波士頓華埠社區中心去年喜訊多 年會上鍾潔姿卸任董事長

李隆華(左)頒感謝狀表揚卸任董事長鍾潔姿(右)。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠社區中心(BCNC)6月28日在包氏藝術中心舉行年會，宣佈鍾潔姿卸任董事長，馬以正扶正，行政主任李隆華獲領導優異獎，至少3名員工獲外界表揚，昆士市據點順利建成等成就，歡喜匯報一連串好消息。

馬以正接任波士頓華埠社區中心董事長。

               1969年創辦，2019將慶祝50週年的波士頓華埠社區中心，經前行政主任梅大衛，卸任董事長鍾潔姿等人悉心經營，已成為華埠社區內最受外界稱許的服務機構之一，繼雅樹街(Ash)38號一棟5層高大樓建成，去年正式在昆士市興國街275號設立服務據點後，今年又在阿爾巴尼街(Albany)99號新設包氏藝術中心。

波士頓華埠社區中心在年報中驕傲指出，該中心現有員工66人，義工300多，捐助者1155人。2016會計年度經費577萬多元，營運開支519萬多元。

波士頓華埠社區中心行政主任李隆華做年會報告。(周菊子攝)

波士頓華埠社區中心是從2007年加入董事會，2010年出任董事會主席的鍾潔姿開始，強調從”家庭”角度出發的全方位新移民服務，並在原本的成人英語班，愛群(Acorn)托兒所外，不斷推出新項目，包括青少年及成人財務知識教育，高中生升讀大學獎助，如何做好家長的講座，鼓勵移民進修技能，參與公共事務，培訓領袖能力等。今年五月，白天由邦克丘社區學院開課，晚上由波士頓華埠社區中心辦活動的包氏藝術中心開張後，波士頓華埠社區中心的移民服務就更加全面了。

竹圈(Bamboo Circle)報告年度活動成果。(周菊子攝)

               28日傍晚，波士頓華埠社區中心行政主任李隆華感謝鍾潔姿從接任以來給予的指導，輔助，頒給她一份寫著慈字的獎狀，還請鍾潔姿的女兒上台，感性介紹她母親加入波士頓華埠社區中心服務，還帶動她也成為義工的事蹟。

               鍾潔姿雖然卸任董事長，將轉任副董事長，繼續留在董事會中服務。

               波士頓華埠社區中心在年會中還宣佈了董事會變動，包括Marlo 行銷公司營運長黃曼紅(Karen Wong)獲邀成為董事，先後已服務8年，6年的Dean Chin， Jimmy Chiu卸任董事。

哈佛大學榮修教授江淵聲也是波士頓華埠社區中心支持者。

               李隆華指出，波士頓華埠社區中心的成就是所有員工共同努力的結果。多名表現傑出員工還獲外界表揚，包括Kim Lampereur獲得麻州成人教育聯盟頒給年度傑出教育者獎，Jasmine Lee在課餘專業表揚週獲得波士頓課餘之外(Boston After School & Beyond)表揚為傑出領袖，吳荔(Lai Chan)獲得藍丘銀行及波士頓塞爾特人隊表揚為社區英雄。

波士頓華埠社區中心董事起立致意。(周菊子攝)

               由年輕人組成，藉有趣活動交流，支持波士頓華埠社區中心的竹圈(Bamboo Circule)，當天也由共同主席Emily Chu，Emily Sy報告了他們的去年活動概況，包括舉辦籃球賽，健身班，燒烤，林書豪見面會等活動籌款，組隊參加波士頓龍舟賽贏得社區組金牌，為BCNC晚宴，馬金路德服務日，屋街節，風味節等活動當義工等。

波士頓華埠社區中心當晚還表揚資深員工，包括服務滿20年的Fred Bennet， Arthur Grupee，服務滿15年的Kathy Choi，Nathan Choy，Kam Chu Yee，以及服務滿10年的Lawrence Fong，李隆華等人。(圖片已於2日發表)

BCNC Adults Students Celebrate Year‐End Accomplishments

BCNC Adults Students Celebrate Year‐End Accomplishments

BOSTON, June 22, 2017 – 140 adult students at Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) gathered for an end‐of‐year celebration with their teachers and families. BCNC provides educational programs for immigrant adults in Boston and Quincy including: English classes, computer literacy skills, career counseling, retail skills training, academic and career pathway classes, citizenship classes, and English for parents and caregivers. 

