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星期五, 4月 02, 2021
City of Boston Funding Update
星期四, 4月 01, 2021
Governor and Attorney General Appoint 9 Inaugural Members to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission
Governor and Attorney General Appoint 9 Inaugural Members to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission
POST Commission will create mandatory certification process for police officers
BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey announced the appointments of the 9 inaugural members of the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. The POST Commission will create a mandatory certification process for police officers, as well as processes for decertification, suspension of certification, or reprimand in the event of certain misconduct.
The statute requires the Governor to appoint a police chief, a retired justice of the Superior Court, and a social worker nominated by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The Attorney General is required to appoint a law enforcement officer below the rank of sergeant, who is a labor union representative nominated by the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Policy Group, an officer nominated by the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, and an Attorney nominated by the Civil Rights and Social Justice Section Council of the Massachusetts Bar Association. The Governor and Attorney General are required to jointly appoint three members, one of whom must be nominated by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and the other two are to be civilian appointees. After the initial appointments, each member is eligible to serve 5 years. The Governor designates the Chair of the Commission.
"By establishing a Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, the Commonwealth is taking an important step to improve public safety and increase trust between members of law enforcement and the communities they serve," said Governor Charlie Baker. "We are pleased to appoint a diverse range of experts to the POST Commission, and look forward to their work to create a more effective, just and accountable law enforcement system in Massachusetts."
“Each of these appointees brings unique expertise and experience to this Commission as we institute meaningful reform in our state and local law enforcement departments,” said Attorney General Maura Healey. “This new Commission will help enhance accountability and transparency, build public trust, bolster public safety, and provide enhanced training, guidance and support to police officers across our state.”
About the Commissioners
Appointees of the Governor
The Honorable Judge Margaret R. Hinkle (Ret.) served from 1993 until 2011 as a Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, and will serve as Chair of the POST Commission. Since her retirement in 2011, Judge Hinkle has worked as a Case Manager for JAMS, a private alternative dispute resolution provider, serving as an arbitrator, mediator and discovery master. During her time on the Superior Court, Judge Hinkle presided over hundreds of cases, and served terms as the Administrative Justice of the Business Litigation Session and as the Suffolk County Regional Administrative Justice for Civil Business. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Hinkle served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Boston on the Economic Crimes Unit from 1989 until 1993, and as Director of the US Department of Justice's New England Bank Fraud Task Force from 1992 until 1993. Before joining the US Attorney's Office, Judge Hinkle began her legal career as a Law Clerk for Chief Judge Andrew A. Caffrey of the US District Court in Boston, serving from 1977 until 1978. She then worked in private practice for Goodwin, Procter & Hoar in Boston from 1978 until 1989, and as a Partner from 1986 until 1989. Judge Hinkle earned her Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School, and her Bachelor's Degree from College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Michael J. Wynn has served since 2007 as Chief of the Pittsfield Police Department. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Police, Chief Wynn served successively beginning in 1995 as a Patrol Officer, Shift Supervisor, Shift Commander and Administrative Captain of the Pittsfield Police Department. He has also served as both a subject matter instructor and drill instructor at multiple police academies, including as an Adjunct Instructor for the Justice System Training and Research Institute at Roger Williams University since 2006, an Instructor for the Municipal Police Training Committee in Randolph since 2001, and as a Staff Instructor for the Municipal Police Training Committee in Springfield from 2001 until 2007. From 2003 until 2004, Chief Wynn served as a Leadership Fellow with the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Leadership Development Unit, where he earned certification as a DEA Tactical Instructor. He also has served since last year on the National Leadership Council of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a nonprofit that promotes bipartisan solutions to reduce crime and help children succeed, after serving as a local member for the previous 10 years, and has served as an Adjunct Professor at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts since 2018. He earned a Master's in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College, and his Bachelor's Degree from Williams College.
