Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Efforts to Expand Access to Early College Programming, College Affordability Resources

 Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Efforts to Expand Access to Early College Programming, College Affordability Resources

 

FRAMINGHAM – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration joined high school and college students for a roundtable discussion to highlight the significant progress made by the administration in reducing barriers to access and affordability of earning college degrees. Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito,  Secretary of Education James Peyser, Commissioner of Higher Education (DHE) Noe Ortega, Senate President Karen Spilka, Framingham State University President Dr. Nancy Niemi, Mass Bay Community College President David Podell and legislators heard from local students about how the administration’s Early College programming and financial aid initiatives, like MassGrant Plus, allowed them the opportunity to pursue college courses, credits and degrees.

 

"Providing students in Massachusetts with a clear, accessible path to college has been a priority of the Baker-Polito Administration since taking office, and the impact that our administration’s significant investment in programs like Early College has had on students is clear,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We remain committed to ensuring that every student has the tools and resources accessible to them for success in the classroom, on college campuses and in the workforce.”

 

“Offering students and learners of all ages opportunities to explore exciting careers and coursework through Early College programming is critical to not just their success, but the continued and future success of the Massachusetts workforce,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are proud of these important partnerships between schools, higher educational institutes and employers, and we look forward to the continued accomplishments that Early College programming will deliver."

 

Since the launch of the Early College program in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has undertaken a statewide effort to expand Early College to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn credits at no cost before they graduate high school. The Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed by the Governor included a significant increase to Early College funding to bring the total annual investment to more than $19 million. 

 

“Over the past several years, we have worked hard to increase access to college by creating more affordable pathways, increase college completion rates - particularly for first-generation college-goers and underrepresented student populations - simplify the process for students to transfer credits from one public campus to another, and address affordability issues by eliminating unmet financial need for low-income students,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “We have made great strides around college affordability through all of these initiatives and are very pleased that they made a difference in thousands of young peoples’ lives.”

 

“Access to college-level coursework and credits gives students, many of whom may be the first in their families to pursue higher education, a chance to invest in themselves and their futures," said Senate President Karen Spilka. "Creating pathways to affordable higher education not only has a direct impact on fulfilling an individual’s career goals but is pivotal in closing the workforce skills gap and creating an economy that works for everyone. The Senate is proud of the historic investments made in our public colleges and universities, early college programs, and scholarship opportunities which make achieving a degree possible for many. Building upon these commitments remains a priority of mine heading into the new legislative session, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on this critical issue.”

 

Early College programs combine traditional high school courses with an opportunity to earn college credit at a college or university. Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in Early College courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth. The Executive Office of Education anticipates that number to grow to 8,700 students by the 2024-2025 school year. About half of the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities have Early College programs at their high schools, and nearly 60 percent of students enrolled in Early College come from low-income backgrounds. More than half of Early College students identify as students of color.

 

Students who participate in Early College programs enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers, and it boosts college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. In 2019, approximately 76 percent of Early College students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in Early College.

 

Framingham students are introduced to Early College starting in 8th grade. Currently, there are 257 students enrolled, and the number is expected to double over the next 18 months. To date, students have collectively earned 2,100 college credits, a savings of nearly $500,000 in tuition for families. All students have faculty and teacher support in addition to academic tutoring, wellness meetings, college readiness and career exploration excursions and enrichment.

 

"Our Early College efforts have been years in the making and with even more growth on the horizon,” said Framingham Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Tremblay.“Our collaborative efforts across the city's range of educational partners, from PreK through 16, have indeed captured the attention of many and our students remain the greatest beneficiary of this collaboration with the incredible support of the leadership of the Commonwealth."

 

In 2018, the Baker-Polito Administration launched MassGrant Plus scholarships to cover the unmet costs of tuition and mandatory fees for all low-income community college students. The scholarships were later expanded to all eligible public college and university students, and now include all eligible University of Massachusetts students. MassGrant Plus is a last-dollar, needs-based grant that enables thousands of undergraduate students to attend Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities without taking on personal debt for tuition and fees related to instruction. Governor Baker signed an historic increase to financial aid as part of the FY2023 budget, with a record $175 million in state scholarships, an increase of over 85 percent since 2015. This investment enables MassGrant Plus financial aid grants to be extended to all income-eligible students at community colleges, public universities, and the University of Massachusetts, ensuring that every low-income student at every public higher education campus will have their tuition and mandatory fees fully covered. MassGrant Plus scholarships are awarded to students by each public college or university. The Department of Higher Education updated the guidelines to provide greater flexibility to campuses to make the process easier to award the grants to cover the costs of tuition and instructional fees, as well as a stipend for books and supplies. 

