波士頓市長疫情匯報3/15 波士頓居民已有13%注射了新冠疫苗

 

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh，左)和聯邦眾議員林奇
(Stephen F. Lynch)聯袂說明美國援救計畫。(視頻截圖)

           (Boston Orange編譯)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)今(13)日和聯邦眾議員林奇(Stephen F. Lynch)在芬紐廳(Faneuil Hall)說明聯邦政府的「美國新冠疫情援救計畫(Covid-19 rescure plan)」，稱截至3月10日，波士頓居民已有13%接種了新冠疫苗。

             若以16歲以上成人為計算依據，已有23%波士頓居民至少接種了一劑新冠疫苗。

             馬丁華殊強調，雖然已接種新冠疫苗的人數越來越多，但人們不宜掉以輕心，仍應繼續戴口罩，勤洗手，保持6英尺安全距離，並接受檢測。波士頓市共有25個新冠病毒檢測站，民眾可上波市府官網，或撥打311熱線電話查詢。

             馬丁華殊也指出，幼稚園到12年級的學校老師及職員，現在都有資格預約接種新冠疫苗了。他今早拜訪了一家本地學校，該校有17名教員已於上週末接種了新冠疫苗。

             聯邦眾議員林奇表示，在國會剛通過的1.9兆元中，包括要發給社區醫療中心的76億元。

             林奇還特地恭喜即將上任美國勞工部部長的馬丁華殊，稱兩人是朋友，早年同在工會服務，馬丁華殊屬於223工會，他則是地方鐵工第7工會。他認為馬丁華殊獲提名出任勞工部部長，具有歷史意義。

             林奇也談到撥款給麻州地鐵(MBTA)，還有286億元支持餐飲業。

(Boston Orange)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)3月15日在芬紐廳(Faneuil Hall)匯報新冠病毒疫情，並和聯邦眾議員林奇(Stephen Lynch)一起闡述美國救援計畫的1.9兆元對波士頓市有哪些幫助。

關於新冠病毒疫情的最新數據，麻州方面，截至3月14日，共有1508宗新增確診案例，累計達568,616宗，新增30人死亡，累計16,311。波士頓市截至3月15日，新增確診案例87宗，累計61,025宗，新增4人死亡，累計1313人死亡。

            截至3月7日，波士頓市平均每日有3942人做了新冠病毒檢測，以7天為準的平均每日確診人數為165人，平均每日確診率為3.6%。

            截至3月10日，有23.7%的16歲以上波士頓居民，已至少接種了一劑新冠疫苗，有13.3%完整的接種了疫苗。

            目前波士頓市已有數星期保持在憂慮標準線以下，住院人數也持續下降，每天都有更多人接種了疫苗，整體情況向好發展，但疫情尚未全消，民眾仍宜謹慎，保持勤洗手，戴口罩，注意安全社交距離。已注射疫苗者可查察聯邦疾病防治中心網站的指導原則，做為和其他人安全接觸的參考。

馬丁華殊表示，儘管本週有聖派屈克日節慶，慶幸的是沒有很多大型聚會，市府派人員查訪餐廳是否遵循條例，結果也是大多數營業場所都很守規矩。他很感謝各方人士的合作。

他說，病毒檢測仍然是目前最基本的控制病毒散佈方式。波士頓市府希望每個人都能做檢測，波士頓市共有25個病毒檢測站，以及免費為任何人做檢測的流動檢測車，本週將在牙買加平原的Mildred Hailey公寓的Anna Cole 社區中心，海德公園的波士頓復興特許學校，多徹斯特的Strand劇院，以及Prince Hall Grand Lodge。查詢相關檢測資源可上網Boston.gov/TestingPledge。查詢相關資訊可上網Boston.gov，或撥打311電話。

在疫苗方面，波士頓市將支持州政府的疫苗實施辦法。目前65歲以上，以及患有2種以上疾病者，可以接種疫苗。上星期，老師，托兒所工作人員，以及幼稚園到12年級的學校員工，也都有資格接種疫苗了。查詢相關資訊可上州政府網站Mass.gov/CovidVaccine。

