中華專協電影會展現罕見病不落跑家長給人的感動

紐英崙中華專業人員協會和紐英崙玉山科技協會，台灣同鄉聯誼會，波士頓榮光會，成大校友會，台大校友會，建中校友會等合作，在波士頓華僑文教中心舉辦的「 一首搖滾上月球」 - 電影欣賞會，六日下午讓幾十名出席者，看得感慨萬分。

專協前任董事長王世輝表示，這部片是他在回台灣找電影帶回波士頓看時，店老闆強力推薦的影片，六日這天，許多人看了片中六個老爸，每天面對著照顧患有罕見病子女的壓力，儘管身心俱疲，仍苦中作樂，都感到自己太幸福了。

這部紀錄片由黃嘉俊執導，描述罕見病家庭所面對的生活壓力，以及他們彼此扶助的情誼。

片中的鍵盤手「巫爸」、鼓手「勇爸」、貝斯手「鄭爸」、吉他手「李爸」、薩克斯風手「潘爸」、還有主唱「歐陽爸」等人，面對著子女分別患有結節性硬化症者，小胖威利症，腎上腺腦白質失養症，血小板無力症，平腦症，尼曼匹克症等這些幾乎沒人聽過的病症，每天既要面對現實的生活壓力，還要整理情緒，精力來照顧患有罕見病的子女。

紀錄片中組樂隊，上音樂節表演的情節，略有編輯，但六個家庭與罕病子女的情況，卻全為真實情境，歷經五年拍攝及剪輯。

片中六個罕病家庭中的巫家，先組成了“不落跑老爸俱樂部”，後來再在基金會為病童組織樂團啟發下，組織了“睏熊霸”樂團，後來獲得陳如山等人的幫助，參加了貢寮國際海洋音樂祭，實現樂隊上台演奏夢想。

中華專協表示，希望藉著放映此片，能引發更多人關心罕見病患者，及其家屬。

十二月十日（周三）晚六點十五分，紐英崙中華專業人員協會還將在哈佛大學西北科學大樓Ｂ103講室舉辦「看見台灣」美東放映會與齊柏林導演座談會。

專協昨日傍晚發出電郵，通告各界，門票已全部售罄，希望未買票者不要到場，因為現場將無門票出售。

圖片說明：

            紐英崙中華專協與合作單位代表在“一首搖滾上月球”放映會上合影，（圖由專協提供，謝開明攝）

MASSACHUSETTS LAUNCHES PAY FOR SUCCESS INITIATIVE TO REDUCE CHRONIC INDIVIDUAL HOMELESSNESS

MASSACHUSETTS LAUNCHES PAY FOR SUCCESS INITIATIVE TO REDUCE CHRONIC INDIVIDUAL HOMELESSNESS

Program will provide 500 units of stable supportive housing for up to 800 chronically homeless individuals over 6 years

FRAMINGHAM – Monday, December 8, 2014 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced the launch of a Massachusetts Pay for Success (PFS) initiative that will leverage philanthropic and private capital investments to reduce chronic individual homelessness, creating a new model of sustainable state support for chronically homeless individuals. The initiative will provide 500 units of stable supportive housing for up to 800 chronically homeless individuals over 6 years, improving the well-being of individuals while saving taxpayer dollars by reducing the utilization of costly emergency resources like shelter and Medicaid payments.

“Government’s role is to help people help themselves. It is critical that we reduce the reliance on emergency services and provide individuals safe and stable housing that will help strengthen our communities and last for generations to come,” said Governor Patrick.

PFS contracts, also called Social Impact Bonds, combine nonprofit expertise and private sector funding with rigorous evaluation to transform the way government and society respond to chronic social problems. In a PFS initiative, philanthropic and private investors provide up-front funding for a project; the Commonwealth only repays investors if a third party evaluator determines the initiative achieved specific, predetermined outcomes that benefit society, including saving taxpayer dollars.

This project leverages $1 million in philanthropic funding and $2.5 million in private capital investments from Santander Bank N.A., the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. Through the PFS model, the investors assume project risk by financing services up front with the promise of Commonwealth repayment only in the event of success.

