PLA is an engine of economic growth. It ensures local hiring, so the people building these schools are the same people who walk these streets, ride the T, send their kids to these classrooms. It means more of our young people are getting into a lifetime career. The ripple effects of this PLA will be felt for decades creating stable pathways to home ownership, to save for the future, and building stronger, safer communities. This is how we fight inequality, not with words, but with work. With opportunity. With good union jobs,” said Chaton Green, Business Agent, Greater Boston Building Trades Unions. 

Under Mayor Wu’s administration, the City of Boston has dedicated an increasing share of its capital budget to accelerate the pace of major school construction projects through the Long-Term Facilities Plan. This PLA ensures that all major BPS capital projects moving forward will have a consistent supply of skilled, union labor. These projects must be completed quickly and carefully sequenced to minimize disruptions to school communities. By signing this PLA, the City is creating greater efficiency and stability in large-scale, multi-step projects, while aligning with the City’s equitable procurement and supplier diversity standards to expand opportunities to women- and minority-owned businesses. Future school projects will be evaluated for potential inclusion in the PLA after a case-by-case review, as required by the Mass Leads Act, the economic development bill signed by Governor Maura Healey in November 2024.

"This landmark agreement creates real opportunities for students, especially young women and students of color, to thrive and build long lasting, fulfilling careers in the city they call home," said BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper. "Throughout the district, we are creating pathways to college and career in areas like health care, education, the arts, and the building trades. This agreement ensures that Boston will have a skilled, qualified workforce well into the future."

The PLA also specifies that graduates of Madison Park will have direct entry into the Building Pathways pre-apprenticeship program. Building Pathways is a non-profit organization founded by the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of under-represented groups in the union building trades, particularly women, people of color, and young adults. Madison Park offers six Ch. 74-certified vocational programs aligned with the building trades: Carpentry; Electricity; Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC); Metal Fabrication; Plumbing; and Building and Property Maintenance. According to the terms of the PLA, the top-performing half of each graduating class from each of these six programs at Madison Park––up to 50 students per year––will have guaranteed admission into Building Pathways, followed by admission to a registered apprenticeship program. Madison Park will be the only technical vocational school in Massachusetts to offer its graduates direct entry into apprenticeship programs at this scale.

“Madison Park should and will be the best technical vocational high school in the country,” said Paul Neal, Head of School at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. “I’m grateful to have Mayor Wu’s partnership to give Madison the level of support that will uplift our students today and for their long term success, and I want to thank the Building Trades Unions for working with us to create these opportunities right in the heart of Roxbury.”  

This expanded partnership with the building trade unions is a continuation of Mayor Wu’s and Superintendent Skipper’s commitment to immediate investment in Madison Park––including expanding co-op opportunities for students and modernizing curriculum and technology––even as the City continues its planning and design work for a re-designed Madison Park campus. In April 2025, the City and BPS submitted a Statement of Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s Core Program to seek state support for the project. 

The PLA also commits to enhancing childcare opportunities for workers in the participating unions by exploring the creation of a trust fund to subsidize the cost of high-quality childcare, similar to the trusts that the unions currently administer for health insurance and pension benefits. This builds on the City’s ongoing efforts, in partnership with the Care That Works coalition, to create more options for high-quality childcare for workers with non-traditional schedules. 

The BPS Long-Term Facilities Plan commits to dramatically overhauling the district's physical footprint, with multiple complex projects underway simultaneously. Since 2022, the City has completed the Boston Arts Academy, the Josiah Quincy Upper School, and the new Horace Mann School (in the former Edwards building); and has broken ground on the new Carter School (on track to open in September 2025), a gut renovation of the Irving building for the new Sarah Roberts Elementary (on track to open in September 2025), and a major renovation and expansion of the PJ Kennedy Elementary School (on track to be complete in September 2025). The City has successfully secured state support from the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the Shaw-Taylor Elementary School and the Ruth Batson Academy with several more schools, including Madison Park. This is more major capital projects underway at once than has been completed in the last 40 years combined. 

