JACKPOT OF $250,000 GUARANTEED FOR RED SOX FOUNDATION’S 50/50 RAFFLE DURING UPCOMING RED SOX-YANKEES SERIES

JACKPOT OF $250,000 GUARANTEED

FOR RED SOX FOUNDATION’S 50/50 RAFFLE

DURING UPCOMING RED SOX-YANKEES SERIES

One Fan Will Win Half the Jackpot;

Remaining Proceeds to Benefit the Red Sox Foundation’s Home Base Program

BOSTON, MA – To celebrate 10 successful years of the Home Base Program and the 10^th Annual Run To Home Base event at Fenway Park, the Red Sox Foundation, in partnership with Ascend Fundraising Solutions, is guaranteeing a $250,000 jackpot for the 50/50 Raffle taking place during the upcoming Red Sox-Yankees series.

Fans will have a chance to purchase raffle tickets over a 9-day period online atredsox.com/5050 from July 19-27. Fans attending the Red Sox-Yankees series taking place July 25-27 will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets at Fenway Park. The raffle will close at the end of the 6^th inning of the July 27 game, and a single winning number for the entire 9-day raffle will be posted online in the middle of the 7^th inning of that game. 

The 50/50 Raffle is a fundraising tool for the Foundation and is available during every Red Sox home game at the ballpark, as well as online for fans located in Massachusetts. Half the net proceeds generated from the raffle go to the winning ticket holder. The other half goes to the Red Sox Foundation to support their charitable programs, partners, and grants programs. A portion of the proceeds from the $250,000 jackpot will directly benefit Home Base, a Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital program serving veterans suffering from PTSD and other invisible wounds of war.

In addition to being available online and at the ballpark during the Yankees Series games, raffle tickets may be purchased in person at Fenway Park on July 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from July 22-26 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Red Sox Foundation offices located at 4 Jersey Street.

To participate, fans must be in the State of Massachusetts and at least eighteen (18) years of age. Please see official rules for full details.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE NEW MORTGAGE PROGRAM FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE NEW MORTGAGE PROGRAM FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS

ONE+Boston Mortgage permanently reduces interest rate in partnership with the City of Boston and housing advocates  BOSTON - Friday, July 19, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday announced the City of Boston has finalized details for an enhanced mortgage program for first-time homebuyers. This project represents the culmination of efforts by Mayor Walsh's Barriers to Homeownership Working Group, which works to create more homeownership opportunities for low- and middle-income families and families of color. The ONE+Boston mortgage product will be offered by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) and was supported by the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA) and Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO), long-time advocates for innovative and creative programs that address need and remove barriers.  "The ONE+Boston Mortgage will expand the purchasing power for Bostonians interested in becoming first-time homebuyers. This is a great use of Community Preservation funds and an investment in Boston's future that strengthens homeownership and gives residents a chance to buy a home in the neighborhoods they love," said Mayor Walsh. "I commend the Barriers to Homeownership Working Group, MAHA and GBIO for their leadership and advocacy in creating this product, and thank MHP and the participating lenders for their partnership and commitment to innovation in the mortgage marketplace." The new ONE+Boston mortgage will utilize $3.8 million in Community Preservation funds previously announced this spring. These City of Boston funds generated from the Community Preservation Act will finance a permanent reduction in the interest rate of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for income-eligible Bostonians buying their first home within the city limits. This interest-rate reduction means the new homebuyer could afford a larger mortgage at a monthly payment that is still affordable to them, and ultimately, translates into more buying power for the new homebuyer.  "Our homebuyer graduates need good news and this new program certainly qualifies," said Symone Crawford, Mattapan resident and director of Homeownership Education at MAHA. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Mayor Walsh and his housing team, MHP, and participating lenders to assist more first-time homebuyers in Boston's neighborhoods. For nearly 30 years, ONE Mortgage has done more to close the racial homeownership gap, and with this important enhancement, we can do even more."   ONE+Boston will enhance Massachusetts Housing Partnership's (MHP's) ONE Mortgage Program for first-time homebuyers earning less than 100% of Area Median Income (AMI), or $90,000 for a two-person household, to permanently buy-down interest rates. This interest rate write down may be combined with additional financial assistance from the City of Boston through the Boston Home Center. Homes purchased through this mortgage product may be market-rate, or income-restricted. The total amount a borrower can receive between the write down and BHC downpayment/closing cost assistance is $50,000.  "Thanks to the City of Boston's leadership, ONE+Boston will substantially expand the impact of the ONE Mortgage Program, which has enjoyed strong support from the Baker-Polito administration and has helped more than 5,000 families become successful first-time homeowners in the City of Boston," said Clark Ziegler, executive director of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), the quasi-public organization that helped create and administers ONE Mortgage. "The ONE Mortgage Program has been an incredibly impactful lending program for the community, empowering thousands of Massachusetts residents to purchase a place to call home," said Nancy Monbouquette, Vice President and Home Mortgage New England regional manager at Citizens Bank, a ONE+Boston participating lender. "We are pleased to continue working with such outstanding organizations like the City of Boston, Massachusetts Housing Partnership and Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance. Through these partnerships and this innovative expansion of the ONE Mortgage Program, we will be able to help even more Bostonians reach their homeownership goals." The ONE+Boston mortgage product will be available at Citizens Bank, the City of Boston Credit Union, Eastern Bank, Rockland Trust, Boston Private Bank, Cambridge Trust, and Santander Bank beginning this fall. These seven lenders are the top current ONE lenders in Boston, and routinely work with Boston Home Center first-time homebuyers, often utilizing MHP's ONE Mortgage. The demonstration project will likely be scaled up to include other lenders in the future.  ABOUT HOUSING A CHANGING CITY: BOSTON 2030 In 2018, Mayor Martin J. Walsh updated his comprehensive housing strategy,  Housing A Changing City: Boston 2030 to increase the City's overall housing goal to 69,000 new units by 2030, to meet Boston's faster than expected population growth. These 69,000 new units include 15,820 new income-restricted units, which would elevate Boston's income-restricted inventory total to 70,000, or one in five of all housing units. In addition, the 2018 Update set a goal to preserve 85 percent of Boston's most at-risk privately-owned affordable units, to purchase 1,000 units of rental housing stock from the speculative market and income-restrict it for perpetuity, and to help 5,000 Bostonians become first time homebuyers.  ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT (CPA) After Boston voters adopted the CPA in November 2016, the City created a Community Preservation Fund. This fund is capitalized primarily by a one percent property tax-based surcharge on residential and business property tax bills that began in July 2017. The City uses this revenue to fund initiatives consistent with statewide CPA guidelines: affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space and public recreation. The funding of any project requires a recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee and appropriation by the City. For more information, please visit the Community Preservation webpage.

MAYOR WALSH AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECT $1.2 MILLION TO ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND CAREER TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR BOSTON YOUTH

MAYOR WALSH AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECT $1.2 MILLION TO ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND CAREER TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR BOSTON YOUTH

