麻州撥款1億7400萬元補助小企業 8日起餐館、企業容納量可提升至40%

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)。(視頻截圖)

                      (Boston Orange 整理編譯)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(4)日在疫情匯報中宣佈，放寬開放限制。下週一的2月8日凌晨5點起，包括餐館在內，企業營運量可從25%增加到40%。群聚人數限制，仍維持在室內10人，戶外25人。

             麻州目前仍在恢復開放的第三階段第一步驟，包括室內表演場所，諸如滑輪溜冰，蹦床公園等室內娛樂行業，仍然得等到第三階段第二步驟，才能開放。

             營運容量可增加到40%的行業包括，商場及娛樂業，駕駛及飛行學校，體育館/健身俱樂部，圖書館，博物館，零售店，辦公室，信仰崇拜所，住宿場所(公用場所)，高爾夫球場(室內部分)，電影院(每間放映戲院不得多於50人)。

麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)。(視頻截圖)

             麻州政府同時宣佈，已經又再撥1億7390萬元給4043家受新冠病毒打擊最嚴重的小企業，包括餐館，酒吧，外燴，以及個人服務業，獨立零售商等等。這已是麻州成長資本企業(MGCC)發放的第六輪新冠病毒紓緩金。

             在新冠病毒小企業補助項目方面，查理貝克政府已共撥發4億5000萬元，資助9,900家小企業。這些費來自去年12月設立的6億6800萬元企業濟助金，以及包括在10月宣佈，包括在經濟復甦方案內5080萬元

        MGCC還將從2月4日起和漏交文件的特定行業補助款申請者聯絡，在未來數週內幫助他們辦妥申請。

        麻州公共衛生廳的昨日新冠病毒數據為新增確診2186人，新增死亡53人，疫情有趨緩現象。

        由於2月14日的情人節在望，許多商家都期望政府放寬限制，好讓她們有機會爭取一點生意哦。不過都會區計畫委員會主任Marc Draisen認為，放寬限制很可能讓人們開始對病毒掉以輕心，覺得疫情已經沒那麼嚴重，可以多出去了，但在疫情未完全消除之前，最好還是謹慎小心些。

Baker-Polito Administration Awards Nearly $174 Million in Grants to 4,043 Additional Small Businesses for COVID Relief, Increases Capacity Limits for Businesses and Other Activities

Over $450 million in direct financial support has been awarded to 9,900 small businesses; Capacity limits for most sectors increased to 40%

BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced approximately $173.9 million in awards to 4,043 additional small businesses in the sixth round of COVID relief grants administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). This program is focused on serving businesses that have been most impacted by the pandemic, including restaurants, bars, caterers, personal services and independent retailers.

The Administration also announced that effective Monday, February 8^th at 5:00 AM, businesses can operate at 40% capacity. This is an increase from an existing order limiting capacity to 25% for many businesses that expires Monday.

Beginning when the order expires, restaurants and close contact personal services will also be allowed to operate at a 40% capacity limit.

Additionally, the Administration announced that current restrictions limiting gathering sizes to 10 persons indoors and 25 persons outdoors would remain in place for the present time.

All other orders and safety guidance remain in place throughout the Commonwealth as the state continues to fight COVID-19 and vaccination ramps up in all regions.

COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAMS 

To date, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded more than $450 million in direct financial support to 9,900 small businesses. This funding has been made available through a $668 million business relief fund set up in December, as well as a $50.8 million fund for small and diverse businesses included in the economic recovery package announced in October. 

In parallel with the awards announced today, MGCC is engaging with applicants to the Small Business and Sector-Specific Grant Programs that meet sector and demographic priorities but are missing certain documents that are necessary to be considered for an award. Those applicants will be contacted beginning today, February 4^th, and MGCC will work with those businesses over the coming weeks to finalize their applications.

SECTOR-SPECIFIC CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS

Effective Monday, February 8^th at 5:00 AM, those businesses and other sectors in Massachusetts currently limited to 25% capacity following an across the board capacity reduction on December 26, 2020 will be permitted to increase to a 40% capacity limit. Businesses and activities affected by the adjustment include:

• Arcades and Recreational Businesses

• Driving and Flight Schools

• Gyms/Health Clubs

• Libraries

• Museums

• Retail

• Offices

• Places of Worship

• Lodging (common areas)

• Golf (indoor areas)

• Movie Theaters (no more than 50 people per theater)

In addition, restaurants and close contact personal services will now be allowed to operate at a 40% capacity limit, which reflects an increase from the 25% limit imposed in December. As under the current 25% limit, workers and staff will not count towards the occupancy count for restaurants and close contact personal services.

