星期一, 8月 15, 2016

北加州童玩節舊金山登場 展現台灣軟實力

北加州童玩節舊金山登場 展現台灣軟實力
7屆金山灣區國際童玩節在北加州Cupertino Memorial Park舉行,僑務
委員會副委員長田秋堇(前立者)出席與僑胞同樂
 7屆金山灣區國際童玩節(Kid's Fun Festival13日在北加州Cupertino Memorial Park盛大舉行,吸引2萬多人參加,數千個各族裔家庭帶著孩子一同參與。身為前宜蘭縣長夫人的僑務委員會副委員長田秋堇肯定這項緣自宜蘭童玩藝術節的活動,青出於藍而勝於藍,在海外發揚光大。
新竹縣欣蕾舞集在金山灣區國際童玩節,帶來精彩的台灣原住民舞蹈。
國際童玩節自2010年起每年舉辦,首屆就吸引1萬人參加,獲得廣大迴響,到第3年已倍增到2萬人。今年活動主題為「One Earth One Home」,教育兒童重視環保和再生,並以節目演出、文化展覽、童玩遊戲及親子交流為主軸。主辦單位北加州文化體育協會500位志工到場服務,安排130個攤位,還有宜蘭市當代樂坊、宜蘭縣蘭陽舞蹈團及戲劇團、台中市中和國小歌仔戲團、台中市西屯國小科學童玩、新竹縣欣蕾舞集等團體遠道參與,以及包括烏克蘭、秘魯、日本等國的兒童表演團體。
田秋堇表示,金山灣區國際童玩節頗富盛名,是一場沒有國界、也沒有語言障礙的國際文化活動,並代表僑委會委員長吳新興感謝主辦單位致力推動台灣與美國及世界各國的交流,童玩節呈現台灣寶島溫馨的童年回憶,讓台灣移民下一代及美國社會認識到台灣多元文化內涵。她也感謝參與的志工在金山灣區推廣台灣不遺餘力,大大增加台灣能見度。今年的活動強調環境保護珍愛地球,希望小朋友自小就做好環保,共同保護地球。
包括加州眾議員朱感生、Cupertino 市長張昭富、市議員黃少雄、Milpitas 市長Jose Milpitas、宜蘭縣長林聰賢、宜蘭市長江聰淵、台中市教育局長彭富源、新竹縣議員上官秋燕、駐舊金山辦事處處長馬鍾麟、北加州文化體育協會會長李萍萍、童玩節創辦人洪氏文教基金會董事長洪順五及北加州僑胞都踴躍出席。
    田秋堇在金山灣區期間,除視察金山灣區僑教中心,以及致贈康鶴耆英中心獅頭文物,並與北加州僑社100多位代表座談,說明總統蔡英文執政方向及吳新興的僑務理念,並期盼僑胞心連心手牽手,做為中華民國在海外最堅強的後盾。她也與舊金山北灣傳統僑社僑團首長餐,代表吳委員長感謝肇慶總會館3位移旗案訴訟原告為中華民國國旗努力3年多贏得勝利。
另外,田秋堇也拜訪史丹佛大學東亞研究所所長林孝庭,針對東亞及台灣政經局勢與未來發展交換意見。並參觀榮獲第15屆海外台商磐石獎的美國瑞傳科技公司(American Portwell Technology),了解僑商的經營現況。



田秋菫出席全美中文學校年會 強調僑教極重要

全美中文學校聯合總會年會 田秋堇強調僑教無比重要

在僑務委員會副委員長田秋堇(中)監交下,全美中文學校聯合總會
現任總會長謝文玲(左)移交給新任總會長陳安東(右)。
全美中文學校聯合總會第22屆年會14日在美國馬里蘭州閉幕,僑務委員會副委員長田秋堇出席致詞時表示,正體字是世界重要的文化資產,傳承正體字的僑教是僑務工作的核心,感謝海外僑教工作者長期推廣正體中文教學,僑委會將持續給予支持。
全美中文學校聯合總會第22屆年會13日至14日在馬里蘭州召開,並以「全球參與 創新教學」為主題舉辦研討會,共有來自美國、台灣、新加坡、香港等地的華文專家發表40多篇論文,探討華文教育的發展趨勢,各地華文教師也分享教學經驗。年會期間同時舉辦青少年中華文化常識、國語演講、中文多媒體簡報、成語等4項全美學藝競賽,總計有近500位全美各地中文學校師生與家長出席。
自稱僑務新兵的田秋堇在閉幕典禮致詞時提到,她上任後深深體會沒有僑教就沒有僑務,但國內民眾並不那麼了解,所以她一直向身邊的友人說明僑教重要無比。尤其是做為中華民國官方文字的正體字,傳承悠遠且豐富的歷史文化,至今還活用日常生活之中,可說是世界重要的文化資產。
田秋堇代表僑委會委員長吳新興感謝全美中文學校聯合總會及華文教師長期致力海外華文教育,推廣正體字及發揚台灣多元文化,期許在正體字教學的崗位上努力不懈。她也談到,僑委會希望透過政府與僑教的努力,將台灣的自由民主與儒家思想傳達給僑社的年輕第二代。
全美中文學校聯合總會是美國最重要的僑教組織,會員學校遍布全美47州,有近10萬名學生,不僅在美國推廣華文與傳承中華文化,也積極接軌當地教育體系,舉辦關於美國AP中文考試、SAT II中文考試等講座,提升華文教師的教學專業度及華裔學生的應考能力,同時強化全美各地中文學校的橫向聯繫。
年會並選舉現任副總會長陳安東擔任下一屆總會長,並在田秋堇監交下,由現任總會長謝文玲將印信交接給陳安東。
田秋堇當天也拜訪華府台灣同鄉會,代表吳委員長肯定長期宣揚台灣文化、鼓勵台裔子弟參與美國主流社會及為台灣發聲的貢獻。晚間拜訪美京中華會館,聽取僑界心聲,並傳達政府的關懷及說明僑務政策方向。.


