MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE TEACHER LEARNING COLLABORATIVE BETWEEN DISTRICT, CHARTER & CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS CITY

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE TEACHER LEARNING COLLABORATIVE BETWEEN DISTRICT, CHARTER & CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS CITY Boston Compact, Teach Plus work to bring best teaching practices to all classrooms in Boston

BOSTON - Tuesday, April 4, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and city education stakeholders today announced a groundbreaking new learning collaborative joining together Boston Public Schools, charter and Catholic schools in Boston to share and support best teaching practices and professional development across city school sectors. Mayor Walsh joined Boston Compact leaders, including Superintendent Tommy Chang, the Boston Charter Alliance, and the Archdiocese of Boston schools, along with Teach Plus, at the Mission Grammar School to launch The Boston Educators Collaborative (BEC). The Boston Educators Collaborative was established through a partnership with the Boston Compact and Teach Plus, and will recruit, select, train and support outstanding Teacher Leaders to facilitate professional learning for their peers. Through the Collaborative, selected teachers will lead five-week, 15-hour university courses on key topics that ensure instruction reaches all learners, provides rigorous curricula and is culturally proficient. These courses will help foster the collaboration across all three sectors--district, charter and Catholic schools--and bring the skills back to the students in classrooms across the city. "Great teaching and great learning happen across the City of Boston and are not confined to just Boston Public Schools, just charter schools or just Catholic schools," said Mayor Walsh. "We know from experience that, by working together, we can share teachers' strengths to improve the overall quality of our schools and provide every child in our city a top-notch education." "This type of professional learning network will support improved student learning outcomes in our classrooms," said Paul Toner, executive director of Teach Plus. "We know teachers learn best from fellow practitioners and we think we can greatly boost teacher efficacy with this effort." "This effort will get our teachers the type of content-specific, real-time professional development they want and need," said Rachel Weinstein, Chief Collaboration Officer with the Boston Compact. "We're constantly impressed with the ways Catholic, charter and district school educators can and do work together, help each other and learn from one another." "I'm excited that educators from across the city can learn from one another and build on each other's strengths," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang. "Collaboration of best practices is a proven way to improve strategies that increase academic rigor and narrow opportunity and achievement gaps for all of our students." "Our students are our number one priority, and our teachers are our number one asset. Both will benefit from collaborative efforts like these that focus on improving the quality of education children receive no matter where they go to school," said Shannah Varón, Executive Director at the Boston Collegiate Charter School and Chair of the Boston Charter Alliance. "The Boston Educators Collaborative is a great way to strengthen our teaching in all classrooms-we're excited to work with the other sectors to impart our strengths and create a stronger education system across the city," said Kathleen Power Mears, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Boston. Six courses will begin in May, including 'Culturally Responsive Teaching: How Does Culture Play a Role in Learning?' and 'How to Use Student Talk and Differentiated Checks for Understanding to Elevate Mathematical Thinking for All.' Additional courses will be offered throughout 2017 and 2018. For course descriptions and to register, please click here.

INSURANCE COMPANY TO PAY $2.8 MILLION TO RESOLVE CLAIMS OF UNLAWFUL, DECEPTIVE SALES OF HEALTH INSURANCE SOLD ACROSS STATE LINES

INSURANCE COMPANY TO PAY $2.8 MILLION TO RESOLVE CLAIMS OF UNLAWFUL, DECEPTIVE SALES OF HEALTH INSURANCE SOLD ACROSS STATE LINESSettlement will Provide $2.3 Million to Customers in Massachusetts; Company Allegedly Failed to Cover Basic Health Care Services Required by Law

BOSTON – A Kansas-based insurance company has agreed to pay more than $2.8 million to settle allegations that it used deceptive and unlawful practices to sell health insurance to Massachusetts consumers, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. The settlement will provide more than $2.3 million to consumers.

According to the complaint, filed Monday along with the consent judgment in Suffolk Superior Court, Unified Life Insurance Company (ULIC) sold health insurance to Massachusetts consumers that was not authorized for sale and engaged in a host of deceptive practices, such as claiming its insurance included services that it did not cover. According to the AG’s complaint, ULIC also excluded Massachusetts consumers from coverage based upon their health status or preexisting conditions, and failed to cover basic health services – such as behavioral health services, maternity services, preventive services for women and children, and other essential benefits required by Massachusetts law. The coverage at issue was sold across state lines and was issued through a third-party association.