 

“The investment in MassGrant Plus has significantly increased access to the Commonwealth’s public community colleges and universities. Expansion of financial aid is key to advancing the Equity Agenda. And programs like Early College and MassTransfer also increase access and choice for students and demonstrate the expansive opportunities at our public colleges or universities,” said Department of Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega.

 

The Department of Higher Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance this fall also launched MASSAid, a college cost and financial aid eligibility tool that enables prospective college students to understand their expected college costs. Students who file a federal application for Free Student Aid (FAFSA) will automatically receive a text message from the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance within 72 hours of their FAFSA submission, inviting them to create an account on MASSAid to learn more about state financial aid opportunities.

 

Once logged into MASSAid, students can:

• View and compare the costs of attending any college or university in Massachusetts;
• View their expected family contribution - the amount the federal government expects students and families to pay towards the cost of college – as calculated by the FAFSA;
• View their federal Pell Grant award amount;

• View their potential eligibility for 11 different forms of state financial aid, based on the student’s FAFSA data and additional information provided by the student through the tool; and
• Access additional information regarding state financial aid programs and contact information for the financial aid offices of every Massachusetts college and university.

 

To learn more about MassGrant Plus, click here.

 

To learn more about the MASSAid tool, click here.

 

To learn more about Early College programs, click here.

麻省州市政要齊聚食物銀行 為貧民入冬送暖 (市府視頻)

 

Former Missing In Action Service Member To Be Honored With Hero Square in East Boston

 Former Missing In Action Service Member To Be  Honored With Hero Square in East Boston 

BOSTON, Massachusetts -  Private First Class Joseph J. Puopolo will be honored with a heroes square in East Boston on Saturday, Nov 19, 2022 at 10:00am.  This ceremony will officially name the corner of Bennington St and Putnam Street Joseph J. Puopolo Square.

Puopolo was born on February 2, 1932 and lived in East Boston Massachusetts. Puopolo was 17 years old when he enlisted in the United States Army. Puopolo had the rank of Private First Class.  He died as a prisoner of war in February 1951 while serving in the Korean War.

Puopolo was a member of C Battery, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Artillery, 8th U.S. Army. He was reported missing in action on December 2, 1950, after his unit attempted to withdraw from Kunu-ri, North Korea, on November 30, 1950 following the Battle of Ch'ongch'on. In 1953, four POWs who returned during Operation Big Switch reported Puopolo had been a prisoner of war and died on  February 28, 1951 at Prisoner of War Camp #5.

Says Commissioner of Veterans Services Robert Santiago, “We are honored to have the opportunity to remember the life of Corporal Puopolo.  Having been missing for more than 70 years, we are thankful that he is finally at rest here at home and his service is recognized by the East Boston community and the City he loved and called home.” 

Puopolo's identity was recently confirmed by the Department of Defense on August 23, 2022. He was brought home to his family on October 18th and is resting in peace with his mother Anna Puopolo and younger brother Nicholas Puopolo in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, MA.

大波士頓商會及"城市醒覺"公佈2022十大傑出青年領袖

 Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and City Awake Announce

2022 Ten Outstanding Young Leaders

 

Boston, MA – The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and City Awake are pleased to announce the 2022 Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (TOYL) honorees. The TOYL Awards are presented annually by City Awake, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s premier young professional network, that connects, engages, and celebrates next-generation leaders. The awards recognize the contributions of current and emerging young, local leaders who have demonstrated professional, personal, cultural, and civic commitments to advancing a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community, organization, and region.

 

2022 Ten Outstanding Young Leaders

Constanza Cabello	Vice President, Equity Programs, State Street Corporation
Ava Callender Concepcion	Commissioner, Cannabis Control Commission
Brandon Cardet-Hernandez	Executive Director, Ivy Street School & Skills for Life
Sabrina Antoine Correia	Vice President, Public Engagement, JPMorgan Chase
Nieisha Deed	Founder & CEO, PureSpark
Vilas Dhar	President and Trustee, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
Adrian Madaro	State Representative, 1st Suffolk District, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Kristen Riley	District Director of Operations, Stop & Shop
Madeleine Rodriguez	Partner, Foley Hoag
Tiffany Vassell	R.N. Board Member, Bay State Birth Coalition

Learn more about the 2022 TOYL honorees here.