全美中文學校聯合總會第22屆年會13日至14日在馬里蘭州召開,全美各地華文教學人士齊聚一堂。

Boston students gain reporting experience with WriteBoston's Teens in Print

Boston students gain reporting experience with WriteBoston's Teens in Print
Students learn basics at WriteBoston's Teens in Print Summer Journalism Institute
BOSTON -- August 15, 2016 - Thirty-three high school students -- representing eight Boston Public Schools and seven additional area schools -- graduated from the Teens in Print Summer Journalism Institute on Friday, August 12, as soon-to-be published reporters.

Over the six-week Institute held in-kind at Northeastern University's School of Journalism, each student wrote at least two articles for Teens in Print, Boston's only citywide newspaper for and by Boston youth (www.bostontip.com). Students learned the essentials of journalistic writing by interviewing peers, conducting research, and fact-checking.
For 16-year-old Sophia Meadows, a student at Boston Latin School, the experience of interviewing other teens helped her step outside her comfort zone while improving her writing skills. "Something that I learned from the program is definitely being confident and being able to talk to random people and have good conversations," Meadows said.  "I learned that I don't have to write a whole bible per person that I interview. It is actually kind of like, short and sweet gets the point." 
Student articles will be published in the September/October issue of the Teens in Print, with 20,000 copies of the newspaper distributed to Boston public high schools, local libraries, and community centers. Past articles have focused on topics such as neighborhood violence, immigrant experiences, issues of unity in communities of color, bisexuality, fashion ethics, abstinence, and teen anxiety.  
"I'm proud that WriteBoston and the Teens in Print newspaper provide an authentic space for youth in Boston to surface and discuss the issues they're grappling with," said Sarah Poulter, executive director of WriteBoston. "As a community, it's vital we hear and value the perspective of teens. WriteBoston is honored to help youth see themselves in the driver's seat of their own stories."   
"Especially in these tumultuous times, having the energy and enthusiasm of Teens in Print on campus shows the difference journalism can make in the lives of students and the contributions students can make to good journalism," said Jonathan Kauffman, director of Northeastern's School Journalism. "We hope this is just the start for many students who want to enter the media or learn more about it."
In addition to writing news articles, students had opportunities to explore Boston and take part in enrichment activities. Through support from the Summer Fund, students visited the Boston Harbor Islands, participated in a dance workshop, and enjoyed a visit from the Beat Bus, a mobile music and technology venue. In addition, students took part in a financial literacy presentation from Blue Hills Bank and spent a day at the marketing and PR agency The Castle Group. Students also had the opportunity to learn video journalism through a pilot program led by an AmeriCorps*VISTA member.
Boston Public Schools students attended from Boston Latin Academy, Boston Latin School, Charlestown High School, the English High School, the John D. O'Bryant School of Math & Science, Margarita Muñiz Academy, New Mission High School, and TechBoston Academy. They joined students from Boston Preparatory Charter School, Brook Charter School, Christo Rey, City on a Hill, Codman Academy, Lexington High, and Thayer Academy. Students reside in eight Boston neighborhoods, with the majority from Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Hyde Park. More than 50% of the participants speak a language other than English at home, including Haitian Creole, Ewe, French, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. 
Free and open to any youth resident of Boston, the Teens in Print Summer Journalism Institute is funded by the Summer Fund, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, the Boston Bruins Foundation, Blue Hills Bank, and private donors. Through the Department of Youth Engagement & Employment's summer jobs program, the majority of students receive a weekly stipend for their work as reporters.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Affordable Housing Development Awards