The Commonwealth’s PFS initiative is part of an ongoing commitment by the Patrick Administration to reform the way Government does business by identifying innovative programs that improve outcomes and save money. If this program is successful, the Commonwealth will make up to $6 million in success payments to repay investors and cover evaluation and intermediary costs. Success will be based on the stable housing for at least one year of chronically homeless individuals participating in the initiative. The maximum possible return to investors is 5.33 percent.

“Pay for success contracts are a smart way for government to raise resources to invest in innovative approaches to solving chronic social problems. We only pay for programs that work, helping us improve the well-being of those served while saving the Commonwealth money.” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Glen Shor.

By repurposing existing state and provider resources, this project will maintain a significant number of the 500 units of supportive housing even after the six-year pay for success period concludes, creating a new model of sustainable state support for chronically homeless individuals. If successful, this initiative will greatly reduce the Commonwealth’s population of chronically homeless individuals by serving up to 800 of the state’s approximately 1,500 chronically homeless individuals.

“Working together, with a shared vision for our Commonwealth’s future, we can help build a bridge to stability for vulnerable individuals who need assistance during difficult times,” said Health and Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz. “Critical community-based support such as care coordination and behavioral health services will help individuals maintain housing, reduce their reliance on hospitalization and find personal success.”

“This project will greatly expand permanent housing options with ongoing support services for low income individuals.  DHCD is proud to participate in this new collaborative initiative that could serve as a model for other state,” said Undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Community Development Aaron Gornstein.”

In January 2012, Massachusetts announced a first-in-the nation initiative to allow Massachusetts to enter into PFS contracts designed to encourage innovative solutions to social problems, improve the performance of government, and save taxpayer money. Through the legislative authorization of the Social Innovation Financing Trust Fund, the Secretary of Administration and Finance is able to enter into up to $50 million in pay for success contracts, backed by the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth.

“We are grateful to the Patrick Administration for creating this exciting new supported housing initiative that will help the Commonwealth move more quickly along the path to ending single adult homelessness in Massachusetts.  Also, we know from experience, that this initiative will significantly reduce both the human and financial costs of homelessness.  We are delighted to be working in partnership with state government and the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance and its proven Housing First approach on this very promising program that will greatly decrease reliance on emergency shelter by placing homeless individuals in supported housing environments.   In turn, safe and decent housing will assist the residents to move forward in their goal of establishing fruitful, successful and independent lives in their respective communities,” Jim Cuddy, CEO, South Middlesex Opportunity Council.

“This Pay for Success Contract, focused on permanent supportive housing for long-term and chronically homeless individuals, represents a significant step forward in recognizing the critical relationship between housing and health care. I am grateful for the providers, investors and state officials who have made this initiative a reality,” said Joe Finn, President & Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance.

“Pay for Success has the potential to be a game-changer for how human services are delivered in the Commonwealth," said Michael K. Durkin, President at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.  "The agreement that government, and taxpayers, only pay when the programs are proven to work and are accountable to outcomes as bold as reducing the number of chronically homeless individuals in our state by one-third, is a very innovative way to approach entrenched issues. For United Way, the concept of investing and requiring specific measurable targets aligns with how we already fund community based organizations with the dollars donors entrusted to us. Going to scale with these strategies on a statewide basis, and generating huge long-term savings to us all, is very exciting.”

“Groundbreaking investments such as this Pay for Success Initiative are emphasizing accountability while providing the resources to fund the housing and services we know end and prevent homelessness,” said Deborah De Santis, President and CEO of CSH. “Beyond the much-needed supportive housing it will create, Massachusetts will continue a transformation in the way services are delivered, away from overreliance on crisis health and shelters and toward more permanent solutions that provide the stability people need to end their homelessness.”

“By investing in the Commonwealth’s Chronic Individual Homelessness Pay for Success Initiative, we are investing in the future of our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Gwen Robinson, Managing Director of Community Development at Santander Bank. “Through this initiative, chronically homeless individuals will get the housing, health care and job training they need to become self-sufficient. We are always looking for ways to give back to the community and are proud to play a small but meaningful role in supporting this important initiative.”

