CAPAC Members Condemn White Supremacist Mass Shooting in Buffalo, NY

 CAPAC Members Condemn White Supremacist Mass Shooting in Buffalo, NY

Washington, D.C. — In the wake of the tragedy in Buffalo, NY this past Saturday, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements:

 

CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27):

 

“I was devastated and heartbroken when I heard of the racist mass shooting carried out in the heart of the Black community in Buffalo, New York this past Saturday. My heart goes out to the loved ones of Roberta A. Drury, Margus D. Morrison, Andre Mackneil, Aaron Salter, Geraldine Talley, Celestine Chaney, Deacon Heyward Patterson, Katherine Massey, Pearl Young, Ruth Whitfield, as well as the entire Buffalo community. I firmly condemn this egregious act of white supremacy backed by a hate-filled agenda. Over the years, we have seen an uptick in acts of violence across our nation and the time is now for Congress to quit stalling and address it — there must be action to ensure survivors and the families of loved ones lost receive justice. My colleagues and I stand in solidarity with the Black community — and communities of color nationwide — during this difficult time.”

 

Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), CAPAC First Vice-Chair:

 

“I am shocked, devastated and outraged over the horrific mass shooting that took place in my home state. This racist attack is disgusting, despicable and cowardly, and the perpetrator must swiftly face justice. Bigotry, hate and violence have no place anywhere in our society. Doing everything possible to root out this evil wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head must continue to be a top priority for our country. In addition, we must continue efforts to end the scourge of gun violence, enacting tougher gun laws and making sure that firearms are not in the hands of those who should not possess them. The Senate must pass common-sense gun safety legislation that the House has already approved. Gun violence is an epidemic, and it cannot be ignored. Innocent lives have been lost, families have been destroyed, and communities have been devastated. As my fellow New Yorkers in Buffalo reel from this massacre, I continue praying for the victims and their families, and all of the communities impacted. The Asian American community stands with them, and all our brothers and sisters in the Black community at this difficult time.”

Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), CAPAC Second Vice-Chair:

“The vile, racially motivated act of domestic terrorism in Buffalo, New York, is the result of radicalized right-wing extremists fueled by the ‘great replacement theory’ and enabled by Republican lawmakers who refuse to address the threat this has on our communities and our country. I was disgusted to learn the horrific details of this mass shooting and I hope the attacker is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But, it’s not enough to continue responding to these attacks – we must prevent them from occurring in the first place. I’m grieving with the loved ones of those whose lives were taken and thinking of those who were seriously injured.”

Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-33), CAPAC Whip:

“My heart goes out to the victims of the horrific mass shooting in Buffalo and their families. This was a purely evil, racist hate crime that took the lives of ten beautiful souls and injured three others. Eleven of the people shot were Black, and evidence shows the suspect was allegedly motivated by a vile and false conspiracy theory known as ‘replacement theory.’ I strongly urge my GOP colleagues to immediately condemn this racist theory relied upon by the Buffalo murderer. It should not be difficult for elected officials to condemn white nationalism. We must remember, America is great because of its diversity. At the end of the day, we are all Americans. As we mourn the victims of this tragic shooting, we as CAPAC strongly denounce this act of hate and continue the fight for a nation free from hate violence.”

Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03):

“This weekend we saw yet another tragedy as a result of hate and violent extremism in America. We cannot grow numb to this sickness. We cannot let hate be normalized. We cannot simply accept mass murder and gun violence as routine. We need common sense gun violence prevention laws so no more mothers, fathers, sisters, or brothers are lost due to hatred at the end of the barrel of a gun. From Charleston to Orlando and Atlanta to Buffalo, our country mourns for those lives lost.  As an Asian American, I am proud to stand side-by-side with leaders of all different faiths, ethnicities, races and beliefs to unequivocally reject hate and commit ourselves to building a community of support through healing, empathy, tolerance and understanding.”

