National ACE "Hear Our Voices" is live now on facebook

 Hear Our Voices is a three-part conversation that started in March, as part of the commemoration of the Atlanta Spa Shootings due to anti-Asian violence. On a broader scale, it featured AAPI women who are leading organizations to support their communities. They also talked about their own self-care and how they are managing through these complex times.

Part 2 of this conversation will feature a collective voice from the perspectives of Corporate, Community, Small Business, and Non-Profit… and how these leaders are addressing violence and xenophobia in our communities and business. We will explore what it takes to make systemic changes and what ways everyone is contributing.

Thank you AARP and Walmart for supporting us to create this needed space for our community.

Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship | Facebook

*NEW GRANT ALERT* The application opens the afternoon of Monday, 4/25 and will remain open through end of June. Courses and events taken since January 1 will be counted towards eligibility requirements.

Sign up & take the courses here: https://vz.to/2ZT0IYL

#grants #NextStreet

440億元 馬斯克買下推特

            (Boston Orange 編譯)  推特(Twitter)宣佈，同意以每股54.2元，共440億元，把這家在政治及社交媒體上有著巨大影響力的公司，賣給世界上目前最富有的人馬斯克 (Elon Musk)。

            才不過是2星期以前，馬斯克發信給推特董事會及管理層，表示要以”惡意併購”方式，拿下該公司。然後推特馬上以容許股東以較低價格購買股票的方式，一邊默默反併購，一邊忙著了解馬斯克的真正意圖，以及其開價是否合理。

推特說將在交易完成後，該公司將變成私人持有的公司。

            推特執行長Parag Agrawal在一條推特貼文上說，推特有著影響整個世界，以及其相關性的目的，他深為其團隊感到自豪，並深受這前所未有的重要工作所啟發。

            世界上現在最富有的人馬斯克說，他想買推特是因為推特作為”言論自由”平台，未發揮應有潛能。推特應該轉型成為私營公司，以贏得使用者的信任，並在他稱之為言論自由之社會要求上，更好的服務大眾。

            馬斯克是一位特立獨行的企業家，也是推特的非常活躍用戶兼批評者，在推特上有8300萬粉絲，經常貼文，宣傳他的特斯拉漢SpaceX2等公司，還常和批評者爭吵。他說言論自由是民主運作基石，而推特是人們討論對人類未來至關重要事務的數字城市廣場。 

波士頓市今年增加1000個青少年暑期工作機會 (視頻)

Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a press conference at the Hyde Square Task Force to discuss summer job opportunities for Boston’s youth. This year, the 2022 Boston SuccessLink Summer Youth Jobs program has been expanded to include 6,000 job opportunities. She will be joined by Celinda E. Miranda, Executive Director of the Hyde Square Task Force, and Rashad Cope, Director of the Department of Youth Engagement & Employment.

AG HEALEY SECURES WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE RATE DECREASE, SAVING MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESSES $80 MILLION

AG HEALEY SECURES WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE RATE DECREASE, SAVING MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESSES $80 MILLION 

New Rates Go into Effect in July; Decrease Creates Significant Savings for Small Businesses and Other Policyholders Across the State 

 BOSTON — Massachusetts businesses will save approximately $80 million under a settlement Attorney General Maura Healey reached with the State Rating Bureau (SRB) and the Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau (WCRIB). The settlement, which follows an intervention by the AG’s Office in an administrative rate hearing at the Division of Insurance, results in an average rollback of about 3.5 percent on workers’ compensation insurance rates. 

The new rates are set to go into effect on July 1, 2022.  

 “This settlement will save millions of dollars for Massachusetts businesses – many of whom are still struggling to recover from the pandemic,” said AG Healey. “Not only does lowering workers’ compensation insurance rates help small businesses, allowing them to invest in higher wages and growth, but it also helps protect workers.”  