Charlene D. Luma is a licensed social worker who has served since 2019 as the Chief of the Victim Witness Assistance Program for the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, overseeing Victim Witness Advocates to provide crisis assessment and intervention, supportive counseling, information, referrals and advocacy services to victims, witnesses and their families throughout the criminal justice system. Prior to joining the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Ms. Luma worked from 2012 until 2019 for the Justice Resource Institute in Boston, beginning as a Senior Clinician for the SMART Team, which provides in-home therapy and support for local young people who are victims and survivors of homicide and community violence. She then served as Program Director for the SMART Team from 2014 until 2015, and as Program Director for Boston Trauma Response from 2015 until 2019. Before joining the Justice Resource Institute, Ms. Luma worked as a Clinical Social Worker for Youth Connect in Boston from 2005 until 2010, and as a Clinician for the Children with Voices Program and Family Clinic at the Guidance Center in Somerville from 2010 until 2012. In both roles, she served children, adolescents and their families with histories of domestic violence. Ms. Luma earned both her Master's of Social Work and her Bachelor's Degree from Boston College.
Appointees of the Attorney General
Lawrence "Larry" Calderone is the Chair & President of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Policy Group, and President of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association. He has served as a Boston Police Officer since 1994, working in the communities of Roxbury and Mattapan, and with the Special Operations Motorcycle Unit & SWAT Team. He is currently assigned to the station in West Roxbury, where he previously focused on motor vehicle and pedestrian safety and traffic reconstruction. Officer Calderone has been a representative of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association for over twenty years, and served previously as the Legislative Director for the Association, managing its communications and government affairs, and advocating for the interests of Boston Patrol Officers to government entities and other organizations. Additionally, he is a member of the Massachusetts Joint Labor Management Committee, where he represents police union organizations in collective bargaining negotiations with municipalities across the Commonwealth. Officer Calderone was born and raised in Jamaica Plain, and is a graduate of Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury. He earned a Master's in Law Enforcement from Western New England University, a graduate degree in Public Administration from Suffolk University, and his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England University.
Larry Ellison is currently a Detective in the Boston Police Department's School Unit, a position he has held since 2005. He has served in the Department since 1983, including as a Detective in the Narcotics Division, a Detective in the Brighton district, and as an officer with years of experience across districts and communities. Detective Ellison previously served as the President of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers from 2010 until 2018, where he was instrumental in advocating for more officers of color in higher-ranking positions, protecting minority officers’ rights, and securing pro bono legal assistance for minority officers. In this role, he also sponsored and implemented several youth development programs in conjunction with community organizations and foundations. His tremendous contributions to his community and unique commitment to improving the lives of others led the Boston Celtics to present Detective Ellison with the Heroes Among Us Award in 2016. Detective Ellison is a graduate of South Boston High School, where he was the first Black class president in the school’s history. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University, and has completed several Boston Police Department trainings as well as leadership training at Suffolk University Law School.
Marsha V. Kazarosian is an experienced trial attorney who has been practicing in Massachusetts since 1982, handling multiple high-profile cases that have gained her recognition in New England and across the country. Attorney Kazarosian is currently a Partner at Kazarosian Costello LLP, where her practice areas include civil rights law, discrimination cases, and police misconduct cases. She is a past President of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, and the Essex County Bar Association, and currently co-Chairs the Civil Rights & Social Justice Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Attorney Kazarosian began her career as a criminal defense attorney with the Essex County Bar Advocates and transitioned to a focus on civil rights and discrimination cases. Notably, she represented several women in a landmark gender discrimination suit against the Haverhill Country Club that garnered the attention of national media. She secured a $3.9 million financial judgment for the plaintiffs that was later upheld by the state appeals court, the first time a state’s public accommodations law was said to apply to discrimination in a country club setting. She then pivoted to representing plaintiffs in police misconduct and excessive force cases. Attorney Kazarosian is a frequent commentator on legal issues for various media outlets and teaches trial advocacy courses for continuing legal education. She was appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to serve on the Board of Bar Overseers and the Advisory Committee on Ethical Opinions for Clerks of Court and continues to serve in both capacities. She was also appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court to serve on the Special Nominating Commission for the Supreme Judicial Court in 2016. Attorney Kazarozian is a graduate of Phillips Academy Andover, and earned her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Joint Appointees of the Governor and Attorney General