 

The TOYL awards were presented by the Boston Jaycees from 1952 to 2006 to identify and celebrate young leaders. Since its inception, more than 500 young leaders have been honored for their professional, personal, and civic commitment to improving the quality of life within our community. In 2012, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce revived the TOYL awards to continue the tradition of honoring Greater Boston’s current and future leaders.

 

Previous recipients include President John F. Kennedy, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Attorney General-Elect Andrea Campbell, Rev. Willie Boderick, II, business leader Jack Connors, Jr. and community advocate and United Nations representative, Carol Fulp. View all past honorees here.

吳弭上Java with Jimmy 秀 (市府視頻)

 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW CITY-OPERATED SENIOR CENTER IN EAST BOSTON

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW CITY-OPERATED SENIOR CENTER IN EAST BOSTON

BOSTON - Wednesday, November 16, 2022 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu, in partnership with Massport, announced the opening of a new city-owned senior center in East Boston, located at 7 Bayswater Street. Mayor Wu joined Massport, elected officials and community members involved with advocating for the new center at a ribbon cutting Wednesday, on the one year anniversary of her taking office as Mayor. The center will be operated by the Age Strong Commission and managed by the Property Management Department.  "This new, accessible senior center in East Boston will expand opportunities for our older adults to connect and build community," said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to all our City departments, local partners, and community members that have advocated for years to make today’s opening a reality.” The East Boston Senior Center, based on community input, will offer programs and services for older adults (Boston residents age 60+) starting December 1. The center will provide lunch on weekdays, as well as classes for wellness, entertainment, and more. Between now and December 1, the center will offer tours to interested community members, November 21-23 and 28-30, during regular hours, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  “This new senior center in East Boston will raise the bar for senior programming in Boston and is a great example of what can happen when the City partners with residents and entities like MassPort to serve a critical neighborhood need," said Chief of Human Services, José F. Massó. "We're excited to be able to offer programming that will resonate with all the diverse groups of older adults that make up East Boston.” “Socialization, connection, and community are vital to human wellbeing,” said Emily K. Shea, Age Strong Commissioner. “Research shows that people who have friends and participate in activities are more healthy and live longer. The new center will provide a place for our older residents to connect with each other and engage in a richer, healthier life.” “This was a great collaborative effort between PFD, Age Strong, and Property Management,” said Chief of Operations Dion Irish. “The renovation allows for additional programming and services while the new addition enhances accessibility with respect to its existing urban setting.” Formerly serving as the East Boston Barnes Branch of the Boston Public Library, the construction of the new center site officially started in September 2020 and was led by the City’s Public Facilities Department. New additions and renovation of the site were initially delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues. This project, with a focus on accessibility for older adults, consisted of over 20 external partners, including the architect, Fennick McCredie Architecture (FMA), and general contractor, GVW Construction (GVW). Additionally, Lifespan Design was brought on as a consultant for their expertise in senior center features, which was noted in the RFP. The new center consists of two levels, with modern, accessibility features for older adults including an elevator (upgraded from a lift), wave/sensor door openings instead of push buttons, tables that wheelchairs can easily roll up to, bright lighting, a hearing loop system (hearing aids can connect to), and stairs with step-grippers. The center’s restrooms are large enough to include a care partner, wheelchair, or walker and include dual grab bars and toilet seats of different heights to accommodate older adults of varied heights. Light switches are installed at a lower height and electrical outlets higher to accommodate older adults as they bend. Outside of the center, there is a walking path in the backyard to cue folks with memory loss as well as raised garden beds, so older adults can participate in gardening either from a wheelchair or without steep bending.  "The opening of this vital civic space for our seniors comes after decades of advocacy from many individuals," said City Councilor Gabriela Coletta. "I am so grateful to the community members, former and current elected officials, and Massport for making this dream a reality. The center will be a hub of activity and bring people together for years to come." "Supporting our seniors is one of the most important things we can do as a community and a city, thank you, Mayor Michelle Wu, the Age Strong Commission, Public Facilities, members of the East Boston Community, and MassPort for your work in bringing a new Senior Center to East Boston," said State Senator Lydia Edwards. “I'm excited to see the long-awaited dream of the East Boston Senior Center finally realized," said Representative Adrian Madaro. "This is something that I have advocated for throughout my time in office. Our seniors are the bedrock of our community, and this new state of the art center will provide East Boston's elders with a dedicated space to gather, participate in enriching activities, and access supports and resources. Thank you to the city's Age Strong team and Mayor Wu for helping us get the Senior Center across the finish line!" The City committed $6.5 million in the capital budget for the design and construction of the new center. In partnership with the City of Boston to improve the quality of life for residents, Massport contributed significant funding for the creation and operation of this center. “Massport is pleased to partner with the City of Boston and support the new East Boston senior center, which will deliver important services and programming,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland. “We are glad to see the community’s hard work and dedication over the years coming together in this terrific new asset for East Boston.” The new center will be led by Age Strong’s Lina Tramelli and Luz Leal, both bilingual in English and Spanish, to serve East Boston’s diverse community of older adults. Visit www.boston.gov/ebsc or call 617-461-3131 for more information.

