Committee of 100 Connects with Over 150 Groups, Universities and Organizations on Landmark Study of Chinese American Contributions

 Committee of 100 Connects with Over 150 Groups, Universities and Organizations on Landmark Study of Chinese American Contributions

 New York, NY (February 8, 2022) — On February 8, 2021, Committee of 100 published a landmark study on the historic contributions of Chinese Americans to the fabric of American society. The study “From Foundations to Frontiers: Chinese American Contributions to the Fabric of America,” was commissioned by Committee of 100, produced by The Economist Intelligence Unit, and sponsored in part by Citi Private Bank. The 140-plus page study, along with seven vertical reports, examines the enduring contribution of Chinese Americans to America’s economic and cultural successes across nearly two centuries.

Committee of 100 is a non-profit leadership organization of Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts. At a time of heightened xenophobia, hate and violence directed at the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, “From Foundations to Frontiers” serves to shed light on and celebrate the longstanding importance of Chinese Americans to America.

Since launching the landmark study one year ago, Committee of 100 has conducted guest lectures to more than 150 different groups, organizations and universities. These virtual talks are free to any individual  interested in learning more about and discussing the history, challenges, and contributions of Chinese Americans.

“For centuries, Chinese Americans have made tremendous contributions to the growth and prosperity of the United States but have been excluded from the narrative –  always seen as perpetual foreigners. It is more critical than ever to highlight the role Chinese Americans have played in the American story. From Foundations to Frontiers illuminates, through data and storytelling, how Chinese Americans have had a significant impact on American life as we know it,” said Zhengyu Huang, President of Committee of 100. “Along with other communities of color, Chinese Americans continue to face barriers to full inclusion in the form of systemic biases and entrenched stereotypes. America will reach its full potential only when all its citizens can access the same opportunity and representation.”

The website where the Foundations to Frontiers content is housed has had more than 17,890 total visits and 26,735 total page views, and was visited at least once by people from 85 different countries over the past year.

The full landmark study and any of the seven industry reports can be downloaded for free at https://fromfoundationstofrontiers.committee100.org/. 

Committee of 100 will be conducting virtual talks throughout 2022. Please visit https://www.committee100.org/projects/committee-of-100-guest-lecture/ to review what other organizations, universities and groups have said about From Foundations to Frontiers and sign up for your own free guest lecture. 

Feedback from groups, organizations, and universities over the past few months:

“The ‘From Foundations to Frontiers” study by Committee of 100 is a quintessential account of the Chinese American community’s history and trajectory. It demonstrates the remarkable struggles and triumphs of our forebearers. It is a rich tapestry of American culture, art, innovation, entrepreneurship, perseverance and integrity. Meanwhile, we are reminded that, 140 years after the Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese Americans continue to face prejudice and suspicion. I hope Committee of 100, together with other Chinese American leaders, will continue to advocate for the rights of our community, and empower more young Chinese Americans to join our country’s journey towards “a more perfect union.” – Ge Yu, Executive Director, China General Chamber of Commerce-Washington DC

“The Chinese Historical Society of America welcomed this type of deeply researched and valuable data from Committee of 100. In a time of disinformation and a divided society, it is imperative that we, as a community of Chinese Americans within the larger community of Asian Americans, do all we can to continue to identify, document and celebrate the enduring contributions of our people to this great nation. ‘From Foundations to Frontiers’ provides needed information, and stories about how we can continue to shift the narrative about the role of people of color in refining and advancing the American dream.” – Justin Hoover, Executive Director, Chinese Historical Society of America

“As an American born Chinese, I have always felt that the little that was taught in schools about China or the Chinese in America was over simplified and often misunderstood and certainly too brief.  From Foundations to Frontiers and the conversation hosted by Committee of 100 was so enlightening and inspiring. This history and the vital contributions by Americans of Chinese descent were all important to us as Americans and as Chinese. It helps to have the birds eye view with world history as the backdrop and get perspective of our experience as Chinese Americans. It helped to see how we fit into the big picture. It is my dream that this information will find its way into American textbooks.” – Greer Tan Swiston, 2021 Chairman of the Board, Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association

“The Committee of 100’s excellent ‘From Foundations to Frontiers’ presentation at Penn sparked a lively discussion on how members of the university can help to ensure that we benefit from the contributions of Chinese immigrants in the future as much as we have in the past. To do so we must all join together to push back against anti-Asian hate and against racial profiling in investigations of collaborations with researchers at Chinese institutions.” – Andrea J. Liu, Hepburn Professor of Physics, University of Pennsylvania

Connect with China General Chamber of Commerce at https://www.cgccusa.org/en/ or on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Youtube.