 Workers’ compensation insurance rates are set periodically in administrative rate hearings before the Division of Insurance. The state’s insurance companies generally work together to prepare a single joint filing and submit that for approval to the Commissioner. The AG’s Office can intervene in these proceedings and litigate against the proposal to protect the public interest. Massachusetts businesses are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance to provide coverage for workers injured on the job including medical costs and a portion of their lost wages.  

 In December 2021, the industry sought an overall statewide average rate increase of 2.7 percent and the AG’s Office intervened in the rate proceeding seeking a rate rollback for Massachusetts ratepayers. The industry agreed not only to abandon its request to increase rates, but also to apply an average rate rollback of 3.5 percent for policyholders starting in July.    

The AG’s Office has also previously been successful in achieving workers’ compensation rate reductions. After AG Healey intervened in the rate hearings in 2020, insurers agreed to roll back rates by an average of 6.8 percent, saving Massachusetts customers about $80 million.

In 2018, the AG’s Office successfully secured a 12.9 percent average rate rollback on workers’ compensation insurance in the state, saving approximately $150 million for businesses. Over the past 10 years, the AG’s Office has saved employers and small businesses hundreds of millions of dollars by intervening in workers’ compensation insurance administrative rate cases. These savings translate into more jobs for workers in the state.  

The AG’s Insurance and Financial Services Division represents the public interest and litigates administrative rate cases to ensure that rates are fair for Massachusetts policyholders. The AG’s Office has worked collaboratively with the State Rating Bureau to achieve the rate reduction in the present workers’ compensation insurance rate case.  

This matter was handled by staff of AG Healey’s Insurance and Financial Services Division, including Peter Leight, Dr. Burt Feinberg, Madonna Cournoyer, Lilia Dubois, Mike Sugar, Bridget Menkis, Gia Kim, and Glenn Kaplan. 

Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Success of Early College at B.M.C Durfee High School in Fall River

 

Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Success of Early College at B.M.C Durfee High School in Fall River

FALL RIVER – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined Education Secretary James Peyser to visit with high school students and teachers at B.M.C. Durfee High School and participate in a roundtable discussion to highlight the success of its Early College program. 

The Baker-Polito Administration has undertaken a statewide effort to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn college credits at no cost before they graduate high school. Last month, the administration designated eight new Early College programs and awarded several grants totaling more than $1.3 million to high schools launching or expanding Early College programs. 

“Early College programs help boost college enrollment for students who may not have been on a path to college, and help them succeed after graduation,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These unique programs give students, many times first-generation students, confidence – and an advantage – on college campuses.” 

“This program opens doors and creates opportunities for so many students which might not have otherwise existed for them,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration remains committed to providing students from every corner of the Commonwealth the skills and education necessary to succeed in the classroom, workforce and beyond.”

Since its launch in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has strived to expand access to Early College. The Governor’s FY23 budget proposal includes $7.3 million increase for Early College funding, representing a significant increase over FY22, to bring the total annual investment to more than $18 million. 

Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in Early College courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth. The Executive Office of Education anticipates that approximately 8,700 students will be enrolled in Early College programs by the 2024-2025 school year. 

About half of the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities have Early College programs at their high schools, and nearly 60 percent of students enrolled in Early College come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Students who participate in Early College programs enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers. For example, in 2019, approximately 76 percent of Early College students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in Early College. Early College has also been shown to boost college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students.

“Early College has created a shift in the educational experience for thousands of high school students and has shown to improve their level of engagement in their other high school courses. The majority of Early College students meet MassCore college readiness curriculum requirements while also successfully completing credit-bearing college courses,” said Education Secretary James Peyser.  

B.M.C. Durfee High School received state designation for its Early College program in June 2020. Currently there are 135 students in the program, with 270 students anticipated to enroll for the 2022-2023 school year. This fall, UMass Dartmouth will become Durfee High School’s third higher education partner, along with Bridgewater State University and Bristol Community College. B.M.C. Durfee currently offers Early College pathways in Business, Health Science/Medical, Public Policy and Social Service, and Education. Next year, it will expand to offer pathways in STEM and the arts.