慶祝波士頓市府廣場重開 市府訂12/1日辦「Alight」詩歌活動

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES “ALRIGHT” POETRY EVENT WITH POET LAUREATE PORSHA OLAYIWOLA AS BOSTON HOSTS THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE

BOSTON - Tuesday, November 15, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, in collaboration with Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola, today announced the City will host ALRIGHT on Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Boston Center for the Arts Black Box Plaza (539 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116). This event is part of a broader celebration of Boston as Host City of The Earthshot Prize, a global initiative designed to find and grow the solutions that will repair our planet this decade.  “The arts must play a crucial role in bringing our communities together for the scale and creativity of actions needed to tackle climate change,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I look forward to this event and am grateful to Porsha for creating this space to inspire what’s possible for climate action.” ALRIGHT, led by Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola and artist and curator Cierra Peters, is an interactive arts experience and show that engages a conversation around the Black Diaspora and climate change. Inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics, “We gone be alright,” this art experience uses an Afro-futurist pedagogy to frame the role Black individuals have in writing and claiming a future we want to and can live in by their own design.  “ALRIGHT pairs optimism with action to move through what feels like dystopian space,” said Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola. “It’s interactive in that the audience in ALRIGHT are both players and actors, as we all have a hand to play in shaping the future we wish to live in.” The event will feature music from DJ Real P, dance vignettes choreographed by Kaleisha Chance at 4Star Dance Studio, poetry from Crystal Valentine, a live performance from Fanta Vibez, and more. Audience members will be spirited through the evening via forest god/dess Dzidzor Azaglo of Black Cotton Club. “This is an exciting opportunity for the City to explore the intersection between arts and the environment, and to center Black voices,” said Chief of Arts & Culture Kara Elliott-Ortega. “We look forward to inviting the entire city to join us in imagining a better future for everyone through dance, poetry, and song.” The ALRIGHT event is free and open to all, and attendees are encouraged to dress in the theme of “enchanted garden” and to consider the environment in their dress choices by wearing existing items or shopping sustainably. Free tickets can be reserved here. About The Earthshot Prize Founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2020, The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental prize to discover, accelerate and scale ground-breaking eco-solutions to repair and regenerate the planet. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot, which united millions of people around the goal of reaching the moon, The Earthshot Prize aims to catalyze an Earthshot challenge to urgently encourage and scale innovative solutions that can help put the world firmly on a trajectory towards a stable climate, where communities, oceans and biodiversity thrive in harmony by 2030. The five challenges are: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean our Air; Revive our Oceans; Build a Waste-free World; and Fix our Climate.   The Prize aims to turn the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism but championing inspiring leadership and helping to scale incredible cutting-edge solutions. It will discover 50 winners over 10 years with the power to repair the planet. More than a prize, The Earthshot Prize works in partnership with a Global Alliance of Partners to support the scaling of the solutions discovered and selected each year.

