MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES TO BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE, RESILIENT CITY AT GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES INITIATIVES TO BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE, RESILIENT CITY AT GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Asks Boston businesses to join him in supporting projects that boost  inclusivity, accessibility across City

BOSTON - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today addressed the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, sharing his vision and progress in making Boston a more equitable, inclusive and resilient city. From opening career pathways for public school students, to fighting to make the public transportation system more accessible in every community, to providing more training for Boston's diverse workforce, Mayor Walsh reaffirmed his commitment to shared growth and inclusivity by working toward a "Boston for everyone," and discussed his efforts to bring opportunity to every resident in every neighborhood. "Our goal is to be a city for everyone--a city where every child can get the strong start they need, every worker can find good job opportunities, every business can get a fair shake, and every neighborhood can enjoy the great quality of life we love about our city," said Mayor Walsh. "Through our long-term plan, Imagine Boston 2030, we're focusing on supporting thoughtful growth while lifting up every resident in every neighborhood, and striving for a more equitable city that utilizes the diversity, talent, and culture the residents of Boston offer." Some of the highlights of Mayor Walsh's remarks include: The City of Boston is striving to be a more equitable city and planning for inclusive growth. The Economic Mobility Lab: The City of Boston, in partnership with 100 Resilient Cities and the Rockefeller Foundation, is launching a planning year for a cross-departmental Economic Mobility Lab. The Lab will advance economic mobility for Bostonians by analyzing existing programs and policies, highlighting and expanding what works to promote upward economic mobility, and creating innovative, scalable solutions to promote economic security for everyone.This work will involve collaboration across area non-profits and universities to compile and analyze demographic data to better understand the barriers to opportunity facing particular demographics within Boston. After initial research, engaging with stakeholders, and conducting a comprehensive survey of programs and policies, the Lab will be well positioned to scale successful programs and design pilots and policies that address those identified gaps. The results will lead to an economic mobility plan that builds off of the City's  Resilience Strategy and Economic Equity and Inclusion Agenda, outlines gaps in the ecosystem using quantitative and qualitative data, and provides concrete steps to address them. The Veterans Coordinated Approach to Recovery and Employment Program: Transitioning back into civilian life and finding and maintaining employment can be challenging for many veterans, in particular for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The City of Boston will participate in the Veterans Coordinated Approach to Recovery and Employment (Veterans CARE). The $6 million Pay for Success project will expand the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program, an evidence-based approach to support unemployed or underemployed veterans with PTSD in attaining competitive, compatible employment. In Boston, the project will aim to serve 120 veterans with Service-Connected PTSD over three years. "The Veterans CARE project will provide our veterans with new tools to help them succeed in the workforce and it will further strengthen our relationship with the City of Boston," said Vincent Ng, Director, VA Boston Healthcare System. "This Pay for Success project is about supporting veterans with PTSD to help them achieve their goals for competitive employment." : Mayor Walsh will propose a pilot to increase service on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line. Two citywide plans, Go Boston 2030 and Imagine Boston 2030, share the goal of expanding opportunities and reducing disparities for residents who live in the Fairmount Corridor, through coordinated investments in mobility, education and neighborhood vibrancy. Today, residents in Dorchester, Mattapan & Hyde Park -- the residents on the Fairmount Line -- have some of the longest commutes and the highest transportation costs of any neighborhoods in Boston. By increasing the frequency of train service on the line, the City aims to increase access to good employment and cultural and recreational opportunities for thousands of residents in this corridor. "Providing frequent, reliable and equitable public transportation service for Mattapan, Dorchester and Hyde Park is key to ensuring the economic health of residents of these neighborhoods," said Dara Frederick, Hyde Park resident and Business Employment Specialist at the Fairmount Indigo CDC Collaborative. "It is important that we continue to work with the City of Boston to improve Fairmount Line service to guarantee that residents of these neighborhoods are afforded access to jobs located throughout the City. We look forward to bringing quality transit services into these communities and offering residents a mobility option that will help them to achieve their professional goals." The City of Boston is forward-thinking and working to ensure a more resilient city for future generations. The 2018 Boston Climate Summit: Boston will