Tuition-Free Community College Application for BPS Students is Now Live

Tuition-Free Community College Application for BPS Students is Now Live

Eligibility for the program expanded since launch in April

Boston, MA - June 1, 2016 - Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang joined Mayor Martin J. Walsh in launching the application for the tuition-free community college plan, which provides a cost-effective entry point into higher education for Boston's young people. "The single most effective way to break down the social and financial barriers facing many Boston families is to make post-secondary education accessible," said Mayor Walsh. "I am so proud to launch this program and give our talented BPS graduates another resource for success." Since the program was announced in April, eligibility for the college plan has changed to provide even more students with access, lowering the GPA requirement from 2.2 to 2.0; requiring no more than three developmental courses, as determined by college placement testing, by the start of the semester; and completing community college within 3 years or less.  Under these expanded eligibility guidelines, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPA) students may also be eligible for the Tuition-Free plan.   "This life-changing program will impact so many of our students," said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael O'Neill. "On behalf of the School Committee, I extend our gratitude to Mayor Walsh for increasing our graduates' access to the college pathway. This is a major component in guiding our students on a road to success." Today, the program is now available and will be run through the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD), with support from the City's Neighborhood Jobs Trust (NJT). "The Boston Public Schools community is grateful to Mayor Walsh for providing opportunities and removing barriers for our students, so that they may be able to attend college free of tuition costs," said Superintendent Chang. "The City of Boston's commitment to pay for up to three years of community college will make a remarkable difference in the lives of so many of our students." If eligible for the plan, students can attend either Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) or Roxbury Community College (RCC), as long as they apply and are accepted. BHCC has main campuses in Charlestown (at the Community College T-stop on the orange line) and Chelsea with satellite campuses in East Boston, the South End, and Malden. RCC is located in Roxbury near the Roxbury Crossing orange line T-stop. Both colleges offer courses of study in a wide range of areas, such as accounting, biotechnology, business, computer science, criminal justice, early childhood education, nursing, and paralegal. Learn more about BHCC programs of study or RCC programs of study to consider which school might best line up with your interests. Students must meet the following requirements: Graduate from a BPS high school Have a grade-point average of at least 2.0 Be able to complete community college within 3 years Be eligible for a Pell Grant, as determined by the FAFSA Require no more than three developmental courses by the start of the semester Be accepted to either Bunker Hill Community College or Roxbury Community College Be a Boston resident Have low to moderate household income, per HUD guidelines If you have DACA or TPS status, see the Frequently Asked Questions, here: http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/6098. The plan pays for: Tuition for up to three years of community college Mandatory college fees For some students, these costs may already be fully paid for by the Pell grant. However, for those students who do not receive full Pell coverage, the Tuition-Free Community College Plan covers the remaining costs for tuition and mandatory fees. Costs for books and transportation are not covered by the plan at this time. If students think they may be eligible - or to learn how to become eligible - they are encouraged to follow this simple process. Learn more, here: http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/tuition-free-college. For additional questions, email TuitionFreeCollege@boston.govor call the city hotline, BOS:311, by dialing 3-1-1.

MAYOR WALSH TO SPEAK IN CHINA ON CLIMATE CHANGE

MAYOR WALSH TO SPEAK IN CHINA ON CLIMATE CHANGE

BOSTON - Thursday, June 2, 2016 -  Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that he has been invited to travel to Beijing, China on June 7 and 8, 2016 to speak at the U.S.-China Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Summit. Mayor Walsh will join a delegation of 20 U.S. cities that will attend the Summit. Organized under the U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group, this summit is an opportunity to exchange best practices between U.S. and Chinese cities, and more than 40 Chinese cities are expected to attend. "Boston has made significant progress on climate action, and I am honored to share best practices with cities from around the world," said Mayor Walsh. "This summit gives us an incredible opportunity to build on our legacy and learn how we can better protect Boston right now, and for our future generations." The 2016 U.S.-China Climate-Smart/Low Carbon Cities Summit is jointly organized by the United States and China and aims to promote the implementation of the U.S.-China Joint Announcement on Climate Change made by President Obama and President Xi in 2014, as well as the Paris agreement made in 2015. The summit will expand and deepen the leadership of city and local leaders on climate change and address key low carbon development topics such as carbon trading, air quality improvement, non-motorized transportation, green finance and technology innovation. Earlier this year, Mayor Walsh joined the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) Steering Committee, the governing body that provides strategic direction for the network of cities on the front line of preparing for and helping prevent climate change. Mayor Walsh is currently representing all North American cities on the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) Steering Committee. Boston joined C40 in 2014 and has made significant progress in the past two years, from the release of the updated Greenovate Climate Action, which sets a clear road map to achieve Boston's greenhouse gas reduction goals of 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, to receiving an international award for community engagement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris. Just prior to COP21 last year, Boston celebrated its compliance with the Compact of Mayors -- an important measure in achieving its climate commitments by providing a more transparent platform for Boston's climate progress. The Compact of Mayors is a global coalition of over 500 mayors and city officials pledging to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to climate change, and track their progress transparently, and Boston has been an integral signatory in following through with its commitment.

