首屆「波音旺來」音樂會 觀眾冒雨聽歌表演嗨

「波音旺來」波士頓台灣音樂祭圓滿落幕，參與演出及工作人員歡喜留影。 (周菊子攝)

「波音旺來」波士頓台灣音樂祭開幕前，一起加油。(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮 (左起) 、駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長
廖朝宏嘉許黃崇校和顧宗浩為僑社舉辦一場聲勢浩大的音樂會。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 「波音旺來」這大波士頓第一場由台灣人策畫，籌辦，有逾千人報名的大型音樂會，9月9日傍晚，在牛頓市海德社區公園創下挺過閃電、打雷，大風雨，觀眾們穿上雨衣，打起雨傘，都要把表演看完的破天荒記錄。

大波士頓在音樂會開場前，烏雲密佈，後來一度閃電，打雷，
颳大風，下大雨。(周菊子攝)

              這是場奠基於You & Me Music 建立起的社區基礎，再揉合年輕人的熱情，以及伯克利音樂學院等專業音樂人才華，取鳳梨又稱波蘿，寓意旺來的諧音，舉辦的「波士頓台灣音樂祭」音樂會。

You & Me Music 創辦人黃崇校從5月份發想，為音樂會徵求活動名稱開始，接著從南加大電腦系畢業，進伯克利音樂學院主修音樂製作的顧宗浩挑起活動總召任務後，他們就一起如火如荼的籌辦起來，還隨著時間推移，規模越來越大。

觀眾們穿雨衣，撐傘，繼續看表演。(周菊子攝)

                          曾任新英格蘭台灣商會青年商會會長的歐怡君，新英格蘭台灣同學聯合會前會長廖珮妤等人相繼加入宣傳行列，顧宗浩和楊智晴，以及在伯克利音樂學院修表演和編曲和朱冠蓉，四處做表演嘉賓，把「波音旺來」音樂會印入人們腦中。

            哈佛、波士頓等的大學同學會，台大、政大及北一女的校友會，波士頓台灣影展協會、劍橋合唱團，波士頓台灣龍舟隊，波士頓台灣基督教長老教會，新英格蘭台灣同學會聯合會等社團，也全都允諾到活動現場擺攤助陣，這音樂會的聲勢就開始滾雪球了。

             

主持人蔡宜軒來自紐約，既是喜劇說書人
( Stand Up Comedian) ，還創辦了Asian Creative
Foundation的蔡宜軒。(You & Me Music 提供)

然而這還沒完，顧宗浩接著動用他個人臉書上就有將近2500名好友的人脈資源，加上朋友的朋友的朋友，許多人二話不說地就加入義工行列，分頭承擔接受報名，發放抽獎券，看守攤位，出售紀念品等工作。顧宗浩還找來專業人才做海報及影片攝製，社交媒體廣告設計，在臉書、IG等社交媒體上每日更新資訊，讓人看得目不暇給。

                      11人份大同電鍋組 (包含內鍋、內鍋夾、食譜) 、迷你大同電鍋、「甦」五香紅油、古早味手工柴燒醬油清、波音旺來特製衣服、帆布袋以及手工皂、潛水體驗課程、波士頓台灣影展兩日票券，以及功夫茶禮品券等等只要報名出席音樂會，就有機會抽中的獎品，都讓這音樂會成為它節目介紹詞說的那樣，是一場fantastic (非常棒的)活動。

                    當然，音樂表演才是這場音樂會的真正重頭戲。駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏應邀上台簡短致詞，稱許黃崇校、顧宗浩等人耗費心力，為社區製作一場這麼盛大的音樂會。僑教中心主任潘昭榮也在幕後支持。

波士頓You & Me樂團演奏，陳瑩璇演唱。(周菊子攝)