BOSTON - Thursday, July 18, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD) today announced a $1.2 million investment in alternative education, career exploration, and career training programs that will open doors to economic opportunity for Boston's young people. The funds, which come to the City through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), will support eight local nonprofit organizations that serve young people ages 14-24 with an emphasis on those who have experienced challenges such as homelessness, poverty, court involvement, or physical or mental disability. "Boston's young people represent Boston's talent and future, and creating more opportunities for them is one of the most worthwhile investments we can make," said Mayor Walsh. "Our City is fortunate to have key community organizations with on-the-ground expertise to guide our young people along to ensure they receive every opportunity possible. They are crucial partners in our work to ensure that every resident, of every age, can pursue their full potential."  "Under Mayor Walsh's leadership, the City has made major investments in the transition from youth to adulthood and financial independence for the young people of our neighborhoods. It is so important to provide opportunities for such a broad spectrum of youth and young adults," said Michael O'Neill, Chair of the Youth Council of Boston's MassHire Workforce Board, which approves WIOA spending, and a member of the Boston Public School Committee.      The funded programs, which are expected to serve more than 170 young people from July 2019-June 2020, represent a diversity of neighborhoods and program models.  College Bound Dorchester, for example, engages court-involved youth in skills-based apprenticeships at a Seaport boat shop. Another recipient, More Than Words, teaches career readiness within the context of a youth-run bookselling business in the South End. Work experiences such as these can have a profound impact on a variety of life outcomes. A recent report commissioned by OWD found that youth participating in Boston's summer jobs program showed a 35 percent decrease in violent crime arraignments and a 57 percent decrease in property crime arraignments relative to a control group. These participants also had fewer unexcused absences at school. All of the funded programs will help youth advance along defined pathways toward individualized goals. For example, a young person might progress from a first-time work experience to a higher-paying job, or from a completed high school degree to an industry certificate or higher education. Along the way, youth will also receive support with personal challenges that have hindered their success in the past. Yiovani Castillo, 21, of Brighton is one of many young people who have benefited from this life-changing support. When Castillo came to X-Cel Education to finish his high school education, he was earning minimum wage at a grocery store and caring for his five siblings. "It's hard to be a brother and a father at the same time, plus trying to work and finish up school. Here [at X-Cel] I had people to support me educationally, emotionally, mentally - even with things going on outside the program," said Castillo.    Through the program Castillo not only earned his high school credentials, but also completed two internships. He is now training to become a certified wastewater operator with a national construction engineering company. Recipient organizations were selected through an open and competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process overseen by OWD and the  Boston Private Industry Council. A review committee evaluated the proposals based on applicants' ability to produce long-term outcomes in career readiness. In addition to the eight nonprofits, funds will be allocated for skills assessment testing, and, new this year, the creation of an online directory that organizations can use to locate additional support services - ranging from financial literacy to housing assistance - for the youth they serve.  Organization Program Funding Focus Action for Boston Community Development University High School $433,893 Students who struggled in traditional schools work toward their Boston Public School diploma Action for Boston Community Development Career Explorations Youth train in culinary arts, early childhood education, health care Asian American Civic Association Hire Values Youth Center $72,702 Out-of-school youth train in medical office support, building maintenance, retail banking & finance El Centro del Cardenal Youth Education Program $91,651 Latinx youth receive bilingual instruction to prepare for the high school equivalency exam College Board Dorchester College Connections Marine Apprenticeship Pathway $101,634 Court-involved youth complete HiSET while working in a marine setting East Boston Neighborhood Health Center Health Career Pathways & Nursing Assistant Training $76,376 Youth learn about healthcare careers in preparation for personal care assistant training EDCO Youth Alternative Alternative High School Program $204,849 Youth work toward their high school diploma More Than Words Boston Special Enterprise $112,555 Youth gain job skills by running a book-selling business X-Cel Education Pathways to Careers Initiative  $83,847 Youth prepare for the high school equivalency exam Boston Youth Services Directory & CASAS testing $25,475 Programs connect other youth services, get pre- and post-program assessment tools TOTAL $1,202,981

Baker-Polito Administration Awards Four High Schools Designation for New Innovation Pathways

Baker-Polito Administration Awards Four High Schools Designation for New Innovation Pathways

Students in career pathways gain knowledge and skills through internships and college courses

BOSTON – Agawam, Atlantis Charter School in Fall River, Brockton and Burlington high schools will launch new Innovation Pathway programs this fall to give students skills and experience in particular industries through college courses and internships after recently receiving official designation status from the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education, the Baker-Polito Administration announced today.

More than 1,000 students are expected to be enrolled in these college and career pathways when the new programs are fully enrolled. Twenty-five high schools in the Commonwealth now have Innovation Pathway programs designated by the state.

Launched in 2017, Innovation Pathways give students experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, life sciences and advanced manufacturing, through coursework and internships at local area employers. Students earn college credits, at no cost to them, and gain insight as to whether the field is something they want to pursue in college or as a career.

