MIT Solve Announces $1.25 Million in Funding for 2019 Solver Teams

April 24, 2019 (Cambridge, MA)—MIT Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that advances solutions from tech entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing issues, today announced a prize pool of $1.25 million for its next class of Solver teams. Prize sponsors include General Motors, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Vodafone Americas Foundation, Schmidt Futures, Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, and the Andan Foundation. The prize sponsors will convene at Solve at MIT from May 7-9 in Cambridge, MA with the rest of the Solve community, including 2018 Solver teams, Members, Sponsors, and MIT faculty and staff.

Solve seeks solutions from tech innovators around the world for its 2019 Global Challenges: Circular Economy, Community-Driven Innovation, Early Childhood Development, and Healthy Cities. Anyone can submit a solution and apply for the $1.25 million in prize funding by July 1, 2019. Finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions at Solve Challenge Finals during UN General Assembly Week in New York City on September 22, 2019. At the event, leading cross-sector experts will select 35 of the most promising tech-based innovators to become Solver teams. They will work with Solve for the next year to scale their solutions with the support of funding, networking, mentorship, marketing, and more from the Solve community.

2019 MIT Solve Prizes available for selected Solver teams:

• Solver Funding: Solve will award a $10,000 grant to all Solver teams selected during Solve Challenge Finals in September by the cross-sector judging panels of each of Solve’s four Challenges.
• GM Prizes supported by General Motors
• Solutions that foster prosperity and social mobility for underrepresented community members—including through STEM education—are eligible for the GM Prize on Community-Driven Innovation. Up to $50,000 will be granted to two recipients.
• Solutions that help communities shift towards a more circular economy through zero waste and zero carbon—including through STEM education for new design and manufacturing techniques—are eligible for the GM Prize on Circular Economy. Up to $50,000 will be granted to two recipients.
• AI Innovations Prize supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and Schmidt Futures
• Solutions that are propelled by advanced computing techniques or that leverage artificial intelligence to address any of the four Challenges are eligible for the AI Innovations Prize of up to $500,000, granted across several recipients.
• Innovation for Women Prize supported by the Vodafone Americas Foundation
• Solutions that use technology to empower and enrich the lives of women and girls are eligible for the Innovation for Women Prize. Vodafone Americas Foundation will award up to $75,000 across up to three Solver teams addressing any of Solve’s Challenges.
• Everytown for Gun Safety Prize supported by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund
• Holistic, community-based Healthy Cities solutions that use technology to make cities safer are eligible for up to $100,000 in grant funding.

• Innovating Together for Healthy Cities Prize supported by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court
• The Innovating Together for Healthy Cities Prize of $75,000 will be awarded to one prize recipient, and is open to projects that focus on preventing or managing infectious disease or vector-borne illness in cities or slums.

• Innovation for Refugee Inclusion Prize supported by the Andan Foundation
• Solutions that use innovation to advance economic, financial, and political inclusion of refugees in their hosting communities are eligible for this prize of up to $50,000. Eligible Solver teams will be selected from the Community-Driven Innovation Challenge.

“We are thrilled to work with such a diverse array of leading organizations to secure much needed funding for solutions to the world’s most intractable challenges,” said Alex Amouyel, Executive Director at MIT Solve. “There are innovators solving world challenges all around the world, but too few of them have access to the capital and expertise they need to scale. At Solve, we’re helping to bridge the pioneer gap in social impact, which is critical to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

第一屆"波士頓台灣電影展" 5月26，27放映6記錄片

                          (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 一群現居波士頓，主要來自台灣的年輕人，希望大波士頓人更進一步認識台灣，了解台灣創作風氣之自由，社會之多元化，自行募資籌畫，訂5月26、27兩日在麻省理工學院26-100舉辦第一屆”波士頓台灣電影展”，將放映6部記錄片，並已邀得其中4名導演來波士頓與觀眾對話。