“Early college has proven to be a game changer for our Durfee students.  It provides our students not only with access to college at no cost, but also has become the stepping-stone to opportunities for future success beyond high school.  This administration's continued investment in Early College equals an investment in the future of our students and our community,” said Fall River Public Schools Superintendent Maria Pontes.

慶祝地球日 波士頓市長吳弭宣佈系列降溫計畫

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)進波士頓慶祝地球日。(周菊子攝)

           (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 在4月22日和波士頓市議會議長愛德華費林 (Ed Flynn) 聯袂來到華埠「陳毓禮叔叔、黃杏蓉阿姨」公園，慶祝地球日，宣佈一系列降溫方案，並以華埠等5個溫度最高的社區為優先服務對象。

致詞結束，吳弭市長還回答了很多問題。(周菊子攝)

          有一份2021年研究報告稱波士頓市在全美最熱城市中排名第六，在2010年到2020年間，波士頓天熱的日子，比過去50年來的任何一個10年都多。波士頓市在2019年的一份調查報告則發現，華埠是全市最熱的地方，比其他鄰里社區高了華氏10度左右。

          根據波士頓市的調查報告，在熱浪來襲時，波士頓最熱的地方在白天會比其他地方更熱華氏7.5度，晚上則更熱華氏3.6度。

吳弭市長在活動現場被小朋友問，市長是什麼。(周菊子攝)

          在綠路保護會主任Chris Cook主持的致詞儀式中，吳弭市長說明，波士頓市府將於今夏派發包括軟管，噴霧器，帳篷等的30份彈出式冷卻組給社區組織辦活動用；環保局將推出冷卻屋頂補助項目，教育並協助屋主安裝涼爽屋頂；交通局將於今秋推出”涼爽巴士站”設計挑戰，邀請民眾為SL4及SL5這兩條銀線巴士路線的新巴士站做抗熱設計。

          吳弭說，波士頓市府在考慮每一項議題時，會把居民們曾經面對的所有挑戰都連在一起去思考。

吳弭市長用粉筆在地上寫出自己的中文名字，看旁邊的小朋友會不會寫。(周菊子攝)

          波士頓市府要推出的一系列” 波士頓解決熱度彈性方案 (Heat Resilience Solutions for Boston)”，共有26個方案，包括種樹，提供樹蔭，在校園內安裝加水站，投資綠化屋頂等冷卻設施，教育建築經理如何讓戶外工作人員在熱天中保持安全，以及安裝溫度感應器等，並以華埠(Chinatown)、多徹斯特(Dorchester)、東波士頓 (East Boston)、麥特潘 (Mattapan)及洛士百利 (Roxbury)等5個社區為優先服務對象。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn以手勢加強無樹蔭遮陽。(周菊子攝)

          波士頓市府還將推出「極端溫度回應工作小組 (Extreme Temperature Response Taskforce)」來跨部會的執行這一方案，因應高溫天氣。

            在波士頓華埠，波士頓市政府已經和綠路保護會合作，修飾了司徒麗英公園，在牌樓公園那兒安裝了飲水器，以及噴霧灑水器。波士頓市政府還將根據民眾的意見來重新設計空間。

華人前進會主任陳玉珍用廣東話說很高興華埠有機會討論環境文提。(周菊子攝)

            在慶祝地球日的儀式中，波士頓市府還邀請波士頓市議會議長愛德華費林，華人前進會主任陳玉珍，以及波士頓市府的環境、能源及開放空間長Mariama White-Hammond出席講話。

           愛德華費林市議長強調，波士頓市內華埠的染患哮喘率最高，公園及綠化空間很少，樹也不多，但波士頓市府想要確保華埠內的小孩和其他地區的小孩一樣，也享有那麼多的公園與開放空間。他說謝謝華埠和市府合作，一起努力把波士頓變得更好。

波士頓市長吳弭(Michelle Wu，左二)進華埠慶祝地球日，慈濟波士頓聯絡處的陳裕逢，
負責人長金滿，以及吳明真校長也來響應環保愛地球，順道為陳裕逢慶生。(周菊子攝)