In January 2014 the Commonwealth launched its first PFS initiative, a $27 million Juvenile Justice PFS Initiative, the largest financial investment in a PFS initiative in the country.  The Commonwealth, in partnership with Roca, a Chelsea-based service provider, and Third Sector Capital Partners, a nonprofit fundraising and project management intermediary, aim to reduce incarceration rates and improve employment outcomes for young men. The Chronic Individual Homeless PFS initiative is the second launched by the Patrick Administration.

Additionally, in August 2014, the Patrick Administration announced the apparent successful bidders for the Adult Basic Education Pay for Success Initiative. The Commonwealth’s partners in this project are Jewish Vocational Services, one of the largest and most proven providers of adult education and workforce development services in the Greater Boston area, and Social Finance, a nonprofit fundraising and project management intermediary. The Adult Basic Education Pay for Success Initiative will invest approximately $15 million in state success payments to serve a portion of the more than 16,000 adults on the waitlist for ABE and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs. The PFS contract will be designed with the goal of improving participants’ employment outcomes and increasing postsecondary degree or certificate attainment over a six-year period.

Partners in the Chronic Homelessness PFS Initiative:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

o   The Executive Office for Administration and Finance (EOAF) is in charge of developing and implementing the state budget.  EOAF will make payments for success from the Social Innovation Financing Trust Fund if the independent third-party evaluator determines that the service providers have successfully housed each chronically homeless individual for at least one year.

o   The Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) mission is to promote safe, decent affordable housing opportunities in the Commonwealth. DHCD is investing shelter resources and Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) housing vouchers in the Initiative in order to maintain 500 units of supportive housing even after the Initiative ends.

o   The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) administers MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program. MassHealth is helping managed care entities contract with service providers to provide community support program services to PFS participants.

Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA)

Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance is a member-based statewide advocacy and policy organization that works in collaboration with its member agencies to develop innovative approaches to ending homelessness and outcome-based housing programs for homeless individuals. MHSA oversees more than 1,000 permanent, transitional and emergency shelter beds and units with supportive services in approximately 30 cities and towns across Massachusetts, providing technical assistance, program monitoring, data collection and reporting for all of these programs.  MHSA will be the lead partner who will coordinate providers of the Home & Healthy for Good model for the Initiative and ensure that the programming is being implemented correctly.

Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)

CSH is the national leader of the supportive housing movement, and has extensive experience in assembling and coordinating local partners and teams of service providers to achieve successful outcomes. As an investor in the Massachusetts Chronic Individual Homelessness Pay for Success Initiative, CSH will be the first Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) to make a direct investment in this Social Impact (Pay for Success) Financing. CSH will provide advice and technical assistance for the initiative and is also an investor in the project.

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley has a strong track record as a trusted leader and funder with the experience to design and facilitate complex processes and partnerships leveraging its established corporate, government and community-based partners with the United Way network. Examples include its Housing First initiative, Thrive in 5, Massachusetts Asset Building Coalition, Quality Rating Improvement System, and its Investor Model of performance-based funding, its unique, nationally-recognized method of addressing social issues.  It was cited by the Stanford Social Innovation Review as a nonprofit “achieving breakthrough performance” and has been designated as a United Way Worldwide Center for Excellence for its innovative impact approach and state and local collaborations.  In this partnership, United Way will serve as the project’s fundraising intermediary, raising investor capital, acting itself as an investor, and acting as the financial manager for the Initiative. 

Santander

Santander Bank, N.A. is one of the largest retail banks in the United States by deposits.  Its main corporate offices are in Boston and it operates principally in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Santander’s 9,703 employees serve its 1.8 million customers through the Bank’s 703 branches, 2,092 ATMs, call centers, website and mobile app. Supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Santander in the United States is a wholly-owned, financially autonomous subsidiary of Banco Santander (NYSE: SAN), a global commercial and retail bank. For more information about Santander, visit www.santanderbank.com or call 877-768-2265.

