MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND MASS AUDUBON ANNOUNCE SIX RECIPIENTS OF THE 2026 BOSTON TREE ALLIANCE PROGRAM TREE PLANTING AND CARE GRANT

MAYOR MICHELLE WU AND MASS AUDUBON ANNOUNCE SIX RECIPIENTS OF THE 2026 BOSTON TREE ALLIANCE PROGRAM TREE PLANTING AND CARE GRANT 

The Boston Tree Alliance Program will award over $519,750 to six projects to plant and care for trees

BOSTON – Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – Mayor Michelle Wu, in partnership with Mass Audubon, today announced the 2026 awardees of the Boston Tree Alliance Program Tree Planting and Care Grant. A total of $519,750 will be distributed to support six community-based tree planting and care projects.  

 

“Boston’s urban forest is a powerful tool for building healthier, more resilient neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Through the Boston Tree Alliance Program, we’re proud to partner with Mass Audubon and community organizations across the city to strengthen neighborhood capacity, support good green jobs, and ensure that the benefits of a healthy urban forest reach every corner of our city.” 

 

"This year marks a significant evolution for the Boston Tree Alliance Program. With the highest demand for funding we’ve seen yet, it’s clear that our partners are thinking more expansively about community forestry,” said Chris Osgood, Director of Climate Resilience. “From integrating stormwater features to removing hundreds of feet of concrete for new tree pits, we’re excited about the innovation and commitment of our communities to help grow a more resilient Boston.”

 

The six awardees are: 

 

·       Boston Food Forest Coalition (BFFC) -  $124,850 to plant 23 fruit and shade trees and install a new timed automatic irrigation system with passive collection tanks and rain sensor in BFFC’s new food forest park in Dorchester.

 

·       Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard - $194,900 to plant 24 trees along Melnea Cass Boulevard.

 

·       Tree Eastie - $25,000 to plant 60 trees across East Boston and support community engagement about the benefits of trees and how to care for them.

 

·       Four Corners Main Streets - $50,000 to plant 40 trees in Dorchester and Roxbury and support community engagement to plant trees with residents and other local organizations.

 

·       Longwood Collective - $62,750 to remove concrete surfaces to implement tree pits and plant 12 new trees along privately-owned, publicly accessible areas in Longwood. 

 

·       Speak for the Trees - $62,250 to plant 80 trees and support public educational workshops about best practices for tree selection, planting, harvesting, and care through their NeighborWoods program.

 

“The real impact of the Boston Tree Alliance Program comes from the participating community partners.  This award round not only supports long-standing organizations that have been advancing tree planting across the city for years, but also neighborhood-based organizations that understand how vital trees are for a healthy community,” said Mass Audubon’s George Durante, Senior Director of Nature in the City. “Increasing the tree canopy in Boston and collaborating to lift partners squarely aligns with Mass Audubon’s goals, particularly when it comes to mobilizing to mitigate against climate change and increasing access to nature.”

 

The Boston Tree Alliance Program provides grants and technical support to community-based organizations to plant and care for trees on privately-owned land. With over 60% of Boston’s tree canopy located on land that is privately owned and controlled, this program is vital to expanding the forest beyond public parks and sidewalks. To date, the Boston Tree Alliance Program has awarded $292,000 in grants to plant approximately 450 trees across 120 unique parcels. 

 

"These grants celebrate the innovative work of community partners who are helping to grow and sustain Boston’s urban tree canopy. From planting on private property to creating new tree pits and integrating green infrastructure, each project demonstrates how thoughtful investment in our urban forest strengthens climate resilience and ensures long-term stewardship,” said Interim Parks and Recreation Commissioner Cathy Baker-Eclipse. “Together with both public and private partners, we are planting and caring for trees that cool our neighborhoods, manage stormwater, improve air quality, and create healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come.”

 

This grant cycle marks the third year of the Tree Planting and Care Grant and introduces new allowable costs, including depaving and green infrastructure features such as stormwater tree trenches, to expand opportunities for tree planting and longer-term care. The program is funded by grants awarded to the City of Boston by the American Rescue Plan Act and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program Grant. 

 

The Boston Tree Alliance Program works to advance climate resilience and urban forestry strategies identified in the Heat Plan and Urban Forest Plan. The program is administered by Mass Audubon, in partnership with the City of Boston’s Office of Climate Resilience, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Office of Green Infrastructure. The Alliance is a coalition made up of nonprofit and community-based organizations that lead tree planting and care projects, support the development of information and education materials, and inform the overall direction of the program. 