“This company sold sub-par health insurance that violated state law,” said AG Healey. “Recently revived federal proposals to take away our state’s longstanding authority to oversee sales of health insurance will leave consumers and families more vulnerable to exploitation and create a ‘race-to-the-bottom’ that will raise prices and reduce access to quality health care for those in need.”

“Consumers deserve to shop for health insurance free from unfair and deceptive sales tactics,” said Donald M. Berwick, President Emeritus of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “I applaud our Attorney General for protecting a level playing field in Massachusetts, where insurers compete on providing better health care, not on discriminating against those with preexisting conditions. Our state has a strong history of setting basic standards for health insurance that its residents can depend on.”

State law also requires that health benefit plans sold to individuals or small groups in Massachusetts be filed with the Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI) and approved by the Commissioner of Insurance. According to the AG’s complaint, ULIC did not file with DOI or get approval from the Commissioner.

Under the terms of the consent judgment, approved by the Court on Monday, ULIC must pay more than $2.8 million, including $2,348,000 for consumer relief, which will be distributed by ULIC, and $465,000 to the Commonwealth, including $450,000 in civil penalties.  

The AG’s Office has brought multiple actions raising similar issues against health plans, often ones sold across state lines and involving association health insurance.

Consumers concerned about illegal health insurance practices in Massachusetts are urged to call the AG’s Health Care Helpline at (888) 830-6277. Guidance on how to choose a health plan is also available on the AG’s website. 

            This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Emiliano Mazlen, with assistance from Division Chief Karen Tseng and Mediator/Policy Analyst Patricia Hamilton, of AG Healey’s Health Care Division and Anthony Crespi of AG Healey’s Civil Investigations Division.

馬惠美宣佈參選牛頓市市長

馬惠美(Amy Mah Sangiolo)。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 在位已十餘年的牛頓市議員馬惠美(Amy Mah Sangiolo)，4月3日宣佈參選牛頓市市長。由於現任市長塞提(Warren Setti)已決定不再連任，牛頓市亞裔政治意識正漸提高，麻州再出現一名亞裔市長的可能，讓人十分期待。

              馬惠美(Amy Mah Sangiolo)是住在第四選區的牛頓市不分區市議員。4月3日她宣佈參選牛頓市市長時表示，她非常興奮有這機會繼續服務社區，並成為塑造牛頓市未來的一分子。她發誓會以尊重，多元化，負責任的方式，帶動居民把牛頓市打造得更美好。

              本身是持牌律師的馬惠美，1997年時第一次參選牛頓市議員。她在促使政府為人民服務上，方法很直接，就是聆聽人民聲音，尊重多元觀點，用數據以及什麼對整個牛頓市最好，來做決定依據。同時她也

要求自己和其他人負責任。

            第一次參選市議員時，她以12票之微，打敗了競選連任的在位者，之後順利連任20年，成為麻州在位時間最長的亞裔民選議員，推動過許多重要法案，包括修訂區域規劃(zoning)等。

            父親是華裔第二代的美國退伍空軍，母親是日本移民的馬惠美，和丈夫約翰在牛頓市住了將近22年，育有3名子女，分別已從牛頓公校畢業，或正在就讀。最近她們還把馬惠美91歲的母親接到家裏一起住。

                  牛頓市人口87,675，其中亞裔佔14.2%，華裔7,083人，佔8.1%。近年來關注政治的華裔人數漸增，繼2015年曾有張文華參選憲章委員會委員後，今年據說有曾任牛頓中文學校校長的沈安平要參選學校委員。

由於2015年任期屆滿後，黃素芬未競選連任。馬惠美的參選市長，讓許多人十分期待。查詢其競選概況，可上網站www.sangiolo.org。

麻州華裔民代檔案:

麻州的華裔民代，人數一向很少。1997年時，馬惠美應是第一個當選為議員的亞裔女性。其後陸續踏入政壇的有2007年當選為麻州費奇堡(Fitchburg)市市長的黃素芬(Lisa Wong)，當選為牛頓市議員的談繼欣，2009年當選劍橋市議員的張禮能(Leland Cheung)，以及2010年同時當選，2011年上任為麻州眾議員的黃子安(Donald Wong)，陳德基(Tackey Chan)，2014年當選，2015年上任為波士頓市議員，2017年再當選為市議會議長的吳弭(Michelle Wu)。