Root Cause

Since 2003, Root Cause has improved the performance of more than 200 organizations and funders in a wide range of social service sectors.  Root Cause’s Research and Assessments unit focuses on addressing the “investment information gap” to help funders better allocate limited resources to improve the lives of vulnerable populations.    Root Cause analysts conduct independent research on social issues and evaluate program performance to provide leaders in the nonprofit, foundation, government, and business sectors with actionable data to invest in what works.  Root Cause will act as the Independent Evaluator for the Initiative, verifying the outcomes produced by the service providers.

Harvard Kennedy School Social Impact Bond Technical Assistance Lab (HKS SIB Lab)

The HKS SIB Lab provides pro bono technical assistance to state and local governments implementing PFS contracts using Social Impact Bonds.  The SIB Lab assisted Massachusetts in developing the procurement and designing the data analysis strategy for this Initiative.

FBI Releases 2013 Hate Crime Statistics 

Today, the FBI released Hate Crime Statistics, 2013, the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program’s first publication to present data collected under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act of 2009. Accordingly, the bias categories of gender (male and female) and gender identity (transgender and gender nonconforming) have been added to the other bias categories of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.

Other new aspects of the report include the presentation of age categories to indicate whether hate crimes were committed by or directed toward juveniles. In addition, the data for the 2013 report were collected and published in accordance with the U.S. Government, Office of Management and Budget’s revised categories for race and ethnicity, as well as the FBI UCR Program’s revised definition of rape in the Summary Reporting System.

Hate Crime Statistics, 2013 includes data about the offenses, victims, offenders, and locations of the bias-motivated incidents reported by law enforcement agencies throughout the nation. However, the UCR Program does not estimate offenses for the jurisdictions of agencies that do not submit reports. Highlights of Hate Crime Statistics, 2013 follow.

• Law enforcement agencies reported 5,928 criminal incidents involving 6,933 offenses as being motivated by a bias toward a particular race, gender, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity in 2013.
• There were 5,922 single-bias incidents involving 7,230 victims. A percent distribution of victims by bias type showed that 49.3 percent of victims were targeted because of the offenders’ racial bias, 20.2 percent were victimized because of the offenders’ sexual-orientation bias, 16.9 percent were targeted because of the offenders’ religious bias, and 11.4 percent were victimized due to ethnicity bias. Victims targeted because of the offenders’ bias against disabilities accounted for 1.4 percent of victims of single-bias incidents; gender identity, 0.5 percent; and gender, 0.4 percent.
• There were 6 multiple-bias hate crime incidents involving 12 victims.
• Of the 4,430 hate crime offenses classified as crimes against persons in 2013, intimidation accounted for 43.5 percent, simple assault accounted for 38.8 percent, and aggravated assault for 16.6 percent. Five murders and 21 rapes (15 from agencies that collected data using the revised rape definition and 6 from agencies that used the legacy definition) were reported as hate crimes.
• Beginning with the 2013 data collection, the UCR Program’s revised definition of rape is “Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”
• The legacy UCR definition of rape is “The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.”
• There were 2,424 hate crime offenses classified as crimes against property. The majority of these (73.6 percent) were acts of destruction/damage/vandalism. Robbery, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, and other offenses accounted for the remaining 26.4 percent of crimes against property.
• In the UCR Program, the term known offender does not imply that the suspect’s identity is known; rather, the term indicates that some aspect of the suspect was identified, thus distinguishing the suspect from an unknown offender. Law enforcement agencies specify the number of offenders and, when possible, the race of the offender or offenders as a group. Beginning in 2013, law enforcement officers could also report whether suspects were juveniles or adults, as well as the suspect’s ethnicity when possible.
• Of the 5,814 known offenders, 52.4 percent were white, and 24.3 percent were black or African American. The race was unknown for 14.8 percent. Other races accounted for the remaining known offenders: 0.8 percent were American Indian or Alaska Native; 0.7 percent were Asian; 0.1 percent were Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; and 7.0 percent were of a group of multiple races.
• Of the 2,527 offenders for whom ages were known, 68.0 percent were 18 years of age or older.
• Of the 368 offenders for whom ethnicity was reported, 54.1 percent were not Hispanic or Latino, 6.3 percent were in a group of multiple ethnicities, and 3.3 percent were Hispanic or Latino. Ethnicity was unknown for 36.4 percent of these offenders.
• Most hate crime incidents (31.5 percent) occurred in or near residences/homes. More than 18 percent (18.1) occurred on highways/roads/alleys/streets/sidewalks; 8.3 percent occurred at schools/colleges; 5.7 percent happened at parking/drop lots/garages; and 3.5 percent took place in churches/synagogues/temples/mosques. The location was considered other/unknown for 13.2 percent of hate crime incidents. The remainder of hate crime incidents took place at other specified or multiple locations.