名人為 BCNC 朗讀白蛇傳

BCNC hosts Madame White Snake Reading Sneak Preview

From Left: Ian So（蘇宇寅）, Shirley Leung（梁詩莉）, Cerise Jacobs（林曉英）, Liz Cheng（程必璧）, Jeffrey Why（陳偉健）, Giles Li （李隆華）。

As a community partner of Ouroboros Trilogy, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) hosted a reading of Madame White Snake, as a sneak preview of this award winning opera. In addition to the reading, there was a singing performance, talk-back with the artist, and wine & cheese reception.

The Ouroboros Trilogy, a trio of grand operas created by BCNC supporter, Cerise Lim Jacobs, will be premiering at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in September 2016. The trilogy comprises the Pulitzer Prize winning Madame White Snake by Zhou Long, Gilgamesh by Paolo Prestini, and Naga by Scott Wheeler.

“We have put together an all-star cast of Asian American Who’s Who to do this reading, “said Giles Li, BCNC’s Executive Director.

Reading Madame White Snake is Shirley Leung, Columnist for the Boston Globe. 

Liz Cheng, General Manager of television stations: WGBH-2, WGBX-44, 'GBH Kids, and WORLD Channel, reading the Green Snake. 

Ian So, CEO of Chicken and Rice Guys, reading Xu Xian the Herbalist,

Geoffrey Why, Member of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, P.C. , reading the Abbot.

After the reading, Elilsa Sunshine and Wee Kiat Chia sang the opera from Nanga.

BCNC is selling advanced tickets at $25 for the following performances:

                                Madame White Snake - Tuesday, September 13 at 7:30 PM

Gilgamesh - Wednesday, September 14 at 7:30 PM

Naga - Thursday, September 15 at 7:30 PM

Ticket sales will benefit BCNC family-centered programs for children, youth, and adults.

To Purchase Tickets click HERE (www.bcnc.net/Madame White Snake Reading)

國際領袖基金會 7/13 舉辦年度午餐會頒獎宴

國際領袖基金會（ILF）與亞美企業組織聯盟（CAABO）合作，將於七月十三日（週三）中午十二點起，在華府首都希爾頓酒店舉辦午餐會暨頒獎晚宴。

該活動歷年來的主題演講嘉賓包括前美國勞工部部長趙小蘭，前美國運輸部部長的Norman Mineta這兩名國際領袖基金會榮譽主席，美國國會少數黨領袖Nancy Pelosi，國會參議員Mazie Hirono，國會眾議員Ed Royce，Mike Honda，美國總統夫人米雪兒的幕僚長Tina Tchen，美國駐聯合國前大使Sichan Sly，美國豐田汽車行銷執行主席Yoshimi Inaba，印度企業組織TiＥtj;4104bp6Kanwal Pekhi，國際影星成龍，著名的愛滋病研究者何大一博士，奧林匹克賽得獎者Toby Dawson，以及美國科技長Todd Park等等。

2016 Luncheon & Awards Gala

Hosted by the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) & the Coalition of Asian American Business Organizations (CAABO)

Emerging Asian American & Pacific Islanders Business Trends and Opportunities  Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Capital Hilton 1001 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ILF/CAABO Luncheon 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Networking 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM VIP Reception & ILF Awards Gala

Keynote Speakers & HonoreesThe Honorable Elaine Chao, former Secretary of Labor and Honorary ILF Chairwoman; The Honorable Norman Mineta, former Secretary of Transportation and Honorary ILF Chairman; Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader; Senator Mazie Hirono; Members of Congress Ed Royce, Mike Honda, Judy Chu, Doris Matsui, Grace Meng and Amata Radewagen; Chris Lu, Deputy Secretary of Labor ; Tina Tchen, Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama; Ambassador Sichan Siv, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.; Yoshimi Inaba, Executive Chairman of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Kanwal Rekhi, Founder of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) organization; international film star Jackie Chan; David Ho, prominent AIDS researcher; Toby Dawson, Olympic medalist and Todd Park, U.S. Chief Technology Officer

Governor Baker Nominates Two to Massachusetts District Court

Governor Baker Nominates Two to Massachusetts District Court

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker has nominated Michele Armour and Michael Brennan, attorneys each with almost a quarter century of experience to serve as judges in the Massachusetts District Court. 

