MAYOR WALSH LEADS 38TH ANNUAL HOMELESS CENSUS

MAYOR WALSH LEADS 38TH ANNUAL HOMELESS CENSUS

Yearly count of Boston's homeless helps focus City housing efforts

BOSTON - Thursday, February 1, 2018 - As part of Boston's efforts to end chronic and veteran homelessness, on Wednesday night Mayor Martin J. Walsh led a group of 300 volunteers, including City of Boston cabinet and department heads, State officials, homeless service providers, and community, civic and faith leaders in the City of Boston's 38th annual Homeless Census. This yearly count of individuals living on the street is part of a larger census of homeless adults and families in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and domestic violence programs. In 2017, Boston was identified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the city with the lowest percentage of unsheltered people living on the street of any city conducting a census. In 2017, only three percent of Boston's homeless population was sleeping on the street. The annual homeless census is required by HUD as a key component of Boston's $26 million funding grant. "The Annual Homeless Census helps us understand the needs of people in our neighborhoods and the scope of homelessness in our City," said Mayor Walsh. "But it's about much more than that. It's a Boston tradition. It's about the spirit of community. It's about the values we share, as a city that looks out for one another as neighbors. Every single person deserves security, dignity, and hope. Every single person deserves a place to call home." Census volunteers canvassed 45 areas covering every city neighborhood, Logan Airport, and the transit and parks systems, identifying those sleeping on the street and conducting a short survey. The resulting surveys are closely analyzed to ensure accuracy, and are crosschecked and combined with the results of the simultaneous shelter count that occurs on the same night. In 2017, data was analyzed from 48 programs that serve homeless individuals and 24 programs that serve families. Results of the homeless census form the basis for Boston's Way Home, the City's plan to end veteran and chronic homelessness. The plan, launched in 2015, has dramatically shifted the way Boston delivers services to people experiencing homelessness. The new plan puts housing first, while increasing resources devoted to housing people experiencing homelessness and deploying new technologies to match them with housing and services. For the first time ever, this year's homelessness census engaged Boston's Way Home's Consumer Advisory Council and Youth Action Board. These two boards were convened to offer the City and its partners the critical perspective of those who have experienced homelessness as the City continues to implement its plans to end veteran and chronic homelessness. The Consumer Advisory Council, known as BACHome, is made up of 13 people who have committed to sharing their insight with City officials; all members of the board have experienced sustained homelessness in the City of Boston. The Board meets every two weeks, with regular meetings attended by representatives from the City of Boston.  Approximately one half of the council is currently unhoused, while one quarter is newly housed. Another quarter of the members are more deeply settled into permanent housing. "I see membership on the Council of BACHome as an opportunity to make a change for the better and to do what we can," said Council member Mark St. John. "We can reduce homelessness in Boston, and make the systems that support homeless people more efficient and compassionate. I feel that I make a difference by being on BACHome -- it is an honor. Everything we discuss is positive and it helps us move in the right direction." Members of the Council served as greeters at the homeless census and joined several of the teams that went on the census, while artwork created by Youth Action Board members was on display at City Hall where volunteers gathered.   The City's Youth Action Board was convened to offer the City the unique perspective of youth and young adults who have experienced homelessness, as the City embarks on its work to end youth and young adult homelessness. While a number of City and State agencies and community organizations work with youth and young adults who experience homelessness in Boston, these services, interventions and resources are often not designed for the unique developmental needs of youth and young adults. In October, the City announced that it will be gathering data on youth who experience homelessness in Boston, understanding the current system's capacity, identifying the unmet needs of youth and young adults, and designing a plan to address gaps in emergency assistance system. In addition, since the launch of Boston's Way Home: Boston has ended chronic veteran homelessness.  At the time that Mayor Walsh launched his plan to end veteran homelessness, there were 414 homeless veterans in Boston. Since then, 876 homeless veterans -- more than twice that number -- have been housed. Since the launch of the plan, 443 chronically homeless individuals have been housed. This represents more than 3,000 combined years of homelessness ended. In his 2018 inaugural address, Mayor Walsh announced the launch of the Boston's Way Home Fund in partnership with Pine Street Inn and Bank of America. The Fund aims to support the creation of 200 new units of permanent supportive housing. To date, the City has increased the amount of permanent supportive housing targeted for chronically homeless individuals by 100 units and vouchers since January 2016. City investments in homelessness have increased by more than $1 million annually for Front Door Triage and Rapid Rehousing, programs that begin to connect homeless individuals to housing and services as soon as they enter shelter. Boston has piloted the concept of housing surges. These events bring a vast array of resources under one roof, in order to connect homeless individuals with housing and services. Housing surges not only provide information, but also enroll individuals in supportive service programs and make housing offers on-site. Attendees may leave with an address and support services the very same day. To date, the city has hosted eight surges, through which 225 people have been housed. In July 2016, working with the State, the City began hosting housing surges for elders that offered housing and integrated care together for the first time. More than 135 chronically homeless elders have attended these surges to date; nearly all of these elders have been linked with housing and services.