這些年間經由選舉，當選鎮委員，學校委員，康娛局委員，房屋管理委員等民意代表的華人，也漸次增加，早期有陳眾山，後來有孔軒，李波，蕭廣松，羅紅濱，鄧遠志，朱新生，王衛東，伍甘澍，當選市鎮分別為布魯克蘭鎮，牛頓市，勒克星頓鎮，衛斯頓鎮，康可鎮等。

波士頓市曾有市長指派的阮浩鑾擔任學校委員會委員。

貝克政府新設公共服務獎表揚前州長保羅瑟祿奇

Baker-Polito Administration Creates New State Public Service Award To Honor Former Governor Paul Cellucci

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the opening of the Commonwealth’s 33^rd annual Performance Recognition Program application period, which will include a new award created for the 2017 program titled the “Governor Paul Cellucci Award for Leadership and Mentoring in State Government.” The Cellucci Award will be open to any Executive Branch or Higher Education employee who has been in state service for 2 years and are leaders in the area of mentoring in the workplace and the fostering of a supportive and learning environment amongst colleagues.

"Paul took enormous pride in the team he built to work by his side in public service with integrity and determination,” said Jan Cellucci, wife of the former Governor. “It also gave Paul enormous joy, even as he faced the realities of ALS,  that many members of his Administration were inspired to continue to serve the Commonwealth.  Our family  remains indebted to their service and is so grateful that others will be encouraged to follow Paul's example through this award."

“Working with and for Governor Paul Cellucci for eight years allowed me to learn and benefit tremendously from his insights and collaborative spirits,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Like so many others, I was able to advance because of his interest in my growth and development and willingness to teach others what he already knew.” 

“Governor Paul Cellucci was my friend and mentor and I'm proud and honored to have his portrait hang in my office as a reminder of the strength and power of bipartisan leadership and state partnership with local government,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “A true public servant, I am inspired by his example and strive to incorporate the values of respect and civility in my work today and am pleased to see his legacy recognized through the works of others employed by our Commonwealth.”

“I had the tremendous honor of working for Governor Cellucci, who was one of the nicest and most genuine persons I have ever met,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Kristen Lepore, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff under Governor Cellucci.  “This award will preserve his legacy and set the bar for future state employees who choose to follow in his footsteps and serve the Commonwealth.”

Argeo Paul Cellucci of Hudson served as Governor of the Commonwealth from 1997 – 2001, when he was appointed Ambassador to Canada by President George W. Bush. Cellucci had previously served the Commonwealth as Lieutenant Governor (1991 – 1997), a State Senator (1985-1991), and a State Representative (1977-1985). Governor Cellucci spent his career engaging others to embrace public service and instilling a philosophy of “paying it forward.”  He was known for his commitment to keeping taxes low, maintaining fiscal discipline, supporting higher education standards, and combatting domestic and sexual violence.

The Commonwealth will honor all Performance Recognition Program award winners at a State House ceremony in the Fall, date to be determined.  Other awards to be given out will include Manuel Carballo Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service, the Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Public Service Award, and the Commonwealth Equity in Governance Award.

哈佛沙龍4/9邀李豫偉談中醫藥展望

邦克丘學院獲Deval Patrick獎5萬元

Bunker Hill Community College Learn and Earn Program Receives Deval Patrick Award

BOSTON, March 29, 2017— Bunker Hill Community College received the Deval Patrick Prize for Community Colleges in recognition of its Learn and Earn experiential education and internship program.  The annual award from The Boston Foundation acknowledges progress and excellence made by community colleges in establishing employer partnerships and career pathways. Former Governor Deval Patrick presented the award in the amount of $50,000 to President Pam Eddinger on March 22, 2017.

The Deval Patrick Prize builds on a reform movement that recognizes the critical role that community colleges play in developing the workforce needed by regional employers. President Eddinger thanked the Governor for framing this new paradigm, seeing the alliance between businesses and community colleges. 

Paul Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation, kicked off the event with a convening of community colleges and keynote address given by Dr. Karen A. Stout, President of Achieving the Dream.

Representing the success of BHCC’s Learn & Earn program, Eddinger invited alumni Nelson Franjul and current student Surya Madhala to speak to the growth opportunities that the program presents, and share how they’ve benefited from the program both personally and professionally. 

