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星期五, 11月 27, 2020

感恩節期間麻州7天平均確診率升至3.3% 高危社區從63跳升至81

             (Boston Orange 整理編譯)累計2天後,麻州的新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)新增確診4464人,累計211,748人,新增死亡29人,累計10,401人。

             州政府表示,由於週四是感恩節,所以前述數據是2日累積的結果。目前共有41,852人因在做新冠病毒治療,有986人住院,其中209人住在重症病房,109人需要插管。

             在這2日間,共有約119,742人做過病毒檢測。麻州的累計檢測人次已超過825萬,做抗體檢測的人也增加了3390,累計達到257,397人。

             7天平均下來的確診率為3.3%,最低時為0.8%

           麻州公共衛生廳表示,新統計數據還顯示,在麻州351個市鎮中,高危險社區已從61個增加至81個。

             州政府今日表示,如果不是大專院校有更多人做了檢測,七天平均確診率會高達4.86%





波士頓「韌性基金」再撥出175萬元支援17 家非牟利機構

 MAYOR WALSH AND STEERING COMMITTEE ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION OF $1.75M BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND GRANTS 

Seventeen community organizations will receive grants to help residents in the City of Boston impacted most by the COVID-19 pandemic

 

BOSTON - Friday, November 27, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, along with the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee, today announced over $1,750,000 in funding to 17 nonprofit organizations serving the community, as part of the next round of Boston Resiliency Fund (BRF) grants. Of the 17 organizations awarded grants, 70 percent are led by a person of color and 76 percent are led by a woman.  

"The Boston Resiliency Fund has served as a lifeline for our most vulnerable residents since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In collaboration with our partner nonprofit organizations, we have supported programming for youth and families, ensured public health and availability of COVID-19 testing, and increased access to food and basic needs," said Mayor Walsh. "Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Boston Resiliency Fund and to the nonprofits who have been vital to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Boston Resiliency Fund shows the power of working together."

"Kelli Bos is thankful and humbled for being awarded funding from the Boston Resiliency Fund for our creative art and sewing program," said Kelli Conway, founder of Kelli Bos Sewing for Success. "The Boston Resiliency Fund will help us tremendously in providing a lifelong skill to children and families which will help them to sustain themselves for a lifetime, passing down their skills to generation, all while promoting positive mental health in a safe and loving environment."

"The Community Builders is helping keep Boston neighborhoods strong during the pandemic," said Elizabeth Gonzalez Suarez, Vice President of Community Life for The Community Builders. "With support from the Boston Resiliency Fund, the TCB New Franklin Park food pantry will continue to be a lifeline for families in need."

Since launching in March, the Boston Resiliency Fund has raised $33.4 million from over 6,700 individual donors. Including this most recent round of grants, the Fund has distributed $29.4 million to over 360 local nonprofit organizations in Boston. Overall, 56 percent of grantees are led by a person of color and 58 percent are women-led. Additionally, 29 percent of all grants have gone to immigrant-serving organizations. A map and list of every organization that has received funding from the Boston Resiliency Fund can be found here.

This round's grantees represent organizations working to expand access to youth development programming, promote public health in our neighborhoods, support families (especially those with young children), and increase access to food and other basic needs in Boston's neighborhoods. These grants are intentionally focused on supporting organizations serving immigrant communities and communities of color. The grants announced today range in size and will be awarded to the following organizations:

Expanding access to safe youth programming

Boston After School and Beyond: Boston Beyond will use the BRF grant to support a network of youth development programs that have committed to serving high-need Boston students and providing care for children who are doing remote learning so families can work and children can be safe. In total, over 130 nonprofit Boston programs are hosting 300+ different in-person learning and enrichment opportunities during and after the school day reaching 6,250 students. The network includes partners like the YMCA of Greater Boston, Boys & Girl Clubs of Boston, Catholic Charities of Boston, East Boston Social Centers, West End House, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, and many others. 

"Extraordinary collaboration is making the city a classroom for young people," said Chris Smith, executive director of Boston After School & Beyond, which coordinates a citywide network of after-school and summer programs.