影展策畫小組認為，全在2017至2019年間拍成，都非常受台灣觀眾歡迎的這六部作品，描述了生活在台灣的那些不同年代，不同背景人們的一生，極具生命反思深度。

影展策畫小組以”告白青春”為主題，選了〈疾風魅影·黑貓中隊〉和〈我們的青春在台灣〉作為影展的開幕片和閉幕片，藉以展現前後相隔60年的不同世代青年，同樣有著為國赴湯蹈火情懷，面對各自所處身的大環境，都有無奈。

影展首日將放映的另外兩部片，〈後勁：王建民〉和〈紅盒子〉，主題為”剖白夢想”，影像語言和音樂製作都十分精緻，述說著片中主角中年成名後所面對的家庭矛盾和他們對技藝的理想、堅持。

影展次日將放映〈那個靜默的陽光午後〉和〈看不見的台灣〉，主題為〔明白慈悲〕，以幽默喜劇手法，表現超越生死和歷史創傷的精神關懷。

傅榆、林明謙、楊佈新、陳惟揚等四名導演將出席影展，與觀眾對話。

影展策畫小組表示，2018年台灣記錄片大豐收，有多部口碑好，評論佳，又有話題性的記錄片出爐，許多海外僑胞都為無法回台看片，深感失落，他們因此決定策畫影展，不斷腦力激盪，希望選出藝術成就高，又能受觀眾喜愛的台灣新電影，既向波士頓觀眾介紹台灣，也期望海外僑社在面對美國多族裔社會，尋求各自文化根源之際，也關注台灣電影，藉以促成深度對話。

他們還抱著扮演文化橋樑之心，以「生命的視域交融」為策展核心，委託有亞太影展專刊設計經驗的金彥良為影展設計主視覺，以”留白”呼應影展團隊所引用的莊子”虛室生白”，藉以傳達”受制於大環境，每一個人都難免人生有缺陷，視角有盲點，但希望大家看了記錄真實生命故事的影片後，勇敢面對生命的不完美，向不同觀點的生命彼此學習，邁向清澈明朗的理想境界”。

                    第一屆”波士頓台灣電影展”策劃小組有意做台灣電影海外拓荒者，先在波士頓打造全新的台灣電影文化意象，為台灣電影在美國東岸創造更多可能性，逐步推動台灣電影的走進世界各地。

                       影展售票，一日套票30元，兩日套票50元，四月三十日前可買到早鳥票，優惠票價依序為24元，40元。一次購買20張以上的團體票，可洽影展團隊。查詢詳情，可上影展官網www.TAIWANFILMFESTIVAL.org。

麻州政府慶祝種樹2萬株 綠化門戶城市 再撥款14萬元

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Planting of 20,000th Tree Under Greening the Gateway Cities Program

Administration Announced $140,270 in Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants

QUINCY – The Baker-Polito Administration today joined with City of Quincy officials to celebrate the 20,000th tree planted under the Commonwealth’s Greening the Gateway Cities Program and highlight the importance of trees within local communities. The administration also announced $140,270 in 2019 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants to fourteen municipalities. The grants will assist the communities as local officials seek to maximize the social, economic, and environmental benefits of increased tree canopies within their communities.

“Healthy, green and accessible open spaces are an essential component of the public's well-being and our administration is proud to continue partnering with local municipalities and non-profit groups to ensure that trees and parks remain a priority,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Greening the Gateway Communities Program and Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants provide important resources for local officials focused on doing their part to strengthen and enhance tree canopies across the Commonwealth.”

“The 20,000th tree planting of the Greening the Gateway Cities Program is an excellent opportunity to recognize the positive work done in Massachusetts communities and the benefits that trees provide across the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The 2019 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants will assist local governments and non-profit stakeholders in maintaining and protecting tree canopies through strategic planning.”