波士頓市65歲以上耆英可撥打311電話，找市府耆英局(Age Strong Commission)尋求多語協助。

退伍軍人不論年齡，只要註冊登記退伍軍人醫療保險，可以到任何一家退伍軍人醫療設施去接種疫苗。波士頓市的退伍軍人服務辦公室也將和各疫苗門診處合作，服務退伍軍人。3月17日早上10點至下午1點，在麥特潘(Mattapan)的William E. Carter美國退伍軍人會，3月20日的早上10點至下午1點在洛士百利(Roxbury)哥倫布大道的Urban Edge都有為退伍軍人服務的門診。需要交通服務的退伍軍人可撥打311電話。

麥特潘的BCYF Gallivan社區中心已闢為專為教師及學校工作人員，校巴駕駛注射疫苗地點。本週及下週的週日至週四開放。數星期後將再次開放，專供教師等人員注射第二劑疫苗。

波士頓公校在3月15日這天，歡迎家長同意的4到8年級學生回校上課。若公眾健康數據顯示良好，9到12年級學生將從3月29日起回校上課。

目前，各學校仍以部分回校上課，部分在家學習的方式教學。州政府呼籲各學區讓所有的中小學從4月起，自由選擇是否讓所有學生整天回校上課，

馬丁華殊表示，波士頓公校和市府將繼續尊重各家庭的選擇，因此仍會向所有家庭提供遠程教學。波士頓公校在3月15日這天早上發出問卷調查，詢問家長希望遠程教學或全天到校上課，並要求家長們在3月22日交回問卷。查詢詳情可上網BostonPublicSchools.org.。

關於戶外用餐部分，波士頓市長在2週前已宣布，4月1日起准許餐廳在戶外供餐。上週五，波士頓市把這日期提前到3月22日。波士頓市殘障局將繼續為有需要的餐廳提供殘障坡道。

由於北端(North End)餐廳密集度高，該地區餐廳的戶外供餐開始日期將維持在4月1日。波士頓市經濟發展辦公室刻正和波士頓黑人娛樂業聯盟合作，宣導市府可提供那些技術援助。波市府也將繼續在網上安排辦公時間，舉辦申請戶外供餐申請工作坊。查詢可上網Boston.gov/2021OutdoorDining。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊在3月15日這天還和聯邦眾議員林奇(Stephen Lynch)一起，聯袂闡述美國援救計畫的1.9兆美元，對波士頓市有哪些幫助，感謝拜登總統和代表麻州的聯邦參眾議員。

他們指出，經由美國援救計畫的1.9兆美元，凡是年收入在15萬美元以下者，將拿到美國寄發的1400元紓困支票。對有四口人的家庭來說，就是5600元了。

兒童抵稅優惠也將調漲為每名兒童3600元，以每月分期支付方式給付。失業救濟福利，每週多發300元也將展延至今春及今夏。

波士頓市府也將獲得資助來擴大辦理食物安全項目，為民眾提供租金、貸款及水電費紓困金，發補助款給提供托兒服務業者，為小企業提供更多支援等。

美國援救計畫還將撥款3500億元，資助各地州市政府，1300億元資助幼稚園到12年級的教育。波士頓市及麻州都將受益。

波士頓亞裔走上街頭 呼籲終結種族歧視 停止恨

「停止仇恨亞裔」遊行隊伍最後在麻州州政府大樓前呼籲。(周菊子攝)

13日下午有數百人聚集在Parkman音樂台前，支持「停
指亞裔仇恨」。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)數百名亞裔及支持者，3月13日從波士頓廣場Parkman音樂台，繞經史都華街，尼倫街，林肯街，華埠牌樓，再匯聚在麻州政府大樓前，高舉標語呼口號，「停止仇恨亞裔，愛亞裔(Stop Asian Hate, Love Asian People)」。

              針對亞裔的仇恨犯罪，去年激增，非牟利組織「停止恨亞裔(Stop AAPI Hate)」整理的一份報告稱，去年共有2800多宗亞裔仇恨事件記錄在案，麻州共有67宗。然而亞裔一向沉默，未經舉報的亞裔仇恨行為恐怕遠不只此數。

阮杜安(譯音，Ryan Doan Nguyen)是哈佛大學新鮮人。
(周菊子攝)

