亞裔餐館協會首次聯合招聘會 徵人與求職出席數各半

華美福利會執行長陳美霞(前排右三)和黃小燕(左四)等餐館業者辦招聘會。(周菊子攝(

              (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導) 亞裔餐飲業從新冠病毒疫情爆發以來，一直面對請人難的困擾。麻州亞裔餐飲協會特地和華美福利會合作，日前舉辦了首場餐飲業聯合招聘會，共有大約15家來自9個不同市鎮的餐館參加。

              麻州亞裔餐飲協會理事黃小燕表示，這是該會第一次和華美福利會合作舉辦餐飲業招聘會，計畫將來繼續合作，在招聘之外，考慮增加員工培訓。該會也打算和協辦這次招聘會的其他亞裔非牟利機構，包括華商會，亞協服務會(QARI)，CEA等合作。

              在麻州亞裔餐飲協會的積極努力下，當天到華美福利會大樓四樓二個房間內設招聘攤位的餐廳，有許多是老闆親自出席，包括龍鳳酒樓梅錫銳， Pho Le越南餐廳Tran Le，以及都是麻州亞裔餐飲協會理事們的餐廳老闆，有九龍餐廳的黃子興，素描湘的陳素描，忍者快車(Samurai Express)日本料理的鄺炎斌，元氣屋 (Genki Ya)的Jason Yu。

九龍餐廳的主要負責人黃子興本身是麻州餐飲協會理事，應邀參與亞裔餐飲協會的運作。
(周菊子攝)

              Vi Vi 奶茶連鎖店，筷子及叉 (Chopsticks and Fork) 也是老闆親自出席。

              其他參加聯合招聘盛會的餐廳還有雅苑海鮮酒家，筷子的 (Chopstics’s)餐廳，素素小食，中國花 (China Blossom)等。香港餐廳雖然沒加入招聘行列，但老闆潘飛仍到場支持。

這些分別來自波士頓，劍橋，Leominster，勒星頓，Whitinsville。Saugus，尚莫維爾，Scituate，North Andover的餐廳，在華美福利會大樓四樓的二個房間，擺出招聘攤位，招聘廚房幫手，廚師，洗碗工，外賣打包，前台經理，收銀，帶位等不同職位。

只是這天，各餐館業者拿出來的事求人職位，至少好幾十個，前來求職或探問消息的人，數量卻和出席擺攤徵人的餐廳數差不多。供需面有明顯落差。

家族開設有Pho Le和Les兩家餐廳的Tran Le  支持亞裔餐廳互助的行動。(周菊子攝)

家族已有Pho Le和Les兩家餐廳，正在籌劃開設第三家的Tran Le表示，這次來參加活動，原本還希望能徵聘前台接待人員，但她這天在現場見到的來找工作者，幾乎都是後台人員。不過她很認同餐館業自己攜手解決問題的做法，下次再有招聘活動，她還是會參加。

在網路上，針對麻州或大波士頓餐館業的事求人及人求事管道，還真的不多。隨意搜索波士頓餐飲業招聘的話，能夠看到有華美介紹網，金海灣，波士頓華人資訊網，美國找工網，以及英文廣告的snagajob.com，indeed.com, jobs2careers.com。

中文的這幾個網站，資訊看來寫得比較隨意，也普遍不寫薪資，宣稱有4325個餐館工作機會的Indeed，倒是幾乎每個徵人小廣告上都寫了時薪，從服務員的每小時15到20元，或者150到400元一天，1200元一週，各有不同。

中文的餐飲業工作網站上，幾乎都沒有新的招人廣告，最新的是4月21日在美國找工網上刊登的誠招洗碗，頭台，炒鍋，抓碼，調酒，企台，打雜，清潔，打包廣告。華人資訊網上最新的一則消息是3月16日登出來的重慶火鍋米線招合夥人，還是法拉盛分店。華美介紹網上的最新一則招人消息是2021年12月11日登的。

麻州亞裔餐飲協會理事黃小燕表示，她和幾個夥伴從創辦萬家網起家後，過去這幾年把營業範圍擴大到為餐館業提供訂餐服務，從許多餐館那兒獲悉儘管麻州景氣回升，餐館業依舊請人難的困擾，這才催生了這場聯合招聘會。她相信在持續和餐館業者及從業人員溝通下，將來他們能為亞裔餐飲業找出更好的辦法，讓想找工作的，需要請人的各得其所。 (圖片已於3月29日發表)

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Early College Programs and Awards More Than $1.3 Million in Grants

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Early College Programs and Awards More Than $1.3 Million in Grants 

Eight high schools received official designation to launch new programs and fourteen school districts awarded grants to boost student enrollment
 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced eight new early college programs and awarded several grants totaling more than $1.3 million to high schools launching or expanding early college programs as part of a statewide effort to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn college credits at no cost before they graduate high school.
 
