紐英崙中華專業人員協會年會“笑傲江湖” 邀江宜樺談兩岸關係

 紐英崙中華專業人士協會邀講者齊讚年會。右起，王世輝，經文處長賴銘琪，李淑珍，江宜樺，周萬清，吳玲瑤，田在勱，鄭新霖，黃若瑜。（謝開明攝）

從“兩岸關係”談到“笑裡藏道”，在“傲視寰宇”之後再認識失智，紐英崙中華專業人員協會（NEACP）10月24日在麻省理工學院教室裏“笑傲江湖”，藉第38屆年會會議主題“道無不在，無所不通”表心意。

 右起，經文處處長賴銘琪，前行政院長江宜樺，
李淑珍夫婦，專協董事長王世輝等人聽吳玲瑤
演講，開懷大笑。（謝開明攝）

專協今年的年會，由李小玉醫師擔任司儀，有四場講座，講者及講題依序為，曾任行政院長的江宜樺談『山窮水盡？柳暗花明？台灣民主與兩岸關係的未來』，名作家吳玲瑤講笑話，談幽默，詼諧說明人牲處處『笑裡藏道』，國家安全局駐美特派員田在勱談“傲視寰宇 - 高空的勇者 黑貓中隊”，鄭新霖及黃若瑜醫師談“認識失智症：早期預防及診治”。

陳立英與顏毓芬率領劍橋合唱團在下午開場前，演唱了幾曲。

江宜樺在耶魯大學取得政治學博士後，回台大歷任教授，副教務長，再學而優則仕的出任行政院長。太陽花學運事件以及接著的國民黨在台灣九合一選舉中大敗，讓他決定為民眾對政府施政的不滿負責，辭職卸任，來美到哈佛大學費正清中心，史丹佛大學做訪問學者。

紐英崙三益公所專程出席專協會議，贈送書畫給前任行政院長江宜樺
（左三），李淑珍（右三）夫婦。右起為，江天源，江輝輝，黎嬈鈴，黎家活，何焯光。（謝開明攝）

            出版過“自由主義、民族主義與國家認同”等書的江宜樺，因為太陽花運動及擔任行政院長期間接觸的黨派政治，議會運作，對台灣的民主與兩岸關係的未來，別有一番感受，講談時用的投影片敘述雖然嚴肅，侃侃而言時，卻活潑生動。大多數出席者都很肯定他的學養與分析。

            著作等身的吳玲瑤，這天有包括哈佛大學教授孔祥重夫人在內的幾十名北一女同學出席支持。她的“人生要快樂，必需懂幽默“闡述，包括“男人，女人大不同”，“美國孩子中國娘”，“明天會更老”，“幽默技巧面面觀”等不同主題的申論，讓全場不斷爆笑。

            大波士頓中華文化協會前任會長黃淑英透露，文協也曾經動過念頭，想邀吳玲瑤來波士頓演講，礙於經費，未能成事，如今藉由專協會議得有機會見到吳玲瑤本人，誠然樂事。

吳玲瑤（左六）與北一女校友們合影。（謝開明攝）

            田在勱畢業於空軍官校，曾任空軍官校校長，退休後應聘為國家安全局駐美特派員，試飛過35種機型，有3000小時的飛行紀錄。這天他從黑貓中隊緣起，擔負任務，使用飛機，隊徽，高空壓力衣，隊員等，做了非常詳盡介紹。黑貓中隊成員之子沈立威，空軍後裔胡世沛等人，聽得格外感觸。

劍橋合唱團演唱。（謝開明攝）

            鄭新霖及黃若瑜醫師談失智症時指出，世界人口日益老化，失智症已成更廣泛的社會問題。由於60%到70%的失智症是由阿滋海默症引起，美國有超過500萬人患有此症，及早察覺及預防，越來越重要。

            他們指出，阿滋海默症有10個徵兆，包括影響日常生活的記憶力改變，計畫事情或解決問題有困難，完成熟悉的工作有困難，對地點或時間感到困惑，了解視覺影像和空間關係出現困難，判斷力變差，情緒及個性的改變，退出工作或社交活動等。