Mintong Li, a graduate of the Academic Skills class, spoke at the graduation. Shortly after she arrived in the U.S. last year, Mintong enrolled in BCNC’s adult education program. Within a year, she got a job at a local insurance company, started volunteering at an animal shelter and enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College where she is studying to become an accountant. Steven Valcin, an immigrant from Haiti, was so grateful for his learning that he presented a plaque to BCNC. 

The students produced a video to share what they learned at BCNC.  Xiaojuan worked on her English skills through reading stories at BCNC’s Quincy office. Gai Zhuan (Amy) was able to get a job as a salesperson at a Logan Airport international shop. Limor learned useful computer skills, and Anna and Zhimin are learning the skills necessary to become certified as pharmacy technicians. “We have learned so many different skills and feel empowered to do the research and to find the information we need,” said Anna. “We can do the planning ourselves.” Wen Qing is especially appreciative of BCNC for helping her become a US citizen. 

DAE廣告公司籌劃之AARP微信項目 榮獲美國亞裔廣告協會年度數位行銷大獎

AARP’s WeChat Campaign by DAE

Wins 3AF Digital Campaign of the Year Award

DAE廣告公司籌劃之AARP微信項目

榮獲美國亞裔廣告協會年度數位行銷大獎

Left to right: Sky Zhang, Junior Strategist, DAE; Chien Hwang, Executive Creative Director, DAE; June Kao, Marketing Consultant, AARP; and Genny Hom-Franzen, Executive Director, 3AF.

從左到右：DAE廣告公司初級策略員Sky Zhang、DAE創意總監黃建裕、AARP市場營銷顧問June Kao和美國亞裔廣告協會行政總監Genny Hom-Franzen。Download photo here. 點擊此處下載照片. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 29, 2017 – AARP’s “North American Joyful Age” campaign by DAE won 3AF’s inaugural Digital Campaign of the Year Award, an honor given to an agency that demonstrates excellence in engaging audiences via interactive or digital tactics. Presented by the Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF) at its Asian Marketing Summit in Los Angeles earlier this month, the award recognizes the best in culture and in-language creative work in the Asian American advertising and marketing industry.

Intent on ramping up its reach to the Chinese American segment, AARP looked beyond traditional media to expand its online presence to the burgeoning 50-plus digital consumer base. Fueled by research that revealed that Chinese Americans age 50-plus are digitally powered and socially empowered, DAE launched AARP’s “North American Joyful Age” (北美乐龄族) account on WeChat, the leading social media and lifestyle mobile application in China. AARP shared customized content with Chinese Americans about relevant community issues like health and wellness, fitness, food, fraud prevention, and financial security.

Video ads featuring celebrity chef Martin Yan engaged and educated audiences who wanted to learn more about his philosophy on healthy living, and broadened AARP’s presence in the Chinese American community. Additionally, in-language posts featuring former San Francisco District Attorney investigator Audrey Moy spotlighted simple everyday tips to help prevent fraud and financial scams. This was a significant opportunity to shed light on taboo, but prevalent topics within the Chinese American segment.  

“DAE created a campaign to help us find new ways to reach Chinese Americans age 50-plus and their families,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “WeChat was the perfect vehicle to engage bilingual and bicultural Chinese American families looking for AARP resources to help them improve their lives.”

The WeChat campaign incorporated a variety of interactive content to both educate and entertain readers, including infographics, a Chinese rap song, surveys, contests, games, offline events, and videos. Over the course of 11 weeks, the campaign exceeded expectations, reaching more than 115,000 people, accumulated more than 195,000 page views, and gained 3,000 new WeChat followers.

“We wanted to tell authentic stories of AARP members and their achievements as they age,” says Chien Hwang, Executive Creative Director at DAE. “To inform and connect, but most importantly, to be a natural part of the Chinese American community. Being part of the conversations on these digital platforms allowed us to do that.”

“We congratulate DAE and AARP for their strategic and innovative approach to the many Chinese American consumers age 50-plus who, thanks to the rise of technology, have increasingly become more familiar with—and may ultimately prefer— digesting mobile content,” said Jay Kim, President of the 3AF, a national trade organization comprised of Asian American advertising agencies, Asian market advertisers, Asian media companies and other industry specialists.