Through these newly awarded designations and grants, the Executive Office of Education anticipates that approximately 8,700 students will be enrolled in early college programs by the 2024-2025 school year. Early college programs combine traditional high school courses with an opportunity to earn college credit at a college or university. Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in early college courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth.
 
“Early college is an invaluable tool that supports increased college enrollment among participating students, particularly students from groups historically underrepresented in higher education, and helps them succeed once they arrive on campus,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Today’s announcement will boost participation rates at schools that already have programs, as well as launch new and exciting programs that will create more pathways to college.”
 
Since its launch in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has strived to expand access to early college programs. The Governor’s FY23 budget proposal includes $7.3 million for early college funding, representing a significant increase over FY22, to bring the total annual investment to more than $18 million.
 
“The more communities that launch early college programs, particularly in our Gateway Cities, the more we can provide opportunities to students that help close achievement and workforce gaps,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “By creating and supplementing designated early college programs with our municipal partners, our administration aims to break down barriers that persist between high school and higher education.”
 
Eight high schools and their higher education partners were awarded official designation status this month by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education to launch new early college programs.
 
“Successful early college programs create a coherent course of study that can change the trajectory of a student’s life,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “By designating these early college programs, we are creating a shift in the educational experience for thousands of students.”
 
The majority of students who participate in early college programs meet MassCore college readiness curriculum requirements while also successfully completing credit-bearing college courses. Early college has also been shown to boost college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. Early college students enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers. For example, in 2019, approximately 76 percent of early college students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in early college.
 
“As part of the intra-agency early college collaboration, the Board and Department of Higher Education has approached this effort, as with all our work, from an empirically-based policy analysis frame,” said Department of Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago. “We are therefore pleased with early data showing that designated Massachusetts early college programs have prioritized and demonstrated progress in raising college-going rates and matriculation for students of color and low-income students, who continue to confront the highest barriers to higher education.”
 
“It’s wonderful to see additional and expanded designated early college programs everywhere from the Berkshires to the coast,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley. “These programs are a great opportunity for students to see that they’re capable of college-level work and take their first steps on that path.”
 
The newly designated programs are:

• Fenway High School in partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Mt. Everett Regional High School in partnership with Bard College at Simon’s Rock
• Narragansett Regional High School in partnership with Mt. Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State University
• New Mission High School in partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Argosy Collegiate Charter School in Fall River in partnership with Bristol Community College
• Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in Cambridge in partnership with Lesley University
• Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in partnership with North Shore Community College
• New Bedford High School in partnership with Bristol Community College

In addition, five high schools and their college partners were awarded a total of $750,000 to create early college programs that are large-scale, with at least 400 students or the whole school participating. This new “immersive early college” model will provide students with an opportunity to earn a minimum of 30 college credits prior to graduating high school.
 
Each of the following schools received $150,000 in grant funding:

• Drury High School in North Adams in partnership with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
• Saugus High School in partnership with Northern Essex Community College
• Mt. Everett High School in Sheffield in partnership with Bard College at Simon's Rock
• Veritas Prep Springfield in partnership with Springfield Technical Community College and Westfield State University
• Claremont Academy in Worcester in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University 

Additionally, nine schools were awarded expansion grants, totaling more than $650,000, to support their existing early college programs and boost the number of students enrolled, particularly those underrepresented in higher education.
 
The grantees include:

• Durfee High School in Fall River in partnership with Bristol Community College - $75,000
• Framingham High School in partnership with Framingham State and Mass Bay Community College - $75,000
• Marlborough High School in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College - $59,000
• Lawrence Public Schools in partnership with Northern Essex Community College - $75,000
• Lowell High School in partnership with Middlesex Community College - $75,000
• Salem High School in partnership with Salem State University - $75,000
• Worcester Public Schools in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University - $75,000
• Haverhill High School in partnership with Northern Essex Community College - $75,000
• Holyoke High School in partnership with Holyoke Community College - $75,000

哈佛法學院中國法律協會年會 28-31日網上舉行

 

East Asian Legal Studies

************************
The China Law Association at Harvard Law School will hold its
annual conference via Zoom March 28-31. It has identified several
timely topics and enlisted an array of impressive speakers. I
have pasted in below a note from the CLA with the program and
registration links, as well as a link to the full list of
speakers. The students have put quite a lot of work into this.  