Dr. Hanya H. Bluestone is a licensed psychologist who has served since 2016 as CEO of Labyrinth Psychological Services, PC, in Holden, providing specialized trauma and behavioral medicine treatments to patients of all ages. Prior to her current role, Dr. Bluestone served from 2007 until 2016 as a Psychologist IV for the Department of Mental Health, where her responsibilities included conducting mental health and substance abuse evaluations, testifying in the District and Superior Courts, and providing clinical consultations to families, probation and judges. Dr. Bluestone began her career in 1995 as a Fellow in Forensic Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and Bridgewater State Hospital, before serving as Director of Clinical Services for The Devereux Center in Rutland from 1996 until 2001. She then served as Director of Forensic Services for Boston Road Clinic and Spectrum Health Systems, overseeing mental health services for inmates at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction, before joining Glenhaven Academy in Marlborough, a residential treatment program for at-risk adolescent girls, as Program Director and Clinical Director until joining a private practice in Holden in April 2002. While in private practice, Dr. Bluestone also served as a Forensic Psychologist for the Center for Health and Development in Worcester and Fitchburg from 2005 until 2007, conducting forensic mental health and substance abuse evaluations for the District and Superior Courts. Dr. Bluestone has also served since 2013 as an Affiliate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and served previously as an Adjunct Professor at Assumption College from 2006 until 2017. Dr. Bluestone earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology and her Master's of Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in Fresno, and her Bachelor's Degree from Harvard University.
Clementina M. Chéry is an ordained senior chaplain and the Co-Founder & CEO of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Boston, a center of healing, teaching and learning for families and communities impacted by homicide, trauma, grief and loss. The center was named for her son, Louis, who was killed in the crossfire of a shootout in 1993. Chaplain Chéry is a recognized expert on best practices in the field of homicide response, and has extensive experience training public health professionals and law enforcement officials to better serve families impacted by murder and interrupt cycles of retaliatory violence. Her accomplishments include working closely with the Boston Police Department to establish a Family Resource Officer within the Homicide Unit to better serve families of homicide victims, convening the first ever Homicide Response Briefing in Massachusetts for over 100 law enforcement officials from across the Commonwealth, and successfully advocating for additional support for funeral and burial services from the Massachusetts Office of Victim Compensation for families of homicide victims. In 2017, Chaplain Chéry was chosen as a Barr Fellow for her vision and collaborative leadership, and her capacity to motivate others, drive change and produce results. She was also named Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers in 2011, and one of Boston's 100 most influential leaders of color in 2016 by Collette Phillips Communications. Chaplain Chéry holds honorary doctorate degrees from College of the Holy Cross, Regis College and Mount Ida College.
Kimberly P. West has served since 2019 as a Partner of Ashcroft Law Firm in Boston, where she represents clients in investigations involving federal and state agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice and Department of the Treasury. Prior to entering private practice, Attorney West served from 2015 until 2019 as Chief of the Criminal Bureau of the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, leading a team of over 120 attorneys, support staff and State Police in the strategic prosecution of a wide range of crimes and serving on the Office of the Inspector General's Council providing oversight of state agencies. Before joining the Office of the Attorney General, Attorney West served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney's Office in Boston in the Health Care Fraud Unit from 2013 until 2015, after having served previously in the National Security Unit from 2002 until 2008. From 2008 until 2013, she served as a Trial Attorney in the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague, Netherlands, successfully obtaining guilty verdicts for war crimes including genocide. Attorney West began her legal career in 1996 as an Assistant District Attorney in the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office, before joining the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General as an Assistant Attorney General in the Public Integrity Unit from 2000 until 2002. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University, and her Bachelor's Degree from Boston College.
