MAYOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RECEIVES FEDERALLY FUNDED SUPPORT TO ADVANCE PAY FOR SUCCESS IN YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

MAYOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RECEIVES FEDERALLY FUNDED SUPPORT TO ADVANCE PAY FOR SUCCESS IN YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. to provide the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development with federally funded technical assistance to explore the viability of Pay for Success contracting

  

BOSTON – The Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD) has been selected as part of a national competition to assess the feasibility of implementing the innovative Pay for Success contracting model to Boston's Summer Youth Employment Program. 

In Pay for Success (PFS) contracts, governments fund social programs based on their ability to deliver mutually agreed upon outcomes for people in need. Private investors provide up-front funding and if the program is successful, the government repays those investors. If a program does not succeed, the government is not liable for any payment; if a program exceeds its goals, government pays a small return on investment. PFS contracts are designed to increase government accountability while simultaneously attracting more funds for high-performing programs that measurably improve people's lives. 

With the federally funded technical assistance of Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. (Third Sector), the OWD will investigate the feasibility of applying PFS to Boston's Summer Youth Employment Program, a 6-7 week program that provides youth aged 14-22 with private sector jobs and work readiness training. In their preliminary results, researchers at Northeastern University have found that participants report significant increases in job readiness skills, financial literacy, community engagement, and college aspirations.   

"This is an exciting opportunity for our Office of Workforce Development," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "We know that job experience and work-readiness training serve as a powerful platform to help young people reach their career and educational goals.”

Trinh Nguyen, Director of OWD, echoed the Mayor’s sentiments, “The Pay for Success model can help us potentially leverage new resources to increase our capacity to serve more young people. This is an opportunity we’re very enthusiastic about."

Third Sector’s work with the OWD is supported by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Social Innovation Fund. Annually, state and local workforce boards receive over $800 million in federal funding for youth workforce development programs. Third Sector’s goal is to transition these funds into more outcomes-based contracts by positioning awardees as national models for scaling pay-for-performance (P4P) contracting.

Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), new funding dollars for Pay for Success are being made available to states. Specifically, WIOA permanently establishes P4P (a form of PFS) as an eligible use in all three of its funding streams (Adult, Youth, and Dislocated Workers), allowing states to use 15% of their total formula funds and authorizing local workforce boards to devote up to 10% of total funds toward pay-for-performance programming.

The OWD was selected for its demonstrated commitment to leveraging WIOA to promote long-term outcomes in Youth Development and Economic Opportunities. These issue areas are consistent with the priorities of the WIOA Youth Program: career exploration and guidance, support for educational attainment, opportunities for skills training in in-demand industries and occupations, and culminating in a good job along a career pathway or enrollment in post-secondary education.

Third Sector, a grantee of the Social Innovation Fund’s Pay for Success program, announced the selection of the OWD along with four other awardees (called “sub-recipients”) after a highly selective national competition. The Sub-Recipients are based in the following locations: Austin, TX; Boston, MA; Denver, CO; Northern Virginia; and San Diego, CA.

“We are honored to work with the OWD to explore how WIOA funding can be leveraged for rigorous pay for performance initiatives,” said Third Sector Co-Founder and Co-President Caroline Whistler. “Support from the Social Innovation Fund allows Third Sector to lead a diverse cohort of governments in accelerating their pursuit of Pay for Success to improve youth workforce outcomes.”  

In 2014, Third Sector received $1.9 million from the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, to help strengthen the pipeline of state and local governments and service providers prepared to implement PFS projects. Third Sector’s first cohort of awardees has been working since mid-2015 to advance PFS in nine jurisdictions. To deliver the technical assistance, Third Sector is partnering with Abt Associates, America Forward, National Association of Counties, and National League of Cities.

About Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc.

Third Sector leads governments, high-performing nonprofits, and private funders in building evidence-based initiatives that address society’s most persistent challenges. As experts in innovative public-private contracting and financing strategies, Third Sector is an architect and builder of the nation’s most promising Pay for Success projects including those in Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and  Santa Clara County, California. These projects are rewriting the book on how governments contract for social services: funding programs that work to measurably improve the lives of people most in need while saving taxpayer dollars. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Boston and San Francisco, Third Sector is supported through philanthropic and government sources, including a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Social Innovation Fund.