Kelli Bos Sewing for Success: Kelli Bos will use the BRF grant to support extra-curricular learning and activities for students, seniors and families within the City of Boston. They will work with the Boston Centers for Youth and Families to teach sewing classes; students will learn how to make masks to distribute to the community. 

Transformative Culture Project: Transformative Culture Project will use the BRF grant to  expand their Creative Classrooms to additional schools and community centers that need support by hiring additional teaching artists and providing stipends to students for their time participating in the program. In addition, they will work with Outside the Box to increase community investment in these projects, as well as expand the reach of online Community Classroom resources to families throughout Boston. 

Promote public health in our neighborhoods

Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition: The Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition will use the BRF grant to collaborate with the City of Boston's Health and Human Services to increase the amount and continuity of testing, outreach and community health messaging in Boston's Black communities. They will also utilize youth and young adult outreach workers to spread educational information and  conduct COVID-19 wellness and safety checks for seniors and other vulnerable residents who continue to be homebound. Finally, the Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition will collaborate with the Health Commission on culturally-competent messaging on masks, physical distancing, education about COVID-19, holiday gatherings, and vaccines.

Building Alliance to Support Immigrant Mental Health (BASIMH): BASIMH will use the BRF grant to retain the services of 6 different multilingual providers and 2 program coordinators to support essential workers who are experiencing extreme stress related to COVID-19.  

TeleHealth Access for Seniors: TeleHealth Access for Seniors will use this grant to provide TeleHealth-compatible smartphones or tablets to elderly and low-income patients in partnership with Mattapan Community Health Center so that patients will be able to manage their care at home through video-calls. 

Trinity Boston Connects: Trinity Boston Connects will use the BRF grant to sustain services for frontline youth workers. In addition, they will coordinate emergency resources for high need participants in their Trinity@McCormack program.

Supporting families, especially those with young children 

Boston Cares: Boston Cares has seen a 35% increase in the need for volunteers compared to this time last year, and BRF funding will allow them to continue to provide recruitment, management, and tracking of volunteers to fill these needs, specifically at Boston Public Schools. 

Delta Sigma Theta, Boston Alumnae Chapter: Delta Sigma Theta, Boston Alumnae Chapter will use the BRF grant to ensure they can continue to meet the academic and social-emotional needs for over 100 young girls, all of whom are Boston Public School students or residents of the City of Boston, through their Delta GEMS program. 

English for New Bostonians: Responding to needs raised by English as a Second Language (ESOL) students, ENB will recruit, train and deploy an "Allies for Immigrants ESOL Virtual Team" to work with students in virtual classrooms and small groups. The Virtual Team will help approximately 240 ESOL students get connected, offer Zoom troubleshooting, and help parents navigate school communication and support their children's online learning. 

Neighborhood Villages: Neighborhood Villages will use the Boston Resiliency Fund grant to support the Boston Children's Relief Initiative. This initiative will place AmeriCorps members in  Boston early learning centers and after-school organizations that are caring for and educating young children during the day while their parents work. AmeriCorps members will support the instruction of young children and support efforts to ensure that wraparound supports, such as nutrition and material goods, are delivered to children and families in need.

United South End Settlements: United South End Settlements will use the BRF grant to continue providing fresh produce and pantry items for 200 households in the South End and Roxbury. 

Ensuring and increasing access to food and other basic needs in our neighborhoods

STEAM Ahead: STEAM Ahead provides free S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) programming to underserved groups of youth throughout Boston.  STEAM Ahead will use the BRF grant to prepare healthy grocery packs along with educational materials and deliver them directly to their participants and their families. They will also distribute free personal protection supplies to city residents who are at the highest of pandemic risk.

The Community Builders, New Franklin Park: The Boston Resiliency Fund grant will enable The Community Builders to operate and stock the New Franklin Park (NFP) food pantry for residents. The pantry currently distributes food almost every week to over 400 households in its Dorchester neighborhood.

The Food Project, in partnership with Dudley Square Neighborhood Initiative: DSNI has addressed the need for food access in its community by coordinating an outdoor food distribution site throughout the pandemic, providing resources from the YMCA, Breaktime, The Food Project and the Mayor's Office of Food Access. Together, they will use the BRF grant to establish an indoor food hub in the community space at The Food Project's office, with capacity to sort, pack and distribute food on a curbside basis on West Cottage Street in Dorchester. 

Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts, Inc.: The Transgender Emeregency Fund of MA will use the BRF grant to provide ongoing support to low-income and homeless transgender and gender non-conforming individuals living in Boston.

Urban Guild, Inc.: The Guild will use the BRF grant to continue their work of providing holistic support for their community, including distributing personal care supplies and providing food access support for their community by purchasing and distributing food boxes through local businesses. 

The Boston Resiliency Fund exists within the Boston Charitable Trust, an existing 501(c)(3) designated trust fund managed by the City of Boston's Treasury Department. For more information on how to make a donation, or how to submit a statement of interest form, please visit: boston.gov/resiliency-fund. For general inquiries, please email brf@boston.gov

Marty Walsh, Ed Flynn, Aaron Michlewitz 當義工 為松街客棧流浪漢準備感恩節大餐


儘管新冠疫情日趨嚴重,波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)和波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn),麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)仍然親自出席當義工,在松街客棧(Pine Street Inn)每年一度,為流浪漢準備感恩節大餐的活動中服務。

創辦於1969年,位於南端(South End)的松街客棧,每年都為大約2000名無家可歸者準備感恩節大餐,讓他們在節慶日也得想溫飽。(圖片取自推特,Ed Flynn授權使用)



 









星期四, 11月 26, 2020

紐英崙中華公所3年後百歲 開會記錄,中英文仍有落差

紐英崙中華公所董事大會一大半在網上舉行。(周菊子攝)
               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)中文?英文? 只差3年就100歲了的紐英崙中華公所,1124日晚在本年度最後一次董事大會中,因為會議記錄中英文版本有出入,議論起中華公所應尊重傳統,保持以中文為重,還是應該跟隨地理現實與時代,更重視英文。

           紐英崙中華公所每次開董事大會,例行議程必然包括通過上次會議紀錄。今年以來,每二個月召開一次的中華公所董事大會,每次都有人提出會議記錄中英文不符情況。在24日的會議中,董事黃國威指七月份會議記錄的第16條寫有79%,這百分比遠較三分之二高。董事陳仕維指其中一段中英文內容不符,英文更貼切些,董事余麗媖,司徒宗達,蔡倩婷,陳家驊,馮甄若素,梁添光等人也都紛紛發表意見。

紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民。(周菊子攝)
                        陳仕維與陳家驊還建議先擱置這會議紀錄,待修訂後再通過。他們指出,中華公所章程規定文件以英文版為準,但許多中華公所董事習慣性以中文版為依據,若中英文內容互不相同,一旦發生問題,勢必引出更多困擾。

中華公所主席鄭慧民表示,他也注意到,中華公所中英文書記彼此間的溝通,有待加強。中華公所英文書記,曾任中華公所主席的阮鴻燦表示,他看不懂中文,無法和中文書記馮武成溝通會議紀錄。馮武成則坦言,中文版的會議紀錄是他自己寫的,並不是英文版翻譯。

曾任中華公所主席的梁添光感慨發言,指近10年來,紐英崙中華公所會議,經常有中英文有落差的問題,尤其近二,三年,英文越用越多,行政主任的報告更全是英文,讓英文不流利的董事們難以充分理解,參與會務,但是中華公所從設立以來,就以中文為主,英文為輔,希望將來開會也全用中文,必要時再由英文書記翻譯。梁添光也建議中英文書記應事先溝通,再製作會議紀錄發給董事們。

紐英崙中華公所董事大會以網路+現場,同步進行。(周菊子攝)
              余麗媖則認為,中華公所的許多董事,都已年長,將來會是年輕一輩承接,既然紐英崙中華公所設址美國,使用英文,應是必然趨勢。

              中華公所主席鄭慧民表示,中華公所的宗旨之一,就是維護中華傳統,既然中華公所的所有文件都中英文對照,在不可能百分之百相同時,照中華公所章程所訂以英文版為準,也理所當然。不過舉行會議時,既然目前大部分董事都偏向使用中文,就應以中文為主。他希望中華公所能做到讓每一個董事都充分了解中華公所會務,並積極參與,提供意見,服務社區。