【華盛頓哥倫比亞特區2017年6月29日訊】DAE廣告公司針對AARP機構推出的“North American Joyful Age”（北美樂齡族）微信推廣運動獲得空前成功，最近更贏得Asian American Advertising Federation（美國亞裔廣告協會，簡稱3AF）首個年度數位行銷大獎，以表揚DAE靈活運用互動功能與數位技術成功吸引受眾的卓越表現。

美國亞裔廣告協會於本月初在洛杉磯舉行亞裔行銷峰會暨頒獎典禮，藉此表揚在亞美廣告營銷行業中能夠體現文化與語言需求的優秀創意作品。

AARP為了深入接觸美國華裔社區，因此跨越傳統媒體，將眼光投向日益增長的50歲以上數位消費群體，建立線上業務。研究發現，50歲以上的美國華裔一般具有使用數位產品和社交媒體的能力，在此前題的驅使下，DAE廣告公司於是在中國領先的社交媒體和生活文化應用程序微信上推出了AARP “North American Joyful Age”（北美樂齡族）群組。AARP通過此群組與美國華人討論醫療與健康、健身、食品、預防詐騙和財務安全等和民眾息息相關的社區議題。

該微信群組經常發佈一些相當實用的視頻，包括華裔名廚Martin Yan（甄文達）向觀眾分享他的健康生活理念、AARP如何深入美國華人社區、還有舊金山地檢處前偵查員Audrey Moy（梅綺蘭）以中文介紹簡單的日常防範之道，幫助民眾保護自己免受欺詐和各類財務騙局。群組為民眾提供了一個重要的渠道，讓大家討論一些平常難以啟齒，但在美國華人社區中普遍存在的禁忌話題。

“DAE成功創建了一個行銷方案，幫助我們找到更多能夠接觸50歲以上華裔和其家人的方式。”AARP多元文化引領亞太裔受眾副總裁Daphne Kwok（郭為婉）說：“微信是一個很好的平台，吸引和幫助雙語和雙文化華裔家庭獲得AARP的資源以幫助他們改善生活。”

該微信群組還含有豐富的互動內容，以教育讀者並提供娛樂，例如各種各樣的信息圖表、中文說唱歌曲、調查、比賽、遊戲、線下活動和視頻等。在僅僅11週的時間裡，這個行銷項目的效果便遠超預期，成功接觸到11.5萬人，累計瀏覽量達到19.5萬次，並獲得3,000名新微信組員加入。

“我們想將AARP會員在逐漸年長過程中所獲得的成就和故事，如實地告訴給大家。”DAE廣告公司創意總監 Chien Hwang（黄建裕）說：“我們希望與觀眾分享信息，同時和他們建立聯繫，但最重要的是必須自然地成為華裔社區一分子。我們通過這些數位平台進行對話，便可以做到這一點。”

“我們祝賀DAE和AARP善用策略性和創新性思維，成功吸引許多50歲以上的華裔消費人群。由於技術的興起，他們對移動內容越來越熟悉，移動內容最終甚至有可能發展成為這些人群的閱讀首選，”美國亞裔廣告協會主席Jay Kim說。美國亞裔廣告協會一個由美國亞裔廣告公司、亞裔市場廣告商，亞裔媒體公司和其他行業專家組成的全國性貿易組織。 

波士頓海外華文教師研習會 30餘老師結業

(Boston Orange)勒星頓中文學校主辦，波士頓僑教中心輔導的「2017年波士頓地區華文教師研習會」，為期3天，6月30日開幕，7月2日結業。30餘名以正體中文教學的華語文老師學到創意備課方式，學會用桌遊教華語，紛紛笑說教中文其實可以這麼有趣。

僑委會今年遴派的海外培訓老師是陳慧澐和黃仁杰。他們倆分別以「創意備課術」及「桌遊學華語」為主題，在僑教中心大廳和30餘名華語文老師交流整整3天，彼此都說收穫豐富。

僑教中心主任歐宏偉表示，僑委會派老師巡迴講學，與地方僑校合辦研習會，主要是為協助海外僑校華文教師加強教學知能，推展僑教工作並傳承中華文化，僑校教師們為精進華語文教學，不辭辛勞的利用假期來上課，令人感佩與感謝。