The 2019 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants, which range from $2,000 to $20,000, will assist in the following key areas:

•                 Building and strengthening citizen advocacy;

•                 Creating a Community Wood Bank;

•                 Developing and adopting tree and forest ordinances and policies;

•                 Developing and implementing an urban forestry management plan; and

•                 Completing strategic community tree plantings and “Heritage Tree” care projects.

“The Baker-Polito Administration continues to make investments in our state’s natural resources, that include providing and administering vital funds through programs like the Urban and Community Forestry Grants Program, conserving and protecting environmentally important land throughout the Commonwealth and promoting the Greening the Gateway Cities Program,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Leo Roy.“More trees across the Commonwealth will improve the air we breathe, reduce energy consumption and beautify our neighborhoods.”

“Environmentally, the planting of a tree contributes to better air quality and supports wildlife,”said Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch. “Furthermore, the trees outside the school offer shade for the students and faculty. The idea that this particular tree planting is the 20,000th is so significant to show the dedication to the program.”

As a participant of the Greening the Gateway Cities Program, trees are provided free of charge and are planted by DCR work crews. To be eligible, residents and property owners must agree to a two-year watering commitment to ensure the trees’ survival. Easy care instructions are provided by DCR to tree recipients addressing watering, mulching and pruning. When a potential tree recipient registers, a DCR urban forester will visit their home to determine the best location and species of tree for energy efficiency. They also conduct year-round site visits and are available to answer questions. To find out if you are in the planting zone and order a free tree, property owners and residents should call 617-626-1473. For more information, please visit the program’s webpage.

Additionally, the funds for the 50-50 matching grant program are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service and the Massachusetts ReLeaf Trust Fund, and are administered by the DCR. Three of the fourteen grant awards were funded from the Mass ReLeaf Trust Fund utilizing donations from the National Grid Corporation and Eversource Corporation. National Grid and Eversource contribute to DCR to offer Urban Forestry Challenge Grants.

The following proposals were awarded 2019 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants:

Applicant: City of Framingham, Community & Economic Development Division

Brief Description: Downtown North Strategic Tree Planting

Amount Awarded: $11,000

Applicant: Town of Athol

Brief Description: Community Wood Bank

Amount Awarded: $2,000

Applicant: Town of Deerfield

Brief Description: Deerfield Strategic Tree Planting and Environmental Education

Amount Awarded: $4,800

Applicant: Town of Maynard

Brief Description: Maynard Shade Tree Inventory and Management Plan

Amount Awarded: $20,100

Applicant: Town of Lanesborough, Tree and Forest Committee

Brief Description: “King Elmer”: The Lanesborough Elm

Amount Awarded: $1,200

Applicant: City of Medford

Brief Description: Medford Canopy Improvement Initiative

Amount Awarded: $20,000

Applicant: Town of Millbury

Brief Description: Street Tree Planting

Amount Awarded: $5,670

Applicant: Town of Montague, Tree Advisory Committee

Brief Description: Montague Wood Bank Improvement Project

Amount Awarded: $2,000

Applicant: Town of Natick

Brief Description: Natick Tree Health Survey

Amount Awarded: $7,000

Applicant: Town of Needham

Brief Description: Needham Tree Protection Health Planning and Planting Project

Amount Awarded: $10,000

Applicant: City of Northampton

Brief Description: Transforming Downtown Heat Island with Proper Plantings

Amount Awarded: $30,000

Applicant: Town of Palmer

Brief Description: Community Wood Bank

Amount Awarded: $2,000

Applicant: Town of Plainfield, Historical Society for the Plainfield Tree Alliance

Brief Description: Pittsfield Community Wood Bank

Amount Awarded: $2,000

Applicant: City of Springfield

Brief Description: Forest Park Neighborhood Urban Forest Assessment

Amount Awarded: $22,500

“I’m proud to join Governor Baker, Secretary Beaton, Commissioner Roy and others in Quincy to acknowledge the great work Massachusetts has done investing in our environment and to celebrate the 20,000th tree planted under the Greening the Gateway Cities Program,” said State Senator John Keenan (D-Quincy). “With these investments from the state, local communities can continue to maintain open, clean and accessible outdoor areas, protect the environment, and maximize the quality of life in their cities and towns.”