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06):

“This weekend’s horrific shooting in Buffalo is another unconscionable act of violence – a racist hate crime fueled by the fires of extremism and bigotry. Our Sacramento community stands with the people of Buffalo, praying for the victims and their families during this time of immense sadness. In the wake of this senseless violence, we must be unwavering in our denouncement of any racist actions, hate crimes, or spreading of such vile ideology in our nation. We must root out hate and discrimination from the deepest places in our society. The scourge of gun violence must be swept from our communities – too many lives have been cut short, families torn apart. We can and must pass common sense gun safety and community violence prevention legislation that will save American lives.”

包氏文藝中心慶五週年 綠路「虎年」裝置藝術揭幕

波士頓華埠社區中心主任Ben Hire (右起)，司儀黃楚瑜，邦克丘社區學院校長余慕潔，
麻州眾議員麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz)。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠社區中心 (BCNC)麾下的包氏文藝中心 (Pao Arts Center) 5月14日在華埠公園慶祝成立5週年，5月17日將在不同地點，舉辦實體「燈籠嘉年華」。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn (左三)與包氏文藝中心主任胡善怡 (左二)等工作人員。
(周菊子攝)

              5年前的2017年，波士頓華埠社區中心和邦克丘社區學院 (Bunker Hill Community College) 合作，經由包傳芳、姚光芸夫婦的主力捐助，在尼倫街和阿爾巴尼街交界處的綠茵苑，創設包氏文藝中心，成為波士頓華埠第一個兼顧藝術、文化與教育的機構，鼓勵創意、連結，學習與支持。

              5月14日這天下午，包氏文藝中心和綠路保護會合作，在司徒麗英公園 (Mary Soo Hoo Park) 為綠路保護會「視野/聲音: 虎年表演系列」的「瑞虎之年」裝置藝術舉行揭幕式，同時慶祝包氏文藝中心成立5週年。

麻州眾議員Aaron Michlewit左)特地向藝術家黃穎梓致意。 (周菊子攝) 

              麻州眾議員麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz)，波士頓市議會議長愛德華費林 (Ed Flynn)都應邀出席致詞，恭喜包氏文藝中心的5年有成。

              麥家威指出，在城市裏面，開放空間十分珍貴，包氏文藝中心能夠充分融合文化與藝術，把開放空間變得多采多姿，生動活潑，實在讓人印象深刻。

              愛德華費林指出，在反亞裔種族歧視陡增的今日社會，包氏文藝中心這樣的推廣亞裔文化機構益形重要。

為包氏文藝中心表演舞獅的華林功夫太極學校。 (周菊子攝)

              邦克丘社區學院校長余慕潔也特地以廣東話夾英文的介紹該校每年有19000名學生，接著說明該校最初與亞美社區發展協會開始合作，因為他們明白，如果亞裔自己不攜手合作，沒有人會為亞裔打造社區，亞裔必須有個自己的地方。

Jennifer Lin等人表演韓國鼓舞。 (周菊子攝)

              波士頓華埠社區中心主任Ben Hire和包氏文藝中心主任胡善怡 (Cynthia Woo)也都分別在致詞。Ben Hire指出該中心在華埠已有50年歷史，旨在協助亞裔打造健康家庭，提升經濟能力，並回饋給自己所生存的社區。包氏文藝中心實踐了BCNC致力於文化、藝術與教育，提升亞裔能見度的承諾。

華林功夫太極學校演出。 (周菊子攝)

              整個慶祝活動內容十分豐富，有黃楚瑜、曲悅鳴做英文，廣東話，普通話的3語主持。先由華林功夫太極學校舞獅拉開序幕，再請綠路保護會的「虎年」公共裝置藝術創作家黃穎梓 (Chery, Wing Zi Wong)簡潔解說她的創作，Jennifer Lin等人表演韓國鼓舞，邦克丘社區學院學生陳敏華，Patricia Seun，Ba Pham，王宇， Eigen Lee等人，分別表演唱歌，彈琴，以及由詩人暨作家陳琛 (Chen Chen)創作，由舞蹈家Chavi Bansal, IJ Chan, Flora Hyoin Kim Han等人演出的「尋找家園」，以及2019到2020年曾任包氏文藝中心項目經理，來自明尼蘇達州的多元藝術家Anju的表演。