The Commonwealth remains in Phase 3, Step 1 of the Baker-Polito Administration’s reopening plan.

Phase 3, Step 2 businesses, including indoor performance venues and indoor recreation businesses like roller rinks and trampoline parks, remain closed.  

GATHERING LIMITS

The current gathering limits, in place since December 26, are being extended. Indoor gatherings and events will remain limited to 10 people. Outdoor gatherings and events will remain limited to 25 people. The gathering limits apply equally to private homes, event venues, and other public spaces.

Click here to read the read the updated gatherings order.

波士頓警察局長Dennis White 才上任就停職 肇因20年前家暴案

波士頓警察局局長Dennis White。(檔案照片，視頻截圖)

            (Boston Orange整理編譯)甫於2月1日宣誓就任，2月3日立遭勒令暫時休假，波士頓市歷來第2位黑人警察局局長Dennis White傳出曾於1999年家暴，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)將外聘人員調查。

              馬丁華殊發出聲明，指派波士頓警察局總副局長(Superintendent-in-Chief) Gregory Long擔任代理局長，稱市府將從外聘請律師做公正的全面調查。

              波士頓市歷史上的首名黑人警察局局長葛羅斯(William Gross)上週五(1月29日)突然辭職，他的幕僚長兼副局長Dennis White於2月1日宣誓就任，成為第43任波士頓市警察局局長。沒想到波士頓環球報查詢的一宗1999年家暴案，涉案人就是Dennis White。他涉嫌威脅要射殺妻子，其後法院下令要他和家人保持距離。他那時候的妻子也是一名警察。

              馬丁華殊獲悉此事時，人在華府，為他被提名為美國勞工部部長的2月4日聽證會做準備。他說，”我一聽到這嚴重指控，就馬上行動”，”這些令人不安的問題，我或者我的工作人員都不知道，但應該要事前知道”。

              上星期，在馬丁華殊宣佈要指派Dennis White出任波士頓警察局局長後，波士頓環球報就逼波士頓警察局提供White的工作歷史，其中包括三宗內部事務案。波士頓警察局提供了一些基本資料，但拒絕提供內部事務案件內容。

              馬丁華殊政府週三在波士頓環球報記者展示法庭文件，列有家暴指控後回應了。

              1999年5月5日，一名法官發出禁制令，逼White離開家，遠離妻子和孩子，還要交出他的執勤武器。波士頓環球報並未找到White被控罪的證據。在法庭文件中，他否認所有犯行。

              根據法庭文件，White的妻子指控White推她，打她。包括在遺囑認證和家事法院的檔案中，還有波士頓警探訪談這對夫妻的一名朋友後的總結。這名朋友告訴警察，在White和妻子及另一名認識的人起衝突後，White說”想要射殺她和他”。

              當年17歲的White女兒向警探重述，她父親曾經告訴她，在他睡覺的時候別驚擾他，因為”我睡覺的時候槍就放在枕頭下”。

              White的突然停職，引發馬丁華殊上週四指派White接任波士頓市內這最重要職位之一前，到底有沒有審查等的許多問題。波士頓環球報查問的3宗內部事務案中，就有一宗的時間點和這宗家暴案相同，但無法證實是否有關連。

              刑事司法專家們說，儘管波士頓市市長有權獨自決定指派誰當警察局局長，但特別是在警察與人們的關係已被磨損的關鍵時刻，城市經常會慢慢來，做全國搜尋，提名最後入圍者，還努力讓公眾參與挑選過程。

              馬丁華殊離任後，波士頓市議會議長Kim Janey將擔任代理市長。她在一份聲明中表示，她對任何這類指控都會非常的嚴肅以待。

              Kim Janey的聲明是在馬丁華殊要White停職前發出來的。她說，”在議會服務期間，我曾有機會和White局長合作，但這是我第一次聽到這件事。我非常擔心”。”公眾有清楚透明知道的權力”。

              波士頓環球報在12月發表的一篇文章中指稱，過去10年來，波士頓警察被控告時面對的司法系統，經常比平民所面對的更為寬容。控訴有時候會做內部調查，而且不和檢察官分享。