波士頓學校委員會2委員席位須改選 11/22截止申請

 CITY OF BOSTON OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Two four-year terms on the Boston School Committee are set to expire in January

Mayor Michelle Wu today announced applications are now being accepted for two 4-year terms by the Boston School Committee Nominating Panel. The Nominating Panel is a thirteen-member panel composed of parents, teachers, school leaders and representatives of the business and higher education communities. Applications for these positions are due Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.

The Boston School Committee is the governing body of the Boston Public Schools (BPS). The School Committee is responsible for:

• Defining the vision, mission, and goals of the Boston Public Schools;
• Establishing and monitoring the annual operating budget;
• Hiring, managing, and evaluating the Superintendent; and
• Setting and reviewing district policies and practices to support student achievement.  

The seven members of the School Committee are Boston residents appointed by the Mayor. The Mayor appoints members from a list of candidates recommended by the Boston School Committee Nominating Panel. The School Committee also includes a non-voting student member of the Boston Student Advisory Council. 

The School Committee meets approximately twice per month during the school year to adopt, review and modify policies and practices that support teaching, learning and improved student achievement. With the exception of executive sessions, Committee meetings are open to the public, feature public comment periods and are broadcast on Boston City TV.  

Interviews for selected candidates will be held on the week of November 28, 2022, between 3:00 - 6:00 pm. Interviews will be conducted through a hybrid format of in-person and virtual options. Please direct all questions and submit completed applications to scnominatingpanel@boston.gov or mail/deliver to Room 603 of Boston City Hall. You can learn more about the Boston School Committee online.

Applications are available in English, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

$1.7 MILLION INVESTED TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE ARTIST WORKSPACES, CREATE NEW HOUSING AT HUMPHREYS STREET STUDIOS IN DORCHESTER

 $1.7 MILLION INVESTED TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE ARTIST WORKSPACES, CREATE NEW HOUSING AT HUMPHREYS STREET STUDIOS IN DORCHESTER

The vacant backlot of the studio property will also become new below market, income-restricted housing.

Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Offices of Arts and Culture, Housing, and Economic Opportunity and Inclusion today announced that following work to preserve the artist workspaces and an unprecedented financial investment from the City of Boston, Humphreys Street Studios (HSS) in Dorchester is now majority artist-owned and operated. They also announced that the vacant backlot of the studio property will become new below market, income-restricted housing. 

The acquisition, curated by Bill Madsen Hardy of New Atlantic Development, was made possible by funding from nonprofit funders BlueHub Capital and LISC, as well as a $1.7 million investment from the City of Boston utilizing American Rescue Plan, Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP), and Housing Boston 2030 funds. The deal secures over three dozen artist workspaces that house over 45 artists and creative small businesses across 26,000 square feet. 

“The Arts and Culture sector has continued to struggle to re-emerge following the pandemic, but with this funding combined with support from our partners, our arts community will be able to continue working in Boston,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are grateful for this partnership with BlueHub Capital and LISC, and for the opportunity we have to provide new, below market, income-restricted housing and secure workplaces for our artists and creative community.”

Humphreys Street Studios and New Atlantic Development created a new nonprofit, HSS Artist Collective Inc., to operate the studios through a board of directors which will include a majority of HSS artist tenants. A parcel adjacent to the artist studios will be developed into homeownership units. New Atlantic will develop 10 income-restricted housing units. Four of the units will be sold to individuals earning less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), three units will be sold to individuals earning less than 100% AMI, and three units will be sold to individuals earning less than 120% AMI. The developer will engage in a community process to ensure that the residents of the neighborhood have a voice in the design, affordability levels and size of the homeownership development opportunities.

“With our founding artists' recent passing, it seemed certain we would be displaced,” said Dorchester resident, HSS artist, and scenic designer Cristina Todesco. “But, with guidance, we organized, sought community support, and partnered with New Atlantic to find a creative solution.” 

As part of their efforts to preserve their workspaces, the HSS artists created a campaign called #ARTWORKSHERE, #ARTSTAYSHERE that included an online petition and community letters of support. The campaign earned opportunities to expand into exhibitions, events, and connections with other buildings, artists, and advocates. From this work, the HSS artists recently launched the #ARTSTAYSHERE COALITION, whose mission is to help other Greater Boston artist communities fight displacement. The coalition is currently connecting with musicians, creative small businesses, and other artists across the Greater Boston region.