邦克丘學院學生陳敏華演唱。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓市宣佈南波士頓及拉丁社區鄰里聯絡員新聘人選

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENTS OF ANNA WHITE   AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON FOR SOUTH BOSTON & GLADYS OLIVEROS AS THE LIAISON FOR THE LATINX COMMUNITY

Anna White (left) & Gladys Oliveros (right)

BOSTON - Monday, May 16, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the appointments of Anna White as the South Boston liaison and Gladys Oliveros as the liaison to the Latinx community in the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS). They will serve as the primary contact for residents and businesses in their respective communities who are interested in engaging with the City of Boston and collaborating with City departments to facilitate the delivery of services and resources.  “As we work to create broad, positive change Boston, our neighborhood liaisons are essential in maximizing the impact of City services in our everyday lives,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Anna and Gladys have already proven their commitment to the residents of Boston and I’m certain they will bring the same passion and expertise to their new roles.” White and Oliveros will work to connect the Mayor’s Office with residents and maximize community input by responding to service requests, attending neighborhood meetings, and helping facilitate community events. The new liaisons will build on the Mayor’s commitment to get City Hall out of City Hall and into individual neighborhoods, while working under the leadership of the Chief of Community Engagement Brianna Millor and the Director of Neighborhood Services Enrique Pepen.  “I am thrilled to have both Anna and Gladys on the team,” said Director of Neighborhood Services Enrique Pepen. “Both of them bring so much energy and enthusiasm to help the residents of Boston and to bring City Hall resources into our communities. Boston's families are lucky to have them.” Anna White moved to Boston from Albany, New York and has been a resident of the City for more than 20 years. She has a deep passion for civic engagement and brings to the role a wealth of public service and community engagement experience. White served as a two-term President of the South Boston MOMS Club and Co-President of the South Boston Association of Non-Profits for six years. She was also a board member for Medicine Wheel Productions (now known as Spoke) and a multi-term elected member to the CityWide Parent Council of the Henderson School. “I am super excited to represent Mayor Wu and in connecting the residents of South Boston to City Hall,” said Anna White. “I look forward to engaging with the community and making sure that their voices are heard.” White currently lives in South Boston with her husband and three children. She volunteers at St. Monica’s Kitchen, and is an active member of the CitySide Neighborhood Organization and the Office of Recovery Services Youth Prevention Advisory Board. She enjoys reading books from the South Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library, eating the food her spouse makes, watching old seasons of Clone Wars and Top Chef with her kids, and exploring all of South Boston. Gladys Oliveros is a native of Barranquilla, Colombia and moved to East Boston more than three decades ago. She previously served as the East Boston Main Street (EBMS) Director where she worked to connect local businesses and community members to resources that contributed to their growth and success. Oliveros also worked as a program supervisor at Boston Center for Youth and Families’ Paris Street and founded Casa de la Cultura, a community center dedicated to the Latinx population of East Boston.  “I am so happy to be the bridge between the Latinx community and the City of Boston,” said Gladys Oliveros. “I look forward to serving my community and providing them with the services and resources they need.”  In her spare time, Oliveros enjoys art, music, and spending time in the community.

COALITION FOR A RESILIENT AND INCLUSIVE WATERFRONT ANNOUNCES FIRST ANNUAL WATERFRONT WELLNESS WEEK AND WATERFRONT SUMMIT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON

COALITION FOR A RESILIENT AND INCLUSIVE WATERFRONT ANNOUNCES FIRST ANNUAL WATERFRONT WELLNESS WEEK AND WATERFRONT SUMMIT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BOSTON 

The Coalition will host a weeklong series of community events along Boston’s harbors and rivers in June, and a summit and day of service in September

BOSTON, MA — May 16, 2022 — Today, the Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront, an alliance of more than 50 organizations from throughout Boston focused on access, inclusion, resiliency, and economic vitality on Boston’s harbor, islands, and rivers, announced a series of signature events and conversations in 2022 that will focus on amplifying the critical connection between Boston’s waterfront and the region’s public health. 