由於2名僑委會教師選擇的教學主題十分切合時代發展趨勢，僑校老師們覺得內容格外實用，紛紛表示很高興參加了研習會，讓他們也可以把華語文教學變得更有趣。

7月2日下午，研習會舉辦綜合座談後，僑教中心主任歐宏偉與勒星頓中文學校副校長陳盈杰聯袂頒發學員結業證書。(僑教中心提供資料)

僑委會海外華文教師培訓今年教創意、桌遊

僑教中心主任歐宏偉(中)和陳慧澐(右)及黃仁杰。

波士頓的海外華文教師研習會，今年由勒星頓中文學校承辦，僑務委員會遴選的兩名老師，陳慧澐及黃仁杰，在6月30日至7月2日這3日間，以「創意備課術」及「桌遊學華語」為主題，在僑教中心會址與報名上課老師們交流。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉在老師抵達後，特地設宴接風，並邀勒星頓中文學校副校長陳盈杰，紐英崙中華專業人員協會董事長王世輝，慈濟人文學校老師陳佳蓓，文化老師林賢琪等人作陪。

右起，紐英崙中華專業人員協會董事長王世輝夫婦
，陳慧澐，僑教中心主任歐宏偉，黃仁杰，勒星頓
中文學校副校長陳盈杰，慈濟人文學校老師
林賢琪，陳佳蓓。

紐英崙玉山科協請湯威頤教你做高效率簡報

紐英倫玉山科協"高效率簡報"講座部分出席者合影。

               (Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市報導)“訊息讓人記得住，決策者會採取行動，聽眾會記得你”。曾任IBM副總裁的湯威頤，6月24日在紐英崙玉山科技協會講座中，闡述如何做一份有高度影響力的簡報。

波士頓經文處副處長陳銘俊(右)和講者湯威頤(左)。(周菊子攝)

               紐英崙玉山科協從許翠玲接任會長後，辦活動聚焦於幫助年輕人提升能力，增加專業知識。日前在微軟創新中心舉辦的講座，不但請來曾任IBM副總裁，現在是I3nsight董事長 ，也是玉山理事的湯威頤來闡述”高影響力簡報(High Impact presentation)”該怎麼做，還安排曾獲德國iF設計獎的包盛盈做司儀，有項目在手的陳立洋，彭浩帆，黃士芳等3名年輕人做簡報，請湯威頤現場點評 ，讓人更有概念。

               湯威頤指出，做簡報一般有兩種目的，一是傳達知識或訊息，一是促使聽簡報者採取行動。簡報內容一般分三部分，首先要說明目的及核心想法，最重要是能勾住聽眾興趣，其次是設計情境，改變聽眾心理狀態，讓他們焦慮，不安的在不知不覺中接納，認同了做簡報者的核心想法，或是解決問題方案。最後是要促使決策者(聽眾)採取行動。

講座主持包盛盈。(周菊子攝)

               湯威頤用了IBM1996年為奧林匹克比賽提供資訊科技服務這案例，來闡述，強調簡報裏一定要有呼籲行動的部分，包括建議行動計畫，獲取同意，以及誰來執行。或者是取得一個協議的日期等。

紐英崙玉山科協會長許翠玲(中)和兩名講者，陳立洋(右)，彭浩帆(左)。
(周菊子攝)

               湯威頤還自己訂定了有關簡報的10點定律。1. 資訊科技架構是讓不同領域社會科技平台交流的地方，2,策略是要建立特別的科技系統方向和界線，3. 目的是宣布，在什麼狀況下要由誰利用什麼來達成什麼。4,沒有那納什均衡(非合作博弈均衡)原理，就不可能有長久的利益相關者關係。5, 追隨功能的表格，6. 實際行動會跟隨表格出現，7. 資訊科技是系統的系統，某些傳承是隱含的，遺傳的，8. 複雜是你的朋友，架構複雜是為了減少複雜程度，9. 根據準則(ilities)的來形成，設計，執行並經營，10, 純硬體的系統不存在，重力中心轉移到了服務上。

               湯威頤以馬丁賈克斯(Martin Jacques在TED中的演講，”了解中國崛起”來舉例，要年輕人記住，衝擊力(Impact)意味著，聽眾會記得你的訊息，決策者會採取行動，聽眾會記得你。

