大波士頓僑團車隊遊行 支持台灣加入世衛

大波士頓僑團支持台灣加入世界衛生組織。(周菊子攝)

「波士頓台灣世衛協進會」會長蘇鴻昌出發前致詞。 (周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange) 大約16個僑團，50人，開了26輛車，掛著”台灣能幫忙”等布條，在新成立的「波士頓台灣世衛協進會」與波士頓經文處，僑教中心通力合作下，從牛頓市，布魯克蘭鎮開進波士頓市，浩浩蕩蕩的宣揚「支持台灣進世衛」。

               第74屆世界衛生大會（WHA）預定24日召開。由於世衛組織已連續第5年未發函邀請台灣與會，全美各地熱心僑民趁著週末，於5月22日在全美多地發起車隊遊行活動，希望促請各界關注這一狀況，加入支持台灣加入世界衛生組織行列。

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元(左)，僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右)
全力支援"支持台灣進世衛"車隊遊行。 (周菊子攝)

              「波士頓台灣世衛協進會」會長蘇鴻昌表示，台灣2400萬同胞參與世界衛生的權利，不該因為政治因素受阻，明年將經由全球台灣商會發動，在全美各地舉辦車隊遊行，讓世界聽見台灣的聲音。

             波士頓經文處處長孫儉元表示，台灣加入世衛是健康人權問題，過去曾有8年時間，台灣以觀察員身份參與，表現也都獲世衛大會讚許，後來卻因政治因素，無法與會。台灣政府這些年一直在推動加入世衛組織，他本人也幾乎無役不與，但民間的聲音更應該被聽到。看到那麼多僑團、前輩這天出來支持，他十分感動。由於知道僑胞們關心車隊遊行的安全，經文處同仁還特地情商得牛頓市及布魯克蘭鎮警察護送。

車隊出發。 (周菊子攝)

                     22日參加遊行的僑團包括波士頓台灣世衛協進會，波士頓經文處，波士頓急難救助協會，麻州牛頓元極舞健身會，紐英倫客家鄉親會，全美亞裔婦女會，紐英崙婦女心運會，波士頓成功大學校友會，波士頓台灣媽媽親子會，紐英崙昭倫公所，阮氏公所，余風采堂，港澳之友社，璞石文化工作室，波士頓華裔退伍軍人會，紐英崙中華專業人員協會，中文專業教師協會等。

                  紐英崙中華公所也在僑教中心主任潘昭榮力邀中，有主席鄭慧民夫婦，英文書記阮鴻燦，財政余陳寶愛，核數張青梅，行政主任朱蘇珊等人參加。     (更新版)       

昭倫公所謝如鍵(左一）也到場支持。 ( 周菊子攝）

新成立的波士頓台灣世衛協進會發起車隊遊行。右起，秘書長歐陽露，
財政郭競儒，會長蘇鴻昌，支持者游勝雄，副會長林思妤。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所經波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右起)力邀，
加入支持台灣加入世為行列。中華公所主席鄭慧民夫婦，
行政主任珠蘇珊，核數張青梅。(周菊子攝)

民主黨波士頓第四區黨委會表態支持吳弭參選市長

 

吳弭在南端感謝民主黨波士頓市第四區黨委會支持。(周菊子攝)

         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導)波士頓市長候選人吳弭(Michelle Wu)的支持行列，再下一城。民主黨麻州波士頓市第4區黨委會在5月22日早上，特地到南端(South End)公共圖書館前，正式宣佈背書支持吳弭參選。

第四區(Ward 4)黨委會主席Jonathan Cohn表示，該區黨委會和所有6名波士頓市長參選人談過，認為吳弭在近8年議員任內，無論是推動環境正義，住宅穩定，族裔平等的許多政策，都卓有成績，最符合他們的期望。

麻州波士頓第四區黨委會主席Jonathan Cohn(右四)，前主席Janet Slovin
(右二)等人特地舉行儀式，宣佈支持吳弭。周菊子攝)

上一次的市長選舉，該黨部支持了馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)。

吳弭競選陣營稱，在波士頓市長選舉中，民主黨波士頓第四區黨委會是第一個表態支持參選人的黨委會，吳弭曾任該黨委會主席，並是Titus 麻雀公園冰淇淋社交活動的發起人，曾長期與之並肩合作。

