Baker-Polito Administration Awards $3 Million in Community Compact IT Grants to 44 Cities and Towns

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $3 Million in Community Compact IT Grants to 44 Cities and Towns

COHASSET – Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito today announced $3 million in technology grants to 44 cities and towns across the Commonwealth through the Community Compact Information Technology (IT) Grant Program. Today’s announcement will benefit more than 49 municipal entities and brings the total number of municipal IT grants issued over the past four years to 188, assisting 250 communities with $9 million in grant funding to modernize their technology systems and deliver service to their residents more efficiently.

Lt. Governor Polito made the announcement while visiting the Cohasset Middle/High School. Cohasset will receive a $50,000 grant to develop a new Student Information System (SIS), allowing the school district to coordinate and communicate key student and school-level data in real-time, to inform decision-makers and also meet data reporting mandates. The updated system will be more efficient and provide forecasting tools that are currently unavailable.

“The Community Compact Cabinet continues to engage in important work to strengthen our role as a reliable partner for the Commonwealth’s cities and towns,” said Governor Baker. “Technology is a necessary but costly investment for our communities, and these grants enable them to take on critical projects that improve efficiency and help them deliver better service to the public.”

“Community Compact IT grants are a valuable way for the Community Compact program to provide access to resources for major technological projects that might otherwise be unaffordable,” said Lt. Governor Polito, Chair of the Community Compact Cabinet. “A great example is Cohasset’s plan to upgrade its Student Information System for greater productivity and the sophisticated tools that a school district requires to help meet its administrative obligations and its students’ educational needs.”

Cities and towns have used the IT grant funding to upgrade their websites, implement new systems that allow residents to apply for permits and licenses online, improve the security and capacity of municipal IT systems, digitize records and develop other solutions to costly technological challenges.

In addition to the IT grants, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded $7.3 million in technical assistance grants and $4 million in efficiency and regionalization grants since starting the Community Compact Program in 2015.

“The Baker-Polito administration is proud to partner with cities and towns to maximize available resources and improve the customer experience,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan. “The Administration’s capital plan funds this important grant program, empowering communities both large and small to make critical technology infrastructure investments.”

Examples of Community Compact IT Grant Program Initiatives in this round of funding:

• Bedford will receive a $37,700 grant for new software to make the municipal permitting process more efficient, improve record-keeping, and enhance communication among municipal departments and with permit applicants
• Hadley will receive a $19,350 grant to consolidate its billing platforms for property, tax, sewer, water, motor vehicle excise, and boat excise billing and collections
• Lancaster will receive a $135,020 grant to extend its high-speed fiber network to additional municipal buildings
• Monterey will receive a $9,840 grant to allow residents and contractors to pay for services at the town transfer station and Board of Health using a credit card
• New Bedford will receive $80,000 to construct disaster recovery technology infrastructure and integrate the city’s operation with the school and police departments
• Pittsfield will receive $95,000 to develop a state-of-the-art, secure wireless access system within multiple city buildings that will provide wireless Internet access to both city employees and the public
• Salem will receive a $150,000 grant to digitize public records
• Whitman will receive $199,601 to enhance radio communication for its police and fire departments

For a full list of awardees and projects, click here.

About the Community Compact Cabinet:

Formed in January 2015, the Community Compact Cabinet is chaired by Lt. Governor Polito and is composed of the secretaries of Housing & Economic Development, Education, Transportation, Energy & Environmental Affairs, and Technology Services and Security, and the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Local Services and the Assistant Secretary of Operational Services. The Community Compact Cabinet elevates the Administration’s partnerships with cities and towns, and allows the Governor’s Office to work more closely with leaders from all municipalities. The Cabinet champions municipal interests across all executive secretariats and agencies, and develops, in consultation with cities and towns, mutual standards and best practices for both the state and municipalities. The creation of Community Compacts creates clear standards, expectations, and accountability for both partners.