A 2021 poll on waterfront issues, commissioned by the Coalition last fall showed Boston voters overwhelmingly believe the waterfront should “improve the public health of the City by providing open spaces for exercise and enjoyment”. At the same time, it showed that communities believe there is much work to do to make those spaces more inclusive and accessible. This year’s programming aims to engage the city’s different neighborhoods, local leaders, and diverse nonprofits throughout the region in a conversation about how we can address these pressing issues. 

“Boston is a coastal city vulnerable to rising seas and extreme weather, and we have the responsibility to be a national leader in building a thriving, green economy,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Our waterfront will be a key part of that transition and we must ensure it is equitable, inclusive, and accessible to all.”

From Sunday, June 12, to Thursday, June 23, the Coalition’s member organizations, local vendors, and partners throughout Boston will come together to host Waterfront Wellness Week — a week-long series of events uplifting the connection between the waterfront and the health and wellness of the city’s residents, neighborhoods, and visitors. Programming throughout the week will be free and open to the public, and include activities that will bring residents out along and on the water, celebrate local organizations and attractions, and engage people of all ages in a conversation about how we can make the waterfront more resilient and accessible for all. 

“Over the past few years, Boston’s leadership on the city, state, and federal level have started to reflect the vibrant, diverse cultures present in the city,” said Anthony Davis, Jr., Programming Advisor for the Coalition. “However we still have a lot of work to do to make sure Boston’s public spaces, including our harbors, islands and rivers, are accessible and enjoyable for all our communities. Boston’s waterfront provides tremendous public health benefits – from providing open spaces for recreation, to driving economic opportunity – and the Coalition’s efforts this year will be focused on connecting more neighborhoods to those resources. There are residents of Dorchester that have never walked along the Mystic River in Charlestown or residents of West Roxbury that have never explored the East Boston pier, and we are excited to be working with an incredible coalition of organizations to welcome residents from all parts of Boston to our waterfront.”

The Coalition also announced that on Friday, September 16, the Coalition will host its first ever Waterfront Summit, bringing together elected officials, advocates, community leaders, and other stakeholders to explore and engage around a collective vision for the future of our waterfront. The event will feature a keynote address to be announced later this year, and will be focused on the central theme of public health and community wellness in connection with our public spaces and the waterfront. The Summit will be followed by a Day of Service on Saturday, September 17, that will bring communities and organizations together to clean up public parks and gardens along Boston’s harbors and rivers.

For more information about the Coalition’s work and planned 2022 programming, please visit bostonwaterfrontcoalition.org. 

MAYOR WU AND BOSTON EMS CELEBRATE NEW EMT GRADUATES

 