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Affordable Housing Development Awards
Awards represent significant investment in affordable housing and will create or preserve 1,420 housing units across the Commonwealth

 麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)和住宅及經濟發展長艾許(Jay Ash),健康及人民服務長蘇德絲(Marylou Sudders),住宅及社區發展次長康訥己(Chrystal Kornegay)今(15)日在波士頓市波約斯頓街(Boylston)48號,宣佈撥款資助全州16個社區的26項可負擔住宅建造或翻修計畫,估計可新建或保留1420個出租單位,其中包括1334個可負擔單位。
其中一項歷史性的重建計劃,由聖法蘭西斯屋及波士頓天主教市區事務計畫辦公室承辦,翻修以前的流浪漢庇護所。

住宅及社區發展部撥出3100萬元的州政府及聯邦政府抵稅優惠,估計可為這26個項目提供21800萬元資金。麻州政府另外撥出5900萬元的住宅補助金,包括聯邦政府的住家(HOME)基金,以及州政府資本金。

BOSTON – Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced awards to fund the development, renovation and preservation of affordable rental housing across the Commonwealth. This award round builds on the Administration’s commitment to expanding affordable housing options for Massachusetts families.

“These affordable housing awards reflect our administration’s commitment to a stronger, more prosperous, and more inclusive Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “By increasing affordable housing production, and stabilizing working families, low-income senior citizens and homeless families or those at risk, these housing awards will strengthen communities across Massachusetts.”

Governor Baker, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, and Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay made the housing funding announcement today at 48 Boylston Street in Boston, a historic rehabilitation project for formerly homeless residents sponsored by St. Francis House and the Archdiocese of Boston’s Planning Office for Urban Affairs.

“Our administration is dedicated to improving economic and social outcomes for the residents of Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By partnering with cities and towns, and the affordable housing development community, we are making targeted, impactful awards that will improve the lives of our state’s most vulnerable residents.”

The 26 projects awarded will create or preserve 1,420 rental units, including 1,334 affordable units, across 16 Massachusetts communities. The Department of Housing and Community Development is awarding over $31 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits, which will generate over $218 million in equity for these projects. Additionally, the administration is awarding over $59 million in housing subsidy funds, including federal HOME funds and state capital funds, across the 26 projects.

Projects will serve a wide variety of constituents, including individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. Four projects are focused on senior housing, five will provide supportive services to residents and all 26 will include deeply affordable units. Reflecting the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to creating more housing units for homeless residents, the administration prioritized applications that included a 10 percent allotment for individuals and families who are, or are at risk of becoming, homeless.

“Affordable housing production serves as a catalyst for broad-based neighborhood revitalization efforts,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash.“By connecting working families and at-risk populations to stable, affordable housing, we will ensure that Massachusetts remains a place where people succeed, and businesses flourish.”

“St. Francis House is a perfect example of an organization committed to ending homelessness for individuals and families by providing safe and affordable housing and meeting the full needs of their tenants," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “These awards will help support vulnerable citizens in the Commonwealth.”

“Working families need income security in order to achieve economic prosperity,”  said Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay.“Through these affordable housing awards, we are creating new opportunities for families to sink roots into their communities, and thrive.”

The 2016 affordable rental housing award round reflects the Baker-Polito Administration’s ongoing commitment to substantially invest in housing across the Commonwealth. In May, the Administration unveiled a 5-year capital budget plan that includes a $1.1 billion commitment to increasing housing production, an 18 percent funding increase for mixed-income housing production, and affordable housing preservation. In May, the Administration and MassHousing committed $100 million, to support the construction of 1,000 new workforce housing units. Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has provided funding to create and preserve 2,856 units of affordable housing, including 874 deeply affordable units for at-risk populations.

Awardees

Christopher Heights is an assisted living project to be developed in Belchertown by the Grantham Group. Located on the former Belchertown State School site, the project will feature 83 total rental units with services for frail seniors, including 43 affordable units, with 17 units reserved for seniors earning less than 30 percent of area median income (AMI).

132 Chestnut Hill Avenue is a senior housing development in Brighton, sponsored by Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly. When completed, 132 Chestnut Hill Avenue will be home to 61 seniors, all with incomes below 60 percent of AMI, with 22 reserved for seniors with incomes below 30 percent of AMI.

48 Boylston Street is a historic rehabilitation project located in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood. The sponsor is St. Francis House, Inc., in partnership with the Archdiocese of Boston’s Planning Office for Urban Affairs. The completed project will offer 46 single rooms and small units intended to serve homeless individuals earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 26 units reserved for individuals earning less than 30 percent of AMI. The project sponsor will offer extensive services for the new residents.