EPA Announces New Energy Star Tool for Homeowners to Save Money, Energy This Winter

EPA Announces New Energy Star Tool for Homeowners to Save Money, Energy This Winter

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching its Energy Star Home Advisor, an online tool designed to help Americans save money and energy by improving the energy efficiency of their homes through recommended, customized and prioritized home-improvement projects.

“As we enter the winter months, homeowners can use our new Energy Star Home Advisor to increase energy efficiency and save money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “When homeowners take advantage of this important tool and increase the energy efficiency of their homes, many families will notice savings on energy bills and improvements in the comfort of their homes.”

The updated Energy Star Home Advisor guides the homeowner through a “do-it-yourself” energy assessment to create an Energy Star home profile.  Based on the newly created profile, the Home Advisor provides customized, prioritized recommendations for improvements. From these recommendations, users can create their own to-do lists of projects such as adding insulation to the attic or replacing an HVAC air filter.

Over time, users can update their home profiles as they make improvements, see the positive environmental impacts of the changes they’ve made, get additional recommendations, and update their “to-do” lists for future projects. The home profiles can also be printed and used at the time of sale.

The announcement is part of EPA’s Energy Efficiency Action Week, during which EPA regional offices across the country will hold events to increase awareness about the energy and cost savings associated with energy efficiency upgrades, especially in the winter months.

More on EPA’s Energy Star Home Advisor: www.energystar.gov/homeadvisor

Homeowners can also use the following Energy Star tips to save energy and money at home this winter:

Get a Home Energy Audit - Home energy auditors are trained and certified in how to find energy problems using specialized equipment to pinpoint key areas for improvement and provide customized recommended solutions. In select states, Home Performance with Energy Star offers an energy assessment that focuses on a systematic approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort.

Seal and Insulate - The average home spends $2,000 on utility bills each year. Heating and cooling costs account for nearly half of that amount. Energy Star estimates that homeowners can save up to 10 percent on heating and cooling costs by sealing air leaks and adding insulation.

Learn more through Energy Star’s “Rule Your Attic!” campaign, which encourages homeowners to measure their attic insulation levels as a first step toward making their homes more energy efficient and comfortable. More: www.energystar.gov/ruleyourattic.

Heat Efficiently – Energy Star recommends that homeowners check their HVAC system air filters every month. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make the system work harder — wasting energy and possibly shortening the life of the system. A good rule to follow is change the filter every three months.

Energy Star also recommends that homeowners have HVAC systems serviced annually by a licensed contractor to ensure they’re running at optimum efficiency. If the heating system is over 15 years old, consider planning for its replacement with a high efficiency unit. Today's Energy Star certified condensing furnaces operate at over 90 percent efficiency.  Depending on where one lives, replacing old heating and cooling equipment with newly certified Energy Star equipment can cut annual energy bills by more than $115. More:  www.energystar.gov/heating

Use a Programmable Thermostat. Avoid heating the house when not necessary, and save almost $200 a year. Programming the thermostat to turn the temperature down 8 degrees for 7 hours each night and an additional 7 hours each weekday could result in a seasonal heating savings of approximately 12 percent. More: www.energystar.gov/pts

Make “Bright” Choices For Lighting. To get the energy efficiency and performance expected, look for the Energy Star label. LED bulbs that earn the label are independently certified to ensure they deliver on brightness and color and shine light where it’s needed. More: www.energystar.gov/led

Decorate for the Holidays with Energy Star Light Strings. Energy Star certified light strings use 50 percent less electricity than incandescent light strings and are available in a variety of colors, shapes and lengths. They are more durable, shock-resistant and cooler to the touch. Some models deliver features such as dimming or color shifting. More: www.energystar.gov/dls