MAYOR WU AND BOSTON EMS CELEBRATE NEW EMT GRADUATES

BOSTON – Monday, May 16, 2022 – Today, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu along with Boston Public Health Commission Executive Director Dr. Bisola Ojikutu and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief James Hooley celebrated the graduation of 30 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) recruits. The largest graduating class in over a decade, the EMTs will be assigned to 911 ambulances and dispatch operations, strengthening the City of Boston's Emergency Medical Services. Recruits reside in nine different neighborhoods across the city, many of which are lifelong residents of the City of Boston.    “Our EMTs answer the call and keep Boston residents safe day and night, not only providing life-saving medical assistance to those in need, but doing so with compassion and care,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am proud to welcome the newest EMT graduates to Boston EMS.”    During the 12-week field component of their training, the recruits worked in pairs with an experienced EMT, serving as their field training officer, mentoring and guiding them through the patient encounters. During this time, the recruits responded to nearly 4,000 incidents, including 60 different incident types and 3,276 patients transported.   This graduating class has endured and overcome completing an academy while serving on the frontlines of the City’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Boston EMS EMTs and paramedics have provided care to over 8,000 COVID-19 positive patients to date.     “These recruits have already proven themselves worthy to wear the badge. Today’s graduates are a much-needed boost for the department. We welcome them to a long and healthy career at Boston EMS,” remarked Chief of Department, Jim Hooley.     During the ceremony at Faneuil Hall, 30 recruits were formally recognized for successful completion of a rigorous post-hire training academy for EMTs. Already state certified EMTs prior to their hire, the graduating class completed an additional six months of didactic and field training. With support from experienced EMT field training officers, recruits are prepared to care for patients, regardless of the circumstances, and now understand the level of care, clinical excellence and professionalism expected of Boston EMS EMTs.    “Boston EMS serves on the frontlines of public health, health care and public safety. They are providers, advocates, educators within our communities, and they help build a safer, healthier Boston,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “I thank this graduating class for taking up the call to serve the City of Boston and welcome them to Boston EMS.”     Boston EMS is one of the busiest municipal EMS providers in New England, responding to more than 125,000 emergency medical incidents per year. As a bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Boston EMS is committed to serving Boston's residents through clinical excellence, emergency planning and preparedness, and community outreach.

麻州文協與麻州發展聯袂宣佈撥款1300萬元資助115個文化項目

Mass Cultural Council, MassDevelopment announce over $13M in Awards to 115 Cultural Projects Statewide

Cultural Facilities Fund supports capital and planning projects for cultural institutions