麻州波士頓市共有22個區黨部。第四區的範圍包括南端，後灣及芬衛的一部分，共有35名黨委員，定期聚會，討論政治。在市長參選人之外，他們也和波士頓市市議員參選人陸續晤談。

吳弭競選陣營表示，吳弭的支持者名單已越列越長，包括聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren，波士頓日出(Sunrise Boston)，第25區地方勞工工會(Teamsters Local 25)， OPEIU Local 453 ，麻州灣區交通局(MBTA)的工會聯盟，薩福克郡書記Michael Donovan，前任麻州眾議員Byron Rushing，麻州參議員Julian Cyr，以及多名麻州地方市鎮議員。

第30 屆 全美青少年國畫書法比賽 6/15 截止收件

             (Boston Orange)中華表演藝術基金會主辨的「第30 屆 2021全美青少年國畫書法比賽」，將於6月15日截止收件，訂6月26日(週六)上午，邀6名書畫專家在麻州牛頓市僑教中心公開評審。

中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵表示，舉辦這一比賽，旨在提高海外華裔青少年學習中國傳統文化之興趣，促使更多青少年把中國傳統國畫、書法，培養成終身愛好。今年跨入30週年，格外有意義。

藝文界書畫專，包括朱蓉、 陸惠風、 馬清雄、 方正厚，林浩宗，杜偉等6人，今年將應邀擔任評審。

比賽分國畫，書法兩組，並依年齡，細分為4組。每組將各選出金銀銅，以及佳作獎，並頒給獎狀，以茲鼓勵。金牌獎得主另發獎金100元。

4組年齡區分為甲(9歲以下)，乙(10至13歲)，丙(14至17歲)，丁(18至22歲)。 參賽作品必須使用宣紙，不必裝裱。題材無限，以不涉及政治性為原則，尺寸最小為11”x17”，最大不限。每人可送2件並可同時參加國畫及書法組(最多四件)。必須在6月15日前寄達中華表演藝術基金會。

全美各地中文學校，書畫學苑，個人及大專院校之學生，不論國籍、地區，皆可參加。這一比賽歷史悠久，廣為人知，歷年來有不少學生把參加這比賽，用做申請大學的才藝資料，都受到重視。

比賽簡章及自1999 - 2020年的入選優秀作品可在網上看到﹕http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/competition/painting/index.htm

比賽不收報名費。需退件者每件作品7美元手續費。每件作品背面都需註明中英文姓名、生日、年齡、電郵(Email), 及就讀學校的中英文校名。除丁組外(可直接寄送)由各校統一收件，並列總名單一份，及聯絡人姓名、電話、 電郵(Email)，於6月15日前，寄達中華表演藝術基金會，會長譚嘉陵收：Dr. Catherine Tan Chan，Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts，3 Partridge Lane, Lincoln, MA 01773，Email: Foundation@ChinesePerformingArts.net，www.ChinesePerformingArts.net。

麻州州長拜訪Brockton新高特許學校 標榜大專預校項目 (Video)

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will join First Lady Lauren Baker and Secretary of Education James Peyser to tour New Heights Charter School in Brockton to highlight its early college program and participate in a roundtable discussion with students and faculty. 

Less than 10% of MA high schools participated this early college program.

 

City Councilor At-Large and Candidate for Mayor Michelle Wu Releases 2020 Financial Disclosures

 City Councilor At-Large and Candidate for Mayor Michelle Wu Releases 2020 Financial Disclosures

Boston, MA -  City Councilor At-Large and Candidate for Mayor Michelle Wu today released her 2020 City of Boston Statement of Financial Interests and 2020 federal tax return to ensure public transparency and establish a precedent for financial disclosure. Click here to access the information.

           “At a moment when building trust in government is critical to our recovery and collective future, we must start with a baseline of transparency throughout our departments and from our officials. The decisions and policies implemented in City Hall have tremendous consequences for our economy, communities, and families. Residents deserve a foundation of good government and unwavering commitment to transparency and civic engagement across city government, starting from the top,” said Michelle Wu.

           Michelle Wu has been serving on the City Council for 8 years, including two as City Council President, and has implemented key reforms to make government work better for people, including passing a landmark language and communications access ordinance in 2016 to ensure everyone could access city services and a comprehensive lobbyist disclosure ordinance in 2018. She has consistently worked to deliver transparency and accountability, including implementing several major reforms to make city government more accessible in her time as City Council President—making closed captioning transcripts of public hearings available online, renovating the Council Chamber for universal accessibility, and doubling the Council’s capacity to conduct public meetings and hearings outside City Hall in the neighborhoods. She has repeatedly challenged the administration to do more to build trust through good government and transparency.