            專協會長周萬青，董事長王世輝，前任董事長張重華等人籲請有心加入該會者上網www.neacp.com 查詢該會詳情，2016年的一整年活動都已排定。

最近升任為Stonehill學院數學系主任的蘇信豪（左二）和成大校友會
會長黃俊義（右二），紐英崙玉山科技協會前會長康麗雪（左一）
等人，都是紐英崙中華專業人員協會的理事及幹事。（菊子攝）

謝開明攝

吳玲瑤。（菊子攝）

右起，經文處處長賴銘琪，哈佛教授孔祥重，東北大學教授王申培，
塔芙茨大學教授張重華。（菊子攝）

王申培（左）向江宜樺（右起）提問，周萬欽，李小玉主持問答時間。
（菊子攝）

     

        

一句話．分享華文APP有多讚

一句話．分享華文APP有多讚

「全球華文網」自2007年上線以來，提供海內外教師各類華語文教學素材，因應雲端科技及個人行動載具普遍運用的時代，僑務委員會陸續製作8支華語學習APP，分別為觀光華語-每日一句、一千字說華語、精選動畫故事一、精選動畫故事二、幼童華語讀本、弟子規、十二生肖動畫故事及華文網電子書等，供學習者下載使用。

為使民眾認識並多加使用本會開發之華文學習APP，僑務委員會特結合「全球華文網」Facebook粉絲專頁，於2015年10月15日至11月15日舉辦為期一個月的「一句話．分享華文APP有多讚」網路活動，只要先下載華文網任一APP，再到《全球華文網》Facebook臉書粉絲專頁按讚並完成活動指定任務，就有機會獲得健康果汁隨行杯，下載三個以上華文APP，還可以加碼抽獎金！請鼓勵大家踴躍參與。活動相關資訊請至活動網站查詢：http://www.huayuworld.org/2015app。

如有活動相關問題，請洽詢本次活動承辦單位「旭聯科技股份有限公司」服務人員，電話：+886-7-226-6572#2，email：huayuworld@gmail.com

Suffolk DA’s Second Annual Fundraiser Nets $2100 for Domestic Violence Survivors

Suffolk DA’s Second Annual Fundraiser Nets $2100 for Domestic Violence Survivors

BOSTON, Oct. 26, 2015— A Domestic Violence Awareness Month fundraiser organized by members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office last week raised more than $2,100 to support the city’s largest provider of services to domestic violence survivors, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

The second annual fundraiser for Casa Myrna Vazquez, organized by Christine Berardino and Kerry Kolditz of the DA’s Victim Witness Assistance Program, netted a total of $2,140 in ticket sales and raffle purchases.  More than 80 people attended the event Friday at the Bell in Hand Tavern to support efforts to provide survivors of domestic violence shelter, housing assistance, financial literacy education, counseling, and legal advocacy to help them achieve safety and self-sufficiency.

Among the services offered by Casa Myrna is Massachusetts’ statewide  toll-free domestic violence hotline, SafeLink, which responds to nearly 30,000 calls each year. Casa Myrna also educates teens and adults across the Commonwealth via workshops, daily social media posts and annual mass transit ad campaigns.

“Suffolk prosecutors and victim advocates see all too often the challenges faced by women attempting to escape violent relationships,” Conley said.  “Casa Myrna has been an invaluable resource to so many survivors.  It’s a great honor to see our staff and the community step up once again this year to help ensure that the vital services offered by Casa Myrna continue to be available to those in need.”

Casa Myrna was founded in 1977 by volunteers in Boston's South End to provide a safe haven for women who were being abused by their husbands and partners, often in front of their children. The organization was named for Myrna Vazquez, an actress and activist who organized members of South End’s Puerto Rican community.

Casa Myrna chief executive officer Stephanie Brown spoke at Friday’s event.

“We value and appreciate our partnership with the District Attorney’s office. The criminal justice system is a place where survivors should be able to turn for justice.  Suffolk County’s victim advocates and prosecutors work in collaboration with Casa Myrna as we provide support to survivors and help them achieve safety and justice,”

Once again this year, Bell in Hand Tavern graciously donated use of space within the downtown establishment to support the fundraiser and local businesses donated prizes that were raffled at the event.

