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星期五, 9月 30, 2016

MIT鼓勵文理並重 為鄭洪新書"南京不哭"辦接待會

MIT 教授,中央研究院院士,鄭洪。(周菊子攝)
      (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導)跨入2017,就是南京大屠殺80週年了。儘管聯合國教科文組織在2015年已把中國申報的南京大屠殺檔案,列入世界記憶名錄,日本卻迄今從未就此向中國正式道歉。促使麻省理工學院教授鄭洪以英文寫作南京不哭(Nanjing Never Cries)”一書的原因,如今依然在。
      1227日,日本首相安倍晉三在美國總統奧巴馬陪同下訪問珍珠港,悼念在日本偷襲珍珠港時大約2300名的美軍死難者,但70多年來,日本卻從未到南京,或當年滿州國的東北去悼念更無辜,遭遇更慘的中國百姓,實在讓中國人情何以堪。
      簽書留言時常寫一句書成國恨心猶烈的鄭洪,每提起南京,心頭就湧起萬般滋味。他希望有一天,有人能把南京不哭這本小說,和其他的相關題材,資料揉合起來,拍一部像辛德勒名單那麼有震撼力的電影,更廣泛的讓西方世界知道,有2030萬的中國百姓是那麼無辜,悲慘的受害者,日本絕不是不少美國人認定的二次世界大戰受害者。
"南京不哭",英文版第一刷,一天之內售罄。
中文版訂2016年12月13日由中國藝林出版社發行。
      祖籍廣東省茂名縣的鄭洪是19376月出生的。幾十天後,盧溝橋事變,中日開戰,他跟隨家人逃難,飛機來時要拼命跑,沒被機關槍掃中,就趕緊躲進防空洞。轟炸結束後走出來,只見亂竄火苗,處處硝煙,遍地焦屍,悲切的哭聲不斷傳來。
      這經驗深埋在他心中,讓他一直有著有朝一日要寫本書,描述這段歲月的心願。抗日勝利後,他隨家人遷居香港,1949轉澳門,然後到台灣,進建國中學,台灣大學,赴美深造,並成為麻省理工學院教授。
      真正促使鄭洪提筆的導火線,是1995415日那天,兩名同事突然跟他說,有個專題研討會在扭曲歷史,他最好去聽聽。那是在MIT一座大樓的9105室,3名白人,1名日本人的4個講者,向2300名聽眾說日本在二次世界大戰中為了保衛自己的特有文化,抵抗西方侵略,受傷最重,苦難最多,如果不是因為某些因素,事件,美國也許不會把原子彈在廣島,長崎。
      鄭洪當天在會場上發言,卻被當成空氣。他說事後從不少年輕人那兒知道,原來美國有許多中小學的歷史課就是這麼教的,認為兩顆原子彈,使得日本成為二次世界大戰的最大受害者。他事後投書MIT校報,文稿竟被刪了一大半。
      鄭洪心裡很不平衡,為美國言論的其實並不自由,為中國的無辜受日本戰火侵襲,為2030萬平民百姓被日本殘暴屠殺遭遇,感到極度不公平。
      那年的教授休假期,他到南京住了3個月,親自走訪了兩名南京大屠殺受害者,常志強,姜根福,參觀南京大屠殺博物館,蒐集了許多資料。
      鄭洪說自己選擇以小說的形式,還要用自己並不擅長的英語來處理南京大屠殺這題材,主要是希能引起更多人關注南京大屠殺這段歷史,還沒有得到公正對待的事實,讓西方人知道,在東方中國,日本曾做出比希特勒對猶太人還殘暴的行為,而且規模之大,遠不成比例。
      他知道市面上已經有張純如等人出版的南京大屠殺書籍,也有以南京大屠殺為題材的電影,但是別說西方人,就連中國人自己,恐怕也還有很多人不清楚。他希望這本書能促使西方社會知道這段歷史,讓哪些無辜犧牲的人得到公平對待。
      鄭洪的努力,得到很多人的幫助。他的鄰居愛麗霞(Alexa Fleckenstein)每星期二下午和他一起修改稿建的英文,前後十年,稿件大修不下10次之多。MIT出版社負責人Ellen Faran原本回覆是麻省理工從來不出版小說,但二個月,把書看過兩遍後,她決定以MIT前任校長姓名,成立了Killian Press這個部門,來出版英文版的南京不哭
      中國大陸鳳凰傳媒集團下的譯林出版社也已於1213日,中國大陸第三屆「南京大屠殺死難者國家公祭日」這天,發行中文版。
            現在就看有沒有人來拍一部南京不哭電影,提醒世人,南京大屠殺中的廿,三十萬冤民,正義待伸。