十社團聲援周廷參選香港立法會的公民權

2018年2月1日

就周庭被褫奪立法會參選權國際聯合聲明

我們強烈譴責香港特區政府以言論及政治聯繫理由，不合理丶不合法丶和不合憲地褫奪了周庭在立法會補選的參選權。這決定違反了香港有份簽署的國際公民及政治權利公約(ICCPR)的精神。我們要求香港特區政府在基本法第26條和香港人權法案第21條的基礎上，立刻恢復周庭作為香港永久性居民，在不受無理限制下享有在選舉中被選的公民權利及機會。

香港政府不斷強調基本法作為香港一國兩制的憲法基礎，但是在周庭的選舉權的決定中，卻公然無視基本法賦予香港居民的基本選舉權利。這樣做只會削弱港人對法治和香港政府的信心。特首林鄭月娥曾決志要修補香港社會的撕裂。而剝奪周庭的選舉權及選民意願的自由表達，只會適得其反地進一步加深香港的撕裂。港人又如何能相信特首的誠意和對港人的承擔？

作為珍視人權丶民主丶法治和自由的國際公民，我們認為維護公民政治權利及公開公平選舉是任何開放自由社會的重要展示，也是當初國際社會肯定中英聯合聲明中一國兩制的重要內涵。我們堅決與香港人民站在一起，要求香港特區政府立刻恢復周庭的參選資格！

聯署團體：

Australia-Hong Kong Link 澳港聯 (Australia)

Canada-Hong Kong Link 港加聯 (Canada) 

D4HK (UK)              

Federation of Overseas Hong Kong Chinese, Washington DC 華盛顿海外香港華人聯會 (USA)

Friends of Hong Kong and Macau of Boston 波士頓港澳之友社 (USA)

Hong Kong Forum Los Angeles 洛杉磯香港論壇 (USA)

Movement for Democracy in China (Calgary) 卡城中國民主促進會 (Canada)

Northern California Hong Kong Club 北加州香港會 (USA)             

NY4HK (USA)

Toronto Association for Democracy in China 多倫多支持中國民運會 (Canada) 

Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society 溫哥華香港協進會 (Canada)

Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement 溫哥華支援民主運動聯合會 (Canada)

紐英崙中華公所2018新氣象 7名新董事

紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊(中立者)等五名職員主持會議。(周菊子攝)

                          (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙中華公所新年度小幅換血，共7名新董事。1月30日晚在本年度首次董事大會中選出4個小組委員，說明至少有兩大土地發展計畫進行中，通過邀請梅伍銀寬為物業小組顧問，總資產已逾2000萬元，盼社區僑團同心協力輔助中華公所真正發揮服務社區功能。

中華公所新董事，左起司徒文信，伍樹俊，張韻蘭，張青梅，
梅麗梨，蔣宗壬。(周菊子攝)

                           中華公所董事會共有5名職員，41名董事，一般情況為每一僑團可指派一名代表出席中華公所董事會，但早年依據各僑團人數多寡等不同考量，另訂了至孝篤親公所可派4名代表，黃氏公所派3名，波士頓安良工商會，紐英崙余風彩堂各派2名代表等安排。