Bill Alford

The Harvard Law School China Law Association (CLA) will host its
annual China Law Symposium, “Charting a New Course through
Uncertainties,” from Monday, March 28th to Thursday, March 31st.
The Symposium brings together prominent legal scholars and
practitioners to shed light on major developments in US-China
relations. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and
engage with leading experts from various fields regarding some of
the cutting-edge issues pertaining to law, policy, and business
in China.

This year’s Symposium offers panels on the future of the WTO, the
Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese and U.S. capital markets,
intellectual property and technology exchanges, and a keynote
speech featuring Mr. Stephen Orlins, President of the National
Committee on United States-China Relations.

We cordially invite you to join us as we explore ways to chart a
new course through uncertainties that loom over the Pacific. The
complete Symposium schedule, including panels, speakers, and
registration links, can be found here.

Keynote Conversation: China at the Crossroads
Time: Monday, March 28th, 2022, 12:30 – 1:30 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NlazTdMIQ6WDnUzA5dG25
g

Panel: China and the Future of the WTO
Time: Monday, March 28th, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JF2BgOVIScW2HE9wtH0lz
Q

Panel: Belt and Road Initiative: Legal Infrastructure and Dispute
Resolution
Time: Tuesday, March 29th, 2022, 7:00 – 8:00 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vliYKtdWS-
KxTX0C0pajNQ

Panel: Navigating Challenges in the Chinese and U.S. Capital
Markets
Time: Wednesday, March 30th, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Eb1OKsyaTsi4uttoKKJ0Q
w

Panel: Intellectual Property and Technology Exchanges Between the
U.S. and China
Time: Thursday, March 31st, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n3YKqoWgSgmqC4oev5OkG
g

吳弭市長提案擴大少數族裔及婦女所經營企業獲得政府合約機會

 MAYOR WU FILES PROPOSAL TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CITY CONTRACTS FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED ENTERPRISES

BOSTON - Monday, March 28, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today filed a home rule petition with the City Council that would expand access to City contracts for minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs). The proposal would raise the written quote contract maximum for contracts with certified MWBEs from $50,000 to the state Small Purchase threshold, which is currently $250,000. The written quote contract process allows the City to award contracts without a full Request For Proposal (RFP) process, making it significantly simpler and cheaper for businesses to apply. This change will dramatically lower barriers to access for MWBEs and allow the City to make a greater investment in these businesses.

“This proposal will allow us to use every dollar possible to build wealth in our communities, address our racial wealth gap, and make our city a place for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I look forward to working with the City Council and the Legislature to advance this.” 

The proposal is part of a larger initiative to direct City resources to local, diverse businesses that are vital to expanding wealth-building opportunities and supporting their capacity to compete for city contracts. 

In 2020, the City of Boston released a disparity study that showed that only 1.2% of the $2.1 billion City’s contracts for construction and professional goods and services went to Black and Latinx-owned businesses. In response to these results, the City of Boston now seeks to address these historical disparities and aid in establishing intergenerational wealth for Black and Latinx residents. Increasing access to city contracts is an important step to building wealth and closing the racial wealth gap.

"This is the type of forward-thinking, meaningful change that is needed to reduce the barriers to wealth-building opportunities for our small, local, diverse businesses," said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. "I am proud to serve in an administration that has made equitable procurement policy a top priority."

"It is imperative that we use all tools available to make City contracting more equitable and accessible to people of color,” said City Councilor Brian Worrell, Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Professional Licensure. “The time is now to break unacceptable gaps of access and staggeringly low numbers of Black and Brown residents winning City contracts."

The proposal seeks to amend Massachusetts General Law 30B, which was passed in 1990 and establishes procedures for the acquisition of supplies or services, the disposition of surplus supplies, and real property acquisitions and dispositions by local governmental bodies. Once approved by the Boston City Council, the home rule petition must be passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by the Governor in order to become law. 

This home rule petition builds on Mayor Wu’s years of commitment to require equitable City contracting and close the racial wealth gap. In 2016, then-Councilor Wu and then-Councilor Ayanna Pressley presided over the City Council hearing that examined the City’s procurement process and efforts to support local businesses. In 2017, Mayor Wu and Congresswoman Pressley co-sponsored an ordinance that required the City to collect more data on contracting. Mayor Wu passed a groundbreaking ordinance that required the City of Boston to shift its food procurement practices to meet certain standards around racial equity, fair pay for workers, environmental sustainability, and nutrition.