              轄區包括波士頓華埠的麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)應邀致詞時，嘉許年輕人為正義挺身而出，直言亞裔很重要，稱現在的國家，州及市這社會有問題，有些人對待其他人不恰當。他說多元是這城市強勁的原因之一，尤其在困難時刻，大家更必須要團結一致。他強調要中止種族歧視，也提醒亞裔報案的重要，因為不說出來，沒有記錄，人們就以為沒問題。

              「停止恨亞裔」這活動是由一群學生發起的。主要發起人是一名18歲，具越南及寮族血源的哈佛大學大一學生阮杜安(譯音，Ryan Doan Nguyen)，以及來自加拿大，目前在東北大學念書的Manny Chong，來自佛羅里達州邁阿密的拉丁裔女生，也是哈佛大學生的Janet Hernandez。

              阮杜安表示，大約一年前，他就已經有發起遊行的念頭，今年2月，住在舊金山的84歲泰裔老人在例行散步途中，無辜遇襲身亡。這消息讓他再也坐不住了。他為自己父母，祖輩的人身安危，擔心不已，深怕他們一出門，就莫名其妙的遭人縱火，被人推打。

麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)提醒亞裔遭遇不平要報案。
(周菊子攝)

              波士頓同源會創會共同會長李衛新表示，根據非正式記錄，亞裔比美國人還早來到美國，有記錄的也200多年，何況華人協助建造大西洋鐵路，包括他的祖輩，許多人曾參軍保護美國，對美國的建立卓有貢獻。這些亞裔對美國有貢獻的故事，必須更廣泛的傳播出去。

              紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民也上台發言。他記得他父親曾經告訴他，一根筷子很容易折斷，但是一把筷子，就很難折了。亞裔團結就有力量。另一名拉丁裔牧師上台發言時也請出席活動的群眾和他一起呼喊「團結就不會被打敗」。

波士頓同源會李衛新強調亞裔對美國有貢獻。

              13日這天參加遊行的人，來自四面八方，還有愛默生學院等不同院校學生，帶出席者喊「我們是耆英的保護者，我們是兄弟姊妹的保護者」等等口號的非洲裔社會運動組織者，波士頓華埠的伍輝民夫婦，翁宇才，梁利堂，黃鷹立等等。波士頓華商會會長蔡倩婷也和該會幹部陳文珊，籲請各界到華埠用餐，以行動支持亞裔。

              波士頓的亞裔社區在這場「停止恨亞裔」遊行之後，3月25日晚上6點，有麻州亞美局和華人前進會，亞美社區發展協會，波士頓華埠社區中心等16各機構發起，在網路上舉行的「麻州反歧視亞裔城鎮會議」，3月14日中午12點，在柯普利廣場有無名跑步團隊(UNMD Run Crew)發起的「保護華埠」遊行。

左起，阮鴻燦，鄭慧民，翁宇財等人發言，舉牌。

左起，伍輝民夫婦，余文博夫人，鄭慧民，阮鴻燦等人在
活動現場舉牌支持。(周菊子攝)

波士頓華商會會長蔡倩婷也和該會幹部陳文珊，
籲請各界到華埠用餐，(周菊子攝)

這塊標語牌展示多名遭遇仇恨攻擊的亞裔。(周菊子攝)

講廣東話的民眾到場支持。(周菊子攝)

人們聚集在波士頓廣場的音樂台前。(周菊子攝)

遊行隊伍高舉「別坐在哪兒保持沉默」等口號牌，經過華埠。
(周菊子攝)

 

ILF Leadership Academy application deadline 4/2

 

3月22日起 波士頓市開放戶外用餐

            (Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)今(12)日宣佈，波士頓市將提前從3月22日起，准許餐廳在戶外供餐。

                波市府和牌照局原本的計畫是4月1日起，開放餐館業者在戶外供餐，現因天氣預報，提前實施。

              有意辦理戶外供餐者，可在網上向市府申請。波市府表示，已撥打200多通電話，通知去年申辦戶外供餐的有色企業，提供相關資源。波士頓市府打算舉辦更多講座，安排更多諮詢時間回答企業提問。

            波士頓市府的2021年戶外供餐實驗計畫將在天氣情況許可下，從3月22日開始至12月1日止。2020年曾辦理戶外供餐，今年有意續辦者，須重新申請。申請免費，查詢可洽smallbiz@boston.gov。

             波士頓市府其實從去年起就已為今年的戶外供餐計畫做了準備，網上申請管道，從去年12月10日起就已開通，共有434家餐廳申請，已有215家獲批准。

            在2020年，波士頓市府共批發了550份戶外供餐許可牌照，其中415家使用的是公家土地。

 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES OUTDOOR DINING WILL NOW BEGIN IN BOSTON ON MARCH 22

City of Boston to provide additional assistance to restaurants

BOSTON - Friday, March 12, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that in collaboration with the Boston Licensing Board and City departments, outdoor dining for approved restaurants in Boston will now begin on March 22 due to the weather forecast. This is an earlier start than the previously-announced date of April 1. 