Baker-Polito Administration to Host Supplier Diversity Series

Baker-Polito Administration to Host Supplier Diversity Series

5 regional opportunities for small and diverse businesses to expand networks and state procurement

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration announced today that Governor Charlie Baker’s Office of Access and Opportunity (OAO) in coordination with the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) and Operational Services Division (OSD), will host five Supplier Diversity Regional Series across the Commonwealth to engage small and diverse business enterprises with private buyers, educational institutions, medical facilities and state agency and municipal procurement officials. 

“Increasing the Commonwealth’s supplier diversity starts with opportunities like these to strengthen our partnership and engagement with small and diverse businesses in their communities throughout Massachusetts,” said Governor Baker. “We encourage anyone interested in the Supplier Diversity Series to join our administration in the coming weeks to learn more about the state and local business opportunities available for small and diverse enterprises.”

These series will be hosted bi-annually in the Spring and Fall across the Commonwealth.  The series offer networking opportunities for buyers to meet small and diverse business owners, as well as capacity-building workshops designed to aid in awareness and competitiveness to win procurement opportunities.

“Our goal in convening major private and municipal buyers, including the cities of Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Lawrence and New Bedford, and small and diverse businesses is to become a leader in supplier diversity,” said Jabes Rojas, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of Access and Opportunity. “We look forward to the opportunities and discussions this bi-annual series will offer."

In February, Governor Baker signed Executive Order No. 559, elevating the Office of Access and Opportunity to the Governor’s Office under the direction of a Deputy Chief of Staff to further the administration’s priority of increasing diversity and inclusion within state government employment and procurement. The Executive Order also established a cross-administration Steering Committee for Access and Opportunity to coordinate best practices.

The first Supplier Diversity Series will be held tomorrow, October 27th, in Lawrence, with additional events to follow in Worcester, Roxbury, New Bedford and Springfield. Additional details are available below and attendees are encouraged to register at the accompanying links. Over 700 exhibitors and attendees have registered to date.

Lawrence Supplier Diversity Series

Relief’s In

October 27, 2015

Details and Registration

Worcester Supplier Diversity Series

College of Holy Cross

November 3, 2015

Details and Registration

Roxbury Supplier Diversity Series

Reggie Lewis Center

November 5, 2015

Details and Registration

New Bedford Supplier Diversity Series

Fort Taber Community Center

November 13, 2015

Details and Registration

Springfield Supplier Diversity Series

UMASS Center at Springfield

November 18, 2015

Details and Registration

The mission of the Office of Access and Opportunity is to foster non-discrimination and equal opportunity irrespective of race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or express, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran’s status or socio-economic background. The Office of Access and Opportunity was first created by Executive Order 519 in January 2010 and was further modified by Executive Order 527 in February of 2011.

麻州郊區華人拉群關心政治 支持吳弭連任

 在牛頓市參選修憲委員會委員的張文華（左），刻正競選連任的劍橋市議員
張禮能（右），都來支持吳弭競選連任波士頓市議員。（周菊子攝）

(Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 美國境內近年來發生的一連串事件，已促使華人更加關心政治。一群大都不住在波士頓市的華人，24日下午以“吳弭之友”名義， 在劍橋市為波士頓市議員吳弭的競選連任舉辦籌款會，要支持更多華裔在美國政壇發聲。

 波士頓市議員吳弭（左五），劍橋市議員張禮能（右五）和支持者合影。
（周菊子攝）

            吳弭（Michelle Wu）是波士頓市有史以來的第一位華裔，也是第一位亞裔市議員，當選時才28歲。今年的市級選舉，即將在不到10日後的11月3日投票，吳弭競選團隊呼籲亞裔社區，有權者投票，無權者催票的來支持吳弭連任。

           波士頓以外華人，是在一批華人集結抗議電視清談節目“吉米。坎爾摩（Jimmy Kimmel）脫口秀“播出”殺光所有中國人“言論後，開始關注政治，在查理貝克競選麻州州長時邀請到他與選民晤談後，開始更支持華裔候選人。