About the POST Commission
The 9-member Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission is an independent agency, with appointees from the Governor and Attorney General, which was established by Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2020, signed by the Governor in December of 2020. Their role is to create a mandatory certification process for police officers in Massachusetts, as well as processes for decertification, suspension of certification, or reprimand in the event of certain misconduct. The Commission will also be responsible for investigating and adjudicating claims of misconduct, maintaining databases of training, certification, employment and internal affairs records for all officers, and certifying law enforcement agencies. By creating a central entity to oversee officer certification, the Commission will ensure that those officers' training and misconduct records are available both to the Commission and to those officers' current and future employers, improving accountability.
AG HEALEY JOINS STATES IN URGING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FORGIVE LOANS OF CERTAIN ITT TECH STUDENTS
AG HEALEY JOINS STATES IN URGING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FORGIVE LOANS OF CERTAIN ITT TECH STUDENTS
BOSTON—Attorney General
Maura Healey today urged the U.S. Department of Education to cancel the federal
student loan debt of certain students who attended ITT Technical Institute
(“ITT Tech”). The now defunct for-profit school defrauded thousands of
individuals by encouraging them to enroll and take out loans based on false and
misleading information about the value of an ITT Tech degree and empty promises
of high-paying jobs after graduation.
The borrower defense
application
submitted today by a bipartisan coalition of 24 states and the District of
Columbia requests federal loan discharges for students who enrolled at ITT Tech
between 2007 and 2010, a period in which the school regularly used a deceptive
chart concerning future potential earnings to convince students to attend and
borrow federal student aid. ITT Tech’s widespread and pervasive
misrepresentation concerning job prospects and future potential earnings
violated state consumer protection laws.
Federal law
permits the U.S. Department of Education to forgive federal student loans when
borrowers are deceived by schools. The attorneys general are demanding full
relief for ITT Tech students, including refunds of their loan payments.
“ITT Tech induced
students to enroll in its costly programs based on deceptive earnings
prospects, leaving students and their families with crushing debts they can’t
afford to pay,” said AG Healey. “Borrowers across the country were
swindled by this school and deserve relief. We call on the Department of
Education to cancel their loans, so they no longer have to shoulder this unfair
debt burden.”
Based on a 2012 congressional
report,
ITT Tech enrolled roughly 282,000 students across the country between 2007 and
2010. During this period, the school regularly showed prospective students a
document entitled “Value Proposition for Employed Graduates,” in an effort to
persuade students that the value of an ITT Tech education was worth its high
cost, and that students should take out tens of thousands of dollars in loans
to attend.
However, an
analysis of the “Value Proposition” chart (Figure 1) revealed that ITT Tech
misrepresented the value of its education, claiming it would be substantial,
and that its students would get high-paying jobs upon graduation with a
constant rate of earning growth. ITT Tech’s Value Proposition chart showed a
projected annual salary over an estimated work life, misrepresenting the
projected annual earnings for ITT graduates at $100,000 more than the average
earnings of workers with the same credentials.