host a international climate summit next summer to discuss how cities can uphold the commitments of the Paris climate agreement. With more than half of the world's population living in urban areas, cities play a critical role in driving action on climate. Boston has long been a leader on climate action, and this year Mayor Walsh doubled down on those efforts by setting a new goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. Next year's summit is an opportunity to expand the role of cities and drive action beyond the Paris Agreement. The Fort Point Channel Open Space Initiative: Fort Point Channel is a critical waterway that stretches between downtown and the South Boston waterfront, into the heart of some of Boston's residential neighborhoods that are most vulnerable to climate change. Mayor Walsh and The Trustees of Reservations will reimagine the channel, both in open space design and recreational programming. A varied, connected and expanded open space network around the channel will connect the channel's edge and the water, with the potential to mitigate significant flood risk. The currently inactive waterway will be transformed into a new public space for the city through islands, marshes, and pedestrian bridges. Large open spaces on each side of the channel will serve local populations of residents and workers, and draw visitors from across the city. Fort Point Channel will be a vital link in the open space network, tying together the Harbor Walk, Martin Richard Park, the 100 Acres plan and the Greenway. "After two years of careful research and planning, the Trustees stand ready as a strategic partner with the City of Boston, to implement the Mayor's vision of equitable open space and climate resiliency along Fort Point Channel for all Bostonians," said Barbara Erickson, President and CEO of The Trustees of Reservations. "Our 126 years of land management experience along with our ability to generate community support makes the Trustees uniquely able to help see this vision become a reality." : A partnership with Paul English to create a world-class Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Boston. The goal of the Boston memorial is to inspire visitors by Dr. King's words, and to also reflect on Boston's history with race and civil rights. The City and Mr. English are currently forming 'MLK Boston' with the project set to be kicked off on September 20, 2017. An Executive Director will be chosen to oversee all fundraising and community engagement, and will also be the main liaison between MLK Boston, the City of Boston, and other relevant parties. Subsequently, the MLK Boston Art Committee will publish a Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) in October 2017 to solicit applications from artists from Boston and beyond. The Art Committee will then select five finalists to develop renderings for each of their proposals. An announcement of these finalists is expected close to MLK Day 2018, at which time a public engagement process will begin. MLK Boston will engage all local constituents including representatives from the African American community in Boston, public arts organizations, neighborhood associations, the labor movement, the immigrant community, Boston University, civil rights leaders and leaders from local ministry. The MLK Boston Art Committee will choose the artist to be commissioned for the work. Paul English has supplied the initial funding for the project and seeks to raise $5 million to carry out the Memorial. For more information, visit mlkboston.org. "Growing up in Boston, I was always aware of MLK's history here, and I have been inspired by his messages of love and social justice," said English. "I want to bring to Boston a world-class memorial to MLK to celebrate his teachings as well as to look at the work we all still have to do today to get to his promised land." The City of Boston is setting all children up for success in and out of school. The College, Career and Life Readiness Initiative: Over the past year, the Boston Opportunity Agenda convened representatives of higher education, workforce development, schools, the Mayor's Office and philanthropy to create a common definition for what it means to be ready for 'College, Career and Life' when a young person graduates high school. In addition to academic preparedness, the readiness definition includes other important skills like communication, collaboration, the ability to take initiative, and the abilities to analyze, navigate and adapt in a variety situations. The definition, and the set of metrics identified to track young people's progress towards readiness, will drive effort across Boston's education ecosystem - schools, youth-serving nonprofits, higher education and industry partners - and ensure that the city's youth have the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to prepare them for successful careers and productive futures. "We are thrilled that the Boston Public Schools, Boston's Catholic Schools, and Boston's Charter Schools have all agreed upon a definition of College, Career and Life Readiness," said Kristin McSwain, Executive Director of the Boston Opportunity Agenda.  "Having done so, we can collaboratively focus on providing young people with the learning opportunities that they need, both inside and outside of the classroom, to develop the skills that are necessary to fully participate in Boston's economy." The STEM Bootcamp for Dearborn STEM Academy Students: The City of Boston is partnering with Red Hat to host up to 20 high school students from the Dearborn STEM Academy as part of a week-long STEM Bootcamp during February Recess. Building on Red Hat's CO.LAB initiative first launched in Boston last spring, the STEM Bootcamp will include an immersive experience through coding, open source technology, and collaboration for participating students. The program will be complemented by soft skill training and enrichment to further prepare students for meaningful summer job experiences. Additionally, the STEM Bootcamp will highlight career pathways taken by a diverse network of Red Hat employees and Boston's tech community as an opportunity to recruit and engage new tech employers for the 2018 Mayor's Summer Jobs Program. The Expansion the Mayor's Tuition Free Community College Plan: Launched in 2016, the Mayor's Tuition Free Community College Plan (TFCC) has already enrolled 100 Boston high school graduates and will continue to grant three years of community college education tuition-free for low-income students. The plan will expand again to include Boston students who have a HiSet/GED and Metco students, allowing additional Boston residents, who might not otherwise have had the opportunity, to pursue a college degree tuition-free. This expanded eligibility will be phased in starting in the Spring of 2018, and is funded through linkage fees generated by large-scale commercial building projects throughout Boston. The majority of TFCC participants come from the City's Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhoods. "Too many students believe they cannot afford higher education. Tuition-free community college shows a path forward," says Taneka DeGrace, the Director of RoxMapp at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. "This plan says: The limiting factor in your potential is not a bill, only your will to succeed." : The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) and the Private Industry Council (PIC) will work with BPS high school students to create awareness of career opportunities within city government and to develop workplace and life skills, as well as specific skills relevant to working in various city departments. BPS high school students will be eligible for internships that will help them gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare for entry-level positions that will support them while they pursue post-secondary education and training. This combination of work and learning will position BPS high school students and graduates for career advancement and the opportunity to secure positions in city agencies. "Students often ask me how to get a job with the City after high school," commented Dan Cuddy, a longtime PIC career specialist at Brighton High School. "Mayor Walsh's new initiative will provide an answer to that question without forcing them to choose between the job they need to support themselves after high school and the college education they need to advance their careers over time." The City of Boston is supporting thoughtful growth while lifting up our residents and preserving the city's culture. The Homeshare Pilot Program: The Mayor's Housing Innovation Lab, the Elderly Commission, and nesterly, a local social enterprise working to make existing homes work better for today's households, have launched the Intergen Homeshare Pilot. The Intergen Homeshare pilot sets out to pair senior households with an extra bedroom to students who are looking for not only an affordable place to stay during their studies, but also an opportunity to engage more deeply with the local community, establish companionship between different generations, and help seniors with simple home maintenance while receiving lower rent. An action item from the Age-Friendly Boston Action Plan, this pilot currently has eight pairings, and will run through December to determine the impact, feasibility, and resources needed to potentially scale this initiative into a city-wide program. With the current demographic shifts and the pressing need to increase affordable housing, the City and nesterly are collaborating to bring this innovation housing solution to the City of Boston. "It's going great!" said Brenda Atchison, one of the first participants in the program. "The City and  The Increase of Funding to the Boston Home Center: Currently, the Boston Home Center offers down payment and closing cost assistance to low- and moderate-income households who are attempting to purchase homes. While the City currently makes loans of up to three percent of the purchase price of the home, the City is planning to double the amount of funding for its down payment and closing cost assistance program due to the current rising cost of homeownership in Boston, and is adding an additional $1 million to the program's budget. These funds will be used to both increase the amount of the loans made by the City and also to increase the number of constituents served. The funds will be recaptured at sale or refinance, allowing the City to create a new down payment and closing cost pool. To view the Mayor's as prepared remarks, click here. About Imagine Boston 2030 As Boston's first citywide plan in 50 years, Imagine Boston 2030 will guide growth to support our dynamic economy and expand opportunity for all residents. The plan prioritizes inclusionary growth and puts forth a comprehensive vision to boost quality of life, equity and resilience in every neighborhood across the city. Shaped by the input of 15,000 residents who contributed their thoughts to the plan, Imagine Boston 2030 identifies five action areas to guide Boston's growth, enhancement and preservation and is paired with a set of metrics that will evaluate progress and evaluate successes. To learn more visit, imagine.boston.gov.