            趙剛，郭慧明，嚴健明，尹亞娟，朱鵬程，謝婉珍，王忠，波士頓亞裔房東會創辦人潘樹仁，劉伯岳，聞訊而來的王燕兵，本身在製藥業工作，但開了兩家餐廳的陳素描，從事醫療護理業的朱少純，刻正在牛頓市競選憲章委員會委員的張文華等，將近30人，24日都趕到劍橋市出席籌款會。他們之中，僅有2 ，3人住在波士頓市，有權投票給吳弭，但都願意捐款，表達支持心意。趙剛事後公佈，這次籌款活動共募得約3000元。

自己也在競選連任的劍橋市議員張禮能（Leland Cheung），這天也應邀出席，透露他第一次競選連任時，認識了當時還在哈佛大學唸書，來幫他助選的吳弭。由於吳弭是波士頓市議員，他自己是劍橋市議員，張禮能笑說，就如製藥業的輪流在波士頓、劍橋市設立據點，兩市或應考慮擴大橋樑，連成一市。

            吳弭面向還不熟悉她的華裔支持者，重新介紹了自己的參政緣由，說明要不是12年前，妹妹一通“母親病了”的電話，她不會有回到芝加哥，開辦小生意，和政府打交道，從而得知政府措施對民眾生活影響之大的經歷，以及想要參政，幫助一般人改善生活的決心。

            波士頓市如今風行的食物卡車，就是從她在波士頓市府廣場辦的實驗計畫推動起來的。

            吳弭表示，上任以來，她積極問政，提出的法案中，至少有兩項甚至贏得全國性關注，連州政府也效尤的制定類似法案。其中一項是“有薪育兒假（Paid Parental Leave）”。吳弭指出，國際勞工組織在2014年的調查結果顯示，全世界185個國家，只有兩國，美國及新幾內亞，法令沒有規定“有薪育兒假”，但波士頓市在她帶頭推動下，今年五月，波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Wlash）簽署了至少6週的“有薪育兒假”。其次是推動醫療護理上的平等待遇，以保障有語言，身體障礙者，凡違反該法的企業，最高可被罰停業3年。

        吳弭坦言，政府在為人民服務上，待改善的地方還很多。她為自己的小孩申請出生證時就發現，表格上有些問題很突兀。她將爭取連任，繼續努力為民眾服務，並在人口增加迅速的亞裔族群中，充當起從政範例的角色。

張文華參選牛頓市憲章委員會委員

                               張文華參選牛頓市修憲委員會委員。（周菊子攝）

（Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導）麻州華人參政風氣近年漸高，最新出現的一名參選人是張文華，刻正競選牛頓市憲章委員會（Charter Commission）委員。

            牛頓市是麻州內的一個富裕城市，總人口86,241，其中亞裔11,079人，佔12.8%，華裔則為6,399人，佔7.4%。

            牛頓市的政治體制頗為特殊，儘管人口不多，全市8個選區，卻有24名市議員，其中16名為不分區市議員，8名為分區議員。

牛頓中文學校校董會董事長鄧永奇（右起），接待出席論壇的牛頓市議員
候選人，第三區的Jim Cote，Julia Malakie，第二區的Lynne LeBlanc，
Jake Auchinclose以及第五區Chris Pitts（左一）等人。（周菊子攝）

            1997年起，牛頓市首先有連任迄今的馬惠美（Amy Sangiolo）當選為第4選區的不分區市議員。2007年又有已於2012年底卸任的談繼欣（Greer Tan Swiston）當選為第5區不分區市議員。

        今年，2015年，牛頓市居民還將於11月3日投票決定是否成立憲章委員會，一旦通過，憲章委員會將審閱牛頓市現有憲章，提出建議，並於2017年時交由選民投票決定是否修改。

            這憲章委員會，共9個席位，有22人參選，其中的張文華是唯一的亞裔參選者。

            在中國出生長大的張文華，從賓州大學沃頓商學院取得管理碩士學位，7年前搬進牛頓市，曾在數家投資基金公司，以及哈佛大學基金管理公司任職，現為個人投資者，在醫療設備企業公司擔任董事。

            張文華表示，自己家在牛頓市，子女在牛頓就學，當他發現牛頓市已有40年從未修改過市府憲法，今年選出的修憲委員會委員，將承擔重任後，深覺亞裔必須側身其中，以掌握發言機會，因而決定出馬參選。

