緬因州參議會首次邀波士頓經文處長致詞 加強表態撐台灣

孫儉元處長(右二)送上感謝狀給緬因州參議會民主黨團。(經文處提供)

          (Boston Orange) 緬因州參議會上週邀駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元赴該會議事廳，接受參議員們全體致意，藉以表達加強緬因州與台灣加強友好關係意願。

 去年，緬因州參議會才首度聯同該州眾議會，無異議的通過決議案，支持臺緬關係及臺灣參與國際組織，並鼓勵緬因州與臺灣洽簽駕照互換協定，2月16日再邀波士頓經文處處長孫儉元出席到該會議事廳，接受全體參議員致意，以展現該參議會對臺灣及駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處的支持。

孫儉元處長在緬因州參議會參議員面前致詞。(經文處提供)

             孫儉元處長當天先拜訪緬因州參議會，由參議長Troy Jackson正式唱名介紹後，向兩黨參議員致詞，代表台灣政府及人民感謝緬因州參議會的友誼，並說明臺緬關係現況及未來合作方向，敦請緬因州全體參議員繼續支持與協助。

                           根據維基百科，緬因州原本是麻州的一部分，1820年3月15日才獨立成州，並成為美國第23州，也是位於美國最東部的州，2019年時的人口134萬多，因境內面積90%由森林覆蓋，又稱「松樹之州(Pine Tree   State) 」。該州議會現有參議員35人，眾議員151人。

孫儉元處長(右二)送上感謝狀給緬因州參議會共和黨團。(經文處提供)

New group of racial justice leaders names Sonia Chang-Díaz their top candidate for Governor

 New group of racial justice leaders names Sonia Chang-Díaz their top candidate for Governor 

20 community leaders, elected officials, advocates cite Chang-Díaz’s record fighting for communities of color as a determining factor for their endorsements 

BOSTON, MA - Twenty racial justice leaders from across Massachusetts are backing State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz as their top candidate for Governor. This group of racial justice champions joins a group of over 50 elected officials as well as national and statewide progressive organizations who are supporting Chang-Díaz’s candidacy.

The new endorsers include elected officials, community leaders, activists, and organizational leaders who all support Chang-Díaz for her track record of delivering results, not just words, on issues of racial justice.

"I’m honored to have the endorsement and support of these leaders of color," said Chang-Díaz. "We have so much work to do to move the dial on racial justice in Massachusetts. We need to close the racial wealth divide, invest in our students of color, provide paths to homeownership, follow through on implementing our criminal legal reforms, and ensure that leaders of color are included at every decision making table. I’m grateful to have these champions in that fight with me."

Chang-Díaz was elected Massachusetts’ first Latina and Asian-American State Senator in 2008. On Beacon Hill, she’s passed major progressive reforms, including $1.5 billion in progressive education funding to close opportunity and achievement gaps, criminal justice reform, and LGBTQ equal rights legislation. She’s been key to passing major racial justice policies, including budget measures to build wealth and small business ownership, reforms to Massachusetts' system for English language education, equity provisions in state law governing the new marijuana industry, and a statutory ban on racial profiling by police.

The new slate of endorsers praised Chang-Díaz for her record of fighting for racial justice on Beacon Hill alongside activists and community leaders, even when it wasn’t politically convenient.

"I have fought alongside Sonia to ensure that racial justice is central to how Beacon Hill leads the Commonwealth," said Russell Holmes, State Representative, 6th Suffolk. "I’m confident that as Governor, Sonia will continue to lead the fight for justice. I’m proud to endorse her to be the next Governor of Massachusetts."

"Sonia's been breaking barriers and delivering real results for over a decade — and often when no one was watching," said Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune. "She's lit the path for racial justice and progressive change on Beacon Hill, and made the impossible possible over and over again. That's the kind of leadership all of our communities need in the Governor's office. I'm thrilled to support her candidacy."

"Sonia has been leading with urgency and insisting that communities of color are put front and center for over a decade," said Malia Lazu, an entrepreneur and racial justice advocate. "We have an open Governor’s seat and a choice between the status quo and moving our movement forward. This is the moment we have been waiting for, and Sonia is our candidate."

"In my years directing Neighbor to Neighbor, Sonia never failed in reaching out to us to engage us and seek our input, whether it was criminal justice or education reform," said Maria Elena Letona, former Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor. "And she never failed in sitting down with us to listen to our concerns and champion climate justice legislation for us. I have never known an elected official who is as proactive in engaging and attentive in listening to people of color communities."