波士頓市第二屆“改造波士頓”300萬元獎助款花落誰家。結果揭曉

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES YEAR TWO RECIPIENTS OF UN-MONUMENT | RE-MONUMENT | DE-MONUMENT: TRANSFORMING BOSTON

Photo by Greg Cook. Artist Ifé Franklin and the completed “Slave Cabin” with Reginald Jackson (right) led a Yoruba prayer in 2017. The Un-monument Initiative will fund the “Cabin in The Sky” to be installed at The Overlook Ruins, Franklin Park. Un-monument will also fund a community engagement program of the artist's project.

Building Toward Boston’s 250th Anniversary, New Public Art Projects Expand Inclusive Histories Across the City BOSTON - Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture (MOAC) today announced the selected artists and temporary public art projects for year two of the City’s Un-monument | Re-monument | De-monument: Transforming Boston initiative. Through a $3 million grant from the Mellon Foundation—the largest-ever investment into public art programming in Boston—this multi-year, citywide program continues to spark conversations about public memory, monuments, and collective history through free public art installations, community programming, and interactive experiences. As Boston prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026, Un-monument underscores the City's commitment to sharing a more inclusive and expansive story of Boston’s past, present, and future. In its first year, Un-monument commissioned artist-led temporary monuments through an open call organized by MOAC, alongside projects developed in partnership with five local curatorial organizations. Artists were also selected to participate in an augmented reality workshop, and community members joined the Un-monument Advisory Team, helping to shape community engagement strategies and contributing to inaugural programming. Building on that foundation, the second year expands opportunities for artists, cultural organizations, and residents to reimagine Boston’s commemorative landscape. By working with multiple curatorial partners and piloting new forms of artist support, the program challenges traditional commissioning models, prioritizing equity, transparency, and the elevation of lesser-told histories through a more inclusive and distributed approach to public art. “Public art helps us honor our past and inspire the future we are building together everyday,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we celebrate the second year of Un-monument with another round of commissions, we use our public spaces to celebrate the many voices and cultures that honor Boston’s commitment to justice, equity, and community.” After the success of last year's public conversation series at The Embrace, MOAC is launching a new season of free talks and dinners in 2025 in partnership with the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, the Friends of the Public Garden, Downtown Boston Alliance, and Embrace Boston. These gatherings will bring together leading scholars, artists, and cultural leaders to explore the evolving roles of monuments, democracy, and justice in our daily lives, beginning with "Freedom Dreams in America," co-hosted by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum featuring Professors Peniel E. Joseph and Danielle S. Allen on May 14, 2025 at 6:00pm. In addition to public art and public conversations, Un-monument is deepening its impact through partnerships with the Boston Art Review, which is producing expanded research and writing about Boston’s commemorative landscape; Bloomberg Connects​, a free digital guide that makes it easy to access and engage with arts and culture from mobile devices; Hoverlay, which provides a platform for artists using augmented reality; and PRX, which is recording and preserving oral histories connected to public memory and creating a podcast. Together, these initiatives ensure that Un-monument engages audiences across generations, geographies, and disciplines as Boston reimagines its public spaces. TEMPORARY PUBLIC MONUMENT COMMISSIONS New public art commissions across Boston, ranging from $5,000 to $60,000 each, will include temporary sculptures, murals, augmented reality monuments, and community-led performances. These projects reflect a wide range of approaches, including honoring the lives of Boston’s early Black residents, celebrating immigrant and Indigenous communities, preserving LGBTQ+ histories, uplifting cultural memory through murals and sculptural interventions, and reimagining public storytelling through new media. Highlights include a life-size Afro-futuristic cabin, swinging golden hoop earrings as functional sculptures, a vibrant memory field honoring Vietnamese American histories, and new monuments focused on activism, belonging, and collective healing. Exhibiting Culture by Brandon Breaux  On This Site… by Diane Dwyer Waiting Shelter by Pat Falco and Melissa Teng Cabin in The Sky by Ifé Franklin Ways of My Ancestors – Imagery: Lighting the Path to Awareness by Scott Foster Love Letters to Malcom by L’Merchie Frazier and Hakim Raquib Breathe Life: Black Joy by Robert ‘ProBlak’ Gibbs All for Love mural by Ricardo ‘Deme5’ Gomez Honoring the Women of the Home for Aged Colored Women at Cedar Grove Cemetery by Ekua Holmes Caminantes/Wayfarers by Salvador Jiménez-Flores Untold Stories from the Old Corner The Old Corner Bookstore by Joanne Kaliontzis Interwoven Herstories by Neda Moridpour, Azadeh Tajpour, and Rashin Fahandej Undocumented Monuments by Studio Lenca Big Hoops to Fill by Ja'Hari Ortega Democratization of Art by Steven Peters of SmokeSygnals and the Wampanoag Consulting Alliance Our Names by Audrey Watkins Journey of Light: 1975 Memory Field by Ngọc-Trần Vũ The Busing Boycott by Daphne Xu RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS Two additional artists were selected to receive grants to support research and development for future projects. These projects include a proposal to create a monument preserving the stories of LGBTQ+ activists across Boston’s civic spaces, and a new public artwork honoring the cultural protectors and revolutionary elders who shaped