                         今年的7名新董事，分別為華人經濟發展協會董事長蔣宗壬，梅氏公所主席梅麗梨，波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭，伍胥山公所主席伍樹俊，溯源公所主席鄺炎彬，華埠退伍軍人會前會長司徒文信，紐英崙婦女新運會會長張青梅，其中一半以上是年僅三、四十歲的年輕人，後5人第一次參加中華公所董事會，讓人對中華公所年後出現新氣象，十分期待。

遡源公所主席鄺炎彬也是中華公所今年的新董事。(周菊子攝)

                        選舉/修章，物業，財政，核數等四個小組委員會，許多獲提名者婉拒，最後定案的四個小組成員分別為，選舉/修章小組召集人為中文書記雷國輝，組員為謝中之，陳仕維，單鳳琴，李天生，余景新，朱紹昌，黃國健，翁宇才。物業小組召集人為朱蘇珊，組員為許揚威，余麗媖，張韻蘭，阮鴻燦，陳文棟，李源沛，梅麗梨，蔣宗壬。財政小組召集人為陳文浩，組員為石家孝，張青梅，陳台榮，鄺炎彬。核數小組召集人為周樹昂。組員為陳滋源，陳灼鋆。

               當晚的大會，還有哈佛大學非牟利組織菲利普布魯克斯屋(Philips Brooks House)協會出席，說明該機構由哈佛大學學生為社區服務，免費教英語，今年將繼續在中華公所開課。

中華公所小組委員會選舉結果。

               中華公所主席陳家驊在主席報告中說明，中華公所已決定邀請榮氏(Winns)，畢肯(Beacon)，和亞美社區發展協會(ACDC)這三個機構，就大同村南停車場提出發展計畫，預定二月底，三月初，會收到文件。

                              喜露街50號的CMart地塊，中華公所已和合作機構一起，向波士頓計畫發展局提出指定地塊規畫(PDA)申請，由於三一教堂改建公寓的住戶要求，公眾置評時間延長30天。

               波士頓華商會將和波士頓市政府交涉，把尼倫街上因規畫自行車道失去的停車位，爭取回來。

中華公所開董事會。

               董事謝中之在會上質詢黃光野訴訟案的律師費。根據中華公所當晚派發給董事們的財政報告摘要註記，在2017年內，中華公所為涉及黃光野案的律師費總額為56,804.76元。坊間知情人士透露，黃氏公所為此事也花了3萬多元，感嘆華埠內，尤其是中華公所訟案連連，這些資源若能用於支持華埠社區內非牟利團體營運，恐怕有意義得多了。

                              紐英崙中華公所今年將於2月17日晚在帝苑大酒樓舉行春宴，各僑團已訂65席。每年一度的迎春舞獅，將於2月25日舉行。

菲利普布魯克斯屋項目主任Kerry J. McGowan(左一)帶著4名哈佛大學
學生到中華公所董事大會報告。(周菊子攝)

屋斯特理工學院波士頓海港區合作空間剪綵啟用

 

WPI校長樂欣(Laurie Leshin，左四)，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh
， (右四)，屋斯特市長派迪(Joe Petty，左三)，以及麻州經濟及住宅
發展卿艾許(Jay Ash，右一)，波士頓市經濟發展長巴洛斯(John Barros
，左一)等人一起剪綵。(周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 麻州第一及第二大城市，波士頓市和屋斯特市今(1月31)日正式攜手，剪綵啟用6400平方呎的”WPI海港”合作空間，推動麻州創新經濟。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)，屋斯特市長喬派迪(Joe Petty)和麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)，屋斯特理工學院校長樂欣(Laurie Leshin)在麻州經濟及住宅發展卿艾許(Jay Ash)，麻州稽核長邦普(Susan Bump)，波士頓市經濟發展長巴洛斯(John Barros)等近百名嘉賓賀客面前剪綵啟用這座落在國會街303號一樓，玻璃窗外有著美麗水景的嶄新空間。

麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito，右)為WPI Seaport剪綵致詞。
(周菊子攝)