 

Applications for the next round of funding will open in fall 2026. Prospective applicants are welcome to reach out via email to BostonTreeAlliance@massaudubon.org to brainstorm project ideas. When the next application cycle opens, office hours and information sessions will be announced. Visit boston.gov/tree-grants to learn more.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights Importance of Child Nutrition During Massachusetts School Breakfast Week

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Highlights Importance of Child Nutrition During Massachusetts School Breakfast Week 

 

Acting Education Secretary Amy Kershaw displays Governor Healey’s Massachusetts School Breakfast Week proclamation 

  

Under state-funded free school meals, school breakfast participation increased 20 percent, reaching an additional 48,000 students per day 

 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey has declared March 2-6, 2026, Massachusetts School Breakfast Week, recognizing the critical role school breakfast programs play in supporting student success, reducing food insecurity and grocery costs for families, and strengthening the local food system across Massachusetts.  

 

Participation in school meals continues to grow after Governor Healey made state-supported universal free school meals permanent, making Massachusetts one of only nine states to provide school meals at no cost to all students. School breakfast programs now serve around 292,000 students each day, a 20 percent increase, representing an additional 48,000 students per day compared to the 2022-23 school year. Stable funding for universal free school meals has allowed school nutrition programs to plan ahead and invest in healthy meals that incorporate local produce.   

 

“Every child deserves to start their school day nourished and ready to learn,” said Governor Maura Healey. “School Breakfast Week is a chance to celebrate the dedicated nutrition professionals and local partners who make this program possible and to recommit ourselves to supporting student success in and out of the classroom.” 

 

“When students have access to a healthy breakfast, they are more focused, more engaged and better prepared to succeed,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Universal free school meals are making a real difference for working families, and we are proud to continue expanding access for students statewide.” 

 

The administration is committed to increasing school breakfast participation to make sure students have the fuel they need to stay alert and focused throughout the school day. The effort is also part of Governor Maura Healey's Anti-Hunger Task Force’s work to mitigate President Trump’s cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and adopt long-term solutions to hunger. While more students are eating school breakfast, the number of students who eat lunch each day is still about double the number who eat breakfast. In fall 2024, 292,000 students ate breakfast daily while 595,000 ate lunch.  

 

“By making school meals free for all students, Massachusetts is removing stigma, reducing food insecurity and making it easier for families to put healthy, local and culturally appropriate food on the table,” said Acting Education Secretary Amy Kershaw. “School Breakfast Week provides an opportunity to elevate the importance of school breakfast programs and encourage continued efforts to expand access for students across the Commonwealth.”  

 

“During this week, we emphasize the importance of breakfast and celebrate increased participation in school breakfast,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “We want students to know that breakfast is available to them and can help both their wellbeing and readiness to learn."  

 

Research consistently shows that students who eat breakfast perform better academically, have improved attendance, and experience fewer behavioral and social-emotional challenges. School breakfast programs also improve food security and protect against obesity and other negative health outcomes.  

 

When Massachusetts made universal free school meals permanent, it required all schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program to also provide breakfast for their students. Under state law, schools where 60 percent or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program must offer all students a school breakfast after the beginning of the instructional day. This can happen through a variety of models, including breakfast in the classroom, “grab and go” breakfast, and “second chance” breakfast in the cafeteria. The administration works with districts to help them find the model that works best for them. 

 

“As President of the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts, I am proud to celebrate the continued success of school breakfast programs across our Commonwealth. Universal school meals have transformed access for students, ensuring every child can start the day nourished, focused, and ready to learn. We commend the dedication of our school nutrition professionals who make this possible every day,” said Taylor Pirog, Food Service Director for Andover Public Schools and President of the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts. 

 

"Every morning, school nutrition teams across the Commonwealth show up early to ensure that our state’s future doctors, scientists, teachers, and leaders can start their day with a free, healthy meal. Because Massachusetts has made children’s health a priority, every student statewide can begin the school day with the nutrition they need to learn and grow," said Erin McAleer, CEO of Project Bread, the leading statewide food security nonprofit. "As we join the Healey-Driscoll administration and Secretary Kershaw in celebrating National School Breakfast Week, we are immensely proud of Massachusetts for leading by example, prioritizing and investing in feeding our children, and removing barriers to food access for every family statewide." 

 

Governor Maura T. Healey proclaimed March 2-6, 2026 as School Breakfast Week in the Commonwealth, recognizing access to a healthy breakfast is essential to students’ academic achievement and overall well-being. 