The 2021 Outdoor Dining Pilot Program will continue many of the successful initiatives from last year's program, such as streamlined permitting and outdoor patios on roadways that enable restaurants with narrow sidewalks to offer patio seating to patrons, while offering new features based on community feedback. Applications for outdoor dining licenses on both public and private property are now open, and businesses can apply online. 

The City has also focused on providing resources to businesses of color, and has made more than 200 personalized outreach calls to every business that applied for outdoor dining last year. The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development has met with the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition to ensure added technical assistance is available for businesses to apply. Weekly “Help Sessions” were held from December through January to help businesses navigate the pilot process. The City of Boston is also planning to host additional office hours and workshops to help businesses with their applications as needed.

“Outdoor dining was one of the bright spots last summer and fall, and we’ve seen the benefits it has had on our neighborhoods: supporting local businesses, a safe and enjoyable experience for restaurant patrons, and an added resource for Boston’s small businesses during this challenging time,” said Mayor Walsh. “I’m thrilled we are able to start this program even earlier, and I look forward to businesses and residents taking advantage of it.”

The 2021 Outdoor Dining Pilot Program season for approved restaurants will begin on March 22, 2021, and will end on December 1, 2021, weather permitting. Restaurants that took part in the 2020 temporary outdoor dining program and who wish to do so in 2021 must re-apply, and the City will also be accepting applications from restaurants that did not take part in the 2020 temporary outdoor dining program. 

The City has held a series of virtual training sessions to help businesses with the application process. Outreach to businesses on outdoor dining is a coordinated effort through the Licensing Board, Office of Economic Development, Office of Neighborhood Services, and Boston Main Streets. 

Updated support for businesses includes:

Waived fees to reduce barriers to applying to the program, including Licensing Board fees and fees for the use of the public way.

Continued technical support and additional targeted outreach to help support underrepresented restaurant owners. Businesses can get direct support by emailing smallbiz@boston.gov.

Centralized online application that allows City departments to reduce administrative load of reviewing and approving applications and increases transparency in the review process for restaurant owners

Clearer guidance and instructions that improve upon the guidance offered in 2020 (more standardized site plan, clearer language around barrier requirements, etc.)

Office Hours and Webinars will be held on Friday, March 19 from 11am-1pm  and Thursday March 25 from 10am - 12pm. An instructional webinar will be hosted Thursday, March 18 at 5:30pm. 

Sessions available online: 

The office hours and webinar will be available on Zoom and streamed live on Facebook at facebook.com/econdevboston

Thursday, March 18 (5:30pm): https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8RgmtvmFSIyiMDC09Mjakg

Friday, March 19 (11am-1pm): https://zoom.us/j/92465272727

Thursday March 25 (10am-12pm):  https://zoom.us/j/97639633912

The Boston Disabilities Commission will also again work closely with restaurants to distribute ramps throughout the City.

The online application went live on December 10, 2020 and to date, the City has received 434 applications of which 215 have been approved. For the 2020 temporary outdoor dining season, the Licensing Board approved more than 550 requests for outdoor dining licenses with over 415 on public property. Of the total approved outdoor spaces, applications from every single neighborhood in the City of Boston were represented. 

Restaurants that have been approved for outdoor dining can be found at boston.gov/restaurant-support. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Boston has been steadfast in its commitment to supporting the small business community. To date, the Office of Economic Development has issued $16.3 million to more than 4,000 businesses, of which $5 million has been directly allocated to nearly 1,000 restaurant owners. More than $6.7 million in debt-free grants have been distributed to over 1,850 small businesses in every neighborhood across the City of Boston through the Office of Economic Development's Small Business Relief Fund. In November 2020, the City launched three new funds totaling $6.3 million that support small businesses in Boston that have been affected by COVID-19, focusing on commercial rent relief, supporting certified women-, minority-, and veteran-owned small businesses, and restaurant relief. To further assist the City's small businesses, the City of Boston has created a list of suppliers to help businesses source the personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies required to ensure the safety of employees and customers as industries reopen. 