大波士頓商會公佈四名新董事

 Chamber Announces Four New Board Members

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the addition of four extraordinary business leaders to the Chamber’s Board of Directors. The new committee members, Emanuel Alves, General Counsel at John Hancock, Dana Mendenhall, Vice President of Marketing & Strategy at Takeda Pharmaceutical, Adam Portnoy, President & CEO at RMR Group, and Steven C. Webb, Regional President at TD Bank, bring an intense commitment to the Chamber’s mission to create an inclusive economy and make Boston the best place for all people and all businesses to thrive.

 

Emanuel Alves, General Counsel, John Hancock

Emanuel (Manny) Alves is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for John Hancock, the U.S. division of Toronto-based Manulife. He is responsible for all aspects of the U.S. Law & Compliance department. Mr. Alves is also a member of the U.S. Leadership Team, the Manulife Global Leadership Team, and the Global Law, Compliance and Audit Leadership Team. In his 20 years at John Hancock, Mr. Alves has held a range of roles. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Counsel & Corporate Secretary for John Hancock. Prior to that, he was Corporate Secretary, governance and regulatory counsel and head of U.S. Law & Compliance Administration. Previous responsibilities include oversight of litigation and general corporate and securities law matters. He was appointed Corporate Secretary in 2003. Before joining the company, Mr. Alves worked for Brown, Rudnick, Freed and Gesmer as a litigation attorney.

 

Dana Mendenhall, Vice President, Marketing & Strategy, Takeda Pharmaceutical

Dana is a results-oriented, globally focused senior marketing executive with more than 20 years of progressive leadership roles, highlighted by a strong record of achievement in the healthcare industry. Dana’s many years of industry experience is uniquely diverse and includes increasing roles of responsibility in marketing, sales, strategic planning, operations, manufacturing, and engineering. Dana’s ability to translate technical expertise into vastly different disciplines demonstrates her flexibility and ease in identifying opportunities, defining and executing strategic visions, leading commercial execution, and accelerating revenue growth. Dana also successfully develops and executes cross- functional initiatives in diverse, multi-cultural environments to contribute to top and bottom-line profits while exploiting multi-layered challenges and improving organizational processes. A self-defined servant leader, Dana states her greatest passion is to develop, coach and inspires global talent to deliver unprecedented results while contributing to a common cause.

 

Adam Portnoy, President & CEO, RMR Group

Adam Portnoy is a Managing Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of The RMR Group (Nasdaq: RMR), an alternative asset management company with more than $32 billion of assets under management, a role he has held since 2005. Mr. Portnoy is the Chair of the RMR Executive Operating Committee, which is responsible for the strategic direction for RMR and its client companies. Mr. Portnoy also serves on the Boards of RMR’s managed companies, which include four equity REITs: Service Properties Trust (Nasdaq: SVC), Diversified Healthcare Trust (Nasdaq: DHC), Office Properties Income Trust (Nasdaq: OPI), Industrial Logistics Properties Trust (Nasdaq: ILPT); two mortgage REITs: Tremont Mortgage Trust (Nasdaq: TRMT), RMR Mortgage Trust (Nasdaq: RMRM); and three operating companies: Five Star Senior Living Inc. (Nasdaq: FVE), TravelCenters of America Inc. (Nasdaq: TA) and Sonesta International Hotels Corporation (private).

 

Steven C. Webb, Regional President, TD Bank

Steven C. Webb is Regional President for TD Bank's Southern New England, which includes, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Upstate NY and part of Connecticut. Steve oversees all retail, small business, commercial and middle-market banking operations and lending services throughout the region. Steve has over 30 years of banking experience. Prior to his current position, he served as TD Bank's Market President of Commercial Banking for New Hampshire, where he helped facilitate the growth of the bank's commercial banking portfolio. Steve is an active member of the community. He is a member of Robert Morris Associates, a professional association of lending and credit risk professionals, serves as a Trustee for the Wentworth Douglass Health System, as Chairman of the New Hampshire Bankers Association, a former board member of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, and a former board member for the Granite United Way.