波士頓華埠主街慶馬年新春 即席揮毫、舞蹈表演受歡迎

波士頓華埠主街董事，右起何遠光，黃光野，經理何陳素貞，
甄沛霖，伍展輝，梁詩嵐。（周菊子攝）

          (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓華埠的2026迎新春好熱鬧，紐英崙中華公所在菲利普廣場舞獅，泰勒街會址辦文化村，波士頓華埠主街（CMS）在中華貿易大樓，包氏文藝中心（Pao Arts Center）在Albany會址，各以舞獅，各種傳統文化表演，展覽，宣揚中華文化。

黃周麗桃即席揮毫。（周菊子攝）

        3月1日這天，波士頓華埠主街董事長黃光野，財政何遠光，以及高中時曾為華埠主街當過志工，如今應邀加入董事會的梁詩嵐，伍展輝，甄沛霖等人，和主街計劃經理何陳素貞一起，策劃了今年的慶祝活動，安排有波士頓弦樂學校，茉莉花舞蹈團，以及褚玲舞蹈學校等表演。

一名洋人求了一幅“五福臨門”。（周菊子攝）

         會場有AT＆Ｔ，麻州健康聯繫者（Mass Health Connector）和達納法伯癌症研究所等贊助單位擺出展示桌，也有黃周麗桃和何立斌的書法展示桌，梁炳潤的捏麵人桌，以及手工藝實作桌，商品販售桌，供人遊逛。

對年輕人來說，學業進步很重要。（周菊子攝）

         黃周麗桃笑說，每年都有很多人求字，有的要求把他們的英文名字翻成中文，再以書法寫下來，有的要求寫幅春聯，帶句吉祥話回家。今年在會場，還有好幾名老太太也來為孫輩求字，有洋人求了一幅“五福臨門”，有一對年輕男女球了一幅“學業進步”。

         參加中華公所舞獅活動的獅隊，也有很多隊陸續進場，表演舞獅。

         何遠光透露，今年礙於公安部門要求，在同一時間內只能放45個人進入會場，讓不少有興趣遊逛，進一步瞭解中華文化的人向隅，十分遺憾。

黃國麟（後中）為黃周麗桃揮毫到場加油。（周菊子攝）

              波士頓華埠主街是個1995年成立的組織，原本是波士頓市政府麾下單位，後來轉變成為非牟利機構，並由波士頓市政府固定每年資助7.5萬元，和市內其他19個主街計劃待遇一樣。

         由於華埠主街在2025年內爭取的波士頓市長辦公室的清潔空氣補助款8萬元，用於改善街道與商家空氣品質，以及聯邦政府補助的3萬5千元商業諮詢與技術輔導金，還有企業贊助的1萬5千餘元，目前盈餘充足。

求字的人，居然有許多華裔老太太。（周菊子攝）

老人家要求把孫子女的名字寫上去。（周菊子攝）

梁炳潤現場製作捏麵人。（周菊子攝）

茉莉花舞蹈團的陣容越來越龐大。（周菊子攝）

茉莉花舞蹈團的小朋友表演。（周菊子攝）

茉莉花舞蹈團的小朋友表演。（周菊子攝）

求字。（周菊子攝）

舞獅。（周菊子攝）

現場只能放45人進場。（周菊子攝）

醒獅隊到中華貿易大樓舞獅。（周菊子攝）

褚玲親自表演彩帶舞。（主街提供，黃光野攝）

黃周麗桃的書法桌，找了何立斌（佐貳）等人來幫忙。（周菊子攝）

Healey-Driscoll Administration Calls on Trump Administration to Reverse Graduate Student Loan Limits for Health Care and Social Workers, Educators

Healey-Driscoll Administration Calls on Trump Administration to Reverse Graduate Student Loan Limits for Health Care and Social Workers, Educators 

Proposed changes would increase costs for 13,000 Massachusetts students, exacerbating health care, social work and education workforce shortages 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration is calling on the Trump Administration to reverse plans that would sharply limit access to low-cost federal student loans for graduate degrees in high-need, high-value fields including nursing, education and social work. 

A proposed U.S. Department of Education rule set to take effect July 1, 2026 would cap federal graduate student loan borrowing at $20,500 per year for programs the Trump Administration does not classify as “professional.” This would impact many fields recognized as essential, including nursing, education, social work and others.

If implemented, the rule would affect approximately 13,000 Massachusetts graduate students each year, forcing many to rely on higher-cost private loans to continue their advanced program studies. Of those impacted, an estimated 4,000 residents could be unable to access private loans due to income or credit limitations, effectively blocking them from advancing their education and careers. The result would be higher student debt and deeper workforce shortages across critical sectors. For example, this rule would severely exacerbate workforce capacity in social services and health care as advanced professions in social work and nursing, like independent clinical social workers and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), require master’s level coursework and degrees to become licensed. 

“As the daughter of a school nurse, I know firsthand the critical importance of nurses and educators,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It’s insulting, reckless and simply wrong for President Trump to claim they aren’t professionals. This proposal will made graduate school more expensive, push students into riskier private debt, and deepen workforce shortages that directly harm our communities.”   

“We urge the Trump Administration to reverse course on a rule that limits access to graduate education for fields that are crucial to Massachusetts’ economy, health and vibrancy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “When professionals sign up to contribute valuable services to our communities, we should thank them, not put up barriers.”  

