波士頓學校委員會主席辭職 Kim Janey支持、尊重

Statement from Mayor Kim Janey on the Boston Public School Committee   Please note, the statements from Alexandra Oliver-Davila and Dr. Lorna Rivera have been updated with additional background information. Please visit here to access.  I respect and support the decisions of Alexandra Oliver-Davila and Dr. Lorna Rivera to resign as members of the Boston School Committee. Ms. Oliver-Davila and Dr. Rivera have been dedicated stewards of the committee and passionate advocates for Boston families. Their private remarks, which were recently made public, were unfortunate and unfairly disparaged members of the Boston Public Schools community. As women of color who advocate for racial equity in our schools, I also understand their comments were made in the wake of death threats and unacceptable racist attacks that were frightening, offensive, and painful. As their time on the school committee ends, their work to lift up equity in Boston Public Schools must continue.  I thank Ms. Oliver-Davila and Dr. Rivera for their years of service to our city and their dedication to improving Boston Public Schools for every family. They leave an important legacy of temporary and permanent policies adopted by the School Committee that create more equitable approaches to advanced work courses, attendance, grading, graduation, student information sharing, grade promotion, and exam school admissions.  As a Black woman, I know that racism hurts. The rocks and racial slurs thrown at me as a child left a lasting impression. I believe we can only heal the wounds of bigotry when we find the courage to call it out and commit to the shared work of dismantling structural racism. The shared experience of Ms. Oliver-Davila and Dr. Rivera, and their decision to step down, amplifies the need for meaningful dialog and important work we must do as a city to address racism. Sadly, their departure also leaves a void in Latina leadership on our school committee that I am determined to address.  Equity in Boston Public Schools cannot wait. As Mayor, I am committed to advancing the equity agenda that is now underway. That includes proceeding with a vote on exam school admissions this summer. I am also committed to preserving Latinx representation on our school committee. I am working to immediately begin the application process for new school committee members to lead the next chapter of equity and opportunity in our schools. ‌ ‌

6/13日骨髓捐贈登記在慈濟

 

波士頓香港人權組織發起6/12遊行撐香港

     

麻州府撥發320萬獎助致力平等施打新冠疫苗機構

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $3.2 Million for COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Efforts

BOSTON (June 8, 2021) –  The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $3.2 million in grants and contracts to community-based organizations as part of the Massachusetts Vaccine Equity Initiative to increase awareness and access to the COVID-19 vaccine in the 20 cities and towns hardest hit by the pandemic. The awards are part of the Administration’s investment of $27.4 million in federal funds announced in March.

The funds, which will be distributed to select community- and faith-based organizations statewide, aim to reduce barriers to vaccination for communities and populations most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Seven new community-based organizations, community health centers, and behavioral health centers have been awarded $2.2 million to support vaccine navigation services and customized vaccine administration, building on $6.8 million previously awarded to 25 other organizations.

Award recipients:

• SSTAR Family Healthcare Center 
• North Shore Community Health Center
• Boston Health Care for the Homeless
• Latino Health Insurance Program
• Caring Community Health Center
• Community Health Connections
• Holyoke Health Center

These organizations will receive funding to link individuals to vaccination services in the community, and to directly administer vaccination to groups that are not reached by other outreach efforts. These include populations who may benefit from one-on-one vaccination support, such as substance use disorder treatment facilities, places of worship, homeless encampments, food pantries/congregate meal locations, LGBTQ+ community programs, shelters and day programs, and immigrant assistance centers.

“As we work to build trust in the vaccine across the Commonwealth, we also put our full trust in community-based organizations to know what their communities need, and how to best serve them,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “Our goal has always been to work toward equity by finding solutions that are right for each community.”

An additional $1 million in funding is being administered by Health Resources in Action (HRiA) in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, building on $2.8 million in previously awarded funds. These funds are being awarded to 23 organizations (resulting in 61 total organizations through this funding) to support their efforts to expand vaccine education and awareness that address the specific needs of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and other communities of color within the 20 prioritized communities.

Newly funded organizations:

• African Community Center of Lowell
• Asian American Civic Association
• Asociacion Ministerial Evangelica Del Area de Lawrence
• Autism Sprinter
• Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston
• Black Springfield COVID-19 Coalition
• Brockton Workers Alliance
• Building Audacity
• Catholic Social Services of Fall River
• Chelsea Black Community
• Disability Policy Consortium & Boston Center for Independent Living
• Greater Framingham Community Church
• Immigrants Assistance Center
• JAHAN Women and Youth Intercultural
• Justice 4 Housing
• Lawrence Community Works
• Massachusetts Council of Churches
• Pioneer Valley Project
• Randolph Community Partnership
• Sociedad Latina
• Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts
• Spanish American Center
• YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts

About the Vaccine Equity Initiative

Announced by the Baker-Polito Administration in February 2021, the Vaccine Equity Initiative focuses on 20 cities and towns with the greatest COVID-19 case burden, taking into account social determinants of health and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). These communities are Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Springfield, and Worcester.