                      

星期三, 11月 25, 2020

波士頓華埠牌樓旁毒販出沒 華商會請中華公所支援加裝監視錄影機

波士頓華商會共同會長陳文棟陳述華埠牌樓附近的治安問題。
(周菊子攝)
             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓華埠牌樓附近從醉貓聚集地變成毒蟲? 波士頓華埠商會(CBA)24日晚上紐英崙中華公所陳情,呼籲加裝監視錄影機,鼓勵民眾參加華埠巡邏隊,以維護華埠治安。

              波士頓華埠商會的數名會員近日在該會微信群組中告急,以圖片,語音申述,流浪漢在華埠牌樓附近行為囂張,不但影響華埠治安,也使得在新冠病毒大流行期間已然經營不易的商鋪,更難做生意。

該會會長陳文棟24日晚在紐英崙中華公所董事大會中表示,前一陣子乞臣街(Hudson)上有人行搶,有人在店家門口拉屎拉尿。該會向二名負責巡邏華埠的華裔警察投訴。警察查看監視鏡頭後發現有許多死角,拍不到動靜,促請加裝監視鏡頭。

陳家驊說明當年華埠治安巡邏隊還為巡邏員惡補自衛之道。
(周菊子攝)
由於這些街頭監視錄影機,當年是由中華公所捐款,警察局承辦購買,安裝,波士頓華商會因此促請中華公所支持添購請求。

陳文棟還進一步敘述了乞臣街一帶治安惡化的情況,認為可能比十幾年前還嚴重。他說近來群聚在華埠牌樓附近,威脅地方安全的人,已不是往年那些醉醺醺的流浪漢,而是穿著時尚,開著豪車,傍晚出來賣毒品,凌晨出來收錢的毒蟲。1115日時,警察就在張氏跌打的門口,搜到針筒,海洛因毒丸,亞裔青年會的人清掃華埠菸頭回收盒時,也發現針頭。他強烈呼籲更多人加入華埠巡邏隊。

黃國威說明當年聘請了休班警察來協助維持治安。(周菊子攝)
紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民和公所董事們無異議表示支持,將請波士頓華商會,以及任何願意參與出力的董事,一起和波士頓警察局協商辦理。

至於波士頓中華公所華埠巡邏隊,在謝中之質疑早年曾發給巡邏義工一日50元,後來不再發,有差別待遇,前前後後的這筆帳,到底怎麼算,和曾任中華公所主席的黃光野槓上後,已在一連幾次的中華公所董事大會中似乎都說不清楚。在黃光野要求下,這次的中華公所董事大會把董事黃光也請求諮詢巡邏隊排進了議程。雖然謝中之不滿的表示,黃光野當主席時,應該很清楚,怎麼會需要諮詢,不過從陳仕維到黃國威,陳家驊等目前都是中華公所董事的歷任前中華公所主席,紛紛簡述了有關華埠巡邏隊的歷史。資深董事余麗媖也指出,2005年時,華埠街頭曾一連發生20多宗搶劫案,才促使中華公所成立華埠治安巡邏隊。陳仕維說明,早年中華公所經濟拮据,所以巡邏都是義務的。黃國威表示,當年除了熱心人士巡邏之外,中華公所還籌款約11萬元,聘休班警員巡邏,並且照行規的服務4小時,付給6小時費用,一年大約花掉8萬元。陳家驊則說明,為了巡邏隊員本身的安危,當年他們會編組巡邏,並傳授一些基本自衛之道。

謝中之透露,有時候他會巡邏到深夜。(周菊子攝)
                      紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民表示,今年因為新型冠狀病毒疫情,他和波士頓華埠巡邏隊現任隊長,也是中華公所英文書記的阮鴻燦商量後,決定暫時停止巡邏。

                       中華公所當晚在會議中提及,目前有18人參加波士頓華埠社區巡邏隊。

              中華公所董事謝中之則強調,坊間民眾如果看到街頭有狀況,應該打電話報警,就算是巡邏隊巡街發現不對勁,也是打電話報警,並不會去自行處理。他也建議中華公所幹部,董事加入巡邏行列,為社區服務。(更新版)