Additional information on outdoor dining, and applications for businesses, is available on boston.gov.

麻州、波士頓每11.5人有1人曾經新冠確診

 

波士頓市計畫發展局招標 25萬元支持托兒教育

 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING CHILD CARE 

Applicants should prioritize equitable access; strengthens worker pay

BOSTON - Friday, March 12, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement (MOWA) and the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) today announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) of $250,000 in funding to support organizations working to create equitable access to child care services in Boston. Grantees will be awarded until the fund is exhausted. Child care providers, nonprofit organizations, community stakeholders are encouraged to apply. The application period is now open and proposals will be accepted through April 23, 2021. The application can be found here.

“It is crucial that families have access to the services they need to care for their children, especially as many families face challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Walsh. “I’d like to thank the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement and the Boston Planning & Development Agency for their work on this grant application, which will help expand child care services for the communities that need it most. Embedding equitable hiring, staffing and services into child care is vital to individuals’ economic growth and families’ access to services.” 

Building on the Walsh Administration’s ongoing work to support equitable access to child care for all of Boston’s families, applications should establish a clear, sustainable plan that supports low-income families and children of color. Applications that include cooperative ownership models and/or shared services are strongly encouraged, with a description of the cooperative governance and/or shared services model. 

Competitive applications should also include the ways in which the activity or program strengthens worker pay and provides continuing education for childcare providers. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to supporting staff of color and staff from other marginalized communities to move into leadership positions. This includes targeted recruitment, hiring practices, staff development, mentoring, and more. In response to existing needs identified within Boston’s child care market from previous reports, special considerations will be given to project plans that include a focus on expanding seats for infants, voucher eligible children, and families who need childcare outside of traditional business hours. 

The funding may be used to either provide or expand existing child care services. All applications must include a detailed budget and comprehensive plan describing their objectives and goals if they are to receive funding. All proposals must be submitted by April 23, 2021 by 5 p.m. to the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement. To apply, visit the Women’s Advancement website. 

Funding for this grant is part of the BPDA’s Child Care Contribution fund, collected from commercial developments over 100,000 square feet in certain Downtown neighborhoods. 

The Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement has prioritized childcare as a critical issue for Boston’s families, leading several landmark initiatives. Boston launched a first in the nation citywide childcare survey in 2019, which led to the 2020 Making Childcare Work report, and is again collecting survey responses this year. Also, MOWA and the City of Boston’s Economic Mobility Lab developed the Childcare Entrepreneur Fund, a grant program for home-based childcare providers that helps these educators be confident small business owners. That program launched in 2019 and expanded significantly to provide additional aid during the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, in 2020, MOWA released a report about the state of childcare during COVID-19, titled Too Much and Not Enough. Other critical work related to children under five years old includes the Boston Opportunity Agenda’s research and reporting about childcare supply, as well as the expansion of pre-kindergarten under Mayor Walsh’s leadership. 

麻州州長疫情匯報 3/11

 

麻州反亞裔種族歧視城鎮會議 3/25 6PM

            (Boston Orange 翻譯)「亞太裔能(APIs Can)」及會員組織，盟友因為在亞特蘭大發生的有針對性8人命案，受害者多為亞裔婦女，憤怒到幾乎不能自已的地步。

             在新冠病毒(COVID-19)期間越來越多，且毫無根據的反亞裔言詞，已助長了反亞裔的仇恨心理及種族歧視。我們在全美見到更多攻擊亞裔事件，尤其是攻擊老年人，而且我們社區的所有成員都沒有了生命安全。從排華法案到日本集中營，到橡木溪錫克廟的射殺，到東南亞裔在學校受不成比例影響，到監獄，到驅逐出境管道，反亞裔的種族歧視在美國歷史中根深蒂固。婦女及女性首當其衝，遭遇的不僅只是種族歧視，還有對亞裔婦女的性別偏見所導致的許多形式暴力，包括我們昨天在喬治亞所看見的。