Quincy Tower Apartments is a housing preservation project located in Boston’sChinatown neighborhood, sponsored by Beacon Communities. The project will offer 161 affordable housing units, including 16 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Harmon Apartments is a new construction project located in Dorchester, sponsored by The Boston Home in partnership with Affirmative Investments. The project will be built near the existing Boston Home facility, and will include 36 units for persons with disabilities. Of the 36 units, 30 will be reserved for households earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Paris Village is a new construction project located in East Boston and sponsored by the East Boston Community Development Corporation. Paris Village will offer 32 units of affordable family housing, with 4 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

The Residences at Fairmount Station is a new transit-oriented housing project located in Hyde Park and sponsored by the Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation. This project will offer 27 units of affordable family housing, with 6 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Walker Park Apartments is a new construction project located in Roxbury and sponsored by Urban Edge Housing Corporation. This project will offer 49 units of affordable family housing, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Wayne at Schuyler is a housing preservation project located in Boston and sponsored by Cruz Development. When completed, this project will offer 74 units of affordable family housing, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Canal Bluffs Phase III is the final phase of a new construction project located on a 17‑acre site off Route 28 in Bourne. This phase of Canal Bluffs will offer 44 units of townhouse-style affordable housing, with 7 units affordable to households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Chelmsford Woods II is the second phase of a new construction project located inChelmsford. The sponsors are the Chelmsford Housing Authority and Stratford Capital. Chelmsford Woods II consists of 58 units of affordable family housing for households earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 6 units affordable to households below 30 percent of AMI.

Village at Lincoln Park Senior is the second affordable housing project to be built on the site of a former amusement park in Dartmouth. Village at Lincoln Park Senior will provide 48 units of affordable senior housing, with 10 units reserved for seniors earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Goshen Senior Housing is a new construction project located in the town center ofGoshen, sponsored by Hilltown Community Development Corporation. The project will offer 10 affordable housing units for seniors, with 3 units reserved for seniors earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Forest Springs is a new construction project located in Great Barrington and sponsored by Construct, Inc. This project will offer 11 affordable family rental units in three buildings, with 2 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

The Kennedy Building is a mixed-income historic rehabilitation project located inHanover and sponsored by the Planning Office for Urban Affairs. This project will offer 37 units of family housing, with 27 units reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, including 4 units reserved for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI. The remaining 10 units will be workforce housing units.

Tenney Place Phase II is the second phase of a new construction project located inHaverhill and sponsored by Dakota Partners, Inc. Tenney Place II will offer 72 mixed-income housing units: 56 units will be affordable to families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Ivory Keys Apartments is a historic rehabilitation project located in Leominster. The project will provide 41 units of affordable housing for families, with 9 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Jeweled Crossing is a new construction and rehabilitation project located in North Attleboro. The project will offer 66 affordable units, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

New Home Sewing Apartment Complex is the redevelopment of a vacant mill building in Orange. The project will offer 63 affordable family units, with 7 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Boston Street Crossing is a rehabilitation project located in Salem and sponsored by Harborlight Community Partners. The project will offer 26 affordable units for formerly homeless individuals. All units will be reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

E. Henry Twiggs Phase II is a scattered-site preservation project located in Springfieldand sponsored by Home City Housing. The project will offer 61 units of fully rehabilitated affordable housing, with 16 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Maple Commons Apartments is a preservation project located in Springfield and sponsored by First Resource Companies. Maple Commons will offer 173 fully rehabilitated affordable housing units, with 18 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

St. James Commons Apartments is a preservation project located in Springfield, and sponsored by Valley Real Estate. St. James Commons will offer 42 affordable units for families, with 9 units reserved for families earning than 30 percent of AMI.

The Blanchard School is the redevelopment of a former school in Uxbridge into 25 units of affordable housing, with 5 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Noquochoke Village is a new construction project that will provide affordable family housing in Westport. Noquochoke Village will offer 50 total rental units, including 5 market-rate units and 45 affordable units.

Union Hill Rental Housing Initiative II is a preservation project located in Worcesterand sponsored by Oak Hill Community Development Corporation. The project will offer 24 rehabilitated housing units affordable to households earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 5 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

星期日, 8月 14, 2016

APIAVote and AAJA held presidential forum and QARI did live brocast

APIAVote and AAJA (Asian American Journalists Association) for the first time, organized a presidential candidate town hall debate focusing on Asian issues in Las Vegas last Friday (8/12).
Quincy Asian resources Inc (QARI) organized a streamed broadcast for the event on 8/12 from 5:30 - 7:30 at QARI's North Quincy Office at 275 Hancock St . There were over 20 community members who showed up to view this presidential candidates forum. Thank you to Fuji Group of Quincy for sponsoring the delicious sushi for the event. State representative Tackey Chan and Councillor at Large Nina Liang was among the audience, showing support. Thank you Tackey for giving some summaries of each of the candidates backgrounds.
(Provided by David Zou)