Connect with Chinese Historical Society of America at https://chsa.org/ or on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, or Instagram.

Connect with Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association at https://gbcca.org/ or on Facebook, or Twitter. 

Connect with the Center for Soft and Living Matter at the University of Pennsylvania at  https://web.sas.upenn.edu/slm/ or on Twitter.

白宮亞裔會慶農曆新年 蘇維思、徐若冰，盧沛寧、戴琦等華裔高官齊拜年

盧沛寧，美國駐聯合國大使

蘇維思，美國勞工部副部長

美國貿易代表戴琦

   徐若冰 (Heidi Shyu)，美國國防部研究及工程副部長。

 

TODAY at 4pm ET:
Virtual Lunar New Year Celebration

Join the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the White House Office of Public Engagement (OPE) for a virtual 2022 Lunar New Year Celebration today, February 8, 2022, at 4pm ET.

 

2022 Lunar New Year Celebration

Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 4pm ET

Register here.

The celebration will feature cooking demonstrations with renowned chefs; cultural performances; and appearances by trailblazers in government, entertainment, fashion, advocacy, and more. Register here.

 

WHIAANHPI Summer 2022 Internship Program

Calling all undergraduate and graduate students! Applications for the WHIAANHPI Summer 2022 Internship Program are now open. Apply by February 17, 2022.

Learn more about the internship and how to apply here.

「波士頓人支持選舉產生的學校委員會」呼籲學校委員會應民選

       (Boston Orange) 「波士頓人支持選舉產生的學校委員會」在波士頓公校總監宣佈將於本學年結束時辭職後，發表聲明，再度呼籲波士頓學校委員會委員應由選舉產生。

      該組織表示，在麻州的351個市鎮中，其餘350個市鎮的學校委員會都是由選舉產生的。波士頓人也應有同樣的民主監督。他們希望即將進行的聘僱新任波士頓公校總監過程，會積極包括公眾意見，他們也期望未來所有的公校總監聘僱，都由民選產生的學校委員會來辦理。

    他們感謝現任波士頓公校總監為波士頓市服務。

     Bostonians for a Elected School Committee 是一個由教育、民權、投票權、勞工和其他社區組織組成的聯盟，他們組織了 99,000 名波士頓選民，在去年 11 月的選舉中，以壓倒性票數要求民主管理波士頓公立學校。 

Statement from Bostonians for an Elected School Committee on Superintendent Resignation

Hiring and determining the tenure of a Superintendent is one of the most important functions of a School Committee. In the other 350 municipalities in Massachusetts those School Committees are elected. Bostonians deserve that same democratic oversight. We hope that this hiring process will include robust options for public input and look forward to having an elected School Committee manage all future Superintendent hires. 

We thank the Superintendent for her service to the City of Boston. 

Bostonians for an Elected School Committee is a coalition of education, civil rights, voting rights, labor and other community organizations who organized a landslide mandate of 99,000 Boston voters demanding democratic governance for Boston Public Schools in  November’s election. For more information, visit our website at ELECTtheBSC.org

麻州越美協會逾2000人歡聚Ray Flynn郵輪碼頭慶虎年 波士頓市長吳弭應邀出席

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)帶著兒子們和波士頓市議員Erin Murphy、Julia Mejia一起向越南社區拜年。(周菊子攝)

主辦單位從越南運來與多心擺飾。

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 麻州越南裔美人社區 (VACM) 和 新英格蘭越南裔學生校際協會 (NEIVSA)攜手，2月6日在雷費林黑獵鷹郵輪碼頭 (Raymond L. Flynn Black Falcon Cruise Terminal) 慶祝農曆新年，波士頓市長吳弭 (Mchelle Wu) 和多名波士頓市議員都出席致賀。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)帶著兒子們和波士頓市議員Erin Murphy、Julia Mejia
一起向越南社區拜年。(周菊子攝)