“It’s great to see the 20,000th tree planted today in Quincy, representative of the time and resources the Commonwealth has dedicated to creating and preserving public green space,”said State Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “The Greening the Gateway Cities Program has been an excellent driver of environmental stewardship while promoting healthier, accessible open spaces to benefit everyone in the city.”

“These funds from DCR will make a real difference for many households in our community,”said Representative Todd Smola (R-Warren). “I want to commend our local officials in Palmer for pursuing this resource and the administration’s support of conservation programs throughout Massachusetts.”

Currently, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting project grant proposals for calendar year 2020. Please visit the agency’s Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants webpage for additional details.

波士頓馬拉松賽傳中國選手詐欺 中田徑會判三人終身禁參賽

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 波士頓馬拉松賽驚傳中國參賽者詐欺事件。在中國境內媒體傳出這消息後，阿波羅新聞網，鳳凰華人資訊網，文學城等中文媒體陸續報導，波士頓環球報也於今(22)日跟進。

波士頓環球報在報導中指出，根據中國官方新聞機構的新華社，有3名中國跑者被控在2019年波士頓馬拉松賽中詐欺，並已被禁止在中國內參加任何跑步比賽。

新華社的報導是，據稱有一名跑者把號碼牌給了另一個人，另兩名跑者假造個人最佳成績證明，藉以達到波士頓馬拉松賽的要求，騙得參賽資格。

中國體育會(CAA)因此已終身禁止他們在中國參賽。

主辦波士頓馬拉松賽的波士頓體育會在發給波士頓環球報的一封電郵中表示，出現這樣的指控，讓人感到失望。但該會相信，絕大部分參賽都很努力，在跑道上展現了誠信與良好的體育精神。

中國田徑協會在該會網站上刊出處罰通知，稱吳兆峰，趙寶瑩私自偽造國內參賽成績，張建華私自轉讓號碼布，在2019年波士頓馬拉松賽中違規參賽，又拒絕和協會溝通，將終身禁止他們參加中國境內的馬拉松賽及相關運動。

根據波士頓體育會網站，以中國公民身分報名參加2019波士頓馬拉松賽的有620人，其中有537人上場參賽，534人跑完全程。

在波士頓體育會網站上，有一名女子的姓名和中國田徑協會公佈在官網上的類似。她的跑步成績是5小時50分，比波士頓馬拉松賽規定的18到34歲參賽資格，3小時35分慢得多。

中國對馬拉松賽的興趣，近年高漲。2011年十，中國田徑協會只監管22場馬拉松賽，去年這數目卻增至1581場。許多中國跑者還把參加世界馬拉松賽大聯盟，特別是限制參賽資格的波士頓馬拉松賽看成是很值得在社交媒體上炫耀的事。

波士頓體育會也承認，儘管絕大部分參賽者都很守規矩，但每年也都有一小搓人經由部正當的方法參加，或跑完比賽。那些造假，欺騙的人，將被取消資格。

在中國媒體的報導上，涉及欺騙的中國跑者將近90人，都經由一家旅行社的協助造假成績，甚至有人請代跑。

誌記地球日 麻州長撥款75萬給社區對抗氣候變化

Commonwealth Celebrates Earth Day with Milestone in Climate Change Planning Program, Local Dam Removal Project

Administration Announces $725,000 to Help 27 Communities Plan for Climate Change Impacts

PLYMOUTH – The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded $725,000 to 27 communities to complete climate change vulnerability assessments and develop resiliency plans through theMunicipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, bringing the number of communities in the program to 184, or half of all Massachusetts municipalities. The grant and designation program, which builds on Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569 as well as other administration-led state and local partnerships, provides communities with technical support, climate change data and planning tools to identify hazards and develop strategies to improve resilience. This is the third round of the program’s planning grants, and the funding round will remain open until May 4, 2019 on a first-come, first-serve basis. Governor Charlie Baker made the announcement at an event celebrating the removal of the Holmes Dam in Plymouth and highlighting the Administration’s efforts to combat and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