"你想知道的都告訴你" BTBA前輩分享返台經驗

BTBA"海外生醫人返台心得分享"會講者及主辦團隊。(BTBA提供)
             (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)波士頓台灣人生技協會(BTBA) 日前在網上舉辦「海外生醫人返台心得分享」會。陳映嘉,曾意儒,陳昇宏三人依序分享在產學研界工作經驗。近80名出席者因為他們的坦率,聽得欲罷不能,會議不得不延長了至少20分鐘。

              出席者在會中聽到從海外回/赴台向上晉升及發展機會更大,但薪資絕對值約只有美國的三分之一,需要談判爭取加薪,以及科技部即將停辦「愛因斯坦」,「哥倫布」年輕學者養成計畫等說法。有喜,有憂,有失落。

部分出席者合影。(BTBA提供)
              陳映嘉指出的,台灣目前比較缺乏藥物製成放大方面人才。還在美求學者,若能在回台前進入美國藥廠工作,得到藥物製造方面的第一手經驗,將會有更多就業選擇;回台後要擴大各人的生醫領域人脈,可以參加台灣研發型生技新藥發展協會,https://trpma.org.tw/cmn

              波士頓台灣人生技協會本屆共同會長孟憲薇、蔡佩珊表示,這次的活動還有曾鈴方,賴美秀參與籌備,主題為「海外生醫人返台心得分享」,他們特地邀請已返台工作五年以上的該會兩名創會會長,目前在中央研究院分子生物研究所擔任助研究員,主持細胞動態實驗室的陳昇宏,在行動基因擔任生物資訊暨人工智慧處副處長的陳映嘉,以及在長庚大學擔任副教授,帶數位健康實驗室的曾意儒來分享他們返台就業經歷的第一手資料。

              他們三個都是台大人。陳映嘉從台大電機工程畢業,取得加州大學聖地牙哥分校生物工程博士學位,到MIT做過博士後,也進過Axcella當專利科學家。陳昇宏是台大動物系畢業,到英國念演化與適應碩士,從加州大學聖地牙哥分校取得生物學博士,再到哈佛大學做博士後。曾意儒則是在台大從醫學檢驗暨生物技術系畢業到取得台大生醫電子與資訊學博士後,才來美國,進哈佛大學醫學院及波士頓兒童醫院做博士後。

              談到當初為什麼來美國,為什麼回台灣,他們的回答是或無特別計畫,或為追求興趣,或為體驗不同研究環境,各有不同理由。會回台灣則都因為家人召喚。陳昇宏和曾意儒還指出,在台灣做研究的好處之一,是能夠有自己的舞台,不需要追隨潮流,做自己有興趣的非主流研究課題。

              談到回台灣找工作,由於陳昇宏和曾意儒都是在回台灣之前已落實依序要進中研院、長庚大學,所以只有陳映嘉有真正的在台灣找工作經驗。她坦言自己也花了三、四個月的時間,先從台灣求職網查看各公司職缺,建立專業領域內人際關係,了解不同公司文化、生態後,才得以進入「行動基因」。

              陳昇宏建議還在學的人要有找工作的心理與實際準備,包括回台灣時主動聯繫學校或科研單位,找機會應邀做專業課題演講,為資歷打底。

              進入學界的曾意儒指出,如今在台灣,洋博士不見得比土博士更有優勢,土博士可能有更廣的在地人脈,海外回台者反而需要加強建立關係。

              談到薪資時,陳映嘉坦率分享了大多數人都已知道,卻不太願意面對的現實。從美國回台灣工作,年薪絕對值大概會立降三分之二。陳映嘉坦言,她也是經過談判,和她現在工作的公司分享了她回美前的年薪,才爭取到增加15%的起薪。

            曾意儒的分享,讓出席者一窺台灣學界現狀,包括各校碩博士招生有人數配額限制,助理教授不得收博士生等規定,做課題需要先考量這些情況,做相應設計。一般在大學內當教授,還得一年教18個學分的6門課,如果兼任行政工作,可以只教3門課。她建議有心回台灣從事教職者,可上 https://udb.moe.edu.tw查詢各校資訊。