On May 3, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito participated in the signings of the 350th and 351st Community Compacts, ensuring every city and town in the Commonwealth will enjoy the benefits of the partnership.

哈佛大學招生涉嫌歧視亞裔訟案 開庭首日辯平權運動

(Boston Orange整理報導)”學生爭取公平招生(Students for Fair Admissions)”控告哈佛大學歧視亞裔的訟案，10月15日(週一)開庭，估計將進行三週。

”學生爭取公平招生”在遞交給法院的文件中稱，亞裔必須在標準化的測驗中比其他少數族裔，白人同儕表現得更好，才能上哈佛大學。這種片面標準是哈佛大學帶有族裔意識的招生過程，懲處了亞裔的證據。

不過在哈佛大學已任職很久的招生主任William Fitzsimmons反駁這種說法。

在這場萬眾矚目的審訊中，William Fitzsimmons是第一個上證人席的哈佛人員。他說測驗分數的差異反映了哈佛大學的承諾，要從更廣範圍招生，讓哈佛大學擴大接觸到黑人，西語裔，以其那些來自代表性不足領域學生。這樣的招生努力，確保了哈佛校園更多元化。

William Fitzsimmons 說，“那純粹是嘗試接觸到所有不同背景的人，特別是那些因為經濟條件差受到不成比例影響的人”。”我們只是試著接觸的全國各地的人”。

這場估計將進行三週的審訊，由於是全美最老，最菁英的大學要為自己高度選擇性，並且通常很祕密的招生過程辯護，已引來全球關注。

這場法律訟戰，估計最後會打到美國最高法院，並有可能改變全美有些學校在招生時以族裔為挑選因素的做法。

週一在法庭內，關於誰得到申請邀約，彰顯了”學生爭取公平招生”和哈佛大學在大學招生過程中，族裔所扮演角色上的基本歧異。

            根據”學生爭取公平招生”，在2013年時，住在美國郊區，SAT分數只有1310的白人學生，更有可能得申請哈佛大學的邀約，然而一名亞裔女性卻需要1350分，一名亞裔男性需要1380分。全美的黑人及西語裔學生，只要至少有基本分的1100，哈佛救濟邀請信。根據法庭文件，那時候，可能的最高分數是1600分。

這邀請是菁英大學擴大學校申請人群常用的早期招生工具。這邀請並不保證錄取，但的確向候選人指出了學校希望他們申請。

哈佛大學在週一的開場聲明中辯稱，為確保其教育目標的要讓學生為越來越多元化，全球化的社會做準備，在招生過程中使用族裔因素是合法及重要的。哈佛否認歧視亞裔申請人。

            哈佛大學理事會理事暨Wilmer Hale律師樓合夥人李威鳳(William Lee)在開場發言中表示，"族裔從來不是學生被錄取的唯一原因，也當然從來不是學生被拒絕的原因”。

李威鳳是華人移民之子，指控”學生爭取公平招生”操縱統計數據來證明他們申訴的案子。

他說，“如果你操弄數據的時間夠長，它就能適用於任何事”。

這訟案是近年關於爭辯大學招生中平權運動的最新案例。最高法院已縮窄了在招生中使用族裔的範圍，但的確准許學校在評估學生時，以之做為許多考慮因素之一。

早前的法律挑戰聚焦於有族裔意識的招生是否傷害了白人申請者。”學生爭取公平招生”的首領Edward Blum，早前在德州大學一宗推翻平權運動中，為白人學生出頭。

在這宗案裏，”學生爭取公平招生”宣稱，六年前的哈佛招生數據顯示，亞裔申請人處於劣勢。哈佛評估學生時，在學業，課外活動之餘，還考慮諸如勇氣，仁慈等個人品質。而亞裔學生在個人優點上傾向於得分低，傷害了他們上哈佛的機會，說明有偏見。