“The preservation of this artist community was a direct result of the artists’ organization and advocacy for affordable artist workspace,” said Kara Elliot-Ortega, Boston’s Chief of Arts and Culture. “This solution serves as one model for how the City can keep our creative community in Boston, contributing to the city for many years to come.” 

Creative communities in Greater Boston, like in many other cities, face recurring displacement challenges and are rarely resourced with advocates or administrators to help preserve cultural spaces and secure ownership of their own spaces. The City partnered with the Humphreys Street Studios artists to find solutions to these challenges.  Following news of the building’s potential sale, the City connected Humphreys Street Studio artists with New Atlantic Development and supported the partnership through upfront consulting services. 

“We’ve worked with many artist communities,” said Bill Madsen Hardy of New Atlantic Development. “This project took commitment and help from many partners to preserve. The property is a unique one, once the Daloz family drycleaning facility, but became a thriving artist and creative small business community over the past 20 years. We are also grateful to the Mayor’s Office of Housing, and Chief Sheila Dillon for the amazing support and partnership.”

“This project was a unique opportunity for partnership. We are thankful for the work of both our internal teams and external partners who helped make this project possible,” said Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon. “When looking at preserving artist workspaces, creating below market, income-restricted units and incorporating a vacant lot, New Atlantic was the right partner. They specialize both in building affordable housing and in supporting artist communities. With them, Uphams Corner gets to have both.” 

“What we learned along the way is that many artist communities before us tried to preserve their spaces, too. Most lost,” said Jemuel Stephenson, owner of Fabwright Designs at HSS. “Even now, our fellow artists and creative small businesses at 119 Braintree Street (Allston) will soon be displaced due to development. But, this win is a big win. If we keep at the advocacy, insisting that #ARTSTAYSHERE, in Boston, long term, we could have more wins than losses.” 

“We learned so much fighting for our studios—to organize, to advocate, to gather support, to speak up,” said Josh Rose-Wood, Roxbury resident, architect, and HSS artist tenant. “We continue fighting artist displacement by helping other artist communities to do the same kind of work. Our situation is unique – not every artist community will have the same opportunities or resources we did. But we can share our resources and experience. It's hard enough just being an artist and to earn a living--never mind organizing a preservation campaign, during a pandemic, too.”

“This project serves as a step in the right direction as we work to preserve the arts and culture community in the City of Boston while simultaneously addressing the need for more affordable housing,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “This important work could not be done without the collaboration of our City departments, as well as the tireless advocacy from the arts community.” 

The artists at Humphreys Street Studios will hold a Winter Holiday Market on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 from 11 a.m.  to 5 p.m. Visitors will be able to visit artists at work in their studios and purchase holiday gifts directly from artists. Future plans include annual Open Studios events, fundraising to build a community space, and opportunities for the public to participate in workshops.

AG HEALEY JOINS NATIONWIDE SETTLEMENT WITH GOOGLE OVER LOCATION TRACKING PRACTICES

 AG HEALEY JOINS NATIONWIDE SETTLEMENT WITH GOOGLE OVER LOCATION TRACKING PRACTICES  

Coalition of 40 Attorneys General Secures the Largest Multistate Privacy Settlement in U.S. History 

 

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced that she has joined a coalition of 40 attorneys general in reaching a $391.5 million settlement with Google for misleading consumers about its location tracking practices. This is the largest multistate data privacy settlement ever reached by attorneys general in the history of the United States. Massachusetts is expected to receive $9.3 million from the settlement.  

 

Today’s settlement concludes an investigation by the attorneys general that found that Google violated state consumer protection laws by misleading consumers about its location tracking practices since at least 2014. Specifically, Google caused users to be confused about two account settings that control data collection of the users’ location – “Location History” and “Web & App Activity” – and the extent to which consumers who use Google products and services could limit Google’s location tracking by adjusting their account and device settings.  

 

“Technology companies need to be upfront with users about how and when their data is tracked and shared, especially when it comes to location information which can reveal personal information about people’s lives,” said AG Healey. “This unprecedented agreement holds Google accountable for these deceptive practices, requires more transparency, and ensures more consumer control over what information is used.”   