            張文華指出，牛頓市憲章裏值得討論的議題包括市議員人數高達24，是否應該縮減；市議員任期該否有限制；議員的任期是否該藉選舉達到交錯辦理來達成市政執行的延續性；是否該聘用專業人士來管理市內的區域規劃和土地使用等。

            劍橋中國文化中心，牛頓中文學校對張文華的願意從事公職服務，都感振奮。劍橋中國文化中心還在該中心發行的電子通訊中，為張文華製作了一份文宣，指出在11月3日早上7點到晚上8點舉行的大選中，牛頓市民可以投票選憲章委員會，學校委員會，市議會等三機構的委員。

            牛頓中文學校校董會董事長鄧永奇指出，該校昨（25）日下午，舉辦了牛頓市有史以來第一場，面對華裔的市議員論壇，共有7名牛頓市議員候選人親自出席，爭取選票。其中4人為牛頓中文學校所在的第二區候選人，包括Susan Albright，Jake Auchinclose，Lynne Leblanc和Macia Johnson。

劍橋市議員張禮能昨日也應邀到到牛頓中文學校的市議員論壇作主題演講，指陳出只要入籍，住在美國了，就是亞裔美人，應該團結互助，參政，為亞裔發聲，才能保障，提升亞裔在美的地位。

BPS reduces district-required testing by half in lower-performing schools, sharing concerns raised over the amount of testing

BPS reduces district-required testing by half in lower-performing schools, sharing concerns raised over the amount of testing

District’s actions in line with the Council of Great City Schools’ probe into redundant assessments

BOSTON – Since the 2014-15 school year, the Boston Public Schools (BPS) has begun reducing the number of its required tests, lowering them by half for many of its students. The district’s efforts to reduce over-testing comes as a national study finds that the average student in large public schools spends up to 25 hours of instructional time on assessments that often produce overlapping results.

BPS is one of 66 school districts that participated in the study by the Council of Great City Schools, an organization made up of the nation’s largest urban public school systems. The Council closely examined the amount of instructional time devoted to standardized testing in what is considered to be one of the most comprehensive surveys ever undertaken to determine the true extent of mandatory and optional testing in the nation’s schools.

Findings from the report, titled: “Student Testing in America’s Great City Schools: An Inventory and Preliminary Analysis,” show that the average student in a large U.S. public school takes eight standardized tests per school year, consuming between 20 and 25 hours of instructional time on multiple assessments that frequently produce overlapping results.

“We are pleased with the Council of Great City Schools for undertaking such a comprehensive assessment,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael O’Neill, who is also a member of the executive committee of the Council’s board of directors. “Even though Boston has already focused on eliminating redundant assessments, we look forward to reviewing the Council’s recommendations on best practices. I anticipate that Boston will have a seat at the table as part of the Council’s commission that will focus on next steps.”

While BPS continues to recognize that testing and formative-progress monitoring are strong tools to serve our students, the district shares concerns raised by families, educators, community partners, Boston School Committee members and the Boston Teachers Union over the increase in student assessments in recent years.

“I am pleased that Boston Public Schools participated with the Council of Great City Schools to tackle such an important issue,” said Dr. Tommy Chang, superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, which is a member of the Council of Great City Schools. “We will continue to review each and every assessment our students take. It’s crucial that we maintain our focus on effective teaching and learning practices. Formative assessments that encourage student reflection and inform teacher practice are critical. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that all students achieve, and are prepared for college, career and life.”

On Saturday, President Obama called for limiting testing to 2% of classroom time. Since BPS has been proactive in reducing the amount of testing time over the past two years, the district is under this threshold.

In the lower-performing BPS schools, which are classified as “Level 3” and “Level 4” by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the number of district-required standardized tests has been cut in half for students in grades 3-10 -- from six exams in 2013-14 to three exams in 2015-16.

Beginning this school year, the highest-performing BPS schools, classified as “Level 1” and “Level 2” by DESE, have full discretion over how often district-provided standardized tests are used for students in grades 3-12. Students in grades K-2 in Level 1 and 2 schools are still required to undergo assessments using DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) three times per school year.

With cumulative national data in hand from to the Council of Great City Schools’ report, BPS will reassess where the district stands versus the national averages. BPS looks forward to reviewing the Council’s recommendations on best practices and collaborating with its commission on this topic.