“Michele Armour and Michael Brennan offer the district court a great combination of experience drawn from distinguished careers in public service and private practice,” said Governor Baker. “I am confident that these nominees will serve the court and the citizens of the Commonwealth with distinction, and I am pleased to recommend them to the Governor’s Council for their advice and consent.”

“Both of these trial attorney’s familiarity with the court system, honed over many years of experience, will allow them to run fair, efficient and just courtrooms,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “We know Michele Amour and Michael Brennan will serve the Commonwealth with honor and distinction."

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.

There are 62 District Courts throughout the Commonwealth hearing a range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health and other case types.

For more information about the District Court, visit http://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/dc/.

About Michele Armour

Michele Armour, a resident of Norfolk, MA, serves as Chief Trial Counsel in the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office where she is responsible for prosecuting felony cases, including first degree murder, aggravated burglary, armed robbery and rape.  Before beginning her 24 year career in Norfolk County, she served as an Assistant District Attorney in Central Islip, New York where she prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases. She graduated cum laude from Union College in Schenectady, NY with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Psychology in 1989, and from Albany Law School in 1992. In addition, Ms. Armour is the Chair of the Child Fatality Review Team and serves on the Board of the Norfolk County Advocates for Children, a child advocacy center, providing comprehensive services for child sexual and physical abuse victims.  

About Michael Brennan

In 1998, Mr. Brennan established his own private practice in Needham, MA and handles matters for a wide variety of clients in the state courts.   His practice has been primarily criminal defense work while also handling a wide variety of civil cases over the years. Brennan began his legal career in 1990 at the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office where he served as ADA until 1997. Brennan was born in Newton and graduated from Hobart College in 1985 with a BA and from Suffolk University Law School in 1990.

DONNA SUMMER ROLLER DISCO PARTY RETURNS TO CITY HALL PLAZA ON JUNE 17

DONNA SUMMER ROLLER DISCO PARTY RETURNS TO CITY HALL PLAZA ON JUNE 17

Third-Annual Celebration of Summer is Free and Open to the Public

BOSTON - Thursday, June 2, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the third-annual Donna Summer Celebration of Summer Roller Disco Party will be held on Friday, June 17 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. on City Hall Plaza. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public. The City of Boston will provide free rentals to guests on a first come, first serve basis and all are encouraged to bring their own skates if available. "I am pleased that our Donna Summer Roller Disco party has proven a success and we are able to bring it back for the third consecutive year," said Mayor Walsh. "We are committed to providing our families and residents with free, fun events all year and the roller disco party honors Donna Summer and her Boston roots while energizing City Hall Plaza."  The event will welcome back DJ Kon to the DJ decks. Kon, aka Christian Taylor, has been a member of Boston's hip-hop scene for decades, and he is internationally recognized as a re-edit and rework pioneer. Joining Kon will be members of Donna Summer's extended family including O'Mega Red, Donna's nephew and flag-bearer for her legacy. "That the Mayor shows this respect to Donna each year is something the family truly appreciates," said O'Mega Red. "My aunt was very much a true diva and her legacy survives and grows larger with each passing year." Summer died at 62 years-old on May 17, 2012. "No Boston-born musician has sold more albums than Donna Summer," said Holly Thomason of the Boston Roller Derby, which will again support the event. "As the Roller Derby, we obviously pay our respects but as a woman, Donna represented a bold, courageous, and fearless artist." "To us, Donna Summer is as big as Elvis," said David Day, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Together Boston, a promotional partner. "She was a pioneer of modern music and approached technology with a confidence few have seen since."

BPHC Launches "I Bike" Campaign

BPHC Launches "I Bike" Campaign

Campaign promotes accessible biking and active living throughout the city.