Dorchester’s historic Franklin Park. Mapping Queer Boston by Kimm Topping ON THE PROWL by rixy CURATORIAL PARTNER COMMISSIONS MOAC is continuing to fund additional commissions led by five curatorial partner organizations, expanding the conversation about what monuments could look like across Boston. Commissioning local organizations strengthens Boston’s creative ecosystem, fosters cross-community collaboration, and ensures that a broad range of artistic and cultural perspectives shape the City’s commemorative landscape. The 2025 partner projects span archival research, community storytelling, cultural symbolism, and material critique,expanding the visual and conceptual language of public monuments in Boston. The curatorial partner organization commissions are: Boston Public Art Triennial, curated by Pedro Alonzo and Tess Lukey I think it goes like this (pick yourself up) by Nicholas Galanin Emerson Contemporary, co-curated by Leonie Bradbury and Shana Garr Hidden Histories by Elisa Hamilton, Clareese Hill, Sue Murad, and Kameelah J. Rasheed Pao Arts Center, Public Art Series in Chinatown, curated by Lani Asunción planTable by Ecosistema Urbano North American Indian Center of Boston, co-curated by Janelle Pocowatchit and Jean-Luc Pierite Memorialization of Urban Indigenous Presence in the City of Boston by Ella Nathanael Alkiewicz, Robert Peters, and Janelle Pocowatchit in collaboration with Shirley Paul National Center of Afro-American Artists, curated by Barry Gaither FINDING OURSELVES IN PUBLIC SPACES: An Un-monument Project created in collaboration with Hibernian Hall and the Museum of African American History PROJECTION MAPPING WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS Because of the novelty of the technology and the access barriers to getting started in making new media art, MOAC continued its partnership with Emerson Contemporary to offer an Art and Technology Incubator in spring 2025. This incubator provided creative technology training for artists interested in expanding and diversifying their practices, helping to grow the pool of applicants for future commissions and to broaden representation within the media art field. The following artists have been selected to participate in the 2025 workshop: Lincoln Nemetz-Carlson Timothy Hyunsoo Lee Kledia Spiro Yue Hua Roman Johnson Hernán “Nan” Joubá Iwalani Kaluhiokalani Shozab Raza Sean “2ruTh7” Evelyn Megan Hyde In 2024, Un-monument laid a powerful foundation for rethinking Boston’s commemorative landscape through public art, dialogue, and education. The City awarded 16 grants totaling $253,100, including eight research and development grants totalling $55,000, and launched 13 commissioned projects through partnerships with local curatorial organizations, totalling $472,500. The inaugural year also saw the launch of a public conversation series at The Embrace, bringing together prominent scholars such as Professor Joshua Bennett, Professor Imani Perry, and Kerri Greenidge to explore the intersections of monuments, memory, and democracy. Forthcoming Artist-led commissions from Year One include: We Were Here Too by Roberto Mighty in collaboration with the Freedom Trail® Foundation will revive the memory of Boston’s colonial Black neighborhood of New Guinea through a multimedia augmented reality experience in the North End. The project launches Wednesday May 21, 2025 at 1pm at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground with a dedication and a guided historical tour by the artist. An artist talk will be held on Wednesday May 28, 2025 at 5:30pm at the historic Old North Church hosted by MOAC with Old North Illuminated. Going to Ground by LaRissa Rogers, with a performance by Zalika Azim and curated by Audrey Lopez, explores memory, place, and Black resilience through a soil-based sculpture honoring Zipporah Potter Atkins on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. While the sculpture itself is produced independently, Un-monument supports the accompanying dance performance and public programming by Zalika Azim taking place in the fall of 2025, activating the site and engaging audiences in dialogue with the themes of Rogers’ work and the broader Un-monument initiative. Boston Chinatown: Stories on The Streets by Alison Yueming Qu will be a site-specific theatrical project on Saturday June 21, 2025 at 2pm engaging the Chinatown neighborhood through community storytelling and performance in public space. The Lot Next Door by Jaronzie Harris will be a site-specific theatrical work rooted in Dorchester, developed through collaborative storytelling with local residents on Saturday August 2, 2025 at 2pm at the Crossroads of Woodrow Ave and Norfolk St, in Dorchester.  Generation Peace Poles by Ruth Henry will expand a vibrant trail of peace-centered public artworks connecting Dorchester and Roxbury. Installations will be completed over the summer and dedicated at a ceremony on September 21, 2025 on International Day of Peace. Project inspired by A People's Monument by Cedric Douglas reimagines the former site of the Christopher Columbus statue in the North End—now a vacant plinth at Park Square—as a platform for inclusive public memory. Through interviews in the spring and summer of 2025 with stakeholders, students, and community members across Boston, the project will center on the themes of emancipation and freedom.  "After the success of Un-monument’s first year, it’s exciting to see how this work is growing and resonating across the city," said Karin Goodfellow, Director of Transformative Art and Monuments for the City of Boston and lead for the Un-monument initiative. "We are continuing to create space for artists and communities to reframe Boston’s commemorative landscape, and to imagine a public realm that better reflects who we are and who we aspire to be." Through these collective efforts, Un-monument has already begun transforming how Boston understands, engages with, and reshapes its public spaces,laying the groundwork for an even more expansive second year. To learn more about Un-monument, visit boston.gov/un-monument.