樂欣，喬派迪在致詞時都半開玩笑，說吸引亞馬遜把第二個總部設在麻州，改善經濟以及人們的生活品質，是他們的目標。馬丁華殊則認真表示，無論亞馬遜是選擇了波士頓，或是屋斯特市，只要是來嘛州，波士頓都願意合作。

屋斯特市市長Joe Petty(右)笑說要分一塊亞馬遜第二總部這蛋糕。
(周菊子攝)

樂欣表示，數位健康，機器人等等，都是社會科技未來發展方向，該校希望藉此空間，加深和鄰近地帶創新產業的合作，從1999年起，WPI已在波士頓設有項目中心，透過和波士頓市，波士頓海港協會，新英格蘭水族館等的合作，有400多學生在那而做過研究，完成了不下120個項目，相信”WPI海港”啟用後，該校和鄰近一帶的創新產業將會有更進一步合作。

麻州副州長白莉朵稱許WPI和波士頓市，屋斯特市在投資未來，培養人才上的這一合作，卻也強調，接著得想辦法把人才留在麻州。她指出，麻州州政府去年四月才撥款500萬元，資助WPI建醫學科技實驗室PracticePoint,，今年一月又撥款四百萬元，協助WPI和Quinsigamond社區學院合作，整建一所新的光子實驗室。

左起Mina Shojaeizadeh，劉雯，趙冰，Chris Lhagnon，Ryan LaMarche，
Prateek Jain, Kodey Converse等七名學生都是"使用者經驗及決策
實驗室的博碩士學生，在剪綵活動中示範項目。(周菊子攝)

屋斯特市長派迪為WPI座落該市而驕傲，聲稱麻州在世界層級有份量，WPI也功不可沒。他在剪綵前向本媒體透漏，市內的亞裔居民越來越多，去年十月，他才贈送了一把市鑰給捐款一千萬元給麻州大學醫學院的萬利家集團董事長李偉波。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊強調屋斯特市，WPI和波士頓市都有長久淵源，良好關係。當年他競選波士頓市市長，顧問之一就是屋斯特市一名前市長。波士頓市正需要這樣的合作，來為突然淹水，停車位不足，空氣品質不佳等議題找出解決辦法。

屋斯特理工學院表示，佔地 6,400平方呎的”WPI海港”，設計時特意強調了合作，裡面有著開放空間，鼓勵學生，業界夥伴，企業領袖及該校的許多校友，科技顧問等等互相交流，啟發創業精神。

左起，WPI助理教授Lane T. Harrison和學生馮覓，朱泊霖示範
大數據視覺化項目。(周菊子攝)

這裡也有教室，會議室，5個科技套房，都有著堡壘點水道(Fort Point Channel)的美麗水景。WPI打算用這地方作為該校舉辦以企業為主要對象的活動，也用於校友聚會，職業發展講座等等。

屋斯特市是個人口有798,552的麻州第二大城市，市內有麻州大學醫學院，屋斯特理工學院等大專學府。根據美國人口統計局資料，該市內共有亞裔37,036人，其中華人有7,596人。

超級碗本週六開打 麻州，賓州兩州長下賭注

Governors Baker, Wolf Place Friendly Wagers on Super Bowl LII

New England Patriots to take on Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday

麻州長查理貝克( Charlie Baker)。(圖由州政府提供)

BOSTON — Ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles, today Governors Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania announced a friendly wager on the game’s outcome.

Governor Baker wagered a variety of the Commonwealth’s finest local offerings should the Eagles pull off an upset, including:

·       Clam Chowder from Legal Sea Foods in Boston

·       Craisins from Ocean Spray in Middleborough

·       Apple Cider Donuts from Smolak Farms in North Andover

·       Apple Pie, Chicken Pot Pie and Maple Syrup from Hollis Hills Farms in Fitchburg

·       Grillo’s Pickles from Needham

·       Boston Crème Pie Cupcakes and Lemon Squares from Koffee Kup Bakery in Springfield

“As the New England Patriots prepare for their eighth Super Bowl of the last seventeen years, the full force of the Commonwealth and all of New England is behind them every step of the way because we know their jobs are not done yet,”said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to have another opportunity to offer up some of Massachusetts’ finest local products for a good cause and look forward to the Pats bringing home another Super Bowl win.”