              作為家務工人，指甲沙龍工人，亞裔婦女在我們的經濟前線；作為持家者，照顧者，亞裔婦女也是我們家庭的中心。亞裔婦女同時生活在社會邊緣，以及移民，性別，種族及階級的交界處。

              我們譴責所有形式的反亞裔社區。我們要求地方，州及聯邦政府:

              支持強大且反應迅速的危機干預資源，包括支持合適語言的精神健康，法律，就業及移民服務。

              從跨族裔對話，以及建造社區做起，把重心放在處理白人至上主義是暴力及仇恨根源的轉型正義。

• 資助投資於有色社區的非執法策略，以處理長期的系統性種族歧視及極端的不公平 – 工作，住宅，移民，醫療保險以及教育。要終結暴力，我們必須確保我們的人得到能夠有尊嚴生活的資源及機會，而且
• 把重心放在倖存者的需要上，以確保任何背景或語言能力的受害者及倖存者，能完整得到多語支持，以及文化上適當的服務，好讓他們得以療癒。

「亞太裔能(APIs Can)」將於3月25日傍晚6到7點，主辦論壇，重點強調麻州亞裔社區在組織反種族歧視，並且學習在病毒大流行期間如何支持我們的社區。報名可上網bit.ly/townhallaar。

 

Community Organizations Respond to Anti-Asian Violence & the Targeted Murders in Atlanta

APIs CAN and our member organizations and allies are enraged and devastated by the targeted murders of 8 people, most of whom were Asian American women, in Atlanta.

 

Increased and unchecked anti-Asian rhetoric during the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled xenophobia and anti-Asian racism. We have seen a rise in attacks on Asian Americans, particularly elderly people, across the country, and a lack of safety in all aspects of our community members’ lives. From the Chinese Exclusion Act to Japanese Internment to the Sikh temple shooting in Oak Creek to the disproportionate impact on Southeast Asians in the school to prison to deportation pipeline, racism against Asians is ingrained in this country’s history. Women and femmes experience the brunt of not only this racism, but also the sexist stereotypes of Asian American women, which leads to many types of violence, including what we saw in Georgia yesterday. 

 

Asian American women are on the frontlines of our economic sectors, including as domestic workers and nail salon workers. Asian American women are also the center of our family lives as homemakers and caretakers. Asian American women live simultaneously at the margins of society and at the intersection of immigration, gender, race, and class. 

 

We denounce violence against Asian American communities in all forms, and we call on local, state, and federal governments to: 

 

• Support robust and responsive crisis intervention resources, including in-language support for mental health, legal, employment, and immigration services;
• Center transformative justice that begins with cross racial dialogue and community-building that address white supremacy as the root cause of violence and hate; 
• Fund non-law enforcement strategies that invest in communities of color to address long-term systemic racism and extreme inequality -- jobs, housing, immigration, healthcare, and education. To end violence, we must ensure our people have the resources and opportunities they need to lead dignified lives; and 
• Focus on survivors’ needs to ensure victims and survivors of all backgrounds and language abilities receive full supportive multilingual and culturally appropriate services so they can recover and heal. 

APIsCAN is hosting a forum March 25, 2021 6pm-7:30pm highlighting how the Asian American community in MA is organizing against racism and learning how to support our community during the pandemic. RSVP at bit.ly/townhallaar.

波士頓16社團合辦婦女領袖講座 蕭美琴、吳弭、黃樂仁與談

這場座談共16個社團合辦，有將近200人參加。(會議視頻截圖)

波士頓台灣人生物科技協會(BTBA)共同會長，孟憲薇(右下)，
蔡佩珊(左上)，波克萊台灣商會副會長康麗雪(右上)和講者
Amy Lin(左下)。(會議視頻截圖)

        (Boston Orange)大波士頓地區16個社團攜手，在3月8日晚以一場網路上舉辦的”與婦女領袖對話”，慶祝國際婦女節，既表揚在政商科學界卓有成就的女性，也傳承經驗，提攜後進。

             這場”對話”分生物科技以及政治商業兩場。

駐美代表蕭美琴。(會議視頻截圖)