Boston City Council At-Large Candidate Jon Spillane Calls on School Committee Chairwoman Oliver-Dávila to Resign

 Boston City Council At-Large Candidate Jon Spillane Calls on School Committee Chairwoman Oliver-Dávila to Resign 

“Boston deserves public officials who strive to meet the highest standards”

Boston, MA -- Today, Jon Spillane, candidate for Boston City Councilor At-Large, released a statement following news reports regarding texts exchanged by Boston School Committee Chairwoman Alexandra Oliver-Dávila: 

“Chairwoman Alexandra Oliver-Dávila should resign from the Boston School Committee immediately. Like her two former colleagues who recently resigned, she made unacceptable comments that denigrate Boston residents and tear at the fabric of our City. 

Boston deserves public officials who strive to meet the highest standards. As we navigate the future, competency, accountability, and transparency must be the priorities for positions of public trust. What has happened at the School Committee has been unacceptable, and Bostonians deserve a better sort of leadership.” 

波士頓商會年度小企業獎 6企業上榜

  Chamber Announces Six Small Businesses as 2021 Small Business of the Year 

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is pleased to award six small businesses with the title of Small Business of the Year. The annual Small Business of the Year Awards showcase the contributions of businesses to our communities, celebrating their vision in the categories of Diversity and Inclusion, Cultural Excellence, Community Impact, Innovation and Growth, CEO Leadership, and Small Business Champion.  

“Congratulations to the six honorees of our annual Small Business of the Year Awards. The region’s small businesses have always been the heartbeat of our economy, fueling job growth and economic opportunity in our communities. Through the challenges of the pandemic, small businesses exhibited grit and perseverance, and during the economic recovery, we must continue to support, celebrate, and champion small businesses,” said James E. Rooney, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.  

Small Business of the Year Award Categories and Honorees are as follows: 

• Diversity & Inclusion: Coils to Locs 
  Founded by a cancer survivor, Coils to Locs supports hospital cancer centers and medical hair loss salons’ ability to provide access for all of their clients regardless of hair type by offering contemporary, high quality, coily, curly synthetic wigs.  
• Cultural Excellence:  Strategy Matters 
  Strategy Matters, a consulting group, works with businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and public-private partnerships to address organizational and societal challenges.  
• Community Impact: Forward Financing 
  Forward Financing, a financial technology company, helps small businesses quickly access capital needed to grow their business. Forward Financing has provided funding to more than 26,000 small businesses nationwide.  
• Innovation and Growth: tonneson + co 
  Tonneson + co provides expertise in assurance, corporate tax, mergers and acquisitions, global accounting services, and individual and fiduciary tax to privately-held businesses, nonprofits, multi-family offices, and individuals.  
• CEO Leadership: Moonshine 152 
  Moonshine 152, a restaurant in South Boston, reimagines traditional Asian recipes with uniquely New England flavors and produce. Moonshine 152 continues to shine as a favorite restaurant for many, representing the region’s multicultural history through a distinct menu.  
• Small Business Champion: The Castle Group   
  The Castle Group, a women-owned public relations agency with national and global expertise, delivers creative ideas, strategies, and tactical execution to fuel client campaigns.  

About the Greater Boston Chamber

We are the convener, voice and advocate of our region's business community, committed to making Greater Boston the best place for all businesses and all people to thrive. We help our members and Greater Boston succeed by convening and connecting the business community; researching, developing and advocating for public policies that contribute to our region’s economic success; and providing comprehensive leadership development programs designed to grow strong business and civic leaders. Learn more at BostonChamber.com. 

波士頓華裔退伍軍人會陳文浩連任會長 將籌建紀念碑

波士頓華裔退伍軍人會就職典禮部分出席者合影。(周菊子攝)

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元(中)，僑教中心主任
潘昭榮頒發表揚狀給連任波士頓華裔退伍軍人會會長的陳文浩(左)。
(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓華裔退伍軍人會6月6日傍晚，在紐英崙中華公所會議廳舉行新屆職員就職典禮，緬懷6名辭世老兵，宣佈將籌建波士頓華裔退伍軍人紀念碑。

                                    這328分會新屆職員基本上連任，有會長陳文浩，資深副會長Edward Woodruff，副會長馮武成，秘書長周暢，財政李錦棠，武裝中士梅桂泉，牧師Amy Au。

                                        新一屆的執行委員會成員為，主席余國華，以及Genie Boland，黃國麟，司徒文信。

波士頓華裔退伍軍人會新屆幹部宣誓就職。(周菊子攝)

                                        駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，麻州退伍軍人會會長Tony Dias，波士頓市退伍軍人會會長的幕僚長Bryon Bishop，波士頓榮光會秘書長鄭增壽，出席中華公所代表楊思聖等嘉賓應邀出席。