"An effective governor for Massachusetts must have two qualities: a progressive vision to uplift every member of our state and the experience to operationalize that vision. Senator Chang-Díaz clearly has both," said Sana Fadel, racial justice advocate and community leader from Newton. "In her rise from local activist to state senator, she has carried some of the most impactful policies from a call to action to implementation. I was so impressed with her power, pragmatism and effectiveness through some of the toughest policy debates bringing to fruition school equity and policing reforms that have only made Massachusetts stronger. She has the vision and the expertise to earn my vote as our next Governor."

"From championing investments to close the achievement gap, her leadership on CORI reform, racial equity and her bold vision for addressing climate change, Sonia Chang-Díaz has shown us what deep listening and swift action can look like for working families and all of us. The will to change is here; the Governor we need is Senator Chang-Díaz," said Nate Bae Kupel, a racial justice and community leader in Malden.

The slate of endorsers includes:

• Russell Holmes, State Representative, 6th Suffolk District

• Ruthzee Louijeune, Boston City Councilor

• Izzy Rivera, Holyoke City Councilor

• Bobby Bailey, Fall River School Committee Member

• Josh Alba, Lawrence School Committee Member
  

• Malia Lazu, Entrepreneur and racial justice advocate from Boston

• Hodan Hashi, Co-Founder of Black Boston, Inc.

• Colette Phillips, CEO, GetKonnected

• Maria Elena Letona, Former Executive Director, Neighbor to Neighbor

• Shaleen Title, social justice advocate and former Cannabis Control Commissioner

• Diana Hwang, Founder, Asian American Women's Political Initiative

• Miren Uriarte, Founder and Professor, The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy

• Tanisha Arena, Community leader from Springfield
  

• Lezlie Campbell, Community leader from Springfield

• Sana Fadel, Advocate and community leader from Newton

• Helina Fontes, Community leader from Lynn

• Nate Bae Kupel, Community leader from Malden

• Jean-Luc Pierite, Indigenous Community Leader from Boston

• Saritin Rizzuto, Community leader from Wakefield

• Nicole Eigbrett, Community leader from Somerville

 

Full list of 50+ endorsers across the state here: https://www.soniachangdiaz.com/endorsements 

About Sonia Chang-Díaz:

Sonia is the daughter of a social worker and America’s first Latino astronaut, Franklin Chang-Díaz. She was elected the Commonwealth's first Latina and first Asian-American State Senator in 2008 and quickly became a driving force behind many of the state’s biggest progressive reforms — including landmark $1.5 billion progressive education funding reforms, criminal justice reform, LGBT equal rights, and police reform and accountability. For more information about Sonia Chang-Díaz and her campaign for Governor, please visit www.soniachangdiaz.com.

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COURTESY PHOTOS OF ENDORSING RACIAL JUSTICE LEADERS (download them here):

Russell Holmes

Ruthzee Louijeune

Colette Phillips 

Sana Fadel

Maria Elena Letona

Lezlie Braxton Campbell

Malia Lazu

Nate Bae Kupel

Helina Fontes

Diana Hwang

Hodan Hashi

Bobby Bailey

Saritin Rizzuto

Tanisha Arena

Shaleen Title

Izzy Rivera 

Jean-Luc Pierite

Miren Uriarte

Joshua Alba

Nicole Eigbrett

Attachments area

Department of Public Health Reminds Residents of Availability of COVID-19 Treatments for Positive Higher-Risk Individuals

 Department of Public Health Reminds Residents of Availability of COVID-19 Treatments for Positive Higher-Risk Individuals

 

 

BOSTON (February 23, 2022) – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today reminded residents that free treatment options are available that can be used to prevent severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19. Several treatments, including monoclonal antibody infusions and oral therapeutics, are widely available across the Commonwealth.

 

Treatment is available for people who are at increased risk of severe disease, test positive for COVID-19 and have any symptoms, even mild ones (such as runny nose or cough).

 

Residents who think they may be eligible and have questions on if treatment is right for them should contact their medical provider or call the COVID-19 Self-Referral Treatment Line operated by Gothams. The Gothams call line is a free resource that can help refer individuals to sites for monoclonal antibody treatments.

 

These treatment options have been authorized by the FDA for the treatment of COVID-19 in individuals ages 12 and over who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness.

 

There are five treatment options in Massachusetts:

 

Oral Therapeutics (Pills)

• Paxlovid (must be taken within 5 days of your first COVID-19 symptom)
• Molnupiravir (must be taken within 5 days of your first COVID-19 symptom)

 

Oral therapeutic treatments require a prescription from a healthcare provider.