             生物科技這場，由波士頓台灣人生物科技協會(BTBA)共同會長，在強生公司(Johnson & Johnson)擔任資深科學家的孟憲薇，以及在哈佛大學醫學院任講師，同時在加斯林糖尿病中心任職的蔡佩珊一同主持。

             應邀出席的三名婦女領袖為Foundation Medicine副總裁Amy Lin，Pandion Therapeutic共同創辦人暨科學長Jo Viney博士，以及藍鳥生物(Bluebird Bio)臨床發展營運副總裁Tara O’Meara。

             政治商業這場，由波克萊台灣商會(BTCC)執行委員暨地產經紀Amelie Cheng，以及喬治華盛頓大學國際政治關係應屆畢業生馮美恩主持。

波士頓市議員暨市長參選人吳弭。(會議視頻截圖)

             分享經驗者為中華民國駐美國代表蕭美琴，波士頓不分區市議員暨市長參選人吳弭，以及哈佛大學商學院教授黃樂仁。

             Amy Lin在美國出生，父母來自台灣，曾加入美國海軍，掌舵開船，後來才轉行。她指出，沒人知道五年，十年之後，身邊人、事會有什麼變化，所以不要輕易向機會說”不”，不要受外界可能加諸於自己的刻板形象限制。

哈佛大學商學院教授黃樂仁。(會議視頻截圖)

             Jo Viney創辦的Pandion Therapeutic，甫於2月25日被默克(Merk)以18.5億美元收購。她表示，作為婦女創業者的優勢，或許是更注重促成團隊合作，更願意聆聽他人意見。她也強調如何信心十足的清晰表達願景，令人興奮，想要加入，也是創業成功的重要因素。

Pandion Therapeutic共同創辦人暨科學長Jo Viney博士。
(會議視頻截圖)

             從健贊轉到藍鳥生物已8年的Tara O’Meara  坦言，雖然她原本的專業不是生物，也非數據，更沒有博士學位，但多年工作累積的經驗與信心，讓她懂得如何管理與辨識人才，也奠定了成功的基礎。

             在政治商業這場座談中，三名講者從亞裔身份認同，如何打破玻璃天花板，如何平衡生活與工作，談到如何有策略地培養自己成為領袖。

             蕭美琴表示，女性直到現在都還面對許多挑戰，譬如從政這條路，有許多男士支持她，但卻不贊成他們自己的女兒往這方向發展。不過去年立法院已有42%的立委是女性，還選出了一名女總統，這些都是進步。

Foundation Medicine副總裁Amy Lin。(會議視頻截圖)

             吳弭其實沒想過自己會從政，小時候來自台灣的父母教她要努力勤奮，默默做事，但在家庭遭遇變故，她承擔起一家之長責任，和政府打交道時，發現政府和人們的生活其實息息相關的，要影響政府政策，必須在談判桌上佔一席位。她坦言自己是在這樣的狀況中一步步走上從政之路。

             在回應怎樣才能把女性扶持到領導位置的與會者提問時，吳弭直言，正如這場會議的提供一個場地讓大家分享最好做法，彼此鼓勵，就是做法之一。她指出，平日預作準備，有一群志同道合朋友，關係良好支持者，以造福整個社區為目標等等，都很重要。          

藍鳥生物(Bluebird Bio)臨床發展營運副總裁Tara O’Maeara。
(會議視頻截圖)

             黃樂仁坦言，做為亞裔女性對她的一切都有影響，小時候她在白人佔絕大多數的社區中長大，一直不知道該如何融入主流群體，不斷自我協調自己的身份。長大後才慢慢懂得，人們會因為某些因素而對其他人有某些感覺、看法，後來她出版的書「邊緣:化逆境為優勢(Edge:Turning adversity into advantage)」，就以「邊緣，喜悅，指導，努力(Edge, delight, guidance, effort)」為綱要，告訴人們，無論是求學，工作，晉升，發展，勤奮工作應該排在EDGE的後面，要學習翻轉別人對自己的刻板印象，讓自己的人生事半功倍。

             主辦單位表示，這場會議也致力協助「放大項目(Project Emplify，projectemplify.org)」這非營利組織募款，支持年輕的南亞裔美國人職涯發展諮商規劃。   (更正版)        

(僑務電子報授權:    https://www.ocacnews.net/overseascommunity/article/article_story.jsp?id=274777)