                                        就職儀式簡單隆重，由Jake Comer主持，帶領出席者向國旗宣誓效忠，陳余寶愛唱美國國歌，會長陳文浩致歡迎詞，Milton Lashus主禮。

剛當上麻州退伍軍人會會長的Tony Dias(右)特地出席。(周菊子攝)

                                            陳文浩先感謝協辦就職典禮等一應細節人員，以及紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民的慷慨出借會議廳，恭喜Tony Diaz當上新任的麻州退伍軍人會指揮官，繼而報告，該會在新冠病毒大流行期間，捐贈了價值超過56,000元的口罩，手套，醫用罩袍等物資給地方上的醫院，診所，以及社區組織。該會多名還出席了在華埠牌樓前舉行的反對歧視亞裔行動。

                                            陳文浩指出，昆市亞協服務中心(QARI)派發黃口哨給地方社區，協助人們防範攻擊，該會考慮促請紐英崙中華公所帶頭，也在波士頓華埠發起類似行動。

波士頓榮光會秘書長鄭增壽(左起)，出席中華公所代表楊思聖應波士頓
華裔退伍軍人會會長陳文浩之邀，和經文處處長孫儉元，僑教中心主任
潘昭榮等到會觀禮。

                                        去年，礙於疫情，中華公所大樓關閉了，該會未能舉辦常規會議，好在有周暢協助，完成了所有的會長報告，財政報告，紀念報告，並以電郵發給了所有會員。他也感謝余國華帶領會員在國殤日插旗，妝點英雄廣場，感謝司徒文信追蹤紀念亞裔退伍軍人的狀況。

波士頓華裔退伍軍人會為慈是老兵製作相框。

                                        在去年新冠病毒肆虐期間，波士頓華埠退伍軍人會痛失數名會員，包括曾參與第二次世界大戰的黃君裕(Arthur Wong)，黃庭琛(Seamy Wong)，Robet Hong，參與韓戰的余錦芳(Gim Fong)，Kwok Chi Yee，參與越戰的Walter Lee等人。

                                            陳文浩表示，該會一度有100多名會員，但是隨著時日消逝，會員凋零，如今人數已少了許多，新年度的一大任務，因此將是招募新會員。他感謝所有會員對該會的支持

波士頓華裔退伍軍人會秘書長周暢(左)稱2年前加入，剛從吉列
公司電子工程師一職退休的鄧健民。是該會最新成員。(周菊子攝)

波士頓代市長Kim Janey宣佈解聘波士頓警察局局長Dennis White

波士頓代理市長Kim Janey宣佈解雇波士頓警察局局長Dennis White。
(視頻截圖)

            (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導)波士頓代市長Kim Janey今(7)日下午3點在波士頓市府宣佈，立即解雇波士頓警察局局長Dennis White，波士頓市將從此掀開新篇章。

            Kim Janey同時宣佈，天氣實在太熱，波士頓市的熱浪來襲緊急狀態，將維持至6月8日。

            Kim Janey強調，解雇行動是要告訴民眾，波士頓警察局，這是新的一天，從此波士頓市將更加透明、公平。波士頓市有關執行警務的許多政策都已老舊得不下15年，現在是重新檢討，更新的好時機。

            她強調自己是仔細考慮過，關於Dennis White所涉多宗家暴案的獨立調查結果後，才做此決定。她也指出，Dennis White並未配合調查。

            Dennis White今年二月就任波士頓市警察局局長僅2天後，就因為早年涉及家暴案，曾毆打前妻，被現已升任聯邦勞工部部長的波士頓市前市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)停職。

            波士頓警察局的內部事務小組當年曾做調查，但從未提出控訴，或處以紀律。Dennis White也一直否認這些指控，並宣稱他那也是波士頓警察的前妻Sybil Mason才是施暴者，他是受害人。

            波士頓警察局前局長葛羅斯(William Gross)向馬丁華殊推薦Dennis White。他在簽名作證的Dennis White案法庭文件中宣稱，當年的波士頓警察局局長William Evans在2014年親自看過內部調查小組關於Dennis White的報告，也向前市長匯報過。不過馬丁華殊否認知道關於White的任何指控。

            波士頓代市長Kim Janey三個星期前就已經想要解雇Dennis White了，但Dennis White立即向法院申請禁制令。上星期，Dennis White向法院提出的訴求遭拒後，上星期波士頓代市長Kim Janey就召開了聽證會，並於今日宣佈決定。

            Kim Janey表示，波士頓市警察局局長職務將由目前的代理人繼續身兼雙職。波士頓市將遵循規定做全國性的人才搜尋，並將納入市民意見，以示公開，透明。

            波士頓市不分區市議員吳弭(Michelle Wu)今早9點半，也在市政府大樓前舉行記者會，強調警察局改革應始自合約談判，但波士頓市警察局的合約已過期一年，波士頓市府應趁此時機，推動系統性改革，讓好警察名聲得直，並應容許市民參與意見。