右起,教育組秘書黃瑋婷,麻省理工學院理學院院長Michael Sipser,經文處教育組組長黃薳玉,鄭洪,李小玉醫師夫婦。






星期四, 9月 29, 2016

全美亞太裔耆英中心訪波士頓聽民意

全美亞太裔耆英中心舉辦的聆聽之旅,逾百人出席。
(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)全美亞太裔耆英中心(National Asian Pacific Center on Aging)(929)日早上在紐英崙中華公所禮堂,舉辦聆聽之旅,邀請說中文,韓文,越南文等不同亞裔語言耆英出席,和聯邦政府社會服務部門官員當面晤談。
右起,林良華,安豐貴,陳建立, Roberto Medina,Raymond Hurd
,梅伍銀寬,陳家驊,證券及交易局代表等在會末合影。(周菊子攝)
全美亞太裔耆英中心執行長林良華(Wesley Lum)表示,美國現在每天都有大約10,000人年齡達到65歲,未來15年,大概也都這樣。到2040年時,幾乎每4個美國居民中,就有165歲或年紀更大,美國歷史將第一次出現老年人比15歲以下年輕人還多的情況。
目前住在美國的亞裔耆英約有160萬人,約等於全美人口的4%,佔亞裔人口的9%。到2040年十,在波士頓的亞裔耆英人數,估計會增長52%
陳建立(右一)向出席者報告,自己剛接任中華其應會董事長。(周菊子攝)
為進一步了解亞裔耆英的需要,全美亞太裔中心和白宮亞太裔太平洋島民計畫(WHIAPPI)合作,舉辦聆聽之旅",巡迴六個城市,請耆英把需要,以及所面對的挑戰,障礙整理出來,排列優先順序,再匯整成一份報告,做為未來修訂措施參考。
在麻州及波士頓市府老人局代表,局長出席致意後,出席耆英們分別就訪問服務,社會福利,看護,文化及語言,老年痴呆症,財務與經濟保障,醫療保險/處方藥,住屋,移民,行動獨立,免遭詐欺的安全性,交通等各議題做進一步討論。
安豐貴(右一)分享經驗。
聯邦政府平等就業機會局的安豐貴,社會安全局的區域傳播主任Roberto Medina,醫療護理及醫療補助服務中心(CMS)區域長Raymond Hurd,以及證券交易局代表等人應邀出席,現場回答耆英們的提問。
安豐貴以他個人的成長經驗指出,儘管美國是個很民主的法治國家,仍然不時傳出少數族裔遭遇歧視,被人欺負的事情。該局每年接到的抱怨個案都逾萬宗。該局因此積極深入社區,希望民眾知道,遇狀況時,有地方求助。
梅麗梨為耆英做翻譯。
社安局的Roberto Medina透露,人們最常問自己甚麼時候可以退休",但這得看各人的年齡,收入,工作年期等等,實在是個見仁見智的問題。一般來說,只要工作滿十年,就有資格從62歲起退休,申請領取社會安全金。但是每個人每月可領多少社會安全金,是要以工作35年為基準來計算的,能拿到多少,還要看是幾歲時申請退休。如果是在62歲時退休,可領結算金額的75%,若66歲再退休,可領100%,若是等到70歲以後才退休,更可以領到132%
會場擺放的相關資料。
CMSRaymond Hurd,他被問到最多的問題是,醫療保險分ABCD四類,到底各有甚麼不同。他指出,A類保民眾去醫院,ㄖ類保看醫生。C類及D類則是用於購買處方藥等的醫療保險。他建議麻州居民和Shine這服務機構接洽,以更便捷地找出最適合自己的醫療保險計畫。





波士頓華埠社區辦籌款會 提前為波市長競選連任打氣 (圖片)

波士頓華埠僑領陳毓禮(右四)為波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)(左三)
辦籌款會。右起,陳文珊,梅麗梨,梅伍銀寬,粱國忠等人。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊為籌款會擔任司儀。
陳郁璇(左起)邀波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭,前任常委王競芳,以及陳台榮等人和波士頓市長馬丁華殊合影。