In addition to
Massachusetts, the application is signed by the
Attorneys General of Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, the District of Columbia,
Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
波市府宣佈食物卡車日程及戶外小企業支援
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疫情數據彰顯疫苗效率 查理貝克籲民眾節日仍應注意防疫
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| 麻州州長查理貝克呼籲民眾，節慶日也要謹慎防範病毒。 |
查理貝克提醒民眾，雖然4月4日復活節等節日在即，但鑑於去年感恩節，聖誕節後感染率就高漲，希望民眾能記取教訓，保持戒慎心態，就算家人相聚，也要謹記保持安全距離，不要共用餐餚，飲料。
查理貝克表示，包括只需要施打一劑的J&J疫苗在內，麻州內已有230萬人施打了第一劑新冠疫苗。至少130萬人已完整的接種了新冠疫苗。在美國人口500萬以上的24州中，以完成施打第一劑新冠疫苗的比率排名，麻州以連續數週排名第四。
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| Marylou Sudder說明聯邦經費支持的PEBT項目，擴及96,000名6歲 以下兒童。 |
麻州在推廣疫苗接種上，目前仍以雀喜市等受疫情打擊最嚴重的20個社區為重心，包括斥資6500萬元辦理食物安全項目，保護人們免於飢餓。為防止新冠病毒散佈，還在19個新冠病毒檢測站，為無症狀者提供免費檢測。雀喜市的4個新冠病毒檢測站中，就有1個免費的停止散佈病毒檢測站。州政府也與地方組織合作，提供多語服務。
本週稍早，查理貝克去參觀了海恩斯(Hynes)會展中心的大型新冠疫苗注射站，藉以強調麻州和聯邦政府緊急管理局(FEMA)的合作，每天可為麻州增加6000劑疫苗。
下星期，麻州政府將和地方市鎮合作，在雀喜市，瑞維爾(Revere)，波士頓市，秋河市(Fall
River)，以及新貝福市(New Bedford)，這些聯邦疾病防治中心(CDC)辨識為最受打擊的市鎮，推出流動疫苗注射站，在實施這做法的八週左右，以不方便出門人士為主要對象，每天各施打500劑疫苗。
麻州政府也將投資2000萬元，協助州內受新冠病毒疫情打擊最嚴重的20各社區，減少注射疫苗的障礙，致力公平的分發，注射疫苗。
麻州公共衛生廳將直接撥發470萬元給那20個地方市鎮政府及衛生局，支援他們增加人力及醫療基礎設施。雀喜市將從這筆補助款中獲得15萬元。未來數週，麻州政府還將從平等計畫的3000萬元款項中撥發更多補助。
麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudder表示，經由州政府認證為少數族裔及婦女經營的Archipelago策略集團，下週起，將有200名從地方聘用的社區組織，在前述那20個社區舉辦83場外展活動，包括打電話或上門拜訪等，消解人們的猶豫，鼓勵接種新冠病毒疫苗。
根據麻州公共衛生廳數據，3月30日這天，麻州有2,252宗新冠病毒確診個案，累計598,177宗，目前染患新冠病毒的人數約為31,911。36人死亡，累計16,844人。住院人數690人，其中169人住在重症病房，93人插管。這天有115,453人做了新冠病毒的分子檢測。
波士頓市長:四月慶祝全國詩歌月
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推動種族平等 促進經濟發展 美國銀行公益投資承諾增至12.5億美元
推動種族平等 促進經濟發展 美國銀行公益投資承諾增至12.5億美元
增加的投資將用於提倡種族正義，支持亞裔社區
北卡羅來納州夏洛特 – 美國銀行（Bank of America）今日宣布將加碼公益投資，以推動種族平等、增加經濟機會，承諾的公益投資總額將從四年10億美元增加至五年12.5億美元。美國銀行盼能透過實際行動和投資，深化現有的倡導種族平等的運動，並身體力行鼓勵其他企業也參與進來，做出類似的承諾。
最初，美國銀行於2020年6月宣布將於四年內投資10億美元的計劃。直至今日，本行已在包括健康、就業/培訓、可負擔住房和小型企業等重點領域投入超過3.5億美元。 今日宣布加碼的資金將擴大投資範圍，以化解種族歧視以及提倡少數族裔社區平等問題，這其中也包括亞裔社區。
美國銀行首席執行長布萊恩·莫伊尼漢（音譯，Brian Moynihan）表示：「針對亞裔族群的攻擊和仇恨言論在過去一年不斷增長，解決長期存在的包容性和種族不平等問題是當務之急。所有公私營機構也清楚地意識到我們必須在此議題上做出更多努力，採取行動並匯集各界力量，以廣泛且團結地應對我們國家正在面臨的關鍵問題。」
另外，美國銀行更承諾立即投入100萬美元的資金，以支持在亞裔社區中進行的宣傳、對話以及互動等相關行動。此次擴大的五年計劃中也將規劃後續更多的投資內容。
以下是美國銀行為加快并扩展現有工作而採取的行動：
• 向亞美公義促進中心（Advancing Justice）進行捐助，以協助非營利組織推動公民權利、提高旁觀者干預 (bystander intervention)的意識、進行多語言倡議，並提供社會服務援助和法律支持等。這筆資金將扶助亞美公義促進中心位於亞特蘭大、華盛頓特區、洛杉磯、舊金山及芝加哥的五個分部。
• 亞美公義促進中心的首席執行長康妮·喬（Connie Chung Joe）將加入美國銀行全國社區諮詢委員會（National Community Advisory Council），以維持與亞裔社區相關人士的對話和互動，並著手解決性別及種族平等問題。該委員會成員與美國銀行負責公司政策、公司實踐方法和產品部門的領導者保有密切交流，能確保員工、客戶和地方社區獲得支持。
• 進一步支持全國亞太裔美國人社區發展聯盟 （The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development）以及領袖聯盟教育基金（The Leadership Conference Education Fund）。這兩家組織致力於透過以社區為本的工作來加強地方社區資源、宣導和培育。
• 透過發起美國銀行員工禮物對等捐贈計劃（Matching gift program），來提升慈善活動的支持力度。該行員工可以選擇對等捐贈給上述三家非盈利機構，並且可以選擇其他機構進行捐贈。同時，美國銀行決定在接下來的90天內將對等捐贈的最低
金額降至
1美元，以擴大對全美各地的亞裔社區的支持力度。