 

Monoclonal Antibody Intravenous (IV) and Antiviral Infusion

• Sotrovimab (must be administered within 10 days of your first COVID-19 symptom)
• Remdesivir (must be given within 7 days of your first COVID-19 symptom)
• Bebtelovimab (must be administered within 7 days of your first COVID-19 symptom)

 

Referrals for monoclonal antibody treatment can be provided by the Gothams call center by calling (508) 213-1380, Monday – Saturday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., or by an individual’s healthcare provider.

 

“These therapeutics, including COVID pills and infusions, are potentially lifesaving but for eligible individuals, they need to be administered quickly to be effective,” said Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “They can help keep you from getting very sick and out of the hospital. If you test positive for COVID-19 and have any kind of risk factor such as diabetes or high blood pressure or asthma – we encourage you to call your provider or the Gothams phone number immediately to see if the treatment could be right for you. Do not wait to see if your symptoms worsen.”

 

“Importantly, the new guidance on use of these therapeutics and their increased availability enables essentially all patients who are diagnosed with COVID-19, are experiencing even mild symptoms, and are at an increased risk of severe illness to access proven treatments that can prevent severe disease and save lives,” said Massachusetts Medical Society President Dr. Carole Allen. “Don’t wait. Even if symptoms are mild, please consider these safe and effective treatments to prevent the disease from progressing to a point that may require hospitalization.”

 

“We are fortunate that there is now an ample supply of therapeutic treatments available widely across the Commonwealth,” said Patricia Noga, Vice President, Clinical Affairs, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. “Our healthcare community views these therapeutics as a part of routine COVID care and hospitals are strongly encouraging clinicians to utilize them to the greatest extent possible. MHA and our members are committed to expanding access to these treatments as we navigate our way out of this latest surge.”

 

Treatments are free and widely available across the Commonwealth. Residents who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 can view treatment locations by visiting the COVID-19 Therapeutic Locator. There are seven state-sponsored locations managed by Gothams in Pittsfield, Holyoke, Athol, Plymouth, Everett, Lowell, and Fall River, in addition to select pharmacies and healthcare settings.

 

To receive treatment, residents should:

 

1. Contact your doctor. They can help identify the best treatment for you, OR
2. Call the Gothams COVID-19 Self-Referral Treatment Line, Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at (508) 213-1380 to speak to a representative who can help individuals access treatment.

 

There is capacity within the Commonwealth and those in need are often able to receive same-day appointments. 

 

Visit www.mass.gov/covidtreatments to learn more about the options available to you.

 

The best protection against severe illness or hospitalization from COVID-19 is vaccination and getting a booster dose. Visit www.mass.gov/covidvaccine to learn more.

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CREATION OF OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TO PRIORITIZE WELLBEING OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CREATION OF OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TO PRIORITIZE WELLBEING OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES The Mayor also announced findings from the 2021 Childcare Census Survey report