BOSTON - Wednesday, June 1, 2016 - The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today announced the official summer launch of a new campaign to encourage active living and safe transportation.  The "I Bike" campaign will feature Boston residents alongside their bikes and share their reasons for biking. The residents featured in the campaign live in Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Mattapan, and Roxbury.   "For both youth and adults to gain the physical activity benefits from bicycling, it is critical to inform them about active living options in their communities, particularly those neighborhoods outside of downtown Boston," said BPHC Executive Director Monica Valdes Lupi, JD, MPH.  "I'm excited that the I Bike campaign showcases seven Bostonians from diverse neighborhoods and tells why they bike. Their  different reasons, from getting to work to spending time with their kids or discovering the city, help to promote biking not only as a means of transportation, but as a fun and healthy social activity."   In September 2014, BPHC was one of 50 communities awarded a three-year cooperative agreement award from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) to implement Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH), a national effort to reduce the prevalence of obesity, tobacco use and exposure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. PICH supports the implementation of evidence-based voluntary policy and systems changes that encourage healthy choices in physical activity, nutrition and smoke-free housing.   In its first year, BPHC rebranded PICH as "Let's Get Healthy, Boston!" (LGHB) a name that speaks to the project's goals. LGHB is a partnership with the Boston Alliance for Community Health, which supports ten organizations with trained Healthy Community Champions - neighborhood residents who do grassroots advocacy for healthy choices.   The campaign is also a partnership with the Boston Transportation Department's Boston Bikes program.  Campaign ads point residents to BostonBikes.org for additional information about safe bicycling, where to get a bike repaired, learn-to-ride classes, bike maps and more.  Through this collaboration, LGHB is also supporting educational and outreach efforts to expand use of subsidized Hubway bike-share memberships, make bikes and helmets available to low-income residents ("Roll It Forward") and support neighborhood-based active transportation projects run by the Healthy Community Champions in their neighborhoods. The #iBike campaign, the latest phase of a three-year plan to promote active living, officially launches on June 1 and runs through the summer. Healthy Community Champions will be holding neighborhood events with safe and fun bicycling opportunities.   Boston residents will see the campaign highlighted in billboards, bus shelters, MBTA bus ads, and posters around the city.  Residents are encouraged to share their reasons for biking on social media by tagging @healthyboston and using the hashtag #IBikeBOS.

AG’S OFFICE CITES WORCESTER RESTAURANT $11,000 FOR WAGE AND HOUR VIOLATIONS

AG’S OFFICE CITES WORCESTER RESTAURANT $11,000 FOR WAGE AND HOUR VIOLATIONS

            BOSTON – A Worcester restaurant and its owner have been cited more than $11,000 for failing to comply with state wage and hour laws, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

            J.P. Alliance, Inc. d/b/a Shangri-La and its president, Xinchun Jiang, were cited for failure to make timely payment of wages, failure to furnish a suitable paystub, failure to pay minimum wage, failure to keep true and accurate records, violating the tip payment statute and failure to furnish records for inspection.

“Employers must comply with our wage and hour laws if they want to do business in Massachusetts,” AG Healey said. “Low-wage workers often live paycheck to paycheck, and wage theft threatens the well-being of them and their families. Our office will continue to advocate on behalf of exploited workers and do all we can to ensure they are treated fairly.”  

The AG’s Office started an investigation after receiving two complaints alleging that employees of the restaurant were not paid wages owed to them and that their rates of pay fell below the state mandated minimum wage.

Upon investigation, the AG’s Office discovered that the company was not keeping the appropriate records, not furnishing paystubs and was paying its employees on a monthly basis. In addition, the owner and his wife, who was also a manager, were illegally retaining tips that should have been distributed to the service staff. The AG’s Office ordered Jiang and his business to pay more than $6,000 in restitution to their workers and nearly $5,000 in penalties.

The current minimum wage in Massachusetts is $10 per hour and it will go up to $11 per hour in 2017. Most workers in Massachusetts must be paid weekly or biweekly. Managers may not retain any portion of tips, even if they provide some service to customers. The maximum penalty that may be assessed for a subsequent violation is $25,000.

This case serves as an example of AG Healey’s enhanced efforts to hold accountable businesses that disregard Massachusetts wage and hour laws. The AG’s Office enforces the laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage and overtime laws. Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace 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 in multiple languages at the Attorney General's Workplace Rights websitewww.massworkrights.com.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Amy Goyer and Investigator Erin MacKenzie of the AG’s Fair Labor Division.