美國銀行副董事長阮桐（Thong Nguyen，音譯）說道：「最近發生在亞特蘭大的槍擊案，提醒我們一定要團結起來反對所有歧視、仇恨言論和暴力行為。我們絕不容忍任何形式的種族歧視。今天的承諾是建立在美國銀行長年致力於促進社會包容性，幫助實現種族平權的努力基礎之上的。」
康妮·喬則說道：「過去一年，我們目睹了越來越多針對亞裔的種族歧視和暴力事件，可見我們迫切需要方針和資源與之抗衡，並且應該在文化上投入適當的心理健康和受害者援助資源。我們期待與美國銀行和其他全美倡議領袖共同努力，推進種族平權，為每一位美國民眾創造平等機會。」
美國銀行為推進種族平權不懈努力，包括參與商業圓桌會議（Business Roundtable）的最新計劃，目標在今後幾年致力於加強平權、促進多元化並改善公司文化。美國銀行也和史密森尼學會（Smithsonian Institution）一起合作，資助他們的「我們共同的未來：回顧種族歷史」（Our Shared Future: Reckoning with our Racial Past）項目。
美國銀行內部的全球多元與包容委員會（Global Diversity & Inclusion Council）則由來自全球各地的公司高管所構成，過去10幾年一直由首席執行長莫伊尼漢帶領。美國銀行還透過11個員工網絡和地方分支機構與員工交流，並給他們提供支持，當中包括擁有1萬1千名成員的亞裔領袖網絡（Asian Leadership Network）。
拓展視野是美國銀行推行其包容文化的重要一環。過去十年，公司舉辦了數千場場與員工、外部合作夥伴和社區成員的積極對話活動，培養他們的意識、加強包容和理解。近期的幾場活動就包括了該行亞裔領袖網絡舉辦的活動，主要探討種族團結性以及如何應對最近美國各種族之間的關係，特別是美籍亞裔和黑人/非裔社區之間關係。
美國銀行自2020年起累積的3億5千萬美元貢獻包括：
• 對12個少數族裔存託機構（MDI）和社區發展金融機構（CDFI）進行股權資本投資，為成千上萬本不符合傳統借貸機構條件的小型企業和個人提供貸款、住房、社區重建及其他金融服務，其中包括對亞裔存託機構中央銀行（Central Bank）的新投資。
• 對61個專注於少數族裔和女性創業的私募股權基金投資1億8千8百萬美元，以幫助他們增長資本，以及解決一直以來在融資渠道方面的種族和性別差距。
• 共同創立史密森尼學會的「我們共同的未來：回顧種族歷史」，探討美國人如何理解、面對以及對抗種族問題。
• 向全美和各地非營利組織提供超過2千2百萬美元的撥款，支持勞動力發展、創業培訓、健康項目和其他緊急用途。
• 與21所高等教育機構和大型雇主合作，以提高和培訓非裔和西裔拉丁裔學生的能力及新技能 。
• 投入超過1千3百萬美元的款項支持遭新冠疫情重挫的原住民社區 。
• 為康乃爾大學（Cornell）美國銀行女性創業者研究所（Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship）的5萬名女性創業者提供更多機會 。
• 向全美弱勢社區發放2千5百萬個口罩。
直至2025年，美國銀行承諾將在可負擔住房方面投資150億美元，這是原先承諾金額的三倍。同時，該行將發放20億美元的「平等永續發展債券」（Equality Progress Sustainability Bond），旨在促進種族平等、經濟發展和環境永續。此外，2020年美國銀行提供61億7千萬美元的可負擔住房和經濟發展款項，用於幫助在全美建設穩健可持續的社區。(美國銀行新聞稿)
Bank of America Increases Commitment to Advance Racial Equality and Economic Opportunity to $1.25 Billion
Expansion will include actions to address racial justice and advocacy for people of Asian descent
Bank of America today announced that it has increased its $1 billion, four-year commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity to $1.25 billion over five years. This effort further accelerates work already underway to address racial equality and opportunity through direct actions, investments and work to catalyze similar efforts across the private sector.
To date, the company has made more than $350 million in various investments from its initial $1 billion four-year commitment, announced in June 2020, across its primary focus areas of health, jobs/reskilling, affordable housing and small business. Additional funds announced today will further support investments to address racial justice, advocacy and equality for people and communities of color, including those of Asian descent.
“The urgency we feel to address long-standing issues of inclusion and racial inequality has only increased following the attacks and hate speech directed at Asian people over the last year,” said Bank of America Chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan. “Across the public and private sectors, it is clear that we must do more – to take action, help others convene, and serve as a catalyst for a broad-based, collective response to the critical issues affecting our nation.”