關於停職波士頓警察局長 Kim Janey、吳弭都有話要說

From Kim Janey: I respect Judge Brieger’s decision to take more time before issuing a ruling in this case and appreciate her intent to rule as soon as possible. The people of Boston and the Boston Police Department deserve leadership that shares our goal of safety, healing, and justice. We look forward to the court’s ruling.  From Michelle Wu: Statement: Michelle Wu on Ongoing Developments with Regards to Police Commissioner Dennis White Boston, MA— The following statement can be attributed to Boston City Councilor At-Large and Mayoral Candidate Michelle Wu: “The role of police commissioner is one of the most impactful positions in the city, and we need a leader who can build trust with our communities to deliver deep structural and cultural reforms. Given the information revealed from the recent investigation, Dennis White cannot lead this department. As Mayor, I will lead a comprehensive vetting process and national search to engage community in choosing a permanent police commissioner to shift to a public health-led approach, demilitarize our police, and rein in ballooning overtime costs. These changes must be embedded in the new police contracts, which the city is currently negotiating. The public deserves and needs an update on the state of those ongoing negotiations.  With only a little over five months to go until a new administration, the new Mayor should launch a comprehensive, national search to fill this post upon taking office in November. The decision naming Boston’s next permanent police commissioner should wait until after the mayoral election, and the interim leadership should work with community to address the urgent issues at hand: planning for a healthy, safe summer; strengthening the newly formed Office of Police Accountability & Transparency; and setting a course for transparent contract negotiations to set the stage for the changes we need.”  (updated post)

江明信偕友支持吳弭 身後Hello Taiwan布條讓更多人看見台灣

伊利諾州聯邦參議員Tammy Duckworth(右)出席支持吳弭(左)的籌款會。

                (Boston Orange)吳弭的籌款會，紐約和波士頓的人承辦，聯邦參議員Tammy Duckworth站台，近70名參與者，在數小時內募得13,000餘元，助力吳弭競選波士頓市市長，要為亞裔在波士頓締造歷史。

紐約的江明信(右)為吳弭催捐款，支持亞裔第二代參選。

               5月19日晚，吳弭的非波士頓外地支持者，邀得逼使美國總統拜登(Joe Biden)聘用一名亞美聯絡員暨總統特別副助理Erika Moritsugu的聯邦參議員Tammy Duckworth出席，增加聲勢。

亞美行動基金(Asian American Action Fund)董事 Irene Bueno(右)主持問答環節。

               在近日反亞裔仇恨暴力事件頻傳之際，在泰國出生的美國伊拉克戰役退伍軍人，伊利諾州聯邦參議員Tammy Duckworth積極為亞裔發聲，也加入了提攜亞裔第二代行列，應邀出席支持吳弭的籌款會。

               在籌款會中，Tammy Duckworth和吳弭交換了許多政策上的意見。Tammy Duckworth還問吳弭當市長後，施政重點會放在哪些方面，吳弭做了自我介紹，並簡述了她在市議員任上，曾有哪些成績。

               籌款會由Daniel Park開場，會末，有亞美行動基金(Asian American Action Fund)董事 Irene Bueno主持問答環節，紐約商人，熱心支持亞裔從政的江明信為籌款會總結，又鼓勵出席者加捐了1000元。

                     根據吳弭主要支持者之一的李超榮，吳弭在四月底至昨日(5月19日)，一連舉辦了3場籌款會，其中另有1場在華府。吳弭競選辦公室日前也高興宣佈，她手邊的競選經費現金已打破100萬元大關。 (所有圖片由江明信提供。)

波士頓考試學校錄取結果公佈爭議未息 張可仁提醒亞裔家長昆士中學前景好

今年申請入波士頓三所考試學校人數驟減近半。
(翻拍自波士頓公校網上數據)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)波士頓三所考試學校不考試，改以區域編號(Zip code)和學校成績為新生錄取準則的結果揭曉，確有更多黑人，拉丁裔學生獲邀入讀，但申請入學總人數降半，子女失去機會的家長們紛表憤怒，使相關議題及情緒持續縈繞人們心中。

               波士頓公校在4月底發出1314份邀請，給2426名申請入讀的7 年級及9年級新生中，通過審核者。根據波士頓公校公佈的數據，2020-2021學年有4010名學生申請入讀，有1433人獲得入學邀請。