波士頓市長吳弭和美國交通部長，環保市長網路晤談

 

US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg

Mayor Wu joins a League of Conservation Voters panel for a Q&A along with US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Cleveland’s Mayor Bibb. 

波士頓慈濟再出發 掃街清潔華埠

波士頓慈濟志工們掃街前合影。

             (Boston Orange

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(前右二)也加入掃街行列。(周菊子攝)

周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠街道在3月26日的這週末，又再亮晶晶。20多名波士頓慈濟志工與義工分成小組，一口氣清掃了5條街。慈濟有意繼續每月掃街一次，期以鼓勵地方民眾、商家，遊客，攜手保護華埠的清潔、衛生與地方容貌。

華商會的余麗媖(右)為波士頓慈濟長金滿(左)等人提供掃帚等工具。(周菊子攝)

              波士頓慈濟上次掃街是去年12月。本來慈濟有意從那時開始就至少每月掃街一次，沒想到一次大雪，一次大雨，掃街活動一連推遲2次。3月26日這天，氣溫不高，可卻好不容易有暖陽高照，清掃工作才得以順利繼續。必珠街，乞臣街，泰勒街，夏利臣街，好事福街這五條街，於是又再亮晶晶。

              這趟掃街，華商會的余麗媖不但照舊提供掃帚，畚箕，黑色垃圾袋等清掃工具，還把紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓華埠獅子會理事謝如鍵都拉來當義工，加入清掃行列。波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，以及張小慧，還有經文處的王麗芬也都來響應這服務社區的公益活動。

慈濟師兄陳裕逢和東北大學的李家睿一組掃街。(周菊子攝)

              慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿和波士頓服務處的兩名聯絡人，陳裕逢和李豐，身為活動主辦人，更是義不容辭的夾雜在掃街隊伍中。這次參加掃街的人，還有退休後回台灣逛了一圈，又回波士頓的慈濟師姐張桂英，以及三名年輕男生，一人刻在哈佛大學念文學博士，一人是正在修讀藥學的薛嘉瑋，一人是小學在深圳時就隨著父母當慈濟志工的東北大學學生李家睿。

波士頓慈濟師姐和年輕志工薛嘉瑋(中)等人清掃乞臣街。(周菊子攝)

              陳裕逢笑說，有了上次的經驗，這次他特地準備了好幾根鐵絲，用來刮人行道夾縫中的菸蒂，下次他打算為掃街行動自製長木夾，好讓掃街的人輕鬆些，不必三不五時的得彎腰，下蹲，才能把頑固的髒東西清掃掉。

波士頓慈濟志工分頭掃街。(周菊子攝)

              二個月沒掃的華埠街道，又是滿地紙屑，菸蒂，波士頓慈濟明白即使他們每月掃街一次，也只是象徵意義大於實際。他們希望能夠和地方民眾及商家合作，想出一個更長久的清潔地方容貌策略。最近社區內有人提出一款名叫Litterati 的應用程式，他們正在研究是否有機會採用。

              長金滿表示，慈濟波士頓聯絡處的華埠服務站，目前仍然是每週二、三、六開放，歡迎有任何需要的社區大眾，提前和慈濟聯繫，預約時間，以俾人力運用更有效率。

清掃後的泰勒街，好乾淨。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長吳弭宣佈聘得資訊長及數位長

 MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES SANTIAGO GARCES AS NEW CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER AND JULIA GUTIERREZ AS CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER

New Leadership Joining the City’s Department of Innovation & Technology to Strengthen Services for Constituents and Employees

BOSTON - Monday, March 28, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu announced today two new senior City of Boston technology leaders.  The Mayor appointed Santiago Garces as the Chief Information Officer, overseeing the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) and driving the City’s technology agenda.  The Mayor also named Julia Gutierrez as the Chief Digital Officer, leading a team within the DoIT charged with ensuring exceptional online experiences for constituents looking to engage with the City government. Garces and Gutierrez will begin working in their new roles in May and April respectively. 

“Technology is essential for delivering great city services—from closing the digital divide, to streamlining City transactions and performing data analytics to improve our operations,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m thrilled for the leadership of Santiago Garces and Julia Gutierrez to help build and drive our technology agenda and connect our city. I’m grateful to Alex Lawrence for her leadership of DoIT during this interim period and for building such a strong foundation.”