              警察局目前的家暴案政策寫著”逮捕是(警察局)偏好的回應”。

              薩福克郡(Suffolk)地方檢察官Rachael Rollins在一份聲明中表示，她的辦公室並不知道有關White的指控，無法置評。

              馬丁華殊在White的宣誓就任儀式中說，警察局致力”問責與透明”，但指派White擔任警察局局長的過程卻明顯不透明。

              根據州法，波士頓警察局局長任期5年，目前還不清楚，White可以任職5年，還是接續葛羅斯2018年就任後的任期。

              White擔任公職的歷史頗長，起初是一名消防員，然後加入警察局。警察局一度形容他為”受人尊重的街頭警察，在他長大的社區，洛士百利及多徹斯特值勤”。他畢業於Jeremiah E. Burke高中，當警察後於2005年取得Newbury學院的法律學士學位，主修刑事法。

              1999年時，White是一名警官，和也是波士頓警察的妻子已結婚將近20年。那年5月，White的妻子申請禁制令，寫著”我們經常爭吵，他總是要把我推倒，我很害怕他可能進來殺我，因為他很憤怒”。波士頓環球報稱，不點明這位女士，因為他可能是家暴案受害者。她在接電話時也拒絕表示意見。

              2000年9月，代表White妻子的律師在申請離婚的文件中寫著，這名丈夫已承認毆打妻子(一次)，而且睡覺時槍就放在枕頭下”。代表White的律師則寫著，他的客戶”堅定地否認曾打他妻子(或者)威脅要傷害她”。

              不過，White的律師還寫了，”這丈夫承認兩人之間有爭吵，有時候會吵到互相有肢體接觸”。這律師辯稱，限制令及虐待指控是試圖讓White和家庭，孩子分開，並在個人及工作上羞辱他。

              在White遞交的法律文件中，White寫著，他妻子的說法互相衝突。她在離婚申請中聲稱他打過她一次，但1999年5月4日的警察報告，關於威脅要殺她的註記卻是她告訴警察，她們”過去有爭執，但沒有身體虐待”。

              根據包括在離婚檔案中的記錄，同一天有另一份警察報告是控告White的妻子騷擾，因為據說她打電話到洛士百利警察站找White，並向接電話的警察吼叫。

              警察行政研究論壇(Police Executive Research Forum)是個協助城市搜尋新領導的機構。該機構主任Chuck Wexler說，波士頓一直都為能夠從自己的警察局內聘請警察局長而感到欣慰。

              波士頓市的兩名前局長，葛羅斯和威廉伊凡斯(William Evans)都在波士頓警察局工作了一輩子。儘管這份工作對全國性人選很有吸引力，但波士頓官員很少從外面找人。

              1985年時，當年的市長雷夫連(Raymond Flynn)在最後決定請他的朋友，已經當波士頓警察很久的Francis Roaches出任波士頓警察局局長之前，曾飛到費城及紐約，面試候選人。

              2006年，當時的波士頓市長萬寧路(Tomas M. Menino)做全國搜尋，晤談了半打以上的候選人後，也是聘請了羅爾市警察局的Edward F. Davis。

              上星期，在被指派之後，White在簡短的訪問中誓言"會確保我們很透明，好讓公眾信任我們”。

              他說，”主要的事是跨進門來，並確保船是向前直開。我想警察局以後會向很棒的方向前進”。 

波士頓迎春揮毫慶牛年 盼轉乾坤

左起：中華公所行政主任朱蘇珊、阮氏公所主席阮鴻燦、波士頓中華書法會會長黃周麗桃、經文處處長孫儉元
、中華公所主席鄭慧民、僑教中心主任潘昭榮、紐英崙藝術學會會長梅宇國、李氏公所主席李奇舜、中華公所
職員鄺坤珍等人一起向大波士頓僑胞拜年。(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元祝大波士頓僑胞牛年行大運。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導)到2月12日就是辛丑牛年了，波士頓僑教中心和紐英崙中華公所，以及中華書法會，紐英崙藝術學會合作，日前在中華公所會議廳，小規模舉辦”波士頓地區揮毫迎新春”活動，在新冠病毒疫情期間，揮灑一些喜氣。

              2月6日，波士頓僑教中心將在牛頓市僑教中心內再舉辦一場迎春揮毫活動。只是礙於疫情，不邀僑胞出席，但會在臉書上直播，與僑胞們遙距同歡。

中華書法會會長黃周麗桃拿的是可以摺的紙燈籠。(周菊子攝)

              駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮和紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民，藉此機會寒暄，拜年，祝僑胞們”牛年行大運”，還特地邀請中華書法會會長黃周麗桃，紐英崙藝術學會會長梅宇國即席揮毫，在紅紙上寫下”牛”，”春”，”福”等吉祥字句，留在中華公所內，供僑胞們索取，張貼。

             紐英崙中華公所英文書記暨阮氏公所主席阮鴻燦，李氏公所主席李奇舜，紐英崙中華公所行政主任朱蘇珊，職員鄺坤珍也都到場共襄其盛。

左起，黃周麗桃，鄭慧民，經文處長孫儉元，梅宇國，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮。
(周菊子攝)

              由於麻州新冠病毒(COVID-19)疫情去年12月底陡升，州政府恢復開放到第三階段第一步驟的相關限制，先展延到1月24日，再展延到2月8日。波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮表示，今年的揮毫迎新春，也只得意思，意思的舉行。

              紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民表示，礙於疫情，中華公所每年新春例必舉辦的舞龍舞獅，僑團春宴，都取消了，無法在此困難時刻支持華埠商家，餐館的生意，很是遺憾，但僑胞們的健康、安全更重要。

              波士頓僑教中心表示，已為僑胞們準備了蔡英文總統親筆書寫的”牛轉乾坤”春聯，以及小朋友可自行摺疊的牛年燈籠，將分別放在紐英崙中華公所及波士頓僑教中心，供民眾索取。

波士頓市長指派ERNANI DEARAUJO擔任學校委員會委員

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS ERNANI DEARAUJO TO THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE   Ernani DeAraujo, Esq.  BOSTON - Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the appointment of Ernani DeAraujo, Esq. to the Boston School Committee, the governing body of the Boston Public Schools (BPS). DeAraujo is the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, where he serves as chief legal counsel to the community health center with over 1,400 staff who serve over 100,000 patients, a fully licensed Emergency Department, and an Elder Service PACE program.  "I am pleased to welcome Ernani DeAraujo to this pivotal role on the Boston School Committee at a time when our work on behalf of the students of Boston has never been more important," said Mayor Walsh. "Ernani has strong roots in his community, and over the course of his career he has worked with an intentional focus on bringing equity and access to diverse Bostonians. He joins a group of leaders on the Boston School Committee committed to best serving the students of the Boston Public Schools."  The seven-member Boston School Committee is responsible for defining the vision, mission, and goals of the Boston Public Schools; establishing and monitoring the annual operating budget; hiring, managing, and evaluating the Superintendent; and setting and reviewing district policies and practices to support student achievement. "I'm grateful to Mayor Walsh for entrusting me with this opportunity to give back to the Boston Public Schools that have so positively impacted my life," said DeAraujo. "From the Bradley Elementary in East Boston to the Boston Latin School, BPS gave me a foundation of academic, social, and emotional strength for adulthood. I want to add my efforts on the School Committee to ensure that all BPS students have the opportunities I did. I look forward to working with the Committee, Superintendent Cassellius, and the dedicated staff of BPS to bring kids and staff back to school safely through this pandemic and continue the course of rebuilding and reimagining BPS to spread excellence across all of our kids and families." "On behalf of the Boston School Committee, I am pleased to welcome Ernani as our newest colleague, and thank him for his commitment to serving on this Committee," said Alexandra Oliver-Dávila, chairperson of the Boston School Committee. "He has strong connections in the community, a demonstrated passion for helping students succeed, and great experience as a graduate of our schools. I look forward to working alongside him in service to the students, families, and educators of the Boston Public Schools and commend Mayor Walsh for this appointment and his ongoing commitment to ensure the Boston School Committee represents the diversity of our schools and our city."  DeAraujo is a lifelong resident of East Boston, where he currently resides with his family, and where he is very involved in the community through his work at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, and as a former neighborhood liaison for East Boston during the Administration of former Mayor Thomas Menino. He is the first person from East Boston to serve on the Boston School Committee. In addition, he is the former President of NOAH Community Development Corporation, where he oversaw the East Boston-based community development corporation and worked to create affordable housing and community building, especially through youth development and environmental justice. He co-founded a program for East Boston High School, named the Mario Umano Public Service Fellowship, that works to connect students with internship opportunities in government and summer programs and helps students apply to college.  DeAraujo attended Boston Public Schools, including Bradley Elementary, Umana Academy, and Boston Latin School (BLS), and went on to receive a B.A. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, VA. In addition, DeAraujo is a Trustee of the BLS Association, Board Secretary for the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Inc, and is Vice Chairman of the John William Ward Fellowship, where he helps coordinate public service programs for BLS students.    The members of the school committee are Boston residents appointed by the Mayor of Boston to serve four-year staggered terms. Mayor Walsh made these appointments based on a list of candidates recommended by a 13-member Citizens Nominating Panel composed of parents, teachers, principals, and representatives of business and higher education. Under the legislation that established the appointed School Committee, "the Mayor shall strive to appoint individuals who reflect the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the city." On January 4, the Boston School Committee re-elected both Alexandra Oliver-Dávila to Chairperson and Michael O'Neill to Vice Chairperson in unanimous votes. In December 2020, the committee engaged in professional development training which was led pro bono by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, as part of its efforts to examine policies and  more deeply understand their impact on communities of color. The School Committee meets approximately twice per month during the school year to adopt, review and modify policies and practices that support teaching, learning and improved student achievement. With the exception of executive sessions, Committee meetings are open to the public, feature public comment periods and are broadcasted on Boston City TV.   For more information on the School Committee, please visit here.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FREE TAX SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MAXIMIZE REFUNDS FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS

 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FREE TAX SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MAXIMIZE REFUNDS FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS 

Boston Tax Help Coalition to provide remote and community-based tax preparation services 

BOSTON - Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the Boston Tax Help Coalition has launched the 2021 tax season and is once again offering free tax preparation for residents who earn $57,000 per year or less. In response to COVID-19, the Boston Tax Help Coalition and community partners have modified their tax services, providing them both in the community and remotely to ensure that all qualified residents can file safely while maximizing their tax refunds and credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Tax preparation is available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Portugese, French, Vietamese, Manderin, and Cantonese. Qualified residents must call 311 or visit www.bostontaxhelp.org for an appointment. Unlike prior years, walk-in services will not be provided. 

"I urge all qualified Bostonians to take advantage of the Boston Tax Help Coalition's safe and free tax preparation," said Mayor Walsh. "The experts at the Boston Tax Help Coalition can help residents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 maximize their refund and receive the highest EITC due."

The EITC is a refundable credit for low wage workers that lifted 5.6 million people out of poverty in 2018, including 3 million children. In 2020, the average EITC amount returned to taxpayers was $2,461. Yet, according to the IRS, 20 percent of all eligible filers do not receive the credit, with approximately $10 million dollars of EITC left unclaimed in Boston. 

Due to the pandemic and extensive job losses, many taxpayers' refunds could be negatively impacted. To protect taxpayers from losing much-needed refund dollars, Congress created a "Lookback Provision" under the most recent stimulus. Individuals may elect to use their 2019 earned income to calculate their 2020 EITC if their 2019 earned income is more than their 2020 earned income.  Residents should bring a copy of their 2019 taxes with them to the tax appointment, whether with the Boston Tax Help Coalition or any other preparer, to ensure they get the largest EITC credit possible.

"Congratulations to the Boston Tax Help Coalition on the launch of our 19^th tax season," said Doreen Treacy, Vice President for Career Services at JVS. "Today the BTHC and partners launch free tax preparation: safely in the pandemic. What an accomplishment and what a resource to the community! In its first tax season, Coalition partners served 400 taxpayers at 12 sites and returned $800,000 dollars back to the community. Since then, the work has grown dramatically. Community partners now prepare an average of 13,000 returns, bringing back approximately $24 million directly to resident pockets annually-with most of that coming back into our communities as a local economic engine.  Since its founding, the Coalition has recruited and trained over 50,000 volunteers, prepared more than 180,000 free tax returns, and generated over $300 million in combined tax credits and refunds for Bostonians."

BTHC serves approximately 13,000 taxpayers annually, training hundreds of IRS-certified volunteers whose work returns $24 million in refunds and credits directly to taxpayers. In addition to tax preparation, the Coalition provides clients with other free services to improve their financial health.The Coalition connects taxpayers to Bank On Boston, an initiative launched by Mayor Walsh that helps residents identify banking services that are safe, affordable, and non-predatory. Trained Financial Guides also offer taxpayers the Financial Check-Up, a key component of Boston Builds Credit, the City's free credit building program. A Financial Check-Up is a one-on-one session in which a taxpayer can review his or her credit score with a guide and obtain personalized credit-building strategies. 