              麻州越南人社區每年在不同地方舉辦農曆新年慶祝活動，今年由剛從學校畢業的Jenny Tran擔任主席，雷神公司的工程師 Paul Phamduy擔任副主席。他倆表示，這活動每年都有二、三千人參加，在新冠病毒肆虐2年後，今年這第33屆，很高興人們又能聚首。他們共募集5萬多元贊助，從越南運來許多新擺飾，還有80多商家擺出各式各樣攤位，在雷費林黑獵鷹郵輪碼頭大樓，租下三層樓空間，邀族人同歡，入場門券也只是象徵性的1至2元，就是希望所有人都能感受到農曆新年的歡樂。

吳弭帶著2名兒子到會拜年。

              這天出席的政要，有和越南人社區已非常熟稔的波士頓市長吳弭，以及2名新科波士頓不分區市議員，Ruthzee Louijeune，Erin Murphy，連任的Julia Meija，麻州參議員，本身是越南裔的Dean Tran，共和黨籍的麻州州長候選人Geoff Diehl。

              吳弭用越南話說了一句新年快樂，笑說今年是虎年，大家都需要繼續有勇氣的堅強面對疫情，團結一致，以顯示多徹斯特，菲茲爾德角落的越南人社區多有力量。她很高興自己能和家人到場，與眾人一起慶祝。她也感謝眾人為小西貢區所做的貢獻，還特地提醒眾人，波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn在儀式正式開始前，就已經來到會場，向眾人拜年了。她還特地安排波士頓警察局負責社區警務的James Chin上台說了幾句話。

Jenny Tran (左)和Paul Phamduy (右)是第33屆波士頓越南農曆新年慶祝會的正副主席。(周菊子攝)

越南裔的麻州餐議員Dean Tran到會致詞。(周菊子攝)

負責社區警務的波士頓警察局副局長陳孔恩(James Chin) 也上台致詞。(周菊子攝)

共和黨籍的麻州州長候選人Geoff Diehl 應邀上台致詞。(周菊子攝)

慶祝農曆新年，主辦單位安排了不少人穿古裝供人拍照。(周菊子攝)

波士頓公校總監 Brenda Cassellius將於本學年底卸任

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)和波士頓公校總監Brenda Cassellius 今年初一起為學生
準備口罩。(檔案照片)

             (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 波士頓市公校總監又要換人了。現任總監Brenda Cassellius今 (7) 日突然宣佈，本學年結束後辭職卸任。

             波士頓環球報今早搶報這一消息後，波士頓市長吳弭，波士頓學校委員會主席Jeri Robinson，波士頓公校總監Brenda Cassellius自己，在今早11點，由波士頓市府發出一份滿是禮貌性詞句的聲明。

             波士頓新市長吳弭(Michelle Wu)上任後，動作溫和，人事變動幅度並為太大，在馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)時代就任的Brenda Cassellius，雖然從2019年7月上任以來，發生過多次有爭議事件，仍獲吳弭支持，得以留任。現在突然原因不明的表示將辭職，頓時引出不少議論，波士頓環球報的文章下，至少有159人留言。

波士頓市首名華裔公校總監張欽棠到任時，當時為波士頓是議員的吳弭(Michelle Wu)為他
辦社區接待會，讓社區認識這位新學校總監。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

             波士頓公校總監Brenda Cassellius當初上任時說，她希望自己能在13年後，為當時上幼稚園的學生們頒發高中畢業證書。波士頓學校委員會去年夏天也才決定，把她的合約延長至2024年6月。

             不過波士頓市長吳弭在她為此事發表的公開信中表示，過去這幾天，她和波士頓學校委員會主席Jeri Robinson，波士頓公校總監Brenda Cassellius曾經討論波士頓公校的進步，未來，以及領導層，今天她們宣佈一項共同決定，Brenda Cassellius將在本學年結束時卸任。

             吳弭在信中感謝Brenda Cassellius過去3年來的服務，稱許她帶領公校系統挺過了新冠病毒大流行，勇敢推動波士頓公校需要的結構性改變，使波士頓成為了更好的城市。

             Brenda Cassellius則感謝波士頓市給了她這機會來帶領公校系統。她說大家一起為波士頓公校打造了更堅強的基礎。她對學區的承諾一如當初，她也將永遠支持波士頓公校。