 

Location data is a key part of Google’s digital advertising business. Google uses the personal and behavioral data it collects to build detailed user profiles and target ads on behalf of its advertising customers. Location data is among the most sensitive and valuable personal information Google collects – even a limited amount of location data can expose a person’s identity and routines. This data has the potential to reveal intimate and sensitive details, including, as Google has cknowledged, whether a person has sought reproductive health care.  

 

The attorneys general opened the Google investigation following a 2018 Associated Press article that revealed Google “records your movements even when you explicitly tell it not to,” including when the “Location History” setting is turned off. “Web & App Activity,” a separate account setting that also tracks location, is automatically turned “on” when users set up a Google account, including all Android phone users. The attorneys general allege that consumers were confused about the scope of the “Location History” setting and did not know the “Web & App Activity” setting existed.  

 

Today’s settlement requires Google to be more transparent with consumers about its practices, including by: 

 

·       Showing additional information to users whenever they turn a location-related account setting “on” or “off”; 

·       Making key information about location tracking unavoidable (i.e., not hidden); 

·       Giving users detailed information about the types of location data Google collects and how it’s used at an enhanced “Location Technologies” webpage;  

·       Giving users the ability to disable a location-related account setting and delete the location information stored by that setting without needing to navigate to separate webpages; and 

·       Automatically deleting location information collected through Web and App Activity after 30 days. 

 

The settlement also limits Google’s use and storage of certain types of location information and requires Google account controls to be more user-friendly. 

 

Joining AG Healey in filing the settlement are the attorneys general of Oregon, Nebraska, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. The final settlement was also joined by Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.  

 

BPDA releases Life Sciences Action Agenda Agenda responds to ongoing life sciences development in the city

BOSTON - Monday, November 14, 2022 - The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) today released a Life Sciences Action Agenda in response to ongoing life sciences development throughout the City of Boston. In an effort to support the industry’s built environment needs, while addressing concerns from the public in relation to the location and design of these developments, the Life Sciences Action Agenda provides transparency around how the BPDA will take a coordinated approach to guiding life sciences development. In partnership with the public, sister City agencies, and the development community, the Life Sciences Action Agenda outlines how the BPDA will create clear avenues for development and predictability in the city’s urban fabric, while prioritizing the safety of Boston’s residents. The BPDA is committed to continuing to leverage new investment in this industry to support equitable economic opportunities for Boston residents to encourage job creation and the growth of a resilient economy, as well as prioritizing more housing options to support this growth. “Life science development is critical to Boston’s economic health moving forward, as a large contributor to public city services, job growth and training, as well as affordable housing,” said Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. “This action agenda lays out a proactive, transparent roadmap for how the BPDA will support growth of this sector, while ensuring we are addressing the health and safety needs of Bostonians.” Through the Life Sciences Action Agenda, the BPDA will shape life science development using new design guidelines and zoning language, and support public health and safety in partnership with our sister agencies. The agency will ensure the built environment and any other aspects within agency jurisdiction do not contribute to any health and safety concerns. In addition to these commitments, the BPDA will also continue to integrate appropriate planning for life sciences developments in ongoing planning initiatives, which will then be incorporated into zoning. With this Action Agenda, the BPDA is committing to: Releasing draft Life Sciences Design Guidelines for public review to ensure life sciences buildings fit within the fabric of the city, within the next three months. Releasing draft zoning code amendments for public review to define life sciences research and development uses in the next eight months. Releasing an interactive map of life sciences development in Boston in the next eight months. Working with sister public agencies like BPHC to improve communications, release educational materials, and provide community engagement opportunities including a series of public meetings on life sciences. Opportunities for public engagement on these topics will be posted on the BPDA website here.

當年誣指陳霞芬為間諜 美商務部須賠償175萬元

(Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 華裔美籍科學家被美國政府誣指為間諜的一系列案件中，又有一宗獲得平反。法院日前裁決，美國商務部須賠償175萬元給原本是國家氣象局水文專家的陳霞芬。

在一份聲明中，陳霞芬說，“政府調查、起訴我的行動是歧視性，不正義的”，”商務部總算要為做錯的事負起責任了….沒有任何一個其他人應該要忍受這樣的不正義”。

在中美兩國競爭加劇中，陳霞芬的案子是美國政府對華人，華裔美籍科學家越見懷疑的早期個案。經過一年多訴訟的這和解結果，既是陳霞芬的個人勝利，也非常具有象徵性。

在陳霞芬清洗個人名聲的十年長期奮鬥中，包括百人會等許多個人及社團，都積極支持。

百人會獲悉消息後發出聲明稿，稱百人會和Greenberg Traurig法律事務所律師Andrew Chongseh Kim合作的研究分析中，從1996到2020，共有276人被告，其中190人是華人或亞裔姓名，和其他西方人被告相比，這些人被處罰得更嚴重，或被逮捕的機率更高。