Part of the Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment, the Boston Tax Help Coalition works to increase accessibility to its free tax services through outreach and materials in English and eight other languages: Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese. Representing the City of Boston at today's tax launch was Yusufi Vali, Director of the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement, whose office is working with the Boston Tax Help Coalition to strengthen immigrant participation in wealth building opportunities. Other speakers included Don Dill, Senior Tax Analyst, IRS National Partnerships; Sharon Scott-Chandler, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, ABCD and Doreen Treacy, Vice President of Career Services, JVS Boston.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOSTON RACIAL EQUITY FUND AND NEW COMMONWEALTH FUND; DISTRIBUTES $735,000 TO SUPPORT RACIAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS

 BOSTON - Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the Boston Racial Equity Fund

will join efforts with the New Commonwealth Fund to advance racial equity and dismantle systemic racism in the City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To ensure these critical resources are swiftly invested in service of the communities most impacted by systemic racism and enduring economic and public health disparities, approximately $670,000 of the funds raised through the Boston Racial Equity Fund will be granted to the New Commonwealth Fund. An additional $65,000 will be granted to the City's Equity and Inclusion Cabinet to advance its research initiatives in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

"Our number one priority in the City of Boston is to embed equity into all of our work, and purposefully sustain the movement to achieve equity and dismantle systemic racism within longstanding practices," said Mayor Walsh. "We are glad to grant the funds raised to the New Commonwealth Fund to support communities of color and make Boston a city where everyone has opportunities to thrive. I thank all our Steering Committee members, partners and donors for their generous support, and I am confident that through the Fund and the work of our Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, our efforts will have an immediate impact" 

Mayor Walsh launched the Boston Racial Equity Fund in June 2020 and then nominated its Steering Committee members, several of whom also serve on the New Commonwealth Fund's leadership board. While fundraising for the Boston Racial Equity Fund will be momentarily paused in anticipation of the mayoral transition, all interested parties are encouraged to make a donation to the New Commonwealth Fund. By leveraging combined resources, these Funds will help manifest greater impact and drive transformative change at both the state and city level. 

"We are thankful to Mayor Walsh and the Boston Racial Equity Fund for taking these steps to help fulfill a mission we both share," said Greg Shell, Managing Director, Bain Capital Double Impact Fund, and a founder of the New Commonwealth Fund. "This generous support will help further our effort to stimulate economic growth and increase employment in the communities who need it most. We believe that this kind of cooperation gives us all the best chance to positively impact these communities, and to transform our great city".

In further support of this powerful partnership and to seed this grant, Mayor Walsh thanked AT&T for stepping up and committing a leadership donation of $500,000 to the Boston Racial Equity Fund with the understanding that it will now go to support the New Commonwealth Fund. 

"We are deeply grateful to Mayor Walsh, Jocelyn Sargent and the leaders of the New Commonwealth Fund, as well as the many civic leaders across Boston, including Chief Crockett, Pabral Chakrabarti of the Boston Federal Reserve, and Lee Pelton of Emerson College, for their commitment and leadership on the fundamental issue of racial equality," said Patricia Jacobs, AT&T Northern Region President. "At AT&T, we share their dedication to elevating diverse voices, and we're honored to play a small part in this most important endeavor."

This announcement also marks a collaboration between the City, its partners, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, which will inform a data-driven action agenda to address the racial wealth gap. A portion of the Fund will be earmarked to support data collection and research that broadly builds upon the Reserve Bank's 2015 Color of Wealth in Boston report. 

"Increasing wealth for Black, Latinx, and communities of color is central to making Greater Boston more equitable, and we're pleased to be invited to participate," says Prabal Chakrabarti, Executive Vice President and Community Affairs Officer at the Boston Fed. "We're exploring a number of questions that will ultimately provide relevant analyses and inform discussions about racial equity. Through these efforts and our existing programs we hope to help the region make progress in tackling the systemic challenges faced by communities of color."

'"There is no issue before us greater than delivering equity and justice for populations who have not benefited from our city's prosperity. The New Commonwealth Fund, The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and AT&T are powerful leadership partners to the City of Boston and our work to dismantle systemic racism and build pathways to generational wealth creation. Today we celebrate all the new opportunities our strategic collaboration will deliver for Boston residents." said Dr. Karilyn Crockett, Chief of Equity for the City of Boston, who has led the creation of this fund along with Dr. Lee Pelton, President of Emerson College and incoming President and CEO of The Boston Foundation.

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30 pharmacies will be open next week.