“Innovation Pathways provide students with important additional knowledge and direction so they are prepared to pursue careers in high-demand industries in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is very thankful to the high school administrators who are doing the hard work to launch these new career pathways so students in the Commonwealth are better prepared for success after graduation.” 

“Innovation Pathways also create strong partnerships with employers to expose students to career options and help them develop knowledge and skills related to their chosen field of study before they graduate high school,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “Governor Baker and I hope exposure to STEM subjects through these newly named programs will inspire students to further their studies and move toward growing careers in Massachusetts.”

The Governor’s education funding legislation, An Act to Promote Equity and Excellence in Education, proposed a new enrollment category that will provide additional funding for high schools that implement Early College and Career Pathway programs. The bill - still under consideration by the Legislature - would create a dependable revenue stream as part of a school district’s Chapter 70 aid for every student enrolled. Currently there are approximately 2,400 students enrolled in early college and career pathway programs.

“These new pathways will help address one of the Commonwealth’s biggest challenges in education – making sure students are prepared for college and careers,” Education Secretary James Peyser said. “Innovation Pathways, and its sister program early college, give students real experience in college and the workplace while they are still in high school, which is critical to ensure their future success.”

“I am happy to see more schools offer students the chance to explore subjects first-hand both in internships and through college courses,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley said. “These opportunities put students on a solid path to future possibilities.”

“I see this as an excellent opportunity for experiential learning,” said Carlos E. Santiago, Massachusetts Commissioner of High Education. “We know that training and retraining will be part of students’ futures and an ongoing part of their adult lives, so the more opportunities they have to ‘learn how to learn’ in both academic and work-based settings, the better.”

Four high schools received official designation for new Innovation Pathway programs:

Agawam High School – Agawam, MA          

Agawam High School is launching an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Pathway that will serve 466 students when fully enrolled. The school is partnering with the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board and multiple employer partners, including the Western Mass. Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association, Peerless Precision, Governor's America Corporation, Mechanical Plastics, OMG Roofing Products, Ben Franklin Manufacturing, EBTEC Corporation, and DFF Corporation. Students will take courses at Springfield Technical Community College.

Atlantis Charter School – Fall River, MA

Atlantis Charter School is launching three Innovation Pathways, including Advanced Manufacturing, Business & Finance, and Healthcare & Social Assistance that will serve 368 students when fully enrolled. The school is partnering with the MIT Integrated Design and management Program - SLOAN, the Southcoast Autism Center, and the Centre for Business and Entrepreneurship. Students will study Advanced Placement courses as well as have opportunities for job shadow, internships, and externships.

Brockton High School – Brockton, MA

Brockton High School is launching an Innovation Pathway in Healthcare that will serve 193 students when fully enrolled. The school is partnering with the MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board, area employers, and the Forsyth Institute Student Scholars Program. Students will take courses at Massasoit Community College, Bay State College, and Bridgewater State University.

Burlington High School – Burlington, MA

Burlington High School is launching an Innovation Pathway in Information, with a computer science focus, that will serve 88 students when fully enrolled. The school is partnering with the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Amazon Web Services, The MITRE Corporation, and Microsoft, among a number of other area employers.

CAPAC Members Applaud Successful Passage of Amendment to Address Racial Profiling of Chinese Americans

CAPAC Members Applaud Successful Passage of Amendment to Address Racial Profiling of Chinese Americans

Washington, DC —  Today the House voted 397-31 to pass H.R. 3494, the Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) member Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) successfully added an amendment to the bill to address concerns of stereotyping, targeting and racial profiling of Chinese Americans. The amendment would require the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress on how current intelligence policies, procedures, and practices targeting the People’s Republic of China may also impact the privacy and civil liberties of Chinese Americans. CAPAC Members released the following statements:

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:

“I am pleased that Congressman Case’s amendment to address the profiling of Chinese Americans was included in the Intelligence Authorization Act passed today. While there is no doubt that we must take national security threats from foreign countries seriously, we must reject the flawed narrative that simply being of Chinese descent is grounds for suspicion. Such overly broad stereotyping, targeting and racial profiling is dangerous and runs contrary to the values of our nation.