            陳玉珍既是華人前進會主任，也是波士頓市政府「熱計畫」的顧問委員會委員。她用廣東話和英文感謝吳弭市長進華埠來談環境問題，因為社區內面對的挑戰太多，一直沒多少機會談環境對社區的影響這話題。她指出，華埠染患哮喘率最高是因為車流量太多污染了空氣，影響了居民的身體健康。考慮華埠未來，就不能不談環境。

波士頓市府的環境、能源及開放空間長Mariama White-Hammond指出，吳弭政府「熱計畫」列出來的重要行動，都已包括在吳弭政府提出來的第一個預算計畫中，包括撥250萬元給新的適應氣候街道項目，2000萬元給三層屋及多家庭屋做能源改造，從美國援救計畫紓困款(ARPA)拿250萬元來重或保護市區樹篷，250萬元來電動化校巴，動用600萬元美元國就計畫紓困款來擴大青少年綠色工作機會，1億3700萬元的資本來開闢並保護公園。

波士頓市府和綠路保護會合作，在華埠公園旁安裝了飲水器。(周菊子攝)

華埠公園內安裝了噴水器，一按就會噴出水霧，讓人清涼一下。(周菊子攝)

噴水器是從細細的鐵架上的高處橫桿噴出水霧。(周菊子攝)

慶祝地球日活動現場送給民眾的環保袋。

Chelsea 發生2人互射槍擊案 68歲女路人受傷

 (Boston Orange 編譯) 雀喜市 (Chelsea)週四下午一點在華盛頓道發生槍擊案，2人互相射擊，傷及一名68歲女路人。

警察表示，這名女路人當時正從Everett道附近店家走回她自己的車那兒，卻不幸中槍，已送往麻州總醫院醫治，狀況穩定，無生命危險。

薩福克郡地方檢察官Kevin Hayden在聲明中表示，該辦公室人員也在現場，為調查此事的雀喜市警探提供援助。他們祝福傷者早日康復。他指出無照持槍者在光天白日之下開槍，顯示出這些人毫無顧慮的用槍多危險。