Choose Energy Star Certified Electronics. A home equipped with TVs, set-top boxes, a Blu-Ray player, and a home theatre in a box that have all earned the Energy Star can save more than $280 over the life of the products. If streaming movies or videos over the Internet, remember that laptops and tablets use less energy compared to streaming over desktop computers or game consoles. More:www.energystar.gov/holiday

Tips from EPA’s WaterSense Program include:

Many Americans know about the importance of saving energy and water. But few know about the drops-to-watts connection – that it takes energy to pump, treat, heat, and deliver the water we use every day for showering, bathing, cooking and cleaning. In fact, homes with electric water heaters spend one-fourth of their total electric bills just to heat water.
Save 2,900 Gallons of Water at Home. One of the easiest ways to save energy and water is to install water-efficient, high-performing WaterSense labeled products such as showerheads. By replacing just one showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model, EPA estimates the average family can save 2,900 gallons of water, or the amount of electricity needed to power an entire home for 13 days.

Install WaterSense Fixtures and Energy Star Appliances. If every home in the United States were equipped with WaterSense labeled fixtures and Energy Star certified appliances, water and wastewater utilities could save 12 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and save $775 million in electricity costs per year.   

Shower Better and Save $5 Billion in Water and Energy. Simple changes made at home add up across the country. If every home in the United States replaced existing showerheads with WaterSense labeled models, the nation could save more than 260 billion gallons of water and more than $5 billion in water and energy costs annually.

More on EPA’s WaterSense Tips:  http://epa.gov/watersense/our_water/start_saving.html

Learn more about how saving water saves energy: epa.gov/watersense/pubs/waterenergy.html
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PATRICK ADMINISTRATION BREAKS GROUND ON IMPROVEMENTS TO WALDEN POND STATE RESERVATION

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION BREAKS GROUND ON IMPROVEMENTS TO WALDEN POND STATE RESERVATION

$8 million investment includes new visitor center powered by solar parking canopy and electric vehicle charging stations

CONCORD — Monday, December 8, 2014 — Governor Deval Patrick today joined state and local officials to break ground on a new visitor’s center, solar canopy and two electric vehicle charging stations at DCR’s Walden Pond State Reservation. The $8 million investment will support the Patrick Administration’s commitment to growing the Commonwealth’s renewable energy capacity, promoting the use of electric vehicles and improving recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

           

“As the birthplace of the conservation movement, Walden Pond is an important natural landmark for the Commonwealth and nation,” said Governor Patrick. “These improvements are about good stewardship for this generation and the next."

The new near net-zero energy Visitor Center will be a model of green technology, featuring sustainable building materials, a superinsulated building, high-efficiency windows and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.  The new building will feature interior and exterior exhibits, public bathrooms and larger meeting and administration space.  The project will also include pedestrian safety improvements and greater accessibility for people of all abilities.

“Under the leadership of Governor Patrick, Massachusetts is once again on the cutting edge of environmental protection and clean energy technology,” said Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “The construction of the new visitor center at Walden Pond highlights the Patrick Administration’s investment in our parks, open spaces and public resources.”

Since taking office, the Patrick Administration has made a historic investment of more than $350 million in land conservation focused on three goals: investing in urban parks, preserving working farms and forests and protecting large natural landscapes for habitat. This investment has resulted in the permanent protection of more than 125,000 acres of land and the renovation or creation of more than 210 parks. The new parks and open space created are within a 10 minute walk of 1.5 million residents – about a quarter of the Commonwealth’s residents.

The first phase of the Walden Pond improvements project includes the installation of utilities, a new septic system and the construction of a 100 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) parking lot canopy. The canopy will power the new Visitor Center and the rest of the park.

DCR has received a Department of Energy Resources (DOER) $50,000 Clean Energy Grants for the Solar PV Canopy and a $130,000 Zero Net Energy Building Grant for the visitor center.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will provide $6,800 in funding for the acquisition of two Level 2 dual-head charging stations as part of their Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP): Workplace Charging.