             根據州法，Brenda Cassellius卸任後，波士頓市是否需要指派一名臨時公校總監，將來要聘請誰來當波士頓公校總將，都由吳弭所指派的學校委員會做最後決定。

             Brenda Cassellius當初是在明尼蘇達州(Minnesota)當了將近10年教育局局長後，才來波士頓的。

             自從波士頓市前任市長馬丁華殊去年初到華府當美國勞工部部長後，人們就一直在猜測Brenda Cassellius的未來。學校委員會顧慮到領導層變動會帶來不穩定，去年夏天決定把她的合約延長到2024年6月，就已經引起騷動。

             波士頓環球報接著撰文報導，Brenda Cassellius任由她在麻州擔任公校總監的臨時執照過期，卻一直沒去參加麻州的證書考試，以獲取正式的公校總監執照。她後來去考了試，也拿到了執照。

             在過去這幾年間，她遭遇到不少問題，先是掙扎著要組成她自己的領導班子，上星期才又宣佈最新一波的領導層人事變動，在翻修高中的計畫上，她也面對了校長們的反對，教師工會還因為她在新冠病毒大流行期間處理學校重新開放的作法，對他投下不信任票。許多家長也因推遲重新開放教室，校巴遲到而批評她。

             在Brenda Cassellius上任第一年時，一份2020年的州政府嚴厲稽查結果，也讓波士頓公校系統迎來麻州中小學教育廳的更多監督。

             不過Brenda Cassellius一路走來，也有些大成就，包括把學區的畢業標準，提高到麻州大專院校水平，還大改了波士頓考試學校的入學許可標準。

             Brenda Cassellius是波士頓市過去10年來，第2位上任3年後就離任的公校總監。前一任的波士頓市公校總監張欽棠 (Tommy Chang)，在他和馬丁華殊激烈討論後，2018年離任。

             在那之前，波士頓市的公校總監職位，一直都很穩定。Carol R. Johnson服務了6年，2013年退休。Thomas Payzant在2006年退休前，在位11年。這中間還有過幾位臨時總監。

             要找一名新的公校總監，現在可能很困難，全美各地的公校總監荒已有數年。有些很有才幹的公校總監因為新冠病毒大流行實在太累人，也辭職了。

             在麻州，擔任公校總監的華人，屈指可數。在波士頓市，曾有張欽棠當過公校總監，黃伯勳及張可仁都擔任過副公校總監，在Lincoln-Sudbury則有Bella Wong從2013年起就擔任該學區的公校總監。

百餘人示威 呼籲Tufts醫療中心保留兒童醫院

抗議群眾呼籲拯救塔醫兒童醫院。(Ed Flynn辦公室提供)

             (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 塔芙茨 (Tufts) 醫療中心1月20日公佈麾下的兒童醫院預定7月關門後，抗議聲雀起，迄今已有6萬1000人上網簽名，呼籲保留。2月5日早上，約100人聚集在塔醫的銅熊雕塑前，再次呼籲。Ed Flynn等3名波士頓市議員也到場支持。

             塔芙茨醫療中心的兒童醫院是1894年時創立的，當年在游走於波士頓海港的帆船上，治療重病兒童，所以這醫院也被稱為浮動兒童醫院。現在這醫院有41張重症病床，和塔芙茨醫療中心一起，每年治療約7萬人，兒童醫院部份去年就有1萬9000名兒童治療後出院。

             塔芙茨醫療中心發出兒童醫院將關閉的聲明時，說明該院將和波士頓兒童醫院合作，把小兒科病人轉介到那兒去，塔醫將持續提供兒童專科護理，為小兒科病人做日間手術，新生兒重症病房也將維持開張。該院決定關閉兒童醫院是因為這些年來，需要住院的兒童人數少了，而且情況經常是生病兒童需要的是塔芙茨醫療中心這種規模較小機構所沒有的專科服務。與此同時，有心臟病，中風或敗血症等嚴重病情的成人，卻越來越多，該中心因為成人病床不足，曾拒絕收容數以打計的成人病患，小兒科那兒，卻經常只是半滿。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn與不分區市議員聯袂出席抗議活動，支持
民眾保留塔醫兒童醫院的呼籲。(Ed Flynn辦公室提供)

             塔醫領導層曾說，塔芙茨醫療中心的變動，將影響數以百計的該機構員工，包括140名醫生，100名護士等等。其中有些人很可能會失業，其他人則可在塔醫或波士頓兒童中心找到新職位。

             塔醫護士工會共同主席Mary Havlicek Cornacchia卻說，塔醫行政當局應為他們對照顧兒童病患員工所造成的影響與傷害，為要拆掉廣受人們喜愛的波士頓市歷史的一部分而感到慚愧。