                   當晚的表演，由來自紐約的Duolingo產品設計師暨亞裔創意基金會 (Asian Creative Foundation)創辦人蔡宜軒主持，Shinariya   擔任DJ，共分4個部分，第一部分由地主隊波士頓You & Me   Music   演出，由於下雨，他們的演出曲目縮減了一半，陳瑩璇演唱了「好膽你就來」，「女爵」，劉雙洲演唱了「山丘」，然後他們兩人合唱了「愛很簡單」、「飄向北方」。

第二部份的演唱者Jenny Fan (范慈耘) 點名顧宗浩為音樂會付出許多心力。
顧宗浩連忙起立，雙掌合十回謝。(周菊子攝)

Jenny Fan (范慈耘)演唱，一副明星款。(周菊子攝)

                            第二部分是Jenny Fan (范慈耘)演唱英文歌，「How deep is your love」、「Best lover」、「Future love」、「The way you move」、第三部分是JC Alula(朱冠蓉) 演唱經過她自己重新編曲的中文流行歌，包括盧廣仲的「魚仔」， 由Myra Choo編曲，她自己的原創歌曲「超越極限」，由Bryan lu編曲，以及「光良的童話」，由Jack Chen 編曲。第四部份是「范特西浪潮   (Fantasy Wave) : 向周杰倫致敬」，由伯克利音樂學院的多名音樂家把近年來已在亞洲形成現像的周杰倫歌曲，包括Kevin Lin的「千里之外」、李梓菡的「稻香」，胡凱傑和Bryan Lu的「霍元甲」、Ethereal Lin的Mojito，Yiqin 的「雨花臺」、「周杰倫組曲」等重新編製後，再演唱出來。

JC Alula(朱冠蓉)演唱自己創作的「超級極限」。(周菊子攝)

                          You & Me   Music 創辦人黃崇校指出，原本安排每一部份各有7、8首歌，結果受天氣影響，全都減半。但是他們非常感動，許多觀眾竟然堅守陣地，完全不理會老天下雨，還留在現場繼續聽歌、看演出。他希望喜歡You & Me   Music的人，9月16日下午能到波士頓華埠的「台灣夜市」去，繼續支持，欣賞他們的演出。

顧宗浩為這場音樂會感到既開心，又感動，覺得自己幸運，能把台灣音樂跟文化，藉由波音旺來呈現給更多人，還讓身處異鄉的台灣人們多了個認識新朋友、連結老朋友的平台。最最令他和所有人難忘的是，觀眾們風吹雨打不動，一路相陪，留到最後。

(9月16日更新版，臺灣夜市因天氣關係改期9月17日舉行。)

(僑務電子報 :   https://ocacnews.net/article/350126?cid=2  

查詢波士頓You&Me Music 資訊，可上網https://www.youtube.com/@bostonyoumemusic2645/community，或https://linktr.ee/bostontaiwanmusicfestival?fbclid=IwAR0EHR34xYyECy1fTdMtNJ_A24X1gAN4rO1NsUGTNX49hPljlAgRKLT9zgg)

JC Alula(朱冠蓉)演唱自己創作的「超級極限」。(周菊子攝)

從紐約來的胡凱傑 (右) 和Bryan Lu (左) 等人演唱周杰倫的歌曲。(周菊子攝)

以春聯祈求別下雨了。(周菊子攝)

劍橋合唱團支援「波音旺來」，參加擺攤。

波士頓台灣龍舟隊現場示範划龍舟。

波士頓北一女校友會副會長林麗珠(右)和校友梁雅(左)
擺攤展示校友會製作的精美手工藝。

波士頓台灣人基督教長老教會也來擺攤支持「波音旺來」。

波士頓台灣影展協會很有心，設計出的套圈遊戲，讓更多人認識台灣。

觀眾們在聚攏在牛頓市海德公園社區。

右起，楊智晴、顧宗浩，林美均，黃崇校坐在第一排為台上表演者歡呼。

朱冠蓉演唱自己創作的"超越極限"。

在周杰倫組曲中的表演者。

周杰倫組曲表演者。

周杰倫組曲表演者。

「波音旺來」音樂會的演出分4部分。

主辦單位準備了很多以