部分出席者。

陳毓禮(立者)。


波士頓市長馬丁華殊(左二起)和華埠僑領陳毓禮,以及善單鳳琴,
陳家驊,陳文棟(左一),陳文珊(後左),鄺劍峰(後右)等人合影。

後左起,京川園,新金門,五味七品,樂嚐軒,五味七品等餐廳東主,
都支持陳毓璇(前左起),陳毓禮,陳家驊等人主辦的籌款餐會。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(左)高興的和波士頓消防局副局長黃瑞瑜,僑領
陳毓禮合影。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(中)笑說,中華耆英會握有那麼多選票,
當然要對該會兩名重要人物,梅伍銀寬(右),梅麗梨(左)好一點。

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT for Asian Health Initiative

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT
Asian Health Initiative
Request for Proposals (RFP)

Tufts Medical Center is seeking innovative programs to promote the health of Boston’s Chinatown and Asian community.  The priority health issue to be addressed in a new three year funding cycle for the Asian Health Initiative (AHI) is reducing cigarette smoking, and its related health consequences such as lung cancer, and exacerbation of other chronic illnesses.

Grants will be awarded to individual organizations for up to $50,000 per year, for up to three years. Examples of initiatives may include, but are not limited to clinical and nonclinical  outreach, education, prevention efforts, referrals to medical services, smoking cessation programs, and/or support groups.

The submission deadline for proposals is November 1, 2016.  For a copy of the RFP or more information about the Asian Health Initiative, please visit www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/commhealth.

Potential applicants are invited to attend a bidders’ conference to learn more about the RFP and consult with experts on October 11 at 3PM in Proger Room A, Tufts Medical Center. Should you have any questions regarding the RFP, please call the Office of Community Health Improvement Programs at (617) 636-1626.

IMAGINE BOSTON 2030 ANNOUNCES FINALIZED SUGGESTED READING LIST TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS IN THE CONVERSATION ON BOSTON'S FUTURE

IMAGINE BOSTON 2030 ANNOUNCES FINALIZED SUGGESTED READING LIST TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS IN THE CONVERSATION ON BOSTON'S FUTURE
Final reading list incorporates community feedback, adds five additional titles to broaden conversation on Boston's future

Imagine Boston 2030 bookmarks are available at Boston Public Library locations.



BOSTON - Thursday, September 29, 2016 - As part of Imagine Boston 2030's community engagement process, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced Imagine Boston 2030's finalized suggested reading list, adding to the original list released in August. Members of the community voted on five additional books to complete both the adult and youth titles on the list. The Imagine Boston reading list offers residents the opportunity to learn more about the background on some of the history and concepts that are helping to inform conversations about the future of our city.

The texts were chosen by members of the Mayor's team, and selected for their historical analyses and their relation to Boston. The five additional titles include:

Adult Reading List
  • "The Last Hurrah" by Edwin O'Connor
  • "Invisible Cities" by Italo Calvino
  • "Don't Mess with Tanya: Stories Emerging from Boston's Barrios" by Ken Tangvik
Youth (Ages 3+) Reading List
  • "Bus Route to Boston" by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
  • "From Mud Huts to Skyscrapers: Architecture for Children" by Christine Paxmann
     
"This engagement initiative received great input from the community and has started an important conversation - one focused on how can we learn from our past to create a better Boston for the future," said Mayor Walsh. "This finalized reading list represents a wide range of issues and stories that are relevant to all Bostonians, and together we can use these books as tools in our efforts to make Boston the best it can be in 2030."

After the release of the initial list, Boston residents of all ages were asked to vote on the final books to complete the adult and youth selection. Members of the community responded and voted on a finalized list that includes urban histories of cities like Boston, as well as explorations of concepts and theories that shape modern cities.