“Unfortunately, we have seen how certain actions by our government directed at Chinese nationals have impacted U.S. citizens. We need to look no further than the examples of Sherry Chen and Dr. Xioaxing Xi, two Chinese American scientists who were wrongfully accused of espionage by the FBI only to have their charges dropped with no explanation. We must ensure that what happened to these two innocent Americans does not happen to other U.S. citizens simply because of the way they look. There must be no room for racial prejudice and ethnic targeting in our country’s laws and practices.”

Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) :

“In these recent years of justifiably heightened scrutiny on the intelligence activities of the People’s Republic of China, a disproportionate number of Americans of Chinese descent have been investigated and prosecuted for espionage. Those convicted have received disproportionately high sentences and the too many exonerated have had their careers ruined nonetheless.

“No doubt China seeks to recruit Chinese Americans to its goals, and no doubt our government should and must review specific cases of potential espionage by China on specific facts. But have we fallen into the same trap all over again of justifying investigations and other actions toward the end of national security by the means of general profiling and targeting based solely on ethnic identity?

“This amendment is a flashing red light to our intelligence community: stop, look and listen. Take some time to think it through, to be sure you’re staying on the right side of that line, and then report back to Congress that you have done so and have the procedures and mindset in place to assure that we won’t repeat history, with Chinese Americans or any other broad ethnic or interest group.”

Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), CAPAC First Vice Chair:

“U.S. intelligence agencies play a critical role in keeping our nation safe and secure from foreign and domestic threats, but such protections must not come at the expense of American citizens’ civil liberties,” said Meng. “Many Chinese Americans have been targeted based on groundless accusations that they are spies of China. We know that many of those cases have been proven wrong. That is why I’m pleased to support Mr. Case’s amendment that will ask the intelligence community to submit a report to Congress on how it protects the civil rights and privacy of Chinese Americans.  I look forward to reading this report.”

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07):

“Representative Case’s amendment is a critical step toward protecting Chinese Americans from racial profiling by the Intelligence Community. I am proud to represent a district with a large and vibrant Chinese American community; any efforts to racially profile them or infringe upon their civil liberties are contrary to our values.”

Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17):

“No American of any gender, race or ethnicity should be singled out or regarded as suspicious for their identity,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. “I’m proud to support Rep. Case’s amendment to the FY2020 Intelligence Authorization and protect Chinese Americans from racial profiling by U.S. intelligence services. This is about transparency across our government: everyone deserves to be treated with the same level of respect and trust.”

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07)

“We’ve repeatedly seen instances of Chinese American scientists and scholars being unfairly and falsely accused of espionage or disloyalty.  Representing Chinatown and Sunset Park, I’ve heard from many in New York’s Asian community who are deeply concerned by this discriminatory treatment.  This amendment will bring greater transparency to the intelligence community and help ensure that the civil liberties of Americans of Chinese descent are protected.”

蘭亭雅聚承辦第三屆四海書院筆會 8/2-3

(Boston Orange) 四海書院第三屆筆會將由蘭亭雅聚承辦，訂8月2日及3日，在大波士頓內歷史名屋Henderson House舉行。何麗雪(Shelley Hawks)和白謙慎兩位博士，將應邀主講兩場學術講座。

四海書院成立於2017年，是位於於芝加哥的一個非營利組織，宗旨為普及書法教育，昇華書寫文化，弘揚書道，開啟課程。自成立以來，已先後在芝加哥，西雅圖舉辦過二屆筆會。

蘭亭雅聚成立於2012年，是一個位於大波士頓的書法愛好者互動平台。

第三屆四海書院筆會將安排有兩場學術講座，以及書道交流學習、書法作品欣賞、即興揮毫創作等活動。

會場圖片。

兩場講座將分別由何麗雪，白謙慎兩位博士主講，

從哈佛大學取得東亞研究碩士，布朗大學取得歷史博士學位，早年曾在波士頓美術博物館任助理，目前在多所大專院校任教的何麗雪，將以”從潘天壽、石魯，李可染、李苦禪的藝術中探索繪畫與書法之內在聯繫”為題，發表講談。