                     本身是2018年度愛因斯坦計畫獲選成員之一的曾意儒還透露,在科技部長從陳良基換成吳政忠後,科技部2年前大舉宣傳的「愛因斯坦」,「哥倫布」等年輕學者養成計畫都將停辦,改為一般型經費的「2030跨世代年輕學者方案」,而且補助名額大幅減少。

                       曾意儒也指出,在台灣任教需面對限期升等的要求,但爭取不到科研經費時,仍可授課維持教職,壓力相對較小。

             談及台灣越來越少人願意進生醫領域博士班,陳昇宏指出,中研院已開辦國際研究生學程。

            波士頓台灣人生技協會會長孟憲薇,蔡佩珊表示,該會為協助台灣生技人拓展人脈,機會,交流經驗,已開辦「生技來一刻」的Podcast節目,迄今已播出4期,有孟憲薇,陳範恩,魏曉英,蔣先慧,Mike Shih等人分享經驗,後續訪談第 5 期陳思達醫師,第6期李文機博士,將於12月推出,希望讓更多人收聽,獲益。查詢可上網https://btbatw.org/podcast.html。(更新版 2)

感恩節前夕 全世界新冠病毒確診人數破 6000萬大關 麻州30小時確診人數統計新增3224 死亡53








 

慶祝節日 即起每週六波士頓計時停車位可免費停2小時

CITY OF BOSTON TO OFFER TWO HOURS OF FREE PARKING AT METERS ON SATURDAYS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Discounted Bluebike memberships, free passes for essential workers also available

 

BOSTON - Wednesday, November 25, 2020 - As a way to support Boston's small businesses during the holiday season, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston will provide two hours of free parking at the city's 8,000 metered spaces on Saturdays during the holiday season, beginning this Saturday, November 28 (Small Business Saturday). Parking meters are located throughout Boston's downtown, as well as in several of the city's residential neighborhoods that host commercial districts, including Boston's Main Streets. 

The City is also offering a holiday discount for the Bluebikes bike-sharing program, including a 30 percent discount on annual memberships on Monday, November 30 (Cyber Monday). Additionally, free 90-day passes are still available for employees in retail shops and restaurants in Boston. These efforts build on the City's ongoing commitment to support small businesses that have been hit hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"While shopping during the holiday season will look different this year, we are doing more than ever to help our small businesses get through a very difficult time," said Mayor Walsh. "Our small businesses contribute so much to our local economy, and I encourage everyone to shop safely and shop local this year." 

Two hours of free parking at metered spaces will be offered in Boston on the following days:

  • Saturday, November 28 (Small Business Saturday)
  • Saturday, December 5
  • Saturday, December 12
  • Saturday, December 19
  • Saturday, December 26

While payment at meters will not be required on these five days, the time limit on the meters will be in effect. The purpose of this is to allow as many customers as possible a chance to take advantage of this opportunity. 

"We are pleased to provide this incentive for Boston residents to shop locally this holiday season," said Boston Transportation Department Commissioner Greg Rooney. "Parking meters are located throughout several of Boston's neighborhood commercial districts, and I encourage drivers to take advantage of this opportunity."

The City is asking everyone who participates in in-person shopping this weekend and this holiday season to take steps to stay safe from COVID-19, including: wearing a face covering in public, staying 6 feet apart from others whenever possible, avoiding crowds and crowded places, bringing an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and washing your hands often, and staying home if you are sick. The City is also encouraging shoppers to consider alternative, safer options including shopping online, using contactless services, such as curbside pick-up, and shopping in open air markets. 

To date, a total of more than $9.6 million in debt-free grants have been issued to 3,391 small businesses across Boston. The Office of Economic Development's Small Business Unit continues to engage with Boston's business owners through weekly calls, office hours, and ongoing surveys in order to best understand their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Small Business owners are encouraged to complete Survey #10 to share their thoughts and experiences to better shape our programs and policies to serve the small business community. For additional questions, the Small Business Unit can be reached at smallbiz@boston.gov.