波士頓三所考試學校今年發出的入學邀請數量。

               波士頓拉丁學校(Boston Latin)，波士頓拉丁學院(Boston Latin Academy)，奧布萊安數理學校(O'Bryant School of Math & Science)這三所波士頓市的考試學校，依序各有2453，1767，1535名7到12年級學生。

               根據波士頓公校在官網上公佈的數據，發給三所考試學校7及9年級新生邀請入學數量，依前述學校秩序為465+41，320+82， 189+217。

               獲發考試學校入學邀請的族裔比率，在新做法下差異明顯。白人由

各族裔學生獲邀入讀考試學校比率的去年及今年比較。

33%降至26%，拉丁裔由24%增至28%，黑人由18%增至24%，亞裔由21%降至16%，其他類則由4%增至5%。

               以區域編號來看，多徹斯特(Dorchester)的02124區號，獲得的邀請數量最多，高達109+42人，最少的是02199後灣區，掛零。奧斯頓(Allston)及城中區(Downtown)各只1人。

波士頓華埠(Chinatown)今年只有7人獲得入學邀請。

波士頓環球報以往年贏得這三所考試學校最多學位的西洛士百利(West Roxbury)為例，指出該區申請，獲得邀請入讀三所考試學校的7年級學生人數，在入學辦法限制每一郵遞區號可入讀比率後，從去年的133人降至今年的69人，學業成績至少A-，但麥特潘(Mattapan)獲得入學機會的學生人數卻倍增至51人，有些學生的學業成績平均只有B-。

波士頓考試校今年錄取的各郵遞區號學生人數。

去年10月，波士頓學校委員會就新辦法投票前，曾容許家長發言，結果爆發學校委員會主席模仿亞裔家長姓名發音，並語帶嘲諷後辭職風波，但學校委員會通過了礙於新冠疫情，今年波士頓市不為三所考試學校辦理考試，改以郵遞區號及學生在校成績為收取學生的評審標準，以做為促使考試學校學生人口結構多元化的試行辦法。

許多白人及華裔家長對子女一整年準備考試，一下子苦心全付諸流水，非常氣憤。其中14名家長組成”波士頓學業卓越父母聯盟(Boston Parent Coalition for Academic Excellence Corp)”，上法院提告，並上訴，但法院認為以郵政區域編號來劃分，並無種族歧視之嫌，結果駁回該案。

昆士中學校長張可仁在考試學校事件發生後，曾私下和一些家長說，不上考試學校，也不必憂心。進昆士中學，將來申請上大學，機會可能更好。

張可仁透露，近年來，該校畢業生有94%順利升讀大學，今年就有學生分別獲得耶魯，普林斯頓，約翰霍普金斯，康乃爾，威廉斯等名校的入學許可，去年有2人從哈佛，哥倫比亞大學畢業，今年還有1人要進賓州大學念博士。這幾年來，除了布朗大學之外，其他的著名常春藤名校，都有該校畢業生。

波士頓三所考試學校以郵遞區號及在校學業成績為錄取標準的作法，雖然是只實施一年的做法，波士頓公校一直有意尋找其他辦法，以期學生結構更多元化。今年過去以後，三所考試學校的未來命運難定，許多波士頓家長開始積極討論，提出波士頓市把學校委員會組成方式由指派改為民選，甚至解聘現任波士頓公校總監等要求，餘波仍在蕩漾。

美國土安全局終止與Bristol郡治安官辦公室的移民拘留所合約 麻州AG、民主黨主席都稱許

 AG HEALEY’S STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO DECISION BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO TERMINATE CONTRACTS WITH BRISTOL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

BOSTON — Today, Massachusetts Attorney General issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to terminate contracts with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) to house federal immigration detainees at the Bristol County Jail and House of Correction and participate in immigration enforcement.

“We commend DHS for ending its partnership with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, which has a long history of abuse and neglect of immigration detainees. Our extensive investigation and advocacy have made it clear that the Sheriff’s Office is not willing to take any steps to protect the rights and safety of detainees, and that ICE must sever ties with BCSO. This decision under the Biden Administration ensures that the civil rights of immigrants are protected and not violated in a callous disregard for human life and dignity.”

After an extensive investigation into a May 1, 2020 incident at Bristol County Jail and House of Correction, Attorney General Maura Healey issued a December 2020 report finding that the BCSO violated the civil rights of federal immigration detainees during the course of responding to a disturbance in the unit where the detainees were housed. The AG’s Office recommended a series of reforms to address the systemic issues at the facility, ensure public health and safety, and protect the rights of detainees. One of those recommendations was that DHS terminate its partnership with the BCSO.