The Healey-Driscoll Administration submitted public comment opposing President Trump’s proposed rule, “Reimagining and Improving Student Education,” citing its disproportionate impact on public-service professions and students attending independent, nonprofit colleges and universities. 

“The Trump Administration continues to try and privatize student loans and make higher education more expensive, to the detriment of families, research and innovation and our economy. We want professionals from a variety of backgrounds ascending to leadership roles in our health care institutions, schools, and more, and restricting access to loans limits who gets these opportunities,” said Interim Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw. “We need to support those who are devoting their careers to serving others.” 

“Simply put, these changes will hurt our workforce. While Massachusetts is focused on reducing barriers to employment, these federal changes will reduce accessibility for many Massachusetts residents to pursue education and careers, and, in turn, limit the state’s talent pool for in-demand professions while also impacting the availability of skilled workers that residents rely on every day like nurses, educators, and social workers,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones.  

“Graduate degrees are a path to economic upward mobility, and our communities rely on well-educated leaders across a variety of professions,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “The Trump Administration’s limited definition of ‘professional’ will indeed leave us with fewer professionals in fields of great need, while saddling others with more expensive and riskier debt obtained through the private student loan market.”  

“This proposed rule moves us in exactly the wrong direction at exactly the wrong time,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “At a moment when communities across Massachusetts and the nation are struggling with workforce shortages in critical health care fields, we should be opening doors for students who are striving to build on their expertise and serve at a higher level – not throwing new financial barriers into their path. Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, counselors, and public health professionals are essential to our health care system. They deserve investment, respect, and recognition as professionals in every sense of the word.” 

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 included that students pursuing “professional degrees” are eligible to access low-cost federal student loans up to $50,000 per year. However, the Trump Administration’s proposed rule excludes many graduate programs, including those that train nurses, physician assistants, and audiologists. The programs included in the proposed rule account for only two percent of all fields of graduate study. 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is urging the federal government to instead link enhanced loan eligibility to objectively defined high-need and high-value occupational fields, such as nursing, social work, and education and to ensure graduate education remains accessible for all students pursuing careers that generate future earnings sufficient to repay the relevant capital investment.  

麻州州長Healey、檢察長Campbell：ICE須持法院傳票才能進學校宿舍

Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell: ICE Needs a Judicial Warrant to Enter Dorms   

BOSTON – After ICE agents reportedly lied about an alleged missing child to enter a Columbia University dormitory and arrest a student last week, Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell are reminding Massachusetts students and faculty that ICE do not have a right to enter non-public campus facilities, including dormitories, without a valid judicial warrant or judicial order.  

“It’s outrageous that ICE agents lied in order to get into a residential building and arrest a Columbia student – but that’s par for the course for these untrained federal agents who are doing President Trump’s bidding and making us all less safe,” said Governor Healey. “We want to make sure that students and staff at universities across Massachusetts know their rights. ICE does not have a right to enter any private facilities, including dorms, without a judicial warrant – and you have the right to demand one.” 

“When ICE agents enter private campus housing without a judge-signed warrant, that’s not law enforcement — that’s rogue behavior. The law requires a judicial warrant, and people have the right to demand to see it,” said AG Campbell. “My office is actively in contact with colleges and universities, providing guidance and direct support to help them understand their rights and protect their students, faculty, and staff.”  

This guidance applies to any public or private entity that provides education and child care services to the public, including child care programs, K-12 schools and colleges and universities. These educational entities are encouraged to designate areas within their facilities that are closed to the public and post signs to identify these areas as nonpublic. Examples include classrooms, offices, hallways, and stairwells. At higher education institutions, private spaces include dormitories, research laboratories, and faculty and staff offices.    

In January, Governor Healey signed an Executive Order that directs the Executive Office of Education to work with colleges and universities to ensure they have guidance and policies in place for staff interacting with federal immigration officers and requiring a judicial warrant or judicial order for entry into nonpublic areas. The Governor’s Office and Attorney General’s Office are developing updated guidance for schools with recommendations for interacting with federal immigration officers and expect to make it available soon. 

Attorney General Campbell has released a ‘Know Your Rights’ guide designed to help immigrants, families, and communities understand their rights and the basic legal framework for ICE actions. The guidance responds to questions the Attorney General’s Office has received about the actions of ICE, the role of local police, and what people should know when they or others are approached by immigration officers. The guide points to additional resources for various stakeholders including service providers, health care providers, K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, and more. 

Governor Healey has also filed legislation to keep ICE out of courthouses, schools, child care programs, hospitals and churches; make it unlawful for another state to deploy its National Guard in Massachusetts without the Governor’s permission; and allow parents to pre-arrange guardianship for their children in case they are detained or deported. Her Executive Order also prohibits the state from entering into any new 287(g) agreements unless there is a public safety need, prohibits ICE from making civil arrests in non-public areas of state facilities, and prohibits the use of state property for immigration enforcement staging.