               紐英崙玉山科協會長許翠玲表示，這次的互動式工作坊讓與會者有機會藉實例學習，彼此之間也有許多交流和反饋。湯博士提出的簡報技巧，適用於所有類型簡報，讓參加這次工作枋的人可以在任何的專業背景之下運用這些技巧。

玉山街下來的活動，還有許多專業分享及年會等，查詢詳情可上玉山網站www.mj_ne.org。

               湯威頤為和更多人分享自己的經驗心得，他還寫了1本書，今年11月將由 Springer GmbH.出版的”主管決策理論:社會科技系統時代( Executive Decision Synthesis: A Sociotechnical System Paradigm)。(圖片已於6月25日發表)

湯威頤提供的參考資料:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nYFpuc2Umk cycles of dissonance & resolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H67JgLwyF4 TED guidelines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUXkThfQx6A More TED guidelines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwpi1Lm6dFo TED how-to

https://www.overdrive.com/media/1472748/say-it-with-presentations-revised-expanded McKinsey how-to book

/#49e2fb1f3089 https://www.forbes.com/sites/allbusiness/2013/11/04/9-tips-for-more-powerful-businesspresentations

波士頓亞美專協 7/29 年度燒烤會

NAAAP Boston to Host Annual Barbecue at Arsenal Park

NAAAP Boston, in collaboration with Meetup, is hosting its annual barbecue at Arsenal Park in Watertown on Saturday, July 29^th from 12 PM to 4 PM. Everyone is welcome to the event for a day of great food and fun activities. During the annual barbecue, NAAAP Boston will be kicking off their new Successful Parents in NAAAP (SPIN) program, so attendees are encouraged to bring their children and families to the event.  

The Summer Barbecue is an excellent way to meet fellow NAAAP members, reconnect with friends, and make new connections. Attendees will have the chance to relax, take in the summer sunshine, enjoy some fine barbecue fare, join in on a few outdoor games, and even participate in a raffle. Last year more than 125 people attended this event, so don’t miss out!

For additional information please visit https://goo.gl/2VXGQg

預算談不攏 緬因州政府將部分停擺

      (Boston Orange)州長和議會談不攏政府年度預算，緬因州政府7月1日(週六)起，部分停擺。

      由於緬因州眾議會共和黨員週五的抵制，州議會的多輪預算談判失敗，週六早上起，部分州政府停止運作。

      新的兩年71億元預算將廢除選民已通過，高收入者增稅3%，以資助學校，可額外提供1億6400萬元經費，並提高州政府住宿稅計畫。

      緬因州共和黨籍州長Paul LePage和眾議會共和黨籍議員們希望減少開支，支持一些被否決的政策計畫，並全面刪減所得稅。

民主黨籍眾議會議長Sara Gideon表示，深夜在州長住宅舉行的會議她離席，是因為州長針對她的過激行動。

由於這一預算僵局，緬因州政府部分停擺，但一些服務仍將繼續運作。

薪資福利談不攏 塔醫護士計畫7/12罷工

            (Boston Orange)代表塔芙茨(Tufts)醫療中心1200名護士的工會週六(7月`1日)早上說，和塔醫高層在員工，薪資及福利上無法達成協議，7月12日將罷工。

            麻州護士協會早前已威脅要罷工，但未訂定日期。依法，工會必須提前10日公告。

            塔醫是個有400張病床的教學醫院。塔醫高層表示，如果罷工了，該院得花至少600萬元來聘用臨時護士。

            工會表示，罷工將從早上7點開始，持續24小時。但醫院高層計畫在聘用臨時工之際，把罷工護士排除在外至少5天。

            塔醫和護士們已協商了14個月，仍無法達成協議。但如果雙方在未來10天內達成協議，這罷工還是可以避免的。

            代表工會和塔大談判的工會共同主席，本身也是護士的Barbara Tiller表示，在很多個月前，他們就已經對病人的安全，缺乏資源，以及報酬遲滯表達了憂慮。它們已經進一切可能來使塔醫高層了解狀況。

            塔醫執行長萬格納(Michael Wagner)博士表示，他對工會的宣佈感到極為失望。由於麻州護士協會曾向許多醫院提出罷工威脅，該院已有準備，將從全美各地找來合格註冊護士在罷工期間提供服務。