BOSTON – Today MassDevelopment and Mass Cultural Council announced a total of over $13 million in awards to 115 recipients through the FY22 Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) grant round. The CFF, which is jointly administered by the two agencies, was established to support investments in cultural facilities and projects throughout the Commonwealth with capital and planning grants for nonprofit organizations, colleges, and municipalities that own or operate facilities primarily focused on the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences.   “Today’s investments will support our partners in the cultural sector as they build and maintain facilities such as museums, theatres, historic buildings, and more,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “These kinds of attractions foster community, build our creative economy, and bring vibrancy and visitors to Massachusetts. MassDevelopment is proud to co-administer the Cultural Facilities Fund together with the Mass Cultural Council, and we’re grateful for the continued support of the Baker-Polito Administration and Legislature that allows us to invest in our cultural institutions as a critical piece of our state’s economy.”   There are three types of grants available through the CFF:  Capital Grants, which support the acquisition, design, construction, repair, renovation, rehabilitation or other capital improvements or deferred maintenance of a cultural facility. Feasibility & Technical Assistance Grants, for costs and expenses related to overall planning and feasibility analyses for a proposed eligible project. Systems Replacement Grants (SRP), a specific type of Feasibility and Technical Assistance Grant specifically designed for organizations without full-time maintenance staff. The SRP is a 20-year capital needs assessment of the building and its mechanical systems. In FY22, the Cultural Facilities Fund is awarding 94 Capital Grants totaling $12,758,000, 12 Feasibility & Technical Assistance Grants totaling $322,500, and 9 Systems Replacement Grants totaling $71,000.   A complete funding list with project descriptions for FY22 CFF grant recipients is available online. Examples of newly funded capital projects include:   Azorean Maritime Heritage Society, New Bedford - $200,000 To construct a maritime cultural facility with a boat workshop, classroom, meeting space and headquarters for the organization. The Azorean Maritime Heritage Society maintains the three remaining authentic Azorean whaleboats in the U.S. for cultural programs that engage diverse age groups of all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. The Society promotes Portuguese culture and Azorean whaling heritage by raising awareness and pride within New England’s Portuguese-American community and recognizing the rich maritime heritage shared between New Bedford and the Azores. Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, Florence - $162,000 To acquire and renovate the 150-year-old Florence Congregational Church to provide diverse performing arts offerings for dance, theatre productions, poetry slams, band rehearsals, classes, and meetings. Bombyx was established to steward this historic gathering place founded by abolitionists who championed anti-slavery, gender equity, and religious tolerance. Carrying these values forward, they serve their community as a venue for transformative arts experiences, spiritual growth, and challenging conversations. Cultural Alliance of Medfield - $200,000 For design and construction documents to repurpose a former chapel on the historic Medfield State Hospital campus. After many years of planning and preparation, the Cultural Alliance of Medfield has secured a 99-year lease on two of the 35 buildings at the historic former Medfield State Hospital to create a 24,000-square-foot arts and education center. The chapel at the heart of the campus will become a flexible 300-seat performance venue and will connect to the former Infirmary that will now house 17 classrooms for music lessons, rehearsal space, and three visual arts classrooms. Immigrant City Archives, Lawrence - $105,000 For HVAC work in the main office and archival storage building. Immigrant City Archives works to create a sense of place and identity for residents who represent new immigrant populations in low-income neighborhoods. Using their archival collections and facilities, they support research and scholarship at all levels to educate residents about their own unique history and work to move them forward, emphasizing the positive and the possibilities for current generations. While the CFF is primarily funded each year through the Governor’s Capital Spending Plan, in FY22 Mass Cultural Council increased the amount of grant assistance available by transferring $5,180,000 from cultural sector pandemic recovery funds to the program. This transfer was made possible due to legislative language contained in Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021, An Act relative to immediate COVID-19 recovery needs.   By supplementing available CFF grant funds with cultural sector pandemic monies, MassDevelopment and Mass Cultural Council were able to fund nearly all eligible applications in this FY22 grant round.   “Over the past year and a half, I have met with leaders of arts organizations in every region of the Commonwealth, and no matter where they are located, I have learned that our cultural facilities are in great need of capital investment and repair,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “I am thrilled to celebrate today’s CFF recipients and am incredibly grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration and the state Legislature for their steadfast support of this vital program. We would not have been able to invest in this many eligible recipients today if it were not for funding received from our partners in the State House.”   Of the 115 FY22 CFF grantees, 21 (18%) are first-time CFF grant recipients, while 10 (9%) are first-time Capital Grant recipients. Supporting these 31 organizations helped Mass Cultural Council advance its goal of promoting inclusion and equity in grantmaking and programmatic opportunities, as outlined in the Agency’s Racial Equity Plan.

最高可得四萬元贈款 MGCC請小企業 5/19 了解詳情

               (Boston Orange) 麻州成長資本公司 (MGCC)和小企業堅強 (Small Business Strong)及眾籌平台 Patronicity 合作，刻正為麻州小企業提供高達2萬美元的1:1 「生意人力量 (BizMPower)」比照額贈款。5月19日下午3到4點，將以中文、越南文舉辦講座，教小企業辦理眾籌活動，爭取這筆贈款。

             為協助小企業申請，並成功爭取最高額贈款，MGCC 邀請了            Patronicity 副總裁 Jonathan Berk 、MGCC 項目經理伍念慈(Theresa Ng) ，忍者快車(Samurai Express)餐廳老闆鄺炎彬(Andy Kuang)說明Biz-M-Power詳情，另邀得美國小企業行政局(SBA) 麻州辦事處公共事務專員伍少武 (Norman Eng)為5月份士亞美傳統月講話。

             順利申請參加這一計畫的小企業，若在眾籌過程中順利籌得2萬元，將可獲得MGCC比照撥款2萬元，總共可得款4萬元，用於採購設備或裝修等。

             這場講座活動由小企業堅強 (Small Business Strong)的林志棪 (Douglas Ling)主持，並有麻州亞裔餐飲協會，SBA麻州辦事處贊助。

             說明會將以英語，普通話和粵語進行，報名可上網https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crowdfunding-and-the-mgcc-bizmpower-matching-grant-for-small-businesses-tickets-330779740107。