Governor Wolf has wagered Federal Donuts, Soup from the Rooster Soup Company,Reading Terminal Market Scrapple, in honor of the market’s 125th anniversary, Coffee from La Colombe in Philadelphia, and donated pizza slices from Rosa’s Fresh Pizza, a pay-it-forward pizzeria that provides hundreds of meals per week to homeless Philadelphians. The Governors have agreed to donate the winnings to a local food pantry of their choice.

“Over the last year, the Eagles have battled adversity and inspired millions of fans, both on and off the field,” Governor Wolf said. “I am putting some of my Philly favorites and Philly’s finest and most iconic food items on the line but look forward to Governor Baker sending some Massachusetts food to Pennsylvania.”

Super Bowl kickoff is at scheduled for 6:30 PM ET on Sunday. 

Harvard Global Health Institute talk on Nexus of Green Building, Public Health and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

January 31, 2018

Lucas DiLeo

Contributing writer

The Harvard Global Health Institute hosted a talk by Prof. Joseph Allen on the Nexus of Green Building, Public Health and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.  

Prof. Allen is Assistant Professor of Exposure Assessment Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and founder of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard’s Center for Health and Global Environment. 

The Healthy Buildings Program is pursing research on how building impact health.  They have launched a number of projects with industry to explore and quantify these impacts and potential for adapting building systems.

According to Dr. Allen, we spend 90% of our lives indoors.   Thus building managers have more impact upon our health than our doctors.

Building also account for 40% of energy consumption, and will have an increasing impact on Climate change.   At the same time, buildings can be resilient and be a refuge for people during extreme weather and increasing heat and air pollution.

Dr. Allen's institute is organizing its programs around the UN's Sustainability Goals as how they relate to buildings.  

He quoted Churchill who said "we shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us" and updated it to "we share our buildings and they shape our public health".

Although we spend the majority of our time in doors, health research is focused upon outdoor air.  Moreover it is easy to measure energy consumption, but hard to measure human health.  This is what his projects are focused upon.

They are looking at noise, lighting, moisture, ventilation, air quality, dust and particles, temperature and life safety.

His lab launched the CogEffect study - of the effect of the indoor environment on cognitive functions of workers.  This study focused upon the impacts of carbon dioxide, ventilation and chemicals in the air upon cognitive function.  He reported that participants scored highest in a building with optimal building conditions and demonstrated how increased CO2 , for instance, reduced worker productivity.  Similarly higher levels of ventilation correlated with lower levels of infectious disease.   

And then the study quantified these impacts/benefits into $$ per employee.

In addition, Prof. Allen reported that people in green buildings report greater satisfaction with their environment.

Their center is now launching a 3 year global study of green buildings and their impact on how people perform over time.  This will take their previous work and expand it other markets and culture.   Sensors will be installed at worker desks to track various environmental quality and comfort metrics and how they vary with different conditions.  The study will also look at lighting and how it effects worker attitudes and productivity.

He was then  joined by Piers MacNaughton, Associate Director of the Healthy Buildings Program, who explained the evolution of the Green Building ROI that they are utilizing - energy costs, market performance, occupancy and tenant opinions.   Most studies are only focused upon lower energy usage and this study hopes to expand the metrics for quantifying impact.

Prof. Allen then went on to discuss the proliferation of chemicals in the environment and in buildings - the overwhelming majority never being studied for human impact - and how they are being incorporated into the food chain and our bodies.   And how to organize information on chemicals to help developers and managers make better decisions.  This has led to the Project on Living Lab and the Healthy Building Materials Academy for Harvard to evaluate chemicals in its own Campus.

There are many areas where chemicals become inserted into the building's environment such as stain repellent chemicals, cooking, clothing, cleaning materials, fabrics, etc.

They are seeking to learn what is the public health impact of our buildings.