哈佛中國文化工作坊邀作家，學者分享心得

哈佛中國文化工作坊、北美華文作家協會紐英倫分會日前在哈佛燕京圖書館聚會廳舉行哈佛中文演講會。《哈佛問學錄~與哈佛大學教授對話30年》《一頭栽進哈佛》等書獲獎作者暨北美華文作家協會副會長張鳳主持了演講會。

她從23年前，李歐梵教授創設哈佛中國文化工作坊後，就主持協助，配合她原創會的北美作家協會分會至今，到10多年前協同王德威教授擔任召集主持，自今策劃主持，吸納來自世界各地哈佛訪問學者和各國的華文作者精英，如聶華苓，趙淑俠，王安憶，李銳，朱天文，陳忠實，梁秉鈞等多位在哈佛演講聚會，碰撞出思想火花。

此次邀請了四位來自台灣、美國和中國內地的教授、作家、學者進行演講。台灣中研院歐美研究所特聘研究員、前所長李有成教授闡述了：離散之所以為離散是因為存在著兩個中心，自己的家國和前往的居留地。這正是人類學家柯立佛所說的“根”與”路“的關係，根屬於過去的記憶，路卻屬於未來，導向未知。洛杉磯華文作家協會榮譽會長、美國資深電視製作人葉周通過珍貴歷史照片，攝取了著名文化人郭沫若、潘漢年、葉以群和趙丹的命運轉折場景和細節，觀照20世紀共產國際大背景下進步文化人的坎坷際遇，看似冷靜的敘述，卻激發聽者無限感概。上海華東師大歷史學系副教授、哈佛燕京學社訪問學者唐小兵結合自己著作《与民国相遇》，試圖將自己在歷史研究與歷史教學中不能整合成鴻篇巨制的細節與感觸，發抒為一篇篇可以滋養人心的文字。强调历史记忆是“最为重要的心智结构的基石”。四川外國語大學教授、訪問學者曾傳芳則就美國歷史事件的文學表述為例，闡述歷史學家和文學家對事件表述的不同側重。前者更多側重人物的外部行為，而文學表現則更注重人物精神世界和內心感受。四位演講者圍繞文學與離散、20世紀中國的公共文化，歷史記憶、歷史寫作⋯回憶錄與口述史，以及歷史事件的文學表達進行深入探討。各人在互為相關的話題上，從不同角度奉獻獨特見解。他們的思想碰撞，為熱烈與會的紐英倫分會會員和各位來到哈佛的訪問學者留下深刻印象。(圖與文:張鳳提供)

麻大孔子學院承辦中文教師培訓講解讀說故事教法

9月16日至17日，麻州大学波士顿孔子学院举办麻州及周边地区中文教师培训。TPRS（Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling）教学法专家特里·华尔兹（Terry Waltz）博士应邀为近60名中文教师做了为期两天、主题为“通过阅读的可理解优化输入：提高普通话的流利程度和认读能力”的工作坊。

步入培训场地，首先看到的是大屏幕上“You are going to read Hawaiian!”果然，特里·华尔兹博士并没有一开始就跟大家讲TPRS，而是先教大家学夏威夷语。没有任何基础的中文教师们竟然神奇地在两个小时内学会了认读夏威夷文本。原来，培训师已经让大家亲身体验了TPRS教学法在外语教学中的实际运用。

接下来，特里·华尔兹博士为中文教师们讲授了TPRS教学法的基本理念，它所包含的C（Comprehended）、P（Personalized）、R（Repeated）三个要点，所需要的基本技能，以及在教学应用中的主要步骤。听讲的同时，中文教师们结合自己的教学实践，同特里·华尔兹博士进行了充分的互动交流。在工作坊结束前，教师们还进行了实际应用TPRS进行教学的课堂操练。

特里·华尔兹博士从2000年即开始研究并使用TPRS教学法。她是夏威夷大学“星谈”中文项目的领头人，也是纽约州认证的国家级汉语教师。

参加完特里·华尔兹博士的工作坊，很多中文教师纷纷表示，想立刻在自己的课堂中运用TPRS教学法。参加这样的培训一方面使他们直接学习到更有效的教学方法，另一方面也促进了他们对自身教学更深层次的思考和改进。感谢孔子学院组织这样的培训，希望以后能有更多的这样的机会。(麻大波士頓分校孔子學院提供)

第七屆中美健康峰會哈佛場(圖片)

中美健康峰會創辦人劉遠利院長。

劉遠利院長(右)送紀念品給VIP講座講者傅高義教授(左)。(周菊子攝)