為”學生爭取公平招生”做開場辯解的Adam Mortara表示，哈佛大學”從前門引進了種族歧視這頭狼”。

曾任最高法院大法官克拉倫斯湯姆斯(Clarence Thomas)書記的Adam Mortara ，用試算表和文件辯稱，亞裔申請人在幾項因素上比白人評等高，但在個人品質上就比較低。這結果導致校園裏每有兩名白人學生，才有一名亞裔學生。

在坐滿了哈佛領導，媒體，激進份子的法院聆訊室內，Adam Mortara說， “這審訊是關於哈佛大學對亞裔申請者做了什麼，造成什麼影響”。”未來幾週在這兒審訊的不是平權招生的未來”。

NAACP法律辯護及教育基金董事長Sherrilyn Ifill表示，但最終，這案子會廢除行之多年的平權運動。

            這宗法律訴訟案件是關於每年從42,000個申請人中，只錄取1,600名新鮮人的哈佛大學。

            但是全美許多最菁英的大學在評估潛在的新鮮人學生時，也採用類似哈佛大學的方法。

            如果這宗案上到了最高法院，可能會給平權行動反對者一個機會，在高等教育界更廣泛的限制以族裔意識招生。

“學生爭取公平招生”要哈佛大學採取不分族裔的招生做法。哈佛大學的專家認為，那樣做對白人學生最有利，並略為改善亞裔的錄取率，但會大幅度減少黑人及拉丁裔學生在校園內的比例。

Sherrilyn Ifill說，那完全和平權運動有關。我們不能忘記，我們在這兒，是因為Edward Blum的白人學生案沒贏。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Expansion of Domestic Violence Assessment Tool for Local Law Enforcement

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Expansion of Domestic Violence Assessment Tool for Local Law Enforcement

RANDOLPH - Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, Undersecretary for Law Enforcement Jennifer Queally, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo, Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson, Municipal Police Training Committee Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coordinator Maura Landry and Jane Doe, Inc. Executive Director Debra Robbin to discuss the success of the Domestic Violence toolkit and building upon that success, announced the expansion of the toolkit into Barnstable, Hampden, Berkshire, Norfolk, Worcester and Bristol Counties, while declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“Our administration is pleased to partner at the local level to expand this tool kit to law enforcement officials in counties across the Commonwealth to continue fighting to eradicate acts of sexual assault and domestic violence in Massachusetts and bring awareness during October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am grateful to Lt. Governor Karyn Polito for her tireless efforts and leadership, helping survivors and officials responding to these senseless assaults.”

“We are grateful for our partners in law enforcement at the local level as well as non-profits and members of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence who have worked hard to pursue ways to help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault break out of a cycle of violence and the expansion of this proven toolkit is imperative to the success of responding to such crimes,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, chair of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. “The Council will continue to develop solutions and resources to assist and support survivors and to end acts of sexual assault and domestic violence in Massachusetts.”

In March 2017, Lt. Governor Polito announced the launch of the Domestic Violence toolkit pilot initiative in partnership with the Municipal Police Training Committee (MTPC) to provide local law enforcement with tools to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These tools assist in gathering history and identifying risk and re-assault factors.

The first communities to utilize the toolkit include Woburn, Foxboro, Greenfield and Quincy. With this rollout Barnstable, Hampden, Berkshire, Norfolk, Worcester and Bristol Counties as well as the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office will access and deploy the toolkit to better respond to acts of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to support survivors in their communities.

“We come together during October to formally acknowledge domestic violence month but our efforts continue each and every day to end domestic violence in Massachusetts,” said Secretary Marylou Sudders. “Our collaboration between police, DA’s Office, and community-based organizations is vital in reducing domestic violence and  providing appropriate services for its survivors in the Commonwealth.”

“National estimates indicate that one in two women and one in five men experience sexual violence victimization at some point in their lives,” said Undersecretary for Law Enforcement Jennifer Queally. “Through her work as Chair of the Council, Lt. Governor Polito has worked to ensure that local law enforcement and victim service agencies have the resources they need to hold offenders accountable and assist victims across Massachusetts.”