About the Corporation for National and Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

About the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development

The Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD) is an innovative agency within the Boston Redevelopment Authority that seeks to ensure the full participation of all Boston residents in the city's economic vitality and future. The OWD funds and oversees programs that promote workforce development through education, jobs training, apprenticeships, financial coaching, career pathways, literacy initiatives, and the like. Please visit OWD.Boston.Gov to learn more about the OWD's work.

AG HEALEY JOINS MULTISTATE EFFORT TO QUESTION USE OF ON-CALL SHIFTS AT RETAIL STORES

AG HEALEY JOINS MULTISTATE EFFORT TO QUESTION USE OF ON-CALL SHIFTS AT RETAIL STORES

Letters To Retailers Express Concern about Unpredictable Work Schedules and Seek Information about Companies’ Use of Controversial Scheduling Practice

BOSTON – Continuing her efforts to protect vulnerable workers and their families in Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey today questioned the on-call policies of 15 national retailers, all of which have locations in Massachusetts, in letters sent by her and eight other attorneys general.

According to the letters sent Tuesday, employees assigned to on-call shifts are typically required to contact their employer an hour or two before a scheduled shift to learn whether they must work the shift. Work is not guaranteed, and no wages are paid if a worker is not needed.

“Harsh on-call policies hurt working families by requiring low-wage workers to line up daycare, elder care, or other arrangements without any guarantee of compensation,” said AG Healey. “On-call workers must pass up other opportunities to cover a shift or risk losing their job. These policies are bad for workers and their families and we encourage these retailers to no longer use them.”

The retailers are Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, BCBG Maxazria, Carter’s, Coach, David’s Tea, Disney Stores, Forever 21, Justice Just for Girls, PacSun, Payless, Tilly’s, Inc., Uniqlo, Vans, and Zumiez. Each of these retailers has at least one store in Massachusetts, and collectively they have more than 150 stores in the state. A sample of one of the letters can be found here.

The collaboration among attorneys general stemmed from their collective concern about the impact of on-call shifts on employees and their families, as well as the national scope of the retail companies involved. 

Retail salesperson is the most common occupation in the United States. In Massachusetts, there are over 100,000 retail sales jobs, and entry level retail workers earn, on average, $1,460 a month or $17,520 a year.Although men and women are nearly evenly represented in retail jobs, women are concentrated in low-wage retail jobs. 

In 2015, as a result of an inquiry by New York AG Schneiderman into on-call scheduling, brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, J.Crew, Urban Outfitters, Pier 1 Imports, and L Brands (parent company of Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret) all agreed to end the practice of assigning on-call shifts.

Joining today’s letter with Massachusetts are attorneys general from New York, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Rhode Island. Several offices signed only letters to retailers located within their states. 

AG Healey is committed to protecting the economic security of Massachusetts residents, particularly vulnerable workers. AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing the Commonwealth’s wage and hour laws, including minimum wage and overtime laws. Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace or employers who would like more information about the state’s child labor laws are encouraged to call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465.

More information about the state's wage and hour laws is also available at the Attorney General's Workplace Rights website www.massworkrights.com.

Governor Baker Nominates Carol Shaw and Tracie Souza to Massachusetts Juvenile Court

Governor Baker Nominates Carol Shaw and Tracie Souza to Massachusetts Juvenile Court

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker has nominated attorneys Carol Shaw and Tracie Souza, both of whom bring nearly two decades of experience in litigation and support services for families and children, to the Massachusetts Juvenile Court.

“Throughout their careers, Carol Shaw and Tracie Souza have served many of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable families and children facing difficult circumstances,” said Governor Baker. “Both attorneys understand the tremendous legal and personal pressures facing any resident who comes before the Juvenile Court, and I look forward to seeing their combined experience strengthen its mission of protecting our youth.”

“Attorneys Shaw and Souza have served their communities with distinction, and their practice before the Juvenile Court will bring strong local perspectives to the bench in support of children and families,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “I am excited to work with the Governor’s Council as they carefully consider these highly qualified nominees.”

Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the statewide Judicial Nominating Commission and recommended to the Governor. All judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council.

The Juvenile Court Department is a statewide court with jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters including delinquencies, youthful offender cases, care and protections and children requiring assistance cases. For more information about the Massachusetts Juvenile Court, visit http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/juv/

About Carol Shaw:

Carol Shaw of Northampton has served as Assistant Clerk Magistrate for the Hampden County Juvenile Court since 2012, determining probable cause for criminal charges at show cause hearings, developing case specific educational and appropriate diversion opportunities and ensuring efficient operations of the court. Shaw began her career as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Springfield Probate and Family Court and served 13 years as Assistant Regional Counsel in Berkshire County for the Springfield Department of Children and Families. Shaw received her Juris Doctor in 1998 from the Western New England College School of Law and Masters and Bachelor’s degrees from Syracuse University.

About Tracie Souza:

Tracie Souza of Rehoboth has served as an Assistant Regional Counsel at the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Southeast Legal Division since December 2015, previously serving over three years as Supervisor and Staff Attorney for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, Children and Family Division in Fall River representing parents and children involved in care and protection matters, advocating  for abused and/or neglected families and children and providing training, court observation and case supervision for junior staff attorneys. Souza was in private practice in Fall River from 1999 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2012, and was in both private practice and a Senior Staff Attorney and Supervisor in the Maricopa County Legal Defender’s Office from 2002 to 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona. Souza obtained her Juris Doctor in 1999 from the Roger Williams School of Law in Rhode Island and graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth with a bachelor’s degree.

賓加利（Joe Boncore）贏得麻州參議員補選

競選期間，陳毓禮（中）與陳偉民帶賓加利（Joe Boncore）拜票。
賓加利這中文名字，也是陳毓禮幫他取的。（圖由陳偉民提供）

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導)轄區包括波士頓華埠的薩福克及米斗塞郡（Suffolk and Middlesex）第一區麻州參議員特別選舉，4月12日初選結果，溫卓普（Winthrop）房屋局主席賓加利（Joe Boncore）獲勝。

            由於共和黨，綠色彩虹黨及聯合獨立黨都無人參選，儘管12日只是初選，7名民主黨候選人中的賓加利，在贏得最多票後，已如同贏得預定5月10日舉行的大選，可視同當選。

            由於這是為遞補彼楚塞利（Anthony Petruccelli）辭職所遺空缺辦理的特別選舉，當選人仍須於今年九月及十一月的州級職位選舉中，再次參選。

            儘管麻州州務卿威廉蓋文辦公室直到今早（13日）都還未在網站上公佈初選結果，12日不到晚上9點，已有英文報章報導，賓加利得票最高，賓加利自己也在臉書上貼出了感謝文。

候選人及開票結果為，賓加利4013票，瑞維爾是前任市長Dan Rizzo ，3626票，麻州眾議員李文斯頓（Jay Livingstone）2807票，民權律師艾華姿（Lydia Edwards） 2280票，亞美婦女政治計畫創辦人黃子瑜（Diana Hwang）  2085票，瑞維爾不分區市議員Steven Morabito，607票，東波士頓商人Paul Rogers，175票。

據悉，只有17%的已登記選民出席投了票，約共投出16,000票。

這一參議員席位的轄區，包括一部分的波士頓市，劍橋市，溫卓普市，以及瑞維爾（Revere）市。

七名候選人中的賓加利，李文斯頓，艾華姿，黃子瑜等四人，在華埠分別有陳毓禮，李素影，李超榮等人支持，華人前進會與協選會的支持者與大波士頓法律事務援助處一向關係良好，也強調支持亞裔參政，大力支持艾華姿與黃子瑜，但選舉是一人一票的民主“遊戲”，亞裔在美國原本就是少數族裔中的少數，票源一分散，當選難度就增加了。這選舉結果，在華埠有如“薑是老的辣”的又一佐證。