BCNC Awarded $100,000 Cummings Foundation Grant

BCNC Awarded $100,000 Cummings Foundation Grant

 

BOSTON, May 31, 2016 – Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) is one of 100 nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s “$100K for 100” program. BCNC was chosen from a total of 479 applicants, during a competitive review process.

BCNC responds to community needs by delivering holistic, family-centered, and culturally competent programs. BCNC believes families have enormous potential to thrive, and when immigrants are able to participate fully in society and create their own success stories, all of society benefits. With this grant, BCNC will strengthen and empower immigrant families and individuals from the Greater Boston area through case management, parent training, education and support groups.

BCNC Executive Director, Giles Li said, “On behalf of the community we serve at BCNC, I am truly thankful to the Cummings Foundation for this grant that will allow BCNC to enhance our family-centered approach and move closer to fulfilling our vision of supporting families to be strong, healthy, and safe.”

The $100K for 100 program supports nonprofits that are not only based in but also primarily serve Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties. This year, the program is benefitting 41 different cities and towns within the Commonwealth.

BCNC Executive Director, Giles Li will be joining approximately 300 other guests at a June 9 reception at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn to celebrate the $10 million infusion into Greater Boston’s nonprofit sector. With the conclusion of this grant cycle, Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $140 million to local nonprofits alone.

Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate Cummings Properties. Founded in 1970 by Bill Cummings of Winchester, the Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages more than 10 million square feet of space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

“We admire and very much appreciate the important work that nonprofit organizations like BCNC are doing in the local communities where our colleagues and clients live and work,” said Joel Swets, Cummings Foundation’s Executive Director. “We are delighted to support their efforts.”

The complete list of 100 grant winners is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

2016 Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grants Announced

2016 Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grants Announced

BOSTON – The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), in conjunction with the Fort Point Channel Operations Board (FPCOB), has awarded six grants totaling $40,000 to art, education, and community groups with plans for activating the Fort Point Watersheet for the 2016 season. 

Grant applicants were asked to submit project ideas that would develop creative water-based programming around the edges of the channel or construct capital improvements within the channel. 

“This year’s grant recipients have plans to enhance the Fort Point area with a number of exciting initiatives and installations,” said Brian Golden, Director of the BRA. “We’re really looking forward to seeing these ideas come to life.”
 
2016 Winning Projects:

Floating Urban Garden MandalaApplicants: Artists for Humanity and Conducive, Inc.Award: $5,000

Artists for Humanity, a non-profit that employs Boston-area youth to create artwork for local businesses, institutions, and the public, and Conducive, Inc., a firm that utilizes innovative urban design and real estate to focus on building ecosystem services in urban neighborhoods, have together proposed a floating garden mandala to both engage the public in and educate it of urban ecology and its restorative properties.

Brown Box Season of Free Theater with Enhanced Audience ExperienceApplicant: Brown Box Theatre ProjectAward: $10,000

Brown Box Theatre Project’s professional, high-quality, and free performances will return to the Fort Point Channel for the fourth year with both indoor and outdoor performances, including Cymbeline. In addition, risers will accommodate larger audiences to improve views, ensuring that more attendees are able to easily enjoy this unique cultural experience.

BSA Space Sidewalk ActivationApplicant: BSA FoundationAward: $5,000

The BSA Space plans to launch a design ideas competition to activate their storefront and sidewalk that will help animate the urban waterfront and draw visitors to and from the waterfront with an enhanced public realm. The competition will begin in winter 2017 and a winner will be selected in spring 2017.

Discovering Fort Point Channel: A Science and Art Exploration of the Beings and Beauty of the WaterfrontApplicant: “e”, Inc.Award: $5,000

Previous grantee “e” inc. will return with its six-week marine science education program at Atlantic Wharf on Fort Point Channel this July and August. Youth from various urban summer camps and social service centers will be able to enjoy hands-on science lessons and experience rowing in Boston Harbor. 

Permanent & Dynamic: Floating Public ArtApplicant: Fort Point Arts CommunityAward: $5,000

The Fort Point Arts Community will bring more floating art to the Fort Point Channel, following prior successes of “Tropical Fort Point” and “Who Wears Wool,” the latter of which was also funded by the Fort Point Channel Operations Board.