In his remarks, Governor Patrick said “Matching employer needs with specific training and education for our residents is at the very center of dissolving the skills gap. In fact, it’s critical to how we think about growing the economy out so it reaches the marginalized, not just the well-connected. Community colleges have been at the very center of that undertaking, and we continue to ask them to step up to meet the challenges facing our Commonwealth and communities. We must also support and celebrate them, and that is what this award is truly about.”

“You heard I’m a community college graduate,” said Bill Swanson, Former CEO of Raytheon and current President of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership. “Community college gave me the spark that lit the fire and the passion to do everything I could do and make a difference.”

Learn and Earn was launched in 2012 as collaboration with the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership (MACP) starting with 20 students and five employer partners. Now in its fifth year, the program has grown to 18 partners and has placed 500 students in internships at top corporations in and around Boston and across all major industry sectors.

Through the program, BHCC students have the opportunity to interview for paid internships at 18 leading Boston companies. Learn and Earn Partners include Bank of America, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Dovetail Health, Eaton Vance Investment Managers, EMC, Fidelity Investments, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Plymouth Rock Assurance, Putnam Investments, Raytheon, Staples, State Street, Suffolk Construction, The Boston Foundation, Tufts Technology Services, UBS and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Interested in building a qualified and diverse workforce? Partner with the Learn and Earn program at Bunker Hill Community College. Learn more atbhcc.edu/learnandearn/ or contact learnandearn@bhcc.mass.edu.

波士頓市長馬丁華殊慶50大壽 將競選連任

Tuesday, April 4th at 6 p.m. at Laugh Boston, to celebrate Mayor Martin Walsh's 50th birthday.
Please RSVP and secure your ticket today to help the Mayor celebrate his birthday with a night of comedy and good music!

Most sincerely,

The Walsh Committee

波市長 AAUW合作開班 教你談判薪資

MAYOR WALSH, AAUW TO HOST 14 FREE SALARY NEGOTIATION WORKSHOPS TO MARK EQUAL PAY AWARENESS WEEK

BOSTON - Monday, April 3, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) today announced the launch of Boston's second "Equal Pay Awareness Week," featuring 14 free salary negotiation workshops for women who live or work in Boston. The goal of Equal Pay Awareness Week is to acknowledge the gender wage gap and its consequences, while providing the training and tools to help Boston women advocate for themselves within the workforce. Tuesday, April 4 is "Equal Pay Day," a symbolic date when women's pay "catches up" and equals men's pay from the previous year. Women working full-time are typically paid just 80 percent on average of what white, non-Hispanic men make. That gap is larger for black and Hispanic women. "Boston thrives when women and men have an equal playing field," said Mayor Walsh. "These salary negotiations are one step we can take to provide women with the information and tools to advocate for themselves and work towards closing the wage gap. The workshops, combined with the work we are doing with employers to report wage data anonymously, will continue to make Boston the best city for working women. With the help of AAUW Work Smart and my Office of Women's Advancement, we will continue to fight for equal pay for all." "Salary negotiation workshops are part of AAUW's multifaceted approach to closing the gender pay gap," said Jesse B. Rauch, the senior program manager for AAUW's salary negotiation workshop programs, AAUW Start Smart and AAUW Work Smart. "Women who negotiate increase their potential to earn higher salaries and better benefits packages - and these advantages add up over time." AAUW Work Smart salary negotiation workshops were launched in September of 2015 as a five-year partnership with the City of Boston. Since that time, the program has trained over 3,000 working women in the City, with the goal of training 8,500 Boston women by December 2017, and 85,000 women by 2020. Registration for AAUW Work Smart in Boston free salary negotiation workshops is available online. The following workshops will be open to press: Monday, April 3 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Host: She Geeks Out Anchor (Behind the Render 121 Cafe on the First Floor) 50 Milk St. Tuesday, April 4 6:30 p.m..- 8:30 p.m. Host: The Latina Circle The Coop @ Hatch Fenway Landmark Center 401 Park Drive *Take 8th Floor East Elevators Thursday, April 6 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Host: Ellevate Network Boston Ernst Young, 200 Clarendon St. To cover the workshop, media is required to RSVP to the Mayor's Press Office: press.office@boston.gov, or 617-635-4461. Additional information will be provided to outlets that RSVP.