這場選舉，在大部分地區，關注的人都不多，但選前兩天，傳出區外人士攻擊Dan Rizzo過去支持共和黨籍候選人，燒熱了選情。麻州雜誌（Commonwealth Magazine）指攻擊信函是麻州價值行動委員會（Mass Values PAC）發出來的。根據州政府紀錄，該委員會花了7,432.32原來支持賓加利，艾華姿，黃子瑜及李文斯頓，反對Dan Rizzo。另一個團體，“支持教育改革民主黨人“花了40,000元支持Dan Rizzo。（更新版）

賓加利小檔案：

賓加利（Joe Boncore）現在等於是當選了將代表華埠的麻州參議員，但他是誰呢？

根據英文報章曾有的報導，賓加利是一輩子都住在溫卓普（Winthrop）的一名律師，2009 年時當選為溫卓普房屋局委員，後來當上主席。

他畢業於聖約翰預校，普域敦斯學院，以及後來的麻州法學院。迄今他已做了10年律師。

他有8名兄弟姊妹，其中7  人是女生。

在關注公共房屋之外，賓加利也重視防範毒癮，推動透過醫療保險為人提供相關治療。

他在競選期間提出過廢除法院系統的最低量刑規定，以及擴大早期教育。他也支持修訂納稅公平法，以百萬富翁稅等做法來增加稅收，以及可撥給防治毒癮，增加以每名學生開銷來計算的教育基金等。


波士頓市的投票結果如下：

Unofficial Election Results
(Boston Results only. Check with other communities for complete results.)

CITY of BOSTON SPECIAL STATE PRIMARY - APRIL 12, 2016 1st Suffolk and Middlesex Senatorial District Unofficial Results 04/12/16 21:14:27

Registered Voters 45266 - Cards Cast 5571 12.31%

Num. Report Precinct 25 - Num. Reporting 25 100.00%

SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT DEM Total Number of Precincts 25 Precincts Reporting 25 100.0% Vote For 1 Total Votes 5420 Number of Uncast Votes 2 DIANA HWANG 1284 23.69% JAY D LIVINGSTONE 1166 21.51% LYDIA MARIE EDWARDS 1098 20.26% JOSEPH A BONCORE 1000 18.45% DANIEL RIZZO 681 12.56% PAUL A ROGERS 144 2.66% STEVEN MORABITO 37 0.68% Write-in Votes 10 0.18%

SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT REP Total Number of Precincts 25 Precincts Reporting 25 100.0% Vote For 1 Total Votes 132 Number of Uncast Votes 6 Write-in Votes 132 100.00%

SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT GRN Total Number of Precincts 25 Precincts Reporting 25 100.0% Vote For 1 Total Votes 2 Number of Uncast Votes 0 Write-in Votes 2 100.00%

SENATOR IN GENERAL COURT UNI Total Number of Precincts 25 Precincts Reporting 25 100.0% Vote For 1 Total Votes 8 Number of Uncast Votes 1 Write-in Votes 8 100.00%

Verizon斥資三億 波士頓網路六年全部光纖

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）今（12）日宣佈，和委瑞森（Verizon）公司合作，由委瑞森在六年內投資三億餘元，為波士頓全市鋪設高速光纖網路，將使波士頓市在創新經濟上更具競爭力。

            這一計畫將於2016年內，從多徹斯特，西洛士百利，以及洛士百利內的杜爹利廣場開始鋪設，下一步再到海德公園，麥特潘，以及洛士百利和牙買加平原等地。波士頓市同意加快審批施工許可，藉以鼓勵。

               波士頓市在創新通訊科技上，一向領先在前，1877年就在波士頓到尚莫維爾（Somerville）見了全美第一條電話線。2010年時，委瑞森也在波士頓建造了全世界第一條4G LTE網路，隨後還開張了該公司將研發，測試5G無線網路的華森創新中心。

               一旦施工證照手續辦完後，委瑞森計畫在波士頓提供Fios TV服務，並將與波士頓市簽署和其他電視公司相類似的特許經營協議，為波士頓市及其居民提供財務支援，公共電視，數位平等項目。為學校及社區機構提供上網功能。

               委瑞森為強調在協助低收入市民，使用新科技來改善經濟上和波士頓市看法一致，還捐款10萬元，將用於支持波士頓公共圖書館的移動熱點出借項目，以及以需要為依據的家庭上網服務，藉以促進數位平等。