Fort Point Channel Lunchtime Livery and Home Waters ProgramsApplicant: Hull Lifesaving MuseumAward: $10,000

For the fifth year, the Fort Point Lunchtime Livery Program will give community members and tourists alike the opportunity to rent row boats on the Fort Point Channel. Home Waters Program offers an experiential education program for more than 300 Boston-area youth and adults from every single neighborhood in the city.

About the Fort Point Watersheet Activation Plan

The grant program is part of the Fort Point Watersheet Activation Plan, established in 2002 by the Mayor's Office and the Boston Redevelopment Authority to spearhead a vision for a “Boston Common on the water.” The Plan, which proposed new cultural activities and year round programming, resulted from a successful collaborative effort between the City, landowners, nonprofit and cultural leaders, and residents. The Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grant Program is funded by the Chapter 91 Waterways Regulations License for Atlantic Wharf, developed by Boston Properties.

About the Boston Redevelopment Authority

As the City of Boston’s urban planning and economic development agency, the BRA works in partnership with the community to plan Boston's future while respecting its past. The agency’s passionate and knowledgeable staff guides physical, social, and economic change in Boston’s neighborhoods and its downtown to shape a more prosperous, resilient, and vibrant city for all. The BRA also prepares residents for new opportunities through employment training, human services and job creation. Learn more at www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org, and follow us on Twitter @BostonRedevelop.

Boston Public Schools Launch Executive Coaching Program to Recruit and Boost Retention Among Women of Color

Boston Public Schools Launch Executive Coaching Program to Recruit and Boost Retention Among Women of Color

Boston, MA - Thursday, June 2, 2016 - The Boston Public Schools today announced the launch of the BPS Women Educators of Color (WEOC) Executive Coaching Program, a 4-semester (15 months) accredited program designed to increase engagement, retention and leadership rates for female staff of color within Boston Public Schools. "Leadership in our school system should reflect the people of Boston," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "I commend Boston Public Schools for implementing a program that aims to remove barriers that still exist in the workplace. We must continue to ensure that diversity is our main goal, structurally, within the hiring and recruitment process." Building on the successful 2014 launch of the Male Educators of Color Executive Coaching Program (MEOC), now on its second cohort, the WEOC program will guide participants to focus on key levers of effective educational leadership and also support the development of innovative, research-based solutions to key problems of practice. "The Committee remains focused on diversity and inclusion efforts throughout the district," said Boston School Committee Chairman Michael O'Neill. "A diverse workforce results in more positive outcomes for our children, and I have faith that this program will prove to be successful."   The Office of Human Capital (OHC) diversity programs are designed to support the district's investment in human capital by enabling the district to recruit, retain and promote a workforce that is reflective of the racial, cultural and linguistic diversity of Boston Public School students. "We are thankful to the partners that helped to support this program," said Superintendent Dr. Tommy Chang. "When our workforce is representative of our students' cultures and ethnic backgrounds, our students can see themselves being future educators, doctors, lawyers, artists and more. We're pleased to make this investment in our district's future because it reflects our values and goals as a school system." OHC operates by using two strategies: workforce pipeline development (both internal and external) and workforce retention to cultivate and retain the district's diverse and talented workforce. The program runs from May 2016 to June 2017; classes will be held one Saturday morning per month in addition to monthly small group gatherings. Participants will receive 1) executive leadership coaching, 2) small group peer support and upon successful completion of the program, 3) executive leadership certificate, and 4) graduate level course credits. "We are pleased to partner with the Boston Public Schools on pathways to administrative leadership for educators-of-color," said University of Massachusetts Boston's Director of Educational Administration Jack Leonard. "Our satellite graduate programs in Educational Administration with BPS have drawn over 150 inquiries in 15 months. We are confident that the new Women Educators of Color Executive Coaching Program will open even more doors for under-represented candidates in school leadership." Participants will receive a valuable combination of executive coaching, research-based content as well as a natural balance between self-reflection and peer interactions. Our new leadership initiative supports a network of women of color focused on collaborating to succeed. The core curriculum includes: Leadership Development Graduate Course Organizational Change Graduate Course Course Practicum & Executive Coaching Problem of Practice Research Design Participants contribute by attending all sessions, completing all assigned coursework, and developing a problem of practice presentation, as well as pay for graduate degree credits upon successful completion of the program. Each WEOC session is led and facilitated by current and former women leaders of color from the Boston Public Schools or certified instructors sponsored by the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Twenty women educators of color who are currently in school-based and central office staff roles were accepted to the program. A minimum three years of experience in BPS was required for consideration.