In 2016, the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence announced priorities with the launch of work groups in five priority areas identified by the Council and the administration. The Response and Assessment work group of the Council created Domestic Violence Assessment and Strangulation worksheets.

The Domestic Violence Assessment and Strangulation worksheets were developed to assist municipalities, by providing tools, training and guidance in gathering the appropriate information in domestic violence cases.

The worksheets inform basic safety planning and services, bail decisions, conditions of probation, and sentencing of an offender. These tools also help Intimate Partner Abuse Education programs, assist in custody, visitation, 209A and any other civil matters where safety of adults and children should be considered. The worksheets give guidance on important information for law enforcement to gather when they are responding to survivors of domestic violence and provide them with protocols on disseminating information to those survivors on where they can get support, as well as document important information that may influence the ability to hold offenders accountable and increase safety for survivors and children.

“The use of these new worksheets has provided valuable information that helps hold offenders accountable and victim safety in Bristol County,” said Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn.

“It is important during Domestic Violence Awareness Month to remember and recognize victims, but also to continually move forward in providing better protection and better services,” said Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said. “I am pleased to have this distinguished group here in Norfolk County today fulfilling both purposes – remembrance and constructive change.”​

"The implementation of the domestic violence tool kit has assisted the Woburn Police Department in more effectively identifying and providing services to victims and survivors of domestic violence," said Woburn Police Chief Robert Ferullo.

“The development of the DV toolkit is an example of the continuous efforts by many to improve the response to DV cases. It will improve the triangle of communication that is needed between Police, Prosecutors and Victim Services,” said Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson. “Starting at first contact, consistent information can be gathered that will improve the ability to help victims, improve prosecutions, provide victim services and break the cycle of violence. We will continue to evaluate and do what is necessary to confront domestic violence.”

In April 2015, Governor Baker signed Executive Order 563, re-launching the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. Over its first year, the Council’s priorities included analyzing and reporting on the implementation of Chapter 260: An Act Relative to Domestic Violence and a report was issued providing updates on each of the 49 actionable provisions within the law. The Council has launched work groups in five priority areas, including child trafficking and prevention education in schools and universities.

全美亞裔總商會下一代青年會波士頓開第三屆年會

全美亞裔總商會下一代青年會第三屆年會合影。(周菊子攝)

全美亞裔總商會會長暨執行長董繼玲(右)
和該會下一代青年會創辦人蘇宇寅(左)。
(周菊子攝)

          

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)全美亞裔總商會(ACE)麾下的”下一代(NextGen)”，10月13日在波士頓地區廳(District Hall)舉辦第三屆年會，100餘名來自全美各地的亞裔青年企業家匯聚，交流，熱情高昂。

             全美亞裔總商會(ACE)的”下一代(NextGen)”分支創辦人蘇宇寅(Ian So)表示，年輕人有同儕支持，分享經驗，故事，創業之路才會走得更開心。

             這第三屆年會的主題是”起源(Origins)”，邀嘉賓及出席者從顧客，投資者，員工，家庭等各種角度分享經歷，一個個故事，不斷觸動人心，也給出許多他山之石可以攻錯的參考。

            12日晚除了在沃爾瑪(Walmart)贊助下，辦有一場婦女創業家聚會之外，還先在劍橋市的谷歌公司內(Google)請來自加州的"七葉(Seven Leaves)”創辦人阮哈(譯音， Ha Nhuyen)分享創業經驗。阮哈坦言他是”船民”，還很小時，跟著家人從越南移民來美，創業路上有家人，親戚的扶持，經營時只要求比別人好1%，是成功關鍵。他們的相關企業也從被譽為”亞洲星巴克”的咖啡，陸續增加會計，法律，建築等不同領域公司，成為”七葉”。