Last month, the AG’s Office reached out to newly appointed DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to share the report findings and ask DHS to terminate its contracts with BCSO.

Read the December 2020 report here. 

Statement from Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford on Termination of ICE Contract for Bristol Sheriff Thomas Hodgson

"Tom Hodgson, like his hero Donald Trump, is a national disgrace and is unfit to serve in public office. This swift action by the Biden administration provides yet another example that decency and humanity has been restored to the White House."

波士頓代市長Kim Janey宣佈快樂議程 推出轉型公共藝術計畫

MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES THE JOY AGENDA, INCLUDING THE LAUNCH OF 2021 TRANSFORMATIVE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM A city-wide invitation to hold space for joy, encourage opportunities for collective processing of grief and invest in healing, imagination and play.

 

 

Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez, 2019 Transformative Public Art grantee, creating the mural “Back to the Essence” in Newmarket Square.

 

BOSTON - Thursday, May 20, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, Boston Parks Department and the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, among other departments, today announced the Joy Agenda, which is a city-wide invitation, opportunity, and investment in our collective well being. As a key part of this initiative, the City of Boston and Boston Art Commission are now accepting applications for the 2021 Transformative Public Art Program, which is now in its third year.  “After over a year of incredible hardships caused by COVID-19 and acts of violence against communities of color across the country, we’re looking at ways we can foster an equitable recovery that allows all residents of Boston to thrive,” said Mayor Janey. “We believe that by emphasizing the power of joy in healing and growth, we’ll be able to come back together as a stronger, more welcoming city.” Through the Joy Agenda, the City of Boston wants to place a focus on: ·     Creating spaces to reflect on and share what joy means to Boston and re-imagine more equitable policies and practices that promote joyful access to public space and other services; ·     Providing a range of ways for residents to safely reconnect with family, friends, and neighbors through engaging both virtually and in our vibrant public spaces; and ·     Investing in recovery and renewal through supporting the power and delight that arts and culture workers, local small businesses and youth bring to the City of Boston. A key part of this work includes a focus on City-led initiatives that create job opportunities for creative workers across artistic disciplines throughout communities, organizations, and City departments. The Transformative Public Art Program, led by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, is one element of this initiative. “This past year, we saw so many artists bring together communities amid social isolation and provide collective opportunities for processing grief, healing, and joy,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston. “This program will bring more arts opportunities to Boston, while also investing in artists and creative workers who need our support now more than ever.” This is the third year of the Transformative Public Art Program. Last year, 24 public art projects were awarded grants totaling $35,000 as part of the program. This year, the call has been split into three different opportunities:  ·     Opportunity 1 is for artists interested in creating murals, who are flexible about location. Artists will be selected based on a written proposal, portfolio, and interests, and the City will match them with a site. The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Wednesday, June 2 at 5 p.m. ·     Opportunity 2 is for artists interested in creating murals that are associated with specific themes or communities identified by the City. Projects include working with Hyde Square Task Force and community members to create a mural for Boston’s Latin Quarter in Mozart Park in Jamaica Plain, working with the Boston Parks Department and community members to create a mural honoring the legacy of Malcolm X in Malcolm X Park in Roxbury, working with a consulting team and community members to create a mural commemorating the legacy of Rita Hester and Transgender Day of Remembrance in Allston, and working with Age Strong and community members to create a mural at the East Boston Senior Center. The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Wednesday, June 16 at 5 p.m. ·     Opportunity 3 is for artists with a specific short-term project and location in mind. Projects can include murals, new media, traditional media, installations or performances, community-engaged cultural practices, social practice, or elements that specifically engage youth and/or non-English speaking communities. The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Wednesday, June 30th at 5 p.m.  Budgets for Opportunity 1 and 2 projects will range from $25,000-$75,000 depending on site. Budgets for Opportunity 3 projects will start at $1,000. This program is open to all arts and culture practitioners, organizers, professional artists, curators, cultural workers, arts administrators, etc. with a strong preference for those who live in or have a connection to Boston and/or the overall theme or the theme for an individual site. The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture will be holding virtual Question and Answer sessions on Monday, May 24th at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, May 26th at noon. More information about the Transformative Public Art Program can be found here. To apply, visit here. To learn more about the Joy Agenda, visit boston.gov/joy.