“I am so excited to be joining this administration to help move the City forward. My career has been focused on how City governments can better use technology with and for their residents,” said Santiago Garces, incoming Chief Information Officer.  “I am looking forward to taking the next steps here in Boston, where there is a great track record of tech innovation and a great opportunity to do even more.”

As Chief Information Officer, Garces will oversee DoIT and its team of approximately 150 employees.  This team provides and maintains mission-critical technologies for the City’s more than 18,000 employees and the hundreds of thousands of constituents they serve. 

Garces is currently the Executive Director of the Department of Community Investment in South Bend, Indiana, and formerly served as the CIO of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and of South Bend. Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, Garces previously helped found enFocus, a non-profit dedicated to providing innovative solutions for government and industry.  

He is a graduate of Notre Dame with degrees in Electrical Engineering, Political Science, and a master’s degree in Technology Entrepreneurship.

Since November of 2021, Alex Lawrence has served as the Mayor’s Chief Information Officer and spearheaded the search for her successor as well as for the Chief Digital Officer.

Garces will be joined by Julia Gutierrez, who will be leading the DoIT’s Digital Services team.  This team designs and manages tech products that Boston residents most directly interact with, such as Boston.Gov and a range of mobile apps, including Boston311.

“I’m honored and excited to lead digital services for the City of Boston. I’ve been inspired by Mayor Wu’s vision for a City of Boston that represents all types of Bostonians,” said Julia Gutierrez, incoming Chief Digital Officer. “As a part of this administration, I look forward to reimagining and delivering exceptional government services that are accessible, inclusive, and equitable.”

Gutierrez was previously at Massachusetts Digital Service where she worked with partner organizations across State government to reimagine how they deliver services to constituents online. Prior to her time at Mass Digital, Gutierrez worked at Fundacion IDEA, a Mexican public policy think tank on social development and youth development policy projects. Born and raised on the Mexico-US border in South Texas, Gutierrez holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University. 

Gutierrez lives in Jamaica Plain.

More information on the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) can be found here. More on the Digital Team can be found here.

市政府中心停車場大樓坍塌 一建築工人摔死 地方交通將受影響

             (Boston Orange 綜合編譯)波士頓市政府大樓對面的停車場，週六 (26)突然坍塌，一名建築工人不幸身亡。

             麻州橘線地鐵的北車站到後灣站之間路段，以及綠線的北車站到政府中心站之間路段，因這坍塌事件，恐怕將會封閉數日，以俾工程師執行工作，確保隧道安全。麻州地鐵局表示，地鐵乘客將可從後灣(Back Bay)或Ruggles站搭乘通勤火車進南車站(South Station)。市中心的巴士服務，可能未出現延遲現象。

             波士頓消防局指出，坍塌事件發生在傍晚5點半，承包商正在拆除停車場結構。目擊者告訴調查人員，在樓層底部斷裂時，死者正在操作一輛重型車，結果人車一起摔跌九層樓。

             由於事件發生在城中區，樓宇坍塌時響聲極大，煙霧迷漫，四週的急救車輛，人員立刻從四面八方趕了過去。到週日早上時，由於職業安全與健康管理局(OSHA)調查員還在執行工作，沿著事發地點的Sudbury街仍然封閉著。

             波士頓消防局發言人Brian Alkins表示，他們正在協助聯邦機構，該局的雲梯3隊，以及建築組還在現場工作。

             波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)的發言人，週日時請媒體洽詢消防局。隨後吳弭市長在推特上發文哀悼死者，表示市府正在調查，出事地點將暫時封閉。

             職業安全與健康管理局(OSHA)的本地辦公室，就在事發地點不遠，該辦公室代表也未立即回應外界提問。

             薩福克郡地方檢察官Kevin Hayden說，他的辦公室也會參與調查。

             波士頓緊急救援局 (EMS)的發言人表示，事件中還有和坍塌事件無直接關係的另一人送醫救治，情況不明。WBUR透露，一本地工會指出，死者為51歲的建築工人Peter Monsoni。

             拆除停車場是HYM投資集團正在進行，要重新發展，改建一棟12層樓高生命科學大樓計畫的一部分。

             周六發生坍塌事件後，該計畫的總包商John Moriarty & Associates表示，已撤出工人，並暫時關閉了該一地點。

             該公司在一份聲明中表示，結構工程師會在重啟任何工作前，確保該地點的安。