Mass Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) is partnering with crowdfunding platform Patronicity to make available up to $20,000 of 1:1-matching BizMPower grants for brick-and-mortar small businesses across Massachusetts. Patronicity coaches and Small Business Strong Business Advisors will provide free technical assistance to get your project set up. Funds can be used for capital projects such as equipment purchases. Come learn about the program from Patronicity VP, Jonathan Berk, MGCC Program Manager, Theresa Ng, and Samurai Express' Andy Kuang, who recently successfully completed his Biz_M-Power campaign! Small Business Strong Advisors would also be on-hand to assist. [Session is conducted in English & Chinese， with Vietnamese interpretation]

*** PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MEETING STARTS AT 3PM ****

AG HEALEY LEADS APPEALS COURT BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY IN SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

AG HEALEY LEADS APPEALS COURT BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY IN SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Coalition of Attorneys General Argue Against Challenge to Renowned Virginia High School’s Race-Neutral Admissions Criteria that Break Down Barriers to Access and Promote Geographic, Socioeconomic, and Racial Diversity

            BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is leading a coalition of 16 attorneys general in support of a local school board in Fairfax County, Virginia that was challenged in court for implementing a new race-neutral high school admissions policy that aimed to eliminate barriers to access and increase the likelihood that the school’s students would receive the educational benefits that flow from diversity of all kinds, including racial diversity.

The amicus brief—filed Friday in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board—rejects a claim that the Fairfax County School Board violated the Equal Protection Clause by intentionally discriminating against Asian-American applicants in revising its admissions plan for its nationally top-ranked Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The revised plan eliminated the high school’s use of standardized admissions tests in favor of a holistic review process that uses students’ grades and other race-neutral criteria to promote geographic, socioeconomic, and racial diversity. 

“The District Court’s deeply-flawed decision to reject this race-neutral plan not only stifles educational institutions in achieving equity, but it deprives students of experiencing the benefits of greater diversity in their schools,” said AG Healey. “As state attorneys general dedicated to combating systemic racism, we join together in support of policies that are intentional in addressing the inequities and burdens that disproportionately affect some racial groups.”

Today, the attorneys general argued in support of the school board and against the District Court’s broad decision to enjoin implementation of the revised admissions plan. The District Court found that Asian-American applicants were disparately impacted by the changed plan, and that the school board purposefully disadvantaged such applicants because any success in increasing representation at the school for under-represented racial groups “by necessity” would decrease the representation of others. The District Court’s decision required the school board to devise a new admissions policy to use in admitting students for this coming fall, and the court denied the school board’s motion for a stay of the decision pending appeal. The Fourth Circuit subsequently granted a stay of the District Court’s order and, following an emergency application, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to vacate the stay. The School Board has since appealed the District Court’s decision.

The attorneys general argue in their brief that race-neutral policies are not subject to strict scrutiny simply because policymakers aimed in part to increase diversity. The brief describes how the District Court’s reasoning—inferring racial animus from a race-neutral effort to break down barriers to access and thereby increase diversity of various kinds, including socioeconomic, geographic, and racial—would, if widely adopted, thwart future attempts by school leaders to secure important educational benefits for all students, and would also threaten effective state and local government policymakers’ efforts to break down barriers to access and decrease inequities in other policy realms. 

According to the brief, there is precedent stretching back decades that refutes the District Court’s conclusion that a race-neutral government policy is subject to strict scrutiny solely because, in devising the policy, policymakers aimed to increase racial and other forms of diversity. Such scrutiny would be “perverse,” state the attorneys general: “governments would be severely constrained in their ability to serve all of their communities—and therefore would fall short for many.” 

To read the full amicus brief click here.

Handling the matter for Massachusetts are Ann Lynch and David Ureña, Assistant Attorneys General in the Office’s Civil Rights Division; State Solicitor Bessie Dewar; and Robin Toone, Chief of the Government Bureau.

Joining AG Healey in today’s brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.