The bank also announced an immediate $1 million commitment and related actions in support of increased advocacy, dialogue and engagement with the Asian American community. Further investments will be identified as part of the company’s expanded five-year effort.
Immediate actions taken to help accelerate and expand pre-existing work include:
- A grant to the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) organization to advance the nonprofit’s work to promote civil rights, bystander intervention, in-language advocacy, social services assistance and legal support. This funding supports five Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliates based in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.
- The addition of Connie Chung Joe, chief executive officer of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, to serve as a member of Bank of America’s National Community Advisory Council (NCAC), in support of ongoing dialogue and stakeholder engagement with the Asian community in the U.S., and on broad issues of gender and racial equality. Members of the NCAC engage with leaders on Bank of America’s business policies, practices and products in support of employees, clients and local communities.
- Additional support for the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) and The Leadership Conference Education Fund as the two organizations work to advance local community advocacy, training, and resources through community-based efforts.
- Increased philanthropic support through Bank of America’s employee matching gift program. Bank of America employees can double their charitable donations to these three nonprofits and select others; the company’s matching gift minimum has been lowered to $1 for the next 90 days, to expand the impact of their support to the Asian community in the U.S.
“The rising number of attacks against Asian people, including the tragic shootings in Atlanta recently, have served as a stark reminder that we must stand united against discrimination, hate speech and violence,” said Thong Nguyen, vice chairman at Bank of America. “We will not tolerate acts of racism in any form. Today’s commitment builds upon Bank of America’s many years of work in support of inclusion and racial equality.”
“Over the past year, we’ve witnessed increased racism and violence against Asian Americans, underlining the significant need for tools and resources to combat these, as well as a need for culturally specific mental health and victim support resources,” said Chung Joe. “We look forward to working with Bank of America and other national advocacy leaders to advance racial equity and create opportunities for all Americans.”
Bank of America’s work to address racial equity includes participation in the Business Roundtable’s new, multi-year effort to improve equity, diversity and workplace culture, and the bank’s partnership with the Smithsonian Institution in support of its “Our Shared Future: Reckoning with our Racial Past” initiative.