2021年十，百人和會亞利桑那州大學公佈了一份向將近2000名科研人員做的調查研究結果，發現42%有華人背景的科學家覺得美國政府種族歧視他們，但非華人背景的科學家，只有8%這麼覺得。

在川普時代的司法部啟動"中國計劃”前，陳霞芬就受調查，被解雇了。儘管該計劃聲稱旨在因應中國的經濟間諜，但卻不成比例地以所謂補助款詐欺或未揭露等議題，針對華裔美籍學術研究人員，而這些案件有很大一部分都在審訊前就四分五裂的不成立了。

美國政府的”中國計劃”，旨在保護國家安全。麻省理工學院科技評論雜誌稱，根據迄今最完整的個案分析，該計劃早已偏離目標。

陳霞芬的案子促使關心局勢的華裔美籍公民成立草根支持團體，為她遊說美國國會議員，讓人更知道陳霞芬的經歷，籌款為她打官司。其中一個支持團體後來成立了”亞太裔正義 (APA Justice)”，這持續反對中國計劃及族裔刻板印象，聲音最大的團體。

陳霞芬是在2014年時被聯邦調查局逮捕，控以間諜罪，稱她非法進入政府資料庫，和中國科學家分享關於美國水壩的敏感資料。進一步的調查顯示，陳霞芬做的其實是分享了一個她辦公室內人員都知道，從資料庫取得她工作資料的密碼。在缺乏證據下，司法部門在遞案5個月後撤銷控訴。但是由於導致聯邦調查局控訴，如今已不成立的同樣理由，陳霞芬還是被解雇了。

那些錯誤資訊來自商務部的內部安全單位，調查及威脅管理服務局 (ITMS)。2021年7月參議院的一項調查發現，該局針對華裔美人及其他員工進行廣泛且毫無根據的有歧視調查，陳霞芬個案就是一個行為不當的例子。這報告發表不久後，ITMS就解散了。

陳霞芬這時也向監管聯邦政府員工聘僱個案的半官方機構，功績系統保護局 (MSPB)，提出不當解雇申訴。不過監管國家氣象局的商務部上訴了。由於人手短缺，這案件MSPB置之不理了好幾年，於是2019年，陳霞芬提出民事訴訟，控告美國政府惡意起訴，錯誤逮捕。她的法律團隊要求賠償500萬元。

陳霞芬案的裁決，先付55萬元，接著在未來10年內付給125萬元，就是那些訴訟的結果。在金錢損失之外，陳霞芬的律師說，商務部將和陳霞芬開一次私人會議，給她一封信，承認她是一名有成就的政府水利專家。

            ACLU國家安全計劃資深律師Ashley Gorski表示，這結果和APA正義，以及1000多名個人和組織簽名，在一年前遞交給商務部部長Gina Raimondo的一封信中所要求的道歉不太一樣，然而和商務部門人員坐下來談，而且答應要給一封承認成就的信，對陳霞芬來說很重要，而這也是他們協商的和解條件之一。

            根據麻省理工學院科技評論雜誌去年的調查，”中國計劃”很沒效率，而且絕大部分是針對有華裔血統個人，佔了被告者中的90%。陳霞芬的和解案在” 中國計劃”餘殃蕩漾之際，特別讓人欣慰。

            拜登政府在今年2月正式結束了”中國計劃”，但無數的研究指出，該計劃對中美之間的科學合作，有著更廣泛冷卻效應，也導致人們降低了把美國當作高等教育及研究目標地點的興趣。對那些被”中國計劃”這張網黏到人來說，即使他們最後得回清白，曾有的那些經歷卻已揮之不去。

Ashley Gorski說，這使得陳霞芬訟案的結果更為重要，因為這固然是陳霞芬個人的勝利，也是華裔美人社區的勝利。這和解清楚的顯示，當政府歧視，就必須負責任。