全美亞裔總商會下一代青年會創辦人蘇宇寅致詞(右四)。(周菊子攝)

             13日的大會，由創辦”個人教練”公司的徐子棋，訪問創辦”為美國創業(Venture for America)”的楊安澤(Andrew Yang)拉開序幕。

             父母來自台灣，在紐約出生，長大的楊安澤，侃侃而談自己從布朗大學畢業，休的是政治、經濟，後來又唸哥倫比亞大學法學院，取得律師資格，卻走上創業這條路的成長歷程。

徐上祺(Anna Tsui)訪談Venture America創辦人楊安澤(Andrew Yang)。
(周菊子攝)

            楊安澤不諱言，在青少年時期，常聽擁有60多項專利的父親埋怨上司專業知識不足，卻握有決定權，可能這無形中影響了他要做自己的老闆，畢業後只當幾個月律師，就開始創業，沒想到遇上網路泡沫，只得回頭打工，後來是開升學教材公司賺到錢，被全美知名的Kaplan收購後，他成立了”為美國創業”這非牟利機構，從最初的啟動資本約20萬美元，發展到如今在18各城市設有據點，促成了200多家初創企業。

             楊安澤指出，很多學者，分析公司的研究都顯示，產業自動化，人工智慧的發達是美國中西部大批人口失業，政府的再就業技能培訓，有效程度只是0%到15%左右，國家再不重視這情況，整個社會將來一定出問題，所以他才決定競選下任美國總統。

IW集團副總裁黃文鋒(Terry Wong)提綱契領得教人打造品牌。
(周菊子攝)

加州Seven Leaves Cafe分享他從船民變身創業者的經歷。(周菊子攝)

             其他的會議環節，還有IW集團資深副總裁黃文鋒闡述如何打造個人品牌，以市場行銷爭取媒體關注，Better Brave創辦人Tammy Cho談創辦人及企業家的社會責任，要為員工創造安全，有包容性的工作環境。ComedySportzBoston創辦人Courtne Pong談如何工作得像個企業家，和人溝通卻像即興演說家，演員兼製作人的曹育倫談如何把企業變成故事，Boston Speak的Kit Poon以”超富亞裔”這電影為引，闡述如何講故事，BobaGuy創辦人Andrew Chau 以”在兩個井字號之間”為題，談如何在上下文中展現平常事務，Show mundane things in context，軟體工程師Rebeca He談如何重塑影像(#Iamremakable)，等人分享經驗。

富比士三十歲以下三十人之一的Freedom Cup創辦人Vanessa Paranjothy，則是另一場主題演講人。

             全美亞裔總商會是一個2013年創辦，為亞裔創業家和企業領袖發聲，共有21名理事的非牟利組織，現由董繼玲擔任會長兼執行長。董繼玲和ACE理事林秀槐都特地出席會議，並稱許ACE   NextGen充滿活力又能幹。    

波士頓演員曹育倫(右一)儘管演員路上已有不錯進展，仍向黃文鋒
請教個人品牌打造。(周菊子攝)

左起，冼卓豪，曹育倫，蘇宇寅，趙啟鑫。(周菊子攝)

                 全美亞裔總商會”下一代”商會，則是由蘇宇寅，卓豪等人創辦，現有波士頓，華府，紐約，休士頓，洛杉磯等五個地區設有分會。

          

來自台灣的留學生洪玲欣，如今已在波士頓創辦了自己的網路婚紗店
LYRA VEGA BRIDAL。(周菊子攝)

開馬卡龍餅乾公司Boston Bon Bon的吳家琪(Rita Ng)(左)和做電子商務
VienneMilano的張湋忻(右)。(周菊子攝)

全美亞裔總商會下一代青年分會董事們，左起，Le Zhang, Chewy Jang,
冼卓豪(Cheuk Shian), Lavanya Jawaharlal, Dale Ting, 蘇宇寅(Ian So),
Kat Pham。(周菊子攝)