               委瑞森還將在創新的“智慧城市”試驗上和波士頓市府合作，期以利用各種先進的交通燈號控制科技，來增加道路安全程度，衡量自行撤交通，改善公共車流，減少交通阻塞等。

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIPWITH VERIZON TO TRANSFORM CITY'S TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Advanced Fiber-Optic Network Will Support Businesses, Bring Consumer Choice to Residents

BOSTON - Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced a new partnership with Verizon to make Boston one of the most technologically advanced cities in the country by replacing its copper-based infrastructure with a state-of-the-art fiber-optic network platform across the city. The new network will offer enormous bandwidth and speeds. Through an investment of more than $300 million from Verizon over six years, this change will bring increased competition and choice for broadband and entertainment services in Boston, and support the ongoing efforts to spur innovation and economic opportunity in all neighborhoods. Construction of the fiber-optic network will be completed by neighborhood to concentrate resources and provide an expedited timeline. Initially, the project will begin in Dorchester, West Roxbury and the Dudley Square neighborhood of Roxbury in 2016, followed by Hyde Park, Mattapan, and other areas of Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. The city has also agreed to provide an expedited permitting process to encourage this build. "Boston is moving faster than our current infrastructure can support, and a modern fiber-optic communications platform will make us a next level city," said Mayor Walsh. "Additionally, it is a priority to ensure that every resident has expanded access to broadband and increasing competition is critical to reaching that goal. I thank Verizon for their investment in Boston and for partnering with the city to provide the foundation for future technology growth." Boston has long been a leader in innovative communications technology, dating back to 1877 with the first old-time telephone line from Boston to Somerville. In 2010, Verizon built one of the world's first 4G LTE networks in Boston and, shortly after, opened its Waltham Innovation Center, which will host Verizon's development and testing of cutting-edge 5G wireless. "This transformation isn't just about advanced new fiber optic technology - it's about the innovative services this platform will allow people to create and use, today and in the future," said Verizon Wireline Network President Bob Mudge. "We are delivering the promise of the digital world to families, schools and medical facilities, businesses and entrepreneurs, while strengthening our neighborhoods and communities. We are a proud partner in building toward a brighter, shared future." This partnership will also improve wireless services in Boston by enabling Verizon to attach wireless equipment to city street lights and utility poles, helping residents get fast, reliable mobile service. As a next step, the city will begin the cable television licensing process. Upon successful completion of the licensing process, Verizon expects to offer Fios TV service in Boston. Similar franchise agreements have resulted in benefits for the city and its residents including financial support for public access and digital equity programs, and connectivity for schools and other community institutions. "Innovators, entrepreneurs and businesses in neighborhoods throughout Boston desire local spaces with strong connectivity to foster their ideas," said Roxbury Innovation Center Program Manager Alessandra Brown. "For people and groups who utilize the Roxbury Innovation Center, this fiber-optic build-out means better access to information, technology, and education services, while laying the groundwork for continued growth for years to come. The Dudley Square neighborhood, like so many areas of Boston, will greatly benefit from this fiber-optic network, enabling opportunity and promoting economic development." Underscoring the city's and Verizon's shared vision of using technology to improve economic opportunity for low-income residents, Verizon kicked off the new collaboration by presenting a $100,000 Digital Equity contribution to the city, which will be used to support a mobile hotspot lending program at the Boston Public Library. In addition to other benefits, this partnership includes an innovative "Smart Cities" trial that will address traffic safety and congestion along the Massachusetts Avenue Vision Zero Priority Corridor. The city and Verizon will experiment with sensors and advanced traffic signal control technology to increase safety, measure bicycle traffic, improve public transit vehicle flow, and decrease congestion. Future "Smart Cities" applications will address other key services, including environmental sensors, energy efficiency, and city lighting management. All neighborhood residents and small businesses will have a voice in which neighborhoods get fiber-optic technology first. A free online registration process will be used to assess demand and help Verizon prioritize its fiber-optic network construction schedule. Residents and businesses should visitwww.verizon.com/BostonFiber to register and cast their vote, beginning with the Dorchester, West Roxbury and Dudley square area neighborhoods.