            數天前，麻州護士工會在春田市的灣州法蘭克林醫療中心(Baystate Franklin Medical Center)罷工。該中心約有200名護士工會會員。

            2011年時，麻州護士工會也威脅要在塔醫罷工，但在最後一分鐘達成協議。去年該會也計畫在布里吉罕及婦女醫院罷工，不過也在最後關頭避免了。

            上個月，塔醫提出3000萬元，包括4年內薪級最高護士加薪10.5%，其他護士在每年的的晉階加薪5%之外，另加薪5.5%的計畫。

            不過工會表示，塔醫那數目和波士頓其他醫院相比，不具競爭力。

Fidelity 1500 名員工將優離

(Boston Orange)波士頓環球報7月1日報導，大約1500多名穫多利(Fidelity)投資公司元將接受該公司有史以來第一次提出的自願離職辦法(buy out)。

“穫多利”發言人Vincent Loporchio表示，為了迎接新的金錢管理模式，向旗下3000名工作人員提出自願離職辦法，但接受這辦法的人竟超過一半，讓該公司驚訝不已。

           總部在波士頓的穫多利公司共有員工45,000人，這次行動的主要對象是在公司至少服務10年，現年55歲以上的員工，約佔全公司員工的7%。

           穫多利公司在2016年時報告營收為159億元，獲利35億元，其中一半來自刪減開支。

去年，根據年報，穫多利見到資577億元互惠資金外流時，開始積極管理互惠基金。

波士頓市長簽署2018財政預算31億5000萬元

MAYOR WALSH SIGNS $3.15 BILLION FY18 BUDGET, MARKING RECORD INVESTMENTS IN QUALITY CITY SERVICES ACHIEVED THROUGH STRATEGIC SAVINGS INITIATIVES