BOSTON - Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the creation of the Office of Early Childhood to advance the administration’s commitment to universal, affordable, high-quality early education and care for all children under five. The new Office will expand access to early education and childcare programs, invest in Boston’s early education and care workforce, and serve as a central point-of-entry for residents looking for information on early education and childcare programming and wraparound services for young children and their families. The Office will address needs highlighted in Boston’s 2021 Childcare Census Survey report, which the Mayor also released today. The Mayor made the Office of Early Childhood announcement at the East Boston YMCA, a key partner in programming for Boston’s children and a Boston UPK site.  “Every bit of investment in our children and families to close gaps in early education and care is an investment in our collective future,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how a lack of affordable and accessible childcare puts a strain on working families and entire communities. Together with our community partners, this Office will be key to preparing children for a lifetime of opportunity and bolstering the great work of our childcare providers.” The Office will advance the Mayor’s work to prioritize the City’s youngest residents and their families by: Accelerating the creation of a universal pre-K system that stretches across Boston Public Schools (BPS), community-based organizations, and family-based childcare programs, and expanding high-quality, affordable options for infants and toddlers. Creating a one-stop shop for enrollment and access to early education and childcare programs by building an accessible, multilingual platform so that options are clear, streamlined, and accessible to all families. Investing in the early education and childcare workforce by building sustainable career pathways that recognize early educators as professionals who are essential to young children’s wellbeing.  Coordinating outreach and information for City and community programming that impacts the lives of young children and their families.  The City will be hiring a leader of the new Office of Early Childhood to advance this work in partnership with the Boston Public Schools, the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement, the Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, other City departments, and community organizations that serve Boston’s children and families. “We are excited to deepen the City’s investment in high-quality, accessible childcare solutions for early childhood professionals, families, and their little ones,” said Alexandra Valdez, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement. “The Office of Early Childhood will continue the work of looking at closing child care gaps with community voices at the center. This will not only create opportunities to further support a child’s care needs and early development, but also empower a profession that is largely represented by women, specifically women of color, and our immigrant community.” Before the establishment of the Office of Early Education, the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement (MOWA) led the City’s childcare initiatives. Some of the department’s work includes the Childcare Entrepreneur Fund, a grant program for family childcare providers to gain business skills and receive flexible funding. Through the Fund, the City has supported over 200 providers with multilingual interpretation and instruction to expand the program's reach into Boston’s most diverse communities. Other projects include the Childcare Contribution Fund, the City’s annual Childcare Survey and studies on care issues such as the change in caregiving needs after the onset of COVID-19. The office is currently rolling out opportunities to support early education professionals and childcare facilities with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.  Boston Public Schools has led the way in building out a mixed-delivery system for universal pre-K (UPK) that integrates both BPS classrooms and community-based organizations. In its third year, the UPK program currently serves 664 pre-K students through 21 community-based organizations across 32 program sites; 2,556 non-special education K1 seats for 4-year-olds, and 880 special education seats for 3- and 4-year-olds in K0/K1. In 2021, UPK expanded to include a pilot program to serve 3-year-olds in addition to 4-year-olds in 2021-22. For the upcoming school year in 2022-23, Boston UPK plans to expand to serve up to 930 children at community provider settings, including 600 4-year-olds and 330 3-year-olds. The City of Boston and Boston Public Schools recently released an Invitation for Bids (IFB) to identify additional community-based organizations seeking to join the UPK program. The IFB deadline is April 4, and more details can be found on the BPS Universal Pre-K website.  By investing in and growing the early educator workforce, supporting early education and childcare businesses, and streamlining information and access for families, the Office of Early Childhood will support UPK’s continued expansion by increasing the number of seats available to infants and toddlers. "I can think of nothing more important than ensuring every child has a great start to an excellent education and that begins with access to high quality early learning opportunities," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. "I am excited to see Mayor Wu focus on a mixed delivery system that builds on the strong foundation and close partnership with BPS." “I am grateful to Mayor Wu and her team and all who have worked so hard to advance this work on behalf of our children and their families,” said Jeri Robison, Chair of the Boston School Committee. “As someone who has dedicated my entire career to ensuring enhanced access to all-inclusive early education and care, I am heartened today to see this important next step in our City’s progress. We are sending a message to our families today that Boston is united in our work to help our youngest learners get off to the right start through new support to them and their families.” “We are elated with Mayor Wu’s decision to create a new office focused on early childhood,” said James Morton, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston. “The Y has been working with many stakeholders and community partners to elevate and coordinate early childhood opportunities in the City of Boston. Our East Boston YMCA Early Education Center provides much needed support and wrap-around services to our families, and we are thrilled to host Mayor Wu as she makes this important announcement.” “The healthy development of young children and families starts with connecting those in underserved communities of our City to affordable and accessible childhood resources,” said Cherie Craft, Founder and CEO of Smart from the Start. “Smart from the Start is excited to work with the Mayor and this new Office of Early Childhood to meet families from all backgrounds where they are to get quality care and programming.” Additionally on Wednesday, Mayor Wu released the 2021 Childcare Census Survey Report, conducted by the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement. Since 2019, the yearly childcare survey directly asks parents and guardians about their early education and care needs to better understand how families access and experience care for their children, ages five and under. This year’s City of Boston Childcare Census Survey asked families about their experiences and challenges with childcare during the pandemic, and found that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing gaps in care in the City. Key findings include: For children of all ages in the survey sample, respondents are utilizing a parent/guardian care arrangement more than they would prefer. 81 percent of the respondents utilizing a parent/guardian care arrangement for their children are women, which is interfering with their career desires. 58 percent of respondents would prefer formal care arrangements, whether a center-based, family-based, or school-based program, but are not able to access these. The average cost of center-based care is greater than the Massachusetts state average, which is already the second highest in the nation behind only Washington, D.C., for 41 percent of children in childcare arrangements, the cost exceeds 10 percent of their family’s income. The City’s 2022 Childcare Census Survey is currently ongoing and seeking the public’s input. Families with at least one child between the ages of zero and five are encouraged to complete the online survey, available in seven languages, here. Alternatively, families can fill out the physical survey, which was recently mailed to City of Boston residents along with the Annual City Census. More information on the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement and its annual Childcare Census Survey can be found here.