麻州政府將撥款2268萬元資助6540青少年獲取工作經驗

           (Boston Orange 摘譯) 麻州政府宣佈，將經由YouthWorks，以2268萬美元資金，在暑假，以及平日，付薪僱用6540名青少年進入各個不同行業工作，以培訓麻州年輕人，幫助他們學習軟技能，獲得必要的工作經驗。

麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）強調，這相關活動是在加強地方經濟和為下一代勞動力做準備。YouthWorks在這方面經驗豐富，將藉由麻州政府的撥補助款給16個地區，來幫助30多個城市的青少年，延聘老師，支援課程編排，獲得現實世界的工作經驗，開闢出各種職業的就業途徑，

            麻州勞工和勞力發展廳廳長Lauren Jones在參觀「麻州聘僱（MassHire）」 ，大羅爾人力委員會（Greater Lowell Workforce Board），以及羅爾市（Lowell）時宣布了這些補助款。

Lowell市獲得了超過100萬美元資金，以支持聘用329名青少年。伯克夏爾 (Berkshire)培訓及就業公司獲得584,200元，要讓111名青少年參與。波士頓市人力發展辦公室和7個次級獲補助機構共獲得414萬9200元，要讓1102名青少年參與計劃等。

Commonwealth Corporation的青年和司法計劃副總裁Aadil Sulaiman表示，YouthWorks正在填補教育、實踐培訓和就業機會之間的空白。

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards More Than $22 Million to Hire Over 6,500 Youth for Summer and Year-Round Employment

YouthWorks Program Helps Provide Vital Work Experience and Soft Skills Training for Youth and Young Adults

 

LOWELL — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $22 million in funding grants to hire 6,540 youth in summer and year-round employment through the state’s YouthWorks program for the 2025-2026 program year. The YouthWorks program provides teens and young adults with hands-on work experience and soft-skill development in partnership with MassHire regional workforce boards, community-based organizations, and employers statewide.