全美亞裔總商會會長董繼玲(中)和董事，Lithia Motors榮譽主席林秀槐
(左三)，以及下一代青年分會創辦人蘇宇寅(左起)冼卓豪，Dale Ting, 
Kat Pham, John Victoria。(周菊子攝)

亞裔婦女健康會年度籌款時裝秀(圖片)

亞裔婦女健康會創辦人黃千姬(左)和司儀Audrey Park。(AWH提供)

左起，謝如鍵，胡美惠，歐陽露，歐怡君。(周菊子攝)

IAICS-2019 Convention call for papers

一品香加入僑胞卡特約商店行列

摩頓市的臺灣美食餐廳「一品香」老闆李寶駿(左)和李秀英(中)

夫婦在餐廳大門前與波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右)合影。

【一品香加入僑胞卡特約商店 10月20日起提供消費優惠】

位於波士頓北郊摩頓市的臺灣美食餐廳「一品香」，響應中華民國僑務委員會發行的「僑胞卡」，正式加入海外特約商店的行列，將從今年10月20日起提供持卡人5%至10%的消費優惠，希望能讓更多僑胞鄉親感受到政府的用心與美意。

該餐廳老闆李寶駿和李秀英夫婦表示，「一品香」成立以來，都是秉持臺式精緻美食的優良傳統，自2014年起迄今連續獲得僑務委員會頒發的「臺灣美食標章」，除了臺灣鄉親經常前來品嚐道地臺灣風味的餐點外，也吸引不少主流社會各界人士前來用餐；他們在獲知僑委會於海外發行「僑胞卡」，且在波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉的鼓勵下，「一品香」成為繼「龍鳳大酒樓」、「珠媽廚房」後的第三家「僑胞卡」特約商店，並訂於今年10月20日當天起提供現金付款九折(10％ off)或信用卡消費九五折(5％ off)的優惠服務。

歐宏偉主任很高興「一品香」能加入僑胞卡海外特約商店的行列，希望未來有更多僑臺商業者共襄盛；他也提醒大家返臺探親或觀光旅遊時，記得攜帶僑胞卡並多加利用，並歡迎波士頓地區僑胞鄉親前來僑教中心申領「僑胞卡」。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

波士頓雙十盃壘球賽 3隊參賽

波士頓竹蜻蜓俱樂部舉辦「國慶盃壘球賽」，臺灣黑熊隊、
台客隊和東北大學臺灣學生隊等3支球隊參賽，賽前全體
與僑教中心主任歐宏偉合影

(Boston Orange)「慶祝中華民國107年雙十國慶盃壘球賽」10月7日在莫克雷公園(Joe Moakley Park)舉行，臺灣黑熊隊、台客隊和東北大學臺灣學生隊共3隊參加，以球會友。

今年的雙十盃壘球賽仍由竹蜻蜓俱樂部主辦。波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉為比賽開球，並代表主辦單位頒發「特殊貢獻獎」給雙十盃壘球賽創始元老之一的蔡高進，表揚他的長期付出與貢獻。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前排中)出席「國慶盃壘球賽」

擔任開球嘉賓，並受邀頒發竹蜻蜓俱樂部球賽聯盟年度例賽的

冠軍獎盃給「東北大學臺灣學生隊」。

竹蜻蜓俱樂部創辦人王志維還請歐宏偉把聯盟年度例賽冠軍獎盃頒給「東北大學臺灣學生隊」。

歐宏偉特地感謝竹蜻蜓俱樂部近年來的每年主辦「臺灣盃」和「國慶盃」壘球賽，促進了僑社青年與臺灣留學生的聯繫互動，也慶祝了總統副總統就職周年和國家生日。他在活動中還轉達僑務委員會吳委員長和駐波士頓臺北經文處徐處長對球員們的問候與祝福。(內容及圖片，波士頓僑教中心提供)