“As we celebrate Earth Day, we are proud to announce that half of Massachusetts’ communities have partnered with the Commonwealth through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program to take action and fund projects to prepare for climate resiliency,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Legislature to continue the Commonwealth’s leadership on climate change through our proposal to provide $1.3 billion over ten years to local resiliency projects that will protect vital infrastructure.”

“Today’s milestone highlights the success of the administration’s innovative MVP program and continued work to address resiliency and climate change at the local and state level,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Thank you to the 184 cities and towns across Massachusetts that are working hand-in-hand with our administration to implement nature-based, cost-effective solutions to build resiliency and safeguard the Commonwealth’s residents, businesses and infrastructure.”

This funding is part of the largest release of climate change resilience funding for Massachusetts communities in state history, as the Baker-Polito Administration recentlyannounced the availability of $10 million for the MVP Program. Through this program, municipalities work through a community-based workshop process to identify key climate-related hazards, vulnerabilities and strengths, develop adaptation actions, and prioritize next steps. Results of the workshops and planning efforts inform existing local plans, grant applications, and policies, such as local hazard mitigation plans. Communities are then eligible for MVP Action Grant funding to implement priority on-the-ground projects.

“The continued growth of the MVP Program demonstrates communities’ interest and readiness to address the growing challenge of climate change,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “We are eager to work with all cities and towns across the Commonwealth to identify their priority resilience actions and get those projects off the ground.”

The following communities will receive funding to complete the MVP planning process in 2019:

Municipality	Total Award
Ayer	$35,000
Bellingham/Franklin	$48,000
Danvers	$24,000
Dartmouth	$23,000
Dighton	$22,000
Dover	$27,000
Greenfield	$22,000
Groveland	$25,000
Holliston	$15,000
Hopkinton	$29,000
Leominster	$25,000
Lynnfield	$15,000
Marshfield	$19,000
Mashpee	$15,000
Northborough	$15,000
Norwell	$24,000
Paxton	$25,130
Plymouth	$72,000
Rutland	$34,000
Saugus	$33,000
Somerset	$17,000
South Hadley	$25,000
Taunton	$43,000
Wakefield	$56,000
Westwood	$15,000
Winchester	$22,000
TOTAL	$725,130

The 184 MVP-designated municipalities are eligible for MVP Action Grants to implement on-the-ground projects identified through the planning process to build the community’s resilience to climate change impacts. Projects are focused on proactive strategies to address climate change impacts and include retrofitting and adapting infrastructure, detailed vulnerability assessments or design and engineering studies, stormwater upgrades, dam retrofits and removals, culvert upgrades, drought mitigation, actions to protect environmental justice communities and improve public health, energy resilience, and strategies that focus on implementing nature-based solutions such as wetland restoration and floodplain protection. Communities are eligible for up to $2 million per project to address ongoing climate change impacts like sea level rise, inland flooding, storms, and extreme temperatures.

The removal of Holmes Dam is the final project in an over a decade long restoration initiative including several complex dam removals and bridge replacements along the Town Brook, located upstream from the Pilgrim’s Trail and Plymouth Rock. The Baker-Polito Administration has committed over $1.38 million and provided technical assistance to the dam removal and restoration initiative. Removal of the Holmes Dam will restore and enhance self-sustaining populations of migratory fish, eliminate a potential public hazard, and enhance significant social and recreational benefits through the project’s additions to the Town Brook Greenway and the Pilgrim Trail.

“Our communities realize how important it is to plan for weather related events that have an effect on all facets of community life,” said State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer). “I especially want to congratulate the towns of Rutland and Paxton for being proactive in this critical planning.”