Prof. Allen concluded by stating that "75% of the infrastructure we need by 2050 has not yet been built.  Decisions we make now will impact our personal and economic health for years to come."

MIT-CEO 邀余軍分享創投經驗 (圖片)

波市議員普利斯來宣佈參選聯邦眾議員

普莉斯萊(Ayanna Pressley)宣佈參選聯邦眾議員。
(Ayanna Pressley競選團隊提供)

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 波士頓市府公僕，民代今年興向上挑戰，繼波士頓市長幕僚長高丹尼(Daniel Koh)宣佈參選聯邦眾議員，市議員查金(Josh Zakim)參選麻州州務卿之後，市議員普莉斯萊(Ayanna Pressley)1月30日也宣佈參選聯邦眾議員席位。

身為波士頓市首名非洲裔女性市議員，現年43歲的普莉斯萊，將挑戰同為民主黨，1998年當選，今年66歲，在位滿30年的第7區聯邦眾議員卡普阿諾(Michael E. Capuano)。

            普莉斯萊在宣佈競選時表示，選民們需要的不只是一名盟友，更需要倡議者，擁護者。她將成為國會內的大膽無謂聲音，捍衛整個選區民眾的機會。
在歷年來的麻州參選政客中，普利斯萊大概是第一個在參選時就發佈中文新聞稿的候選人。本文末附有她的競選團隊發佈，以簡體中文撰寫的參選聲明。

            聯邦眾議員第7選區包括尚莫維爾(Somerville)，雀喜(Chelsea)，艾佛瑞(Everett)，龍都(Randolph)，以及一半的劍橋市，三分之一的米爾頓(Milton)，大部分的波士頓，大約56%的人口為少數族裔，也是麻州所有國會選區中，唯一的大多數居民為少數族裔的選區。

            不過，這個選區從來沒有一個有色人種來代表他們。卡普阿諾是一半愛爾蘭，一半義大利裔的尚莫維爾居民，一度當過該市市長，也是白人。

普莉斯萊則是來自芝加哥，目前住在多徹斯特的非洲裔美人。從2009年首次當選以來，她已連選連任5次。

她由單親母親扶養長大，有個動人的成長故事，克服了許多困難，才成為最高票當選的市議員。她畢業於波士頓大學，曾任本地高層政客的助理，包括當時是聯邦參議員的凱利(John Kerry)，聯邦眾議員的約瑟夫甘迺迪。而約瑟夫甘迺迪的繼位者就是卡普阿諾。

普莉斯萊要接觸到第7選區內的大約70萬民眾，恐將耗費不貲。卡普阿諾在截至去年12月31日時，銀行李有76萬元。聯邦法禁止普利斯來用她競選市議員時得到的錢來參選國會議員席位。

Here’s Pressley’s full statement:

“Today, I humbly announce my candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 7th Congressional District. I made this decision after much prayer, deliberation, and thoughtful conversation with my family, friends, and those I hope to have the honor to represent in Congress. This district and these times demand more than just an ally, they demand an advocate and a champion.

My life as an advocate for those most in need is inspired by my mother’s example. She believed in the potential inherent in each of us, and that belief is the foundation of my work. That belief is what drove me to successfully tackle some of society’s most complex issues as a Boston City Councilor, working alongside communities in the policymaking process and never losing sight of who government is meant to serve. It is that belief that will drive me throughout this campaign and beyond.

Our country is facing a critical moment. While the cruel and dangerous tenor of the national political debate is new, the issues we are struggling to address — income inequality, systemic racism, and lack of economic opportunity — have dogged our nation for years. We have not yet delivered on our nation’s foundational promise of equality. Not everyone is granted the opportunity that each of us deserves: to fulfill our God-given potential. Making progress on longstanding challenges requires a different lens and a new approach. I will be a bold voice in Congress, as an advocate for the entire district and as a champion for opportunity. This moment in time demands nothing less.”