              抗議民眾中有人指出，塔醫兒童醫院一旦關閉，很多病患甚至可能得面對生死難關，因為波士頓兒童醫院不接受他們有些人目前使用的醫療保險。波士頓兒童醫院在一份聲明中表示，該院正在研究保險作業，期以適當因應。

              波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn和波士頓市不分區市議員Ruthzee Louijeune，Erin Murphy都冒著嚴寒，出席這一抗議活動，支持要求保留塔醫兒童醫院的民眾。Ed Flynn強調，波士頓內許多移民家庭的福祉是他最關心的議題，他希望塔醫再仔細研究這一決定，以確保民眾的生活，生命都得到保障。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn與不分區市議員聯袂出席抗議活動，支持
民眾保留塔醫兒童醫院的呼籲。(Ed Flynn辦公室提供)

    


 

波士頓拉丁裔教育獲善款500萬元

             (Boston Orange 編譯) 慈善家，也是亞馬遜創辦人前妻的MacKenzie Scott，又捐錢給波士頓了。「拉丁裔教育 (Latinos for Education)」2月4日表示，他們得到500萬元捐款。

             這筆款項將用於支持該機構協助拉丁裔打工人士接受教育，包括吸引並支持在業工人，支持對拉丁裔學生有利的政策。

             「拉丁裔教育」是個成立於2017年的組織，也是第一個以協助拉丁裔教育者擴大影響力為單一焦點的全國性團體，在麻州致力支持有益於拉丁裔老師及學生的法案，在德州支持父母及監護人在休士頓公校系統及地方政策上為他們的小孩站出來。

             MacKenzie Scott是一位小說作家，慈善家，也是亞馬遜創辦人Jeff Bezos的前妻。最近幾年，她捐給波士頓地區機構的善款，總額逾10億元。

             大波士頓青年會，麻州Easterseals，以及麻州中部的聯合路(United Way)都是2020年的受贈者。去年獲得捐款的機構更多，包括健康夥伴(Partners in Health)，第三部門 (Third Sector)，綠燈基金(GreenLight Fund)，新利潤(New Profit)，跨橋集團(Bridgespan Group)，社會變革和社會金融的互動(Interaction for Social Change and Social Finance)，以及有效慈善中心(Center for Effective Philanthropy)。

波士頓市府冬日送暖快車 2/13 從華埠出發 中華公所同日舞獅迎虎年

               (Boston Orange) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)宣佈啟動「冬季快車 (Winter Express)」計畫，2月13日起，一連4星期，進不同社區設置臨時攤位，為民眾提供免費的戶外藝術表演，還送書，發熱飲，鼓勵民眾出門和鄰居小敘，開懷一番。

             波士頓市府的「冬季快車」的首場活動，訂2月13日中午12點至下午2點，在華埠牌樓旁的陳毓禮、黃杏蓉夫婦公園，和華埠主街及蘿絲甘迺迪綠路保護會一起舉行，慶祝壬寅虎年的農曆新年。

             現場將免費提供食物，飲料，以及波士頓公共衛生局免費提供的新冠病毒檢測劑，波士頓公共圖書館免費送書。波士頓市府流動服務車也將開到現場。

             2月26日(週六)時，波士頓市府的「冬季快車」將開道Nubian廣場，3月5日(週六)開到Town Field的Fields Corner。

             吳弭表示她很興奮有這機會把冬天的快樂帶進社區，讓居民們在冬天能夠安全享受適合家庭的戶外活動，喝點熱巧克力。

           華埠主街主任何陳素貞也說，華埠主街為有機會和吳市長，綠路保護會一起，把冬季快車帶進華埠，慶祝虎年，感到非常興奮。希望新的一年所有企業生意興隆，人們健康。

            紐英崙中華公所每年一度的舞獅迎新年活動，也將在2月13日的早上10點至下午3點，在華埠內的夏利臣街，必珠街，菲利普廣場等地舉行。

             綠路保護會的項目及社區互動主任Keelin Caldwell也為該機構有機會和吳市長所舉辦的這活動合作，感到激動。

             波士頓市府將和波士頓景觀建築師協會 (Boston Society of Landscape Architects) 合作，製作可以放到波士頓不同社區，營造出有趣又舒服快閃空間的一整套設備，包括季節性燈光，暖椅，音樂及藝術表演，在地藝術家創作的公眾藝術品，還安排免費的，由在地餐館提供的熱飲。