Within the company, Bank of America’s Global Diversity & Inclusion Council includes senior executives from around the world and has been led by Moynihan for more than a decade. The company also connects and supports employees through 11 employee networks and local chapters, including the Asian Leadership Network with more than 11,000 members.
Expanding perspectives is a critical aspect of how Bank of America drives a culture of inclusion. Over the last decade, the company has hosted thousands of courageous conversations with employees, external partners and members of the community to cultivate awareness, inclusion and understanding. Sessions held recently include an event hosted by Bank of America’s Asian Leadership Network regarding allyship to address the current climate of race relations in America, particularly in the Asian and Black/African American communities.
Bank of America’s $350 million in commitments since June 2020 include:
- Equity capital investments in 12 minority depository institutions (MDIs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) to provide lending, housing, neighborhood revitalization and other banking services to thousands of individuals and small businesses that do not qualify through traditional lenders. This includes a new investment in Central Bank, an Asian American MDI.
- $188 million of investment in 61 private equity funds focused on minority and women entrepreneurs to address the persistent gap in access to growth capital for minority-led businesses.
- Founding partner of the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past” initiative exploring how Americans understand, experience and confront race.
- More than $22 million in grants to national and local nonprofits supporting workforce development, entrepreneurship, health and emergency needs.
- Partnerships with 21 higher education institutions and major employers to enhance up-skilling and re-skilling for Black and Hispanic-Latino students.
- More than $13 million committed to Native American Communities hardest hit by the coronavirus.
- Expanded opportunities for 50,000 women entrepreneurs at the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell.
- Distribution of 25 million masks to underserved communities across the U.S.
Bank of America also recently tripled its affordable homeownership commitment to $15 billion through 2025 and issued a $2 billion Equality Progress Sustainability Bond designed to advance racial equality, economic opportunity and environmental sustainability. In 2020, the company provided $6.17 billion in affordable housing and economic development financing to help build strong, sustainable communities across the U.S.(From BOA)
2018年溫徹斯特華男刺死女學生案 法官稱精神有病判他無罪
(Boston Orange 編譯) 2018年在溫徹斯特(Winchester)公共圖書館發生，一名女子被刺20多刀身亡，試圖救她的77歲老先生也被劃傷的駭人聽聞案件，米斗塞郡高等法院法官Kathe Tuttman宣判，嫌犯Jefffrey Y. Yao精神不正常，無罪。
法官Kathe
Tuttman聽取了米斗塞郡檢察官Marian T. Ryan辦公室，以及辯護律師J.
W. Carney Jr.的陳述，稱三名醫療專家做檢查後，都得出同樣結論，Jefffrey Y. Yao在2018年2月24日犯案時，有精神病，無法為他所犯罪行負責。
Alison Fife醫生說，Yao的行動看起來是有組織，有預謀的，但是那和現實完全脫節。Yao動手刺殺是在反擊他腦袋中的聲音。
星期三時就27歲了的Yao被控一級謀殺罪，一旦定罪，將面對終身監禁，不得保釋的結果。但法官Tuttman認為由於精神病，Yao對他自己和公眾都危險，根據州法判決送他進水橋州立醫院。
22歲，當時還是醫學院學生的Deane
Stryker被刺20多刀身亡，死時背上還插著刀。她母親Michal
Kenny向法院呈交了一份受害者影響報告，但法院並未公開這份報告。他們的律師Ann M. Donovan表示，受害人家屬不會就此判決表示意見，並希望外界在這困難時刻，尊重他們的隱私。
法官Tuttman對Yao說，他將留在醫院內，直到醫生認為他不再是個危險人物為止。法官說Yao有權每年評估一次，但他可能一輩子都得留在由懲教署經營，安全標準和中級安全程度監獄一樣的醫院。
Yao來自北京，在溫徹斯特長大，上溫徹斯特高中時，被診斷出有精神分裂症，在2013年到2018年間住院六次，治療精神病。專家說他的病症有聽力幻覺，以及偏執思維。