大波士顿市议员阿扬娜·普雷斯利（AYANNA PRESSLEY）宣布她的国会候选人资格

波士顿 — 大波士顿市议员将于1月30日（星期二）宣布她在马萨诸塞州第七届国会选区民主党提名。议员普雷斯利提出以下声明：

“今天我虚心宣布参加第七届国会选区的民主党候选人提名。经过与家人，朋友，以及我希望在国会有幸代表的那些人进行了多次的祷告，深思熟虑的谈话之后，很显然这个行政区应该有一个选择。

在我生命过去的23年里，受到母亲榜样的启发，我一直是那些最需要帮助的人的倡导者。在波士顿市议会任职期间，我通过合作管理，和与政策制定过程中的社区一起工作，并牢记政府的服务对象，解决了一些最复杂的问题。

现在，在我国历史上的这个关键时刻，我想跟随我的工作到华盛顿，并带上第七届国会选区的声音。改变不能等待。

在一个以残酷政策为主的政治话语时代，我将成为整个地区大胆的声音和倡导者。

我们还没有实现我们国家对平等的基本承诺。无论你来自哪里，或者去过哪里，每个人都应该得到一个安全，健康，负担得起的和繁荣的社区，让他们有机会实现上帝赋予他们的潜力。我们正在努力解决的问题是持续不断的，不断增长的，但这并不新鲜。我们有责任用不同的视角和新的方法来解决这些问题。

美國溫州總商會舉辦華人商會合作論壇

轉載:
美國溫州總商會舉辦華人商會合作論壇 凝聚海外華商力量
美國溫州總商會1月27日晚在聖蓋博舉辦授牌儀式同時、主辦華人商會合作論壇。 28個當地的華人商會參與論壇，共同探討華人商會的歷史、現狀和發展趨勢。並簽署戰略合作協議，希望通過合作，提昇華人商會服務能力，共同凝聚海外華商力量。這是首次在南加州舉辦的華人商會專題論壇。
美國溫州總商會創會會長李信亮表示，實現商會的合作共贏，一般認為就是加強互動、資源共享，但是想深一層，從可持續發展的方向來看，商會的合作要從細節開始、講誠信，更要注重互利發展。

再談如何改善商會服務功能，首先要打好商會自身的基礎，包括信息、平台、專業和專職的服務人員。同時，華人商會在教育和培訓這方面似乎還沒有開始進行。是否可以聯合起來，設置一些新興行業知識和技能的培訓和研討。

作為在美國擁有眾多溫州籍企業家的溫州總商會，將充分發揮溫州籍企業家勇於創新的精神，希望通過論壇，提昇華人商會的影響力和服務功能，為華裔企業和中國企業快速適應市場變化實現可持續發展而提供專業建言。

本次商會合作論壇通過召集在美的華人商會，共同研議在美華人商會之間如何進行有效合作，實現資源共享；華人商會如何提升服務能力、為會員提供優質服務；華人商會如何與當地商會開展合作，為在美商家和中國企業提供拓展美國市場通路。

參加會議的美華國際青年商會會長朱冰峰、南加州大學知名華裔教授黃南松、美國華人公共外交促進會會長任向東等表示，華人商會可以研究美國當地的市場與經濟發展動態，成為美中兩國政府的“智庫”。華人商會可以從事政府公關，降低對中國產品的貿易壁壘，幫助華人中小型企業開拓美國當地市場。通過向所在地國會議員提及研究報告，提出有利於美中經濟戰略與企業利益的建議和提案。向家鄉商會提供所在地區經濟研究報告，從實質上促進美中地區和國家間的經濟交流。

近兩年華人商會大量湧現，但是有些商會的現狀只是為了組團回國參加會議活動，或者在當地接待國內代表團，或者是同鄉、朋友圈的聚會。華人商會基本上沒有服務功能、沒有智庫功能、沒有出具原產地證的資質、沒有進入當地的商會系統、沒有與政府職能部門的對接功能。這些都是華人商會有待提升和改進的領域。

美國國會眾議員趙美心、中國駐洛杉磯總領事館僑務組組長湯長安領事、商務組領事郭汝達，當地28個華人商會代表和各界人士近300人等出席了當天儀式和論壇。 （AACYF洛杉磯訊）