             做為波士頓冬季快車系列活動的一部分，波士頓市府還將在高地基金會的支持下，由波士頓市公園娛樂局在2月17日的早上11點至下午2點，安排適合各種不同年紀兒童的小禮物，手工藝，以及表演活動等，把兒童冬節帶回波士頓廣場。

            查詢詳情可上推特@VisitBostonCity，或上網 boston.gov/visiting-boston。

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES BOSTON WINTER EXPRESS

BOSTON — Friday, February 4, 2022 — Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the Boston Winter Express, a new effort to safely bring Bostonians together outdoors during the winter months, foster community, support our Main Street districts, and combat social isolation during the pandemic. The Boston Winter Express will include pop-up spaces in neighborhoods across Boston with free outdoor artistic performances, book giveaways, complimentary hot drinks, and more.   The first event will be a celebration of Lunar New Year on February 13th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in partnership with the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy and Chinatown Main Street at the Chinatown Gate in Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park on The Greenway. It will feature complimentary food and drinks, free COVID-19 test kits provided by the Boston Public Health Commission, free books courtesy of the Boston Public Library, and the City of Boston’s City Hall To Go truck. The Boston Winter Express will be making additional weekend stops in Nubian Square on Saturday, February 26th and in Fields Corner at Town Field on Saturday, March 5th. “I’m excited to announce the Boston Winter Express,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This is an opportunity for us to bring some cold weather joy to our neighborhoods. We are excited to bring communities across our city together safely outside in the wintertime. I invite Boston residents to come join us at these events for family friendly fun, hot chocolate, and more!” “As we celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Tiger, Chinatown Main Street is so excited to partner with Mayor Wu and the Rose Kennedy Greenway in bringing the Boston Winter Express event to Chinatown. We are wishing businesses success, people good health and everyone with prosperity in the coming year,” said Debbie Ho, Executive Director, Chinatown Main Street. “We are thrilled to partner with Mayor Wu to create an opportunity for the Boston community to gather and play safely on The Greenway during the winter. We look forward to bringing the Boston Winter Express to Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park to celebrate Lunar New Year and bring joy to a winter day,” said Keelin Caldwell, Director of Programs and Community Engagement of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy. “Fields Corner Main Street is excited to work with The City, and our community partners to provide a family-centered experience for residents and visitors to be outside, have fun and enjoy delicious treats from some of our neighborhood's small businesses,” said Jackey West Devine, Executive Director, Fields Corner Main Street.  “Our outdoor spaces are vital social and ecological infrastructure,” said Gretchen Rabinkin, Executive Director of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects. “We are delighted to collaborate with Mayor Wu and community partners to create joyful ways that invite residents and small businesses to connect and play throughout Boston’s neighborhoods. Especially in winter, these moments together out of doors improve our mental and physical health. Join us outside!” In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Arts + Culture, the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment, Boston Parks & Recreation Department, Boston Public Library, the Boston Public Health Commision, the Boston Winter Express is a new cold weather placemaking program that will leverage our outdoor public spaces to build community this winter.  In partnership with the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, the City of Boston will prototype a winter placemaking kit to create fun and comfortable pop-up spaces in Boston’s neighborhoods. Over four weekends starting February 13th, each stop on the Boston Winter Express will include seasonal lighting, warm seating, musical and artistic performances, public art created by local artists, and complimentary hot beverages provided by neighborhood restaurants. As part of the Boston Winter Express, the City will also bring back the Children’s Winter Festival on Boston Common on Thursday, February 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Hosted by Mayor Michelle Wu and the Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with the Highland Street Foundation, the festival is a cherished afternoon activity for kids of all ages, featuring music, giveaways, various winter attractions, treats, crafts, and much more.  To learn about more free, family-friendly winter events happening in the City of Boston, follow the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment on social media @VisitBostonCity and visit boston.gov/visiting-boston. The Boston Winter Express will be made up entirely of outdoor, open-air events. It is encouraged, but not required, to wear masks. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are still at high-risk of spreading COVID-19. If you are not fully vaccinated, you should avoid large social gatherings. If you do plan to attend, avoid congested areas, wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth, and maintain six feet of physical distance as much as possible. To get vaccinated, find a location near you on boston.gov/coronavirus.