 

Since January 2023, more than 13,000 youth and young adults have been placed in a job or received job training through the Youthworks program. Program participants have been placed in jobs in industries such as education, health care, information technology, camp counselors, and arts and communications. Participants also receive vital soft skills training, including leadership, project management, and customer service, and received workforce supports to reduce barriers to employment, including transportation.

 

“Youthworks provides foundational opportunities for young people to obtain real world experiences, new skills and paychecks as they explore future careers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “YouthWorks is part of our administration’s commitment to improving educational and job opportunities for young people to set them on a path to success and meet the needs of our employers.”

“By providing our future workforce with the skills they need to succeed, we are strengthening the state’s competitiveness, growing our local economies and building a pipeline of future workers,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.“We look forward to seeing our young people gain these experiences and join Team Massachusetts.”

For summer 2025 and school year 2026, 16 regional grants will receive $22.68 million in YouthWorks funding. The grants fund paid, short-term work placements throughout the year at public, non-profit, and private work sites with the highest engagement during summer months. Funding also supports training for participants to learn core soft skills, mentorship, and the opportunity to work side-by-side with professionals in areas of their interest. Additionally, participants will be guided on how to further their education and career pathways.

 

Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones announced the grants during a visit to the MassHire Greater Lowell Workforce Board and the City of Lowell. The City of Lowell received more than $1 million in funding to support the hiring of 329 youth.

“Investing in our youth and young adults is an essential part of our state’s strategy to develop pathways for our future talent and workforce,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “YouthWorks provides an invaluable chance for young people to discover why Massachusetts is an exceptional place to live and work. The Healey-Driscoll administration appreciates the collaboration with MassHire regional workforce boards, the Legislature, and local community and employer partners who all help in opening more doors and opportunities for our youth and young adults."

The YouthWorks program is administered by Commonwealth Corporation in partnership with the MassHire regional Workforce Boards to provide employment opportunities for young people ages 14 to 25 years old, from over 30 cities across Massachusetts, between July to August and September to June, annually. The program bridges the gap between youth and employment, creating a new wave of emerging workers ready to enter the labor force. Participants of these programs are young adults whose family income does not exceed the annual equivalent of 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. This is achieved by partnering with nonprofits, public sector, and private sector businesses, offering a variety of career experiences to participants throughout the program cycle. 

“Investing in our youth today is vital for both strengthening our future workforce and fostering a sustainable economy,” said Commonwealth Corporation Vice President of Youth and Justice Programs Aadil Sulaiman. “YouthWorks is bridging the gap between education, hands-on training, and employment opportunities for young people across the state. We are grateful for our partnerships with regional Workforce Investment Boards, businesses, and nonprofits, which are crucial in creating diverse and meaningful career opportunities and providing our youth with the skills they need to succeed.”

The grant recipients, a program summary, and year-round youth engagement totals include the following, by MassHire region: 

Berkshire

Berkshire Training and Employment Inc., (BTE Inc.) will work to introduce different trades to youth, including Automotive and Welding, and also provide certifications in EMT, LPN and paraprofessionals. — $584,200 to engage 111 youth.

Boston

The City of Boston Office of Workforce Development will partner with seven sub-grantees throughout the city of Boston to provide youth placements and opportunities that are industry-aligned and provide career exploration opportunities.  —  $4,149,200 to engage 1,102 youth.

Bristol

The Bristol County Training Consortium will work with special education and transitional service programs for 18 – 22 year-olds to identify youth and offer meaningful school-based placement opportunities to meet student needs. This new program activity will occur alongside existing worksite placements with municipal government, manufacturing, education, and retail positions among others. — $1,329,000 to engage 500 youth.

Brockton

The Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board will prepare individuals for employment in specific industries and occupations including Bank Telling, IT with a Google IT Certification, and Healthcare. — $1,044,123.11 to engage 354 youth.