畢業於北京大學國際政治系，來美進修，後轉至耶魯大學取得藝術史博士學位，師從班宗華，曾在波士頓大學教藝術史，2015經浙江大學邀回中國教文化遺產研究，並於2019年出任浙大藝術與考古學院院長的白謙慎，目前還是四海書院名譽院長。他將以”關於中國書法經典的若干問題”為題，發表講談。

四海書院院長李躍林，蘭亭雅聚負責人齊雅明當天將先後致詞，在琴棋書畫中與出席者交流。

筆會的兩天入場費為20元，歡迎另外捐款，會場停車免費。查詢詳情可上網https://7seascalligraphy.org。

波士頓僑務委員會議說明會

波士頓僑務委員會議說明會出席者合影。前排左起，李壽泮，李伍綺蓮，梅錫銳，蔣宗壬，陳家驊，歐宏偉，陳仕維，馮文鸞。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導)持有中華民國護照，才能當僑務委員? 7月13日在波士頓僑教中心舉行的「僑務委員會議說明會」中，這問題成為討論重點。

波士頓僑教中心為加強波士頓僑民與僑委會經辦僑務情況的了解，7月13日下午特地舉辦「僑務委員會議說明會」，請5月份回台灣參加僑務委員會議的僑務委員蔣宗壬，以及紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊、全美安良工商會總理陳仕維等3人出席做簡報。

僑教中心主任歐宏偉在會中一再強調，僑胞們對該次僑務會議有任何問題，都歡迎提出，討論。

由於一任三年的僑務委員預定一年半後換屆，根據僑委會規定，持有中華民國護照者才有資格出任，但波士頓老僑社區有這護照者，屈指可數。陳仕維在簡報之外，因此提出可否放寬資格的建議。

港澳之友社社長余麗媖因此提問，在美居住華人，是否可申請中華民國護照?

出席者中來自香港的鄒姓夫婦則稱，他倆曾經從波士頓經文處那兒申請到中華民國海外護照。

歐宏偉主任回應表示，配偶持有中華民國護照者，也可申請。據他所知，中華民國護照只有一種，希望鄒姓夫婦能把他倆所說的護照給他看一下，將可代為查證。

第一次出席僑務會議的陳仕維，對這次會議發給每名出席者一塊平板，所有的會議通知，議程，相關資料及討論內容，都藉平板傳達，實質的召開了一次無紙會議，以行動保護環境，很是印象深刻。

陳仕維也讚許僑委會推動設立海外急難救助協會，還見證這次開會，有唱國歌環節。

僑居美國數十年，三年一任的僑務委員職位，也已做到第二任一半的蔣宗壬，在會上不忌諱地埋怨，到台灣出席僑務會議，很多時候都覺得，台下聽的人可能比台上講的人還懂得多，有點浪費時間。他直言，講廣東話的老僑和講國語的新僑，背景各不相同，處事做法有異，想要水乳交融，並不容易。他還記得幾十年前他初到波士頓，曾經和大波士頓中華文化協會的人一起進華埠服務，不少老僑卻以為他們去搶地盤，對他們的態度非常不好，類似這樣的新僑，老僑隔閡，其實在台灣的大官們，根本不清楚。

蔣宗廷認為。年紀大些的僑胞，不太計較藍綠，只要對國家好，就都支持。但是他近年觀察到，在僑務會議中，年輕僑領站邊站得很厲害。這種顏色之分，新僑，老僑之分，有人支持台獨，有人只要不提中華民國就可以，有人堅決支持中華民國等等的立場，使得”我們”的僑社比其他國家的僑社分化得更厲害許多，如何團結僑胞，凝聚僑心，會是很重要的課題。

                    會末，歐宏偉鼓勵僑胞踴躍組團回台灣，參加十月國慶、使用自費體驗的優質醫療服務，鼓勵加入僑務電子報讀者群、使用僑胞卡及特約商店等等。