The goal of this initiative is to utilize this shared reading experience to develop a broader discussion with the community on the task of building a more equitable and inclusive Boston by 2030. The final Imagine Boston 2030 Reading List is below, with the new additions in bold:

Adult Reading List 
  • "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" by Matthew Desmond
  •  "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs
  • "Chain of Change: Struggles for Black Community Development" by Mel King
  • "The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane
  • "Common Ground" by J. Anthony Lukas
  • "All Souls: A Family Story From Southie" by Michael Patrick MacDonald
  • "The Power Broker" by Robert Caro
  •  "Karma and Other Stories" by Rishi Reddi
  •  "The Resilience Dividend: Being Strong in a World Where Things Go Wrong" by Judith Rodin
  •  "Villa Victoria: The Transformation of Social Capital in a Boston Barrio" by Mario Luis Small
  •  "Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time" by Jeff Speck
  • "The Price of Inequality: How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future" by Joseph E. Stiglitz
  • "The Last Hurrah" by Edwin O'Connor
  • "Invisible Cities" by Italo Calvino
  • "Don't Mess with Tanya: Stories Emerging from Boston's Barrios" by Ken Tangvik
     
Youth(Ages 3+) Reading List
  • "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" by M. T. Anderson
  • "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau
  • "Pennies for Elephants" by Lita Judge
  • "What's the Big Idea? Four Centuries of Innovation in Boston" by Stephen Krensky
  • "Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey
  • "Fantastic Cities: A Coloring Book of Amazing Places Real and Imagine" by Steve McDonald
  • "Beneath the Streets of Boston" by Joe McKendry
  • "On the Loose in Boston (Find the Animals)" by Sage Stossel
  • "Bus Route to Boston" by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
  • "From Mud Huts to Skyscrapers: Architecture for Children" by Christine Paxmann
Imagine Boston 2030 has also asked community leaders to participate in this initiative, and many of them have been encouraged to submit blog entries discussing the readings. Each blog entry will highlight one book's relation to Boston and its ability to add value to the planning process. These blog postings will be coming soon and will be posted on Imagine Boston 2030'swebsite.

Earlier this week, Mayor Walsh announced the launch of Imagine Boston 2030's new engagement team, who will visit community events in Boston neighborhoods to seek feedback from residents on refined strategies for guiding equitable growth through 2030.

The Mayor's Office has partnered with the Boston Public Library to make the entire Imagine Boston reading list available to Boston residents. Residents are encouraged to stop by their nearest local branch to access these titles and pick up a bookmark.

"Boston is a literary City and we hope that with this list, residents will not only read the books, but be encouraged to have conversations about the topics and ideas in the books, how they compare to Boston today, and how we, as a community can envision Boston in the future," said Natalia Urtubey, Director of Engagement for Imagine Boston 2030. "We hope that this list will serve as a tool to guide community conversations around the future of Boston, and energize people to participate in upcoming engagement activities."

About Imagine Boston 2030
Imagine Boston seeks to knit together citywide planning efforts, public engagement and feedback, and City priorities to guide our city into 2030. A citywide plan will serve to implement the ideas set forth and to offer additional ideas for the physical and economic development of Boston. Just as importantly, Imagine Boston 2030 will help Boston's citizens articulate a shared vision for equitable prosperity, innovation, education, health, equity and arts and culture.

Residents are encouraged to share their ideas and connect with Imagine Boston 2030 on  Twitter,Facebook and Instagram using #ImagineBoston and#IB2030bookworm.

Boston Public Schools Debut Interactive Model for Math Education, Launches Partnership with New Classrooms

Boston Public Schools Debut Interactive Model for Math Education, Launches Partnership with New Classrooms
Tech Boston Academy in Dorchester Pilots New Program, Supports District-Wide Plan to Personalize Learning
BOSTON, MA - Thursday, September 29, 2016 - Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang today joined Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, and School Committee Chairperson Michael O'Neill to announce a partnership with New Classrooms, a national nonprofit on a mission to personalize education by redesigning how a classroom works. New Classrooms brought its first school-based learning model, Teach to One: Math (TTO), to TechBoston Academy in Dorchester.  

"Congratulations to Boston Public Schools' TechBoston Academy and New Classrooms on the formation of this new partnership," said Mayor Walsh. "Our top priority is to meet the diverse needs of every single student throughout our public schools. New Classrooms will be an innovative partner in this mission, and I look forward to students at TechBoston Academy benefiting from this personalized partnership model."

This year, Tech Boston Academy's 360 middle school students are receiving customized daily schedules, curriculum and learning experiences to meet their individual math needs through the learning model.

"The School Committee is appreciative of the outstanding partners of the Boston Public Schools," said Chairperson Michael O'Neill. "Math can be extremely challenging, and this unique, personalized learning model will ensure that each student is well prepared."