Cape Cod

The MassHire Cape Cod & Islands Workforce Board will work with ArtWorks, a youth-focused initiative that ensures young adults feel connected to career pathways in the arts, reinforcing a sense of belonging and increasing retention. Many students participate in ArtWorks which enables youth to build strong artist portfolios for college and future career opportunities. — $156,595 to engage 77 youth.

Central 

The MassHire Central Region Workforce Board's programming focuses on industry exposure, mentorship, real-world experience, networking, and career exploration opportunities. Through a coalition of community partners, they will provide work experiences at over 70 employer sites ranging in industry from advanced manufacturing to government to financial services.  —$2,079,200 to engage 510 youth. 

Franklin Hampshire 

The Franklin Hampshire Employment and Training Consortium, with partnerships including Greenfield Community College and MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center, will work with youth participants for workforce training programs for credential attainment in industries such as Early Childhood Education, Certified Nursing Assistant, Advanced manufacturing and HVAC technician. — $526,700 to engage 170 youth.

Greater Lowell 

The City of Lowell, through MassHire LowellCareer Center, will work with Greater Lowell Technical High School to implement the Certified Nursing Assistant training program and provide certifications in high-demand industries like healthcare, general construction, and IT/Green energy. — $1,012,200 to engage 329 youth.

Greater New Bedford 

The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board will support placement in the clean energy sector and also project-based learning in robotics, early childcare and development and carpentry apprenticeship. — $1,043,959 to engage 337 youth.

Hampden County

The MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, Inc. will focus on programmatic additions to their workshops and soft skills curriculum that center on renewable energy and climate change in addition to their existing focuses on education, camp counseling, and afterschool programs. — $2,953,200 to engage 953 youth.

Merrimack Valley 

MassHire Merrimack Valley and the City of Lawrence youth will have the opportunity to gain work experience in a variety of different industries from STEM and Education to Performing Arts and Finance. They will also work to assist with the transportation barriers by providing Driver’s Education programming to help overcome the transportation barrier to employment. — $1,665,196.79 to engage 537 youth.

Metro North

The Metro North Regional Employment Board will focus on Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, STEM, Green Tech and Biotech, Urban Farming, and Climate Resiliency through partnerships with organizations like Digital Ready, City of Somerville, and Sasaki Foundation. —  $2,286,200 to engage 443 youth.

Metro Southwest

The Metro South/West MassHire Regional Workforce Board is emphasizing their programming on behavioral health, in addition to CPR and First Aid, and will offer Entrepreneurship, Community Health, and Teen Mental Health First Aid certifications to youth. — $1,090,195 to engage 300 youth.

North Central

The MassHire North Central Workforce Board, Inc. support the service-learning and job placement of youth in education, film and media, and healthcare positions. Through a partnership with Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) they will offer free transportation for youth in programming as a support service. — $469,199 to engage 145 youth.

North Shore

The MassHire North Shore Workforce Board will coordinate 25-35 worksites in the cities of Salem and Lynn to offer subsidized jobs to participants, ranging from early work-based learning to advanced career exploration. — $1,320,200.00 to engage 377 youth.

South Shore

MassHire South Shore Workforce Board and the City of Quincy’s Ladders 2 Success (L2S) will help transition incoming freshmen to high school and also expose them to different career paths. L2S will also assist participants in their own personal employment journey so that they may have a clearer view on how to be a good employee, how to manage their finances, and to obtain the skills to eventually select a suitable career path. — $975,200 to engage 295 youth.

Statements Of Support

Kevin Coughlin, Executive Director, MassHire Greater Lowell

“This program goes beyond just employment. It builds confidence, real-world experience, and a pathway for young adults to navigate the evolving job market with resilience and purpose. By investing in Youthworks, we are investing in Greater Lowell’s future, strengthening our local economy, and preparing the next generation. We are grateful for the continued support from the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation!”

Peter J. Farkas, President and CEO, MassHire Hampden Workforce Board

“YouthWorks plays a vital role in supporting youth, local communities, and businesses across Hampden County. It offers a powerful opportunity to shape the region’s future workforce by equipping participants with essential job skills, career exploration experiences, and hands-on work opportunities. The program is especially critical to the economic vitality of Hampden County’s four Gateway Cities—Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, and Westfield—as well as neighboring communities