BOSTON - Friday, June 30, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today signed the City's $3.15 billion Fiscal Year 2018 budget, which through strong fiscal management and strategic savings initiatives allows for further investment in quality City services in neighborhoods across Boston, and builds on the success of existing City programs. During a signing ceremony hosted outside of a building marked by graffiti, Mayor Walsh joined members of his Cabinet and City staff, neighbors, community partners and local elected officials for the signing ceremony, that concluded with the graffiti busters team removing the graffiti from the wall. "This budget invests in our broadest vision of the future and in the details that support quality of life everyday," said Mayor Walsh. "Behind each line in the budget is a person and a neighborhood benefiting from these city services. It reflects the voices and the values of the people of Boston, and it is one that we can be proud of as a City." The $3.15 billion budget proposal represents an increase of $148.5 million, or 5 percent, over the FY17 budget, and follows 27 City Council hearings that identified opportunities for further targeted investments, while still balancing sustainability and fiscal responsibility. Investments in this budget are made possible due to savings initiatives launched under this Administration such as reduced overtime hours, health care cost containment reforms,  and lower debt service costs achieved as a result of the City's triple A bond rating. "The FY18 budget expands investment across City departments, improving fire safety, providing expanded learning opportunities to the City's children, and providing the resources to make our parks and streets safer and cleaner," said David Sweeney, Chief Financial Officer for the City of Boston. "Because of Boston's robust economic development climate, the Mayor is able to build new firehouses, invest one billion dollars in school buildings, expand Vision Zero, and incorporate more Art into our public assets." "As the Chair of the City Council Committee on Ways and Means, I was honored to lead the Council's review of this year's budget with a focus on providing a responsible and sustainable financial blueprint for our city," said City Councilor Mark Ciommo. "In an era of gridlock and divisiveness at the federal level, and financial uncertainty in our state government, the City of Boston's duty to provide a stable fiscal outlook has never been more important. I have always said that a city's budget reflects its priorities; this year's budget showcases Boston's commitment to its students, seniors, and safe streets for families across the city." EDUCATION The Boston School Committee approved a $1.061 billion budget for the Boston Public Schools (BPS) , which is projected to increase to $1.081 billion once collectively bargained cost increases are added, the largest appropriation in BPS history. That represents a projected $40 million increase since last year, and a $143 million increase since Mayor Walsh took office. In total funding increases for education surpasses all other areas combined. Funding directed to schools, will increase by almost 4 percent, a $25 million increase over FY17, even before employee collective bargaining increases are negotiated. In total, with this budget, staff levels at BPS will have increased by approximately 250 since Mayor Walsh took office in 2014. This budget includes: $14 million more in extended learning time to allow more than 15,000 additional students in 39 schools to receive 120 more hours of learning time, or the equivalent of 20 added school days a year; Numerous research-driven education investments and reforms, including expanding Excellence for All, adding pre-kindergarten (K1) seats, and providing supports to 3,000 students that have been identified as experiencing homelessness, in an effort to eliminate achievement gaps. DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL BASIC CITY SERVICES AND SAFER STREETS Mayor Walsh's Administration will continue ensuring that city streets are clean by adding a full-time hokey (street cleaner) to every Public Works District, to help patrol neighborhoods, empty our litter baskets, and pick up trash. In addition, to improve safety and expand access to our streets, Boston is launching a citywide, multi-year campaign to bring all crosswalks, lane markings and bike lanes into a good state of repair. Other investments include: Two additional graffiti busters to ensure Boston's neighborhoods remain clean. Through CityScore, Boston saw an increase in demand for graffiti removal beyond what current staffing levels could remove on time; Additional building inspectors to increase capacity to meet the growing demand for commercial and residential inspections. This will result in a reduction of inspection waiting time for residents and developers alike; Two additional yard waste pickups next summer to better meet constituents' needs. HEALTH AND SAFETY Mayor Walsh will double the capacity of the Mobile Sharps Team to pick up more improperly discarded hypodermic needles, due to an increase in requests submitted through 311. Over 20,000 needles were collected by the team in 2016. Other investments in health and safety include: Uses data to change the way we deploy Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to Boston Common and the Recovery Road area to improve patient outcomes and ambulance utilization; Expansion of PAATHS (Providing Access to Addictions Treatment, Hope and Support) to include evenings and weekends; Add four new mental health clinicians to the Boston Emergency Services Team (BEST) to co-respond with police officers to people exhibiting signs of mental illness. With these additional clinicians, the program will be able to cover all districts in the City and expand the program's success in diverting people from arrest to mental health resources; HOUSING The budget supports Housing a Changing City - Boston 2030, the Walsh Administration's comprehensive plan to accommodate Boston's rapid growth and stabilize the housing market over the next 15 years. By combining the City's annual $7.25 million general fund investment in housing with federal grants, state, grants and developer fees, the City leverages a wide variety of source to invest in the creation and preservation of affordable housing Citywide. Following on the successful creation of the Office of Housing Stability last year to assist Boston residents experiencing housing crises, programming will be expanded in FY18 by offering training for both landlords and tenants, developing a tenant orientation guide, and funding families in need of emergency placement. To support the Mayor's Action Plan to end chronic and veteran homelessness, Boston's Way Home, the the City will provide additional support services for veterans not eligible for veteran's affairs programs and modify the City's Homebuyer Financial Assistance Program to provide down payment assistance to veterans. As a response to federal funding cuts, the City will provide additional resources to BPHC to ensure that the city's homeless shelters continue to operate 24/7. Moreover, in recognition of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development's "Housing First" approach to ending chronic homelessness, the FY18 budget will support rapid rehousing programs that focus on helping households obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible. PROSPERITY, EQUITY AND ACCESS FOR ALL The City will launch five Neighborhood Slow Streets projects in FY18 thanks to a $1 million increase in the Vision Zero capital program, add 7.75 additional miles of separated bike lanes through 11 projects underway in the capital plan, increase Boston's bike racks by almost 10% and improve Vision Zero outreach and implementation capacity. Building on the success of recruiting a diverse class of 42 officers in 2016, representing 74 percent cadets of color and 36 percent female cadets, Mayor Walsh's FY18 budget adds another class of 20, for a total of about 60 cadets. The FY18 budget will include $500,000 for a pilot program to provide industrial level cleaning for firehouses to improve health outcomes for firefighters. Invests in a rotation of small renovations to neighborhood ball fields to keep them safe and playable. The FY18 budget proposal offers support for local artists through grant making and residencies. Library services will be restored to Chinatown after 54 years, providing easy access to a community gathering space, a place for teens and children to study and learn, and a location to access critical 21st century services, including internet and computers. The Police Department will pilot a Youth Development Grant Program, which will complement the City's Summer Jobs program, the Shannon Grant Program and the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative. For more information about the budget, visit Boston's budget website: budget.boston.gov, the City's new budget website that unlocks 860 pages of budget information in a new user-friendly platform. For more information about the budget process, please watch this video.