The adoption of TTO is part of a district-wide effort to personalize learning after teachers noticed students were entering middle school with different foundational math skills. Teachers faced the challenge of providing students with varying lessons, learning approaches and timelines so they could learn additional skills while also moving forward through the curriculum.

"To set our students up for future success, we needed to empower our teachers with the tools to make personalizing math a reality," said Superintendent Chang. "With Teach to One, our teachers have more collaboration time while students are engaging in challenging lessons that meet them at their level of understanding."

TTO provides teachers with a curated bank of high-quality learning resources that match students' skill levels and address knowledge gaps. It assigns each student to one of nine instructional approaches, called modalities, daily based on the previous day's assessment. The model was found to deliver 1.5 years of learning in a school year.

"Boston Public Schools is joining the many districts and schools around the country who see personalized learning as key to student acceleration," said New Classrooms CEO Joel Rose. "We're privileged to be working with and learning alongside Boston Public Schools to best support their unique school community at TechBoston Academy."

This new model of personalization helps solve an important problem: almost two-thirds of U.S. eighth graders are off track in math when they enter high school.These students have a less than 20 percent chance of graduating high school ready for college. In the 2015-16 school year, 24 out of the 25 schools using TTO saw academic gains above the national average. In Boston, TTO's implementation is being funded by Boston Public Schools with support from the Barr Foundation and Strategic Grant Partners.

"Teach to One reimagines the traditional classroom to create a more personalized approach to math instruction," said Leah Hamilton, Director of Education for the Barr Foundation. "When each child's experience is tailored to their unique academic needs and ways of learning, the results are remarkable. We are pleased to be able to help TTO bring its proven model to new schools in Massachusetts and New England, including Tech Boston Academy."

TREASURER DEB GOLDBERG ANNOUNCES COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM IN WESTERN MASSACHUS

TREASURER DEB GOLDBERG ANNOUNCES COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
Pilot Initiative to Take Place in the Town of Monson

MONSON, MA – State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, in collaboration with Monson Savings Bank, announced today a new college savings initiative. Expanding on the successful launch of the Worcester program just 40 miles northwest, $eedMA Monson looks to enroll the 2016-2017 class of kindergartners with 529 College Savings Accounts through Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA).
“I am thrilled to see this important work expand to more communities across the Commonwealth,” said Treasurer Deb Goldberg. “Access to an affordable higher education is critical to ensuring the economic stability of Massachusetts families.”
$eedMA Monson will be available to all kindergarteners enrolled in Monson Public Schools. Each child will receive a commitment of $50 through Monson Savings Bank to cultivate a 529 college savings account at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.
“MEFA is pleased to be a partner in this initiative with Treasurer Goldberg, her team, and the town of Monson,” said Tom Graf, Executive Director of MEFA. “It is exciting to work with Monson families on creating a plan for saving for college.”
“I am thrilled that Monson Savings Bank has stepped forward to support this unique and vitally important initiative which will pay off huge dividends for the kindergarten students and families of Monson,” said Robert Bardwell, Director of School Counseling, Monson Public Schools. “$eedMA Monson gives our students a chance to save for college which will no doubt advantage them when they are ready to seek further education and training after high school. And to think Monson is only the second pilot in the state is exciting and a tremendous opportunity for our community.”
$eedMA Monson aims to increase the percentage of children saving for higher education by delivering high-quality financial education programming to students and their families, building a culture centered around saving for the future and employing prudent budget management. These accounts have been proven to boost postsecondary enrollment and graduation rates, which will result in higher paying jobs. Parents and families will receive more information about $eedMA Monson in the upcoming months through informational sessions administered by the Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment.
“Monson Savings Bank is very pleased to be a part of this initiative and to be able to offer this opportunity to our Monson students. We are also proud to be the 2nd community in the state of MA to be participating in this program. We look forward to working with Quarry Hill Elementary School and eventually offering this pilot program to other school districts in our business area,” said Steve Lowell, President and CEO of Monson Savings Bank.

Treasurer Goldberg created the Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE), led by a deputy treasurer, with the deliberate goal of implementing a range of economic empowerment initiatives, including closing the gender wage gap, increasing access to financial education, improving college affordability, and investing in STEM careers and education.