“DCR is committed to investing in our parks and facilities across the Commonwealth,” said DCR Commissioner Jack Murray. “The improvements to DCR’s Walden Pond will lower operational costs, be more energy efficient, all while creating a world-class visitor center that will be enjoyed by visitors from around the world..” 

“The new Walden Pond Visitor Center will be a shining example of the Patrick Administration’s commitment to constructing state of the art buildings reduce energy costs for decades, and support our environmental goals,” said DOER Commissioner Meg Lusardi.  “Zero net energy buildings are the next frontier and the Commonwealth is at the forefront of this incredibly exciting national movement.”

“This leading-by-example project perfectly integrates Massachusetts’ efforts on clean energy, green buildings and low-carbon transportation options, including electric vehicles,” said MassDEP Commissioner David W. Cash. “Visitors will see that the clean energy future is here.”

Mayor Walsh Launches Comprehensive Public Safety Plan

Mayor Walsh Launches Comprehensive Public Safety Plan
$3.1 million in philanthropic funding supported by The Boston Foundation

BOSTON -- Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh, with the support of The Boston Foundation, announced the launch of a strategic and comprehensive city-wide public safety plan that builds upon the Boston Centers for Youth and Families’ (BCYF) Violence Interrupters program and the Boston Foundation’s innovative StreetSafe Boston Initiative. The Boston Foundation has pledged $3.1 million in funding for this effort over three years, which will allow for the integration of the StreetSafe program into a city-wide  expansion of on-the-ground outreach to youth at risk of violent crime, in coordination with the Boston Police Department (BPD) and the Mayor’s Public Safety Initiative. The formal announcement will be made during a Community Forum for Boston’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative created by President Obama, a program that seeks to promote positive outcomes for youth, especially Black and Latino boys and young men.

“Engaging with youth, and giving them the tools to succeed, has been shown to have a significant impact on their future outcomes,” said Mayor Walsh. “Expanding the number of Violence Interrupters in Boston’s communities through a coordinated effort will make our neighborhoods stronger and safer. I want to thank the Boston Foundation for this generous contribution that will make a difference in the lives of many Boston youth.”

“The Boston Foundation launched StreetSafe in 2009 as a five-year, innovative public-private partnership to bring resources and expertise to neighborhoods disproportionately affected by gang violence, “ said Paul Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation.  “The ability of philanthropy to provide fresh approaches to tackling chronic urban problems is at the very core of the Foundation’s mission, and I am so pleased that the StreetSafe model will be incorporated into a comprehensive public safety plan for the City of Boston, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with Mayor Walsh.”

Through this effort, the City will create an integrated strategy that applies to all neighborhoods, with a focus on the top 45 gangs. The Violence Interrupters program will target at-risk, proven-risk, and high-risk individuals ages 14 to 24, and will grow from five existing BCYF Violence Interrupters, to a fully-staffed program including 16 Violence Interrupters, two Senior Violence Interrupters, one case manager, and one outreach coordinator, and partnerships with programs that offer wraparound services such as job training and trauma support. Each of Boston’s 19 housing developments will have a Violence Interrupter assigned.

The Violence Interrupters will complement BCYF’s Streetworkers program, bringing a total of 48 individuals in Boston communities providing on the ground community support for at-risk youth. 

In collaboration with BPD, BCYF, and the Mayor’s Public Safety Initiative, metrics and accountability will be fully integrated along with a report that will be provided annually to the Mayor. The report will explore metrics around positive education and workforce outcomes, and data about the number of youth who turn to Violence Interrupters for Support, and number of youth interventions and gang mediations conducted. BCYF will partner with relevant city agencies to measure use of the City’s assets, such as parks and playgrounds, and public transportation.

StreetSafe Boston, an initiative of The Boston Foundation, deploys a team of highly-trained Streetworkers to establish meaningful relationships with gang-involved youth to interrupt violence, mediate and resolve conflicts, and influence individuals to engage in pro-social programs and services. StreetSafe Boston focuses its efforts in Bowdoin/Geneva, Morton Street, Norfolk Street, the South End, and Upham’s Corner. The program is set to expire December 31, 2014.