目擊者告訴警察，槍擊事件發生後，他們看到一名男子以及一輛銀色轎車。檢警雙方呼籲有這宗槍擊案任何資訊者撥打熱線617-466-4880。

City of Boston Funding update

The Funding Update Subscribe to The Funding Update FEDERAL GRANTS Department of Justice OJJDP FY 2022 Mentoring for Youth Affected by Opioid and Other Drug Misuse, 5/23/2022 Category 1: Mentoring Strategies - Project Sites Category 2: Statewide and Regional Mentoring Strategies Awards will range from $625,000 to $2M OJJDP FY 2022 Enhancing School Capacity To Address Youth Violence, 6/3/2022 Category 1: Project Sites Category 2: Training and Technical Assistance. Awards will range from $1M to $3.5M OJJDP FY 2022 Reducing Risk for Girls in the Juvenile Justice System, 6/6/2022 Category 1: Project Sites Category 2: Training & Technical Assistance Awards will range from $525,000 to $800,000 OJJDP FY 2022 Family-Based Alternative Sentencing Program, 6/20/2022 OJJDP will support potential models that divert justice-involved parents/primary caregivers whom a court has found guilty of a crime from the prison system, promote the unification of families, and prevent children from entering the foster care and/or juvenile justice systems. Max Award: $750,000 Department of Education Upward Bound Math & Science, 6/3/2022 Eligible Applicants: secondary schools, higher education, public and private agencies, and organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth. Max award: $287,537 Health & Human Services Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, 6/13/2022 Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnerships for Success grants support state and community substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion services. Awards will range up to $375,000 per year for community, tribal, or territory applicants;and uUp to $1,250,000 for state applicants. Health Resources & Services Administration, 6/14/2022 Grants support training projects that will increase the number of Community Health Workers and Health Support Workers. HRSA estimates 75 awards ranging from recipients. You may apply for up to a ceiling amount of up to $3,000,000 total cumulative costs, or $3M max.  News for Applicants In April 2022, the federal government will transition from the use of the DUNS Number to a new SAM.gov Unique Entity ID, which is required to apply for and receive federal awards. If you are registered in SAM.gov, you’ve already been assigned a new UEI.  FAQ    Federal funding opportunities are continuously updated on grants.gov STATE GRANTS Massachusetts Housing Partnership + Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency The Massachusetts Homeowner Assistance Fund is available for homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of HAF is to prevent foreclosures and displacements of eligible homeowners.    Scroll down to "Important Links" on CommBUYS to see Newly Posted Bids. CITY GRANTS Economic Opportunity & Inclusion Cabinet, 5/21/2022 Boston’s Contracting Opportunity Fund has $800,000 available to assist small, local businesses in building their capacity to bid on City contracts. Find out if your business qualifies, and apply here Boston Housing Authority, 5/23/2022 Income Verification Software (Job #1942-02) - BHA is seeking a contract from a vendor to provide electronic income verifications to assist in determining income eligibility for applicants and participants in low-income housing programs. The award value is estimated at $200,000 per year over a 5-year term.. Youth Leadership Program (Job #2032-01) - BHA seeks proposals from qualified firms to provide a vital and enriching youth leadership program to BHA residents ages 15-19. The proposed program envisions a dynamic leadership group for at least 50 to 75 youth participants. The contract will have a one-year term. Bids are updated continuously on the City of Boston Supplier Portal. FOUNDATION GRANTS Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Open Funding priorities: trustworthy journalism, voter protection, women in technology, veterans and military families. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, 6/1/2022 The Disruptive Technology Fellowship will provide a stipend of $75,000 to early-career scientists within 10 years of receiving their PhD.  George B. Henderson Foundation, 5/6/2022 Grants support projects focused on enhancing the appearance and preservation of outdoor elements within Boston’s city limits. Awards average $20,000 to $40,000, but the foundation will consider any project that fulfills its goals and offers outstanding benefit to the community. A mini grants (up to $7,500) program is also available.  Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, 5/10/2022 In 2022, the program will award $1.25 million in prizes overall. Five grand prize winners will receive $100,000, with $70,000 going to the public high school skilled trades program and $30,000 going to the eligible individual skilled trades teacher. In addition, 15 prize winners will each be awarded $50,000, with $35,000 going to the public high school skilled trades program and $15,000 going to the eligible individual skilled trades teacher.  AstraZeneca, 5/13/2022 ACT on Health Equity grants ($25,000) will be awarded to community-based programs working to improve conditions that affect health and well-being The Lewis Prize for Music, 6/3/2022 Accelerator Awards ($15.000 to $50,000) are open to nonprofit Creative Youth Development music organizations Bess Spiva Timmons Foundation, 7/1/2022 Funding priorities: education, health, medical research, arts, minority groups, social services, and ecology. Max award: $5,000. General Motors, 9/29/2022 Corporate grants and event sponsorships for charitable organizations that address social issues, such as, STEM education, community development, climate equity, and road and vehicle safety.  Check the Funding Update Archives for back issues with open deadlines. THE RESOURCE TABLE CITY OF BOSTON SCHOLARSHIP FUND, 4/29/2022 New college-goers and continuing education students are awarded $2,500 per year to help pay for up to 4 years of school. Supporting Small Businesses: Hello Alice From a grant to jazz up your online storefront to a loan to help you stock up on inventory, the Small Business Funding Center connects you with the capital you need to launch and grow your small business. Final Call: 2022 Fellowship Recruitment The application deadline for the 2022 Boston Professionals Fellowship is one week away, Friday, April 29, 2022! This year's fellowship is open to both City of Boston residents and non-Boston residents. Applicants can choose to apply for either the Program Coordinator Track or the Administrator of Sponsored Research Track. CONSTRUCTION BID SOURCE Search on Project Dog