陳美霞、黃素芬出任華美福利會正副行政主任

Boston, MA - The board of directors of the Asian American Civic Association is pleased to announce the appointment of an Executive Director and Deputy Director to lead the 50 year old non-profit.   "We are pleased to have two experienced professionals at the helm of AACA," said Yongmei Chen, the President of the Board. "Mary Chin and Lisa Wong bring new energy and ideas to our growing organization. Both will help develop our next 50-year agenda." Mary Chin, a longtime community leader with extensive experience in human services and a strong track record of service in Boston and beyond, will be the Executive Director. Mary served as interim director after the sudden death of Chau-ming Lee, who had served as director since 1982.   Lisa Wong, the former Mayor of the City of Fitchburg from 2008-2016, has been appointed as the Deputy Director, after an extensive search. An experienced public sector and non-profit leader, Lisa will be joining AACA in late September.   "AACA has been a gateway to self-sufficiency for thousands of immigrants and limited English speaking individuals across the Commonwealth," said Mary Chin. "I am proud of our successes and have a strong vision to create even more opportunities for those we serve." "I look forward to joining a fantastic and hardworking team and continuing my advocacy for the community in this new role," said Lisa Wong. "AACA has an exciting chapter ahead and I am happy to be a part of supporting both new and existing partnerships and programs that serve our community." Mary is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in private practice. She has led social service departments and psychiatric programs in Boston and the North Shore. She served as the President of AACA's board of directors and oversaw the organization's growth, including the construction of the building at 87 Tyler Street and the expansion of workforce training, education and social service programs. Lisa is a Senior Fellow at Governing and teaches a course in business at Clark University. She served four terms as Mayor of the City of Fitchburg, and has led a quasi-public agency and a Boston area non-profit.   AACA serves immigrant individuals and families from over 125 countries. Founded in 1967, AACA has evolved into Boston's premier workforce development, adult basic education, and comprehensive social service center to help economically disadvantaged and limited English speaking immigrants achieve enduring economic self-sufficiency.

Asian American Civic Association

The Asian American Civic Association provides limited English speaking and economically disadvantaged people with education, occupational training and social services enabling them to realize lasting economic self-sufficiency. AACA has served and advocated for the needs of immigrants and other economically disadvantaged people since 1967. Today AACA serves clients from over 80 countries. Focused on economic self-sufficiency and participation in American society, AACA provides a range of services, including English classes, social services, job training, college preparation and a post-graduate retention program.

哈佛教授談一帶一路 (圖片)

The new Asia Center Series, Asia Beyond the Headlines, takes a deeper look at urgent contemporary issues that cut across Asia. In the inaugural presentation, leading scholars put China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the context of analogous programs that have changed human history. The land portion of Belt and Road attempts to recreate the glory of the old Silk Road and the reshaping of the Eurasian political economy by one of history’s greatest globalizer, Genghis Khan, who eliminated barriers and, for the first time, created common standards for all ethnicities and nationalities. Harvard Vice Provost of International Affairs Mark Elliott will explore analogies between BRI and the old Silk Road. Similarly, Harvard Fairbank Center Director Michael Szonyi will compare the maritime BRI to the explorations of Chinese Admiral Zheng He in the 1400s. Asia Center Senior Fellow William Overholt will argue , controversially, that BRI is in critical ways an extension of the Bretton Woods system that won the Cold War for the U.S. The session will be chaired by Harvard-Yenching Institute Director Elizabeth Perry, who will call attention to South Asian precedents for BRI.

Governor Baker, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Celebrate Advanced Manufacturing Program

Governor Baker, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Celebrate Advanced Manufacturing Program

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HAVERHILL – Governor Charlie Baker today visited Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School today to tour the school’s new Advanced Manufacturing program, created in part with a nearly $500,000 Skills Capital grant the school received from the Baker-Polito Administration last year.

More than 1,200 students, teachers, staff and administrators greeted Governor Baker and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta with a roaring reception in the school gym before the Governor and Secretary headed off to see the new Advanced Manufacturing shop.

Whittier Tech received a $495,000 Skills Capital grant in FY’17 that the school used to transform its former machine and tool program into an Advanced Manufacturing program to better support regional workforce needs. The high school partnered with Northern Essex Community College, and with the Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium for evening adult programs.

Created last year, the Administration awards Skills Capital Grants to educational institutions that demonstrate partnerships with industry, as well as align curriculum and credentials with businesses’ demand, in order to maximize hiring opportunities in each region of the state. The goal of the grants is to update capital equipment at educational institutions that create career pathways for young people and adults, which meet the demand of employers in each region.

The Baker-Polito Administration has awarded more than $26.4 million in Skills Capital Grants to 67 different institutions. The Administration will announce a new round of grants, worth more than $10 million, early next month.  As part of our Economic Development bill, the Administration plans to award a total of $45 million.