“Thank you to the Baker-Polito Administration and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for awarding these funds and recognizing the importance of promoting sustainability by encouraging climate change preparedness in communities across Massachusetts,” said State Representative Kimberly Ferguson (R-Holden). “I am thrilled that Rutland and Paxton were chosen as recipients and congratulations to all of the communities who received grants.”

“As the impacts of climate change become more apparent, it’s more important than ever that our communities have the tools necessary to identify risks to local resources and take action,”said State Representative Carolyn Dykema (D- Holliston). “This funding will provide crucial support to municipalities in their long-term planning efforts, and I’m pleased that Holliston and Hopkinton will be able to expand on their work to build resilience locally.”

The Baker-Polito Administration has committed $19 million in total to improving community resilience across the Commonwealth. Governor Baker recently filed the Resilient MA legislationto support municipalities and help protect Massachusetts residents, communities, economy, and infrastructure from the adverse effects of climate change, through a modest increase in the excise on real estate transfers to fund a substantial and sustained investment in climate change adaptation. The revenue would be directed towards investments in resilient infrastructure to help make communities safer, keep vital services online, reduce the long-term costs of climate-related risks and protect the value of property across the Commonwealth. The proposal is estimated to generate $1.3 billion over 10 years which would be dedicated to the Commonwealth’s Global Warming Solutions Trust Fund to provide funding for resiliency initiatives including grants and technical assistance to communities for implementing priority actions identified through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program and addressing climate-related risk in cities and towns throughout the state.

In August of 2018, Governor Baker signed legislation which put into law essential components of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569, including the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program and the Statewide Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation Plan, as well as authorizing over $2.4 billion in capital allocations for investments in safeguarding residents, municipalities and businesses from the impacts of climate change, protecting environmental resources, and investing in communities.

財富世界50大領袖 麻州長查理貝克排名第20

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)(中)。(檔案照片，
周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)財富(Fortune)雜誌在4月18日公佈該雜誌選出的本年度50位世界上最偉大的領袖，強調他們都有勇氣，在前景不確定鍾，冒著失去名譽，事業，財富，或不再受人尊重的危險，敢於率先起而行動。在這50人中，麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)名列第20名，騰訊創辦人馬化騰則是唯一入選的華裔領袖，排名高居第4。

            在這份名單上，排名第一的是比爾蓋茲、梅琳達夫婦，他倆創辦的GAVI基金，在1995年到2017年共捐出455億美元，支持各種改善人類健康的研究，尤其是在提供疫苗，對抗愛滋病，肺結核，瘧疾等疾病上，卓有成就。

            財富雜誌對查理貝克的描述是，民調受歡迎度經常保持在70%左右，作為一名共和黨員，卻能在一個以自由文明的州中獲得驚人的不分黨派支持度，那在近年的美國整體氛圍中，幾乎是天方夜譚。曾經整頓醫療保險公司的他，還是一名數據導向的有效率整頓者，在治理州內的吸毒問題，以及社會服務上卓有成績，去年他還簽署了一份清潔能源法案。

財富雜誌對馬化騰的描述是，在中國熱火朝天的科技領域中，和其他人比，馬化騰相對低調，但由於微信的緣故，他的影響力廣及全球。微信是騰訊所擁有，會員數以十億計的即時通訊服務軟體。微信是超級應用程式模型的縮影，使用者經由一個單一介面，就能付帳，訂餐，買票，玩遊戲等等。包括臉書等對手，現在都在適應，並想要模仿這成功模式。

在名單上的其他人還包括紐西蘭年僅38歲的女總理Jacinda Ardern，從2013年起已面對7名記者被謀殺壓力，卻仍堅持發行的南蘇丹Juba觀察報總編輯Anna Nimiriano。公開承認自己面對精神病壓力的Lloyds銀行集團執行長António Horta-Osório，率領”蘋果”成為美國第一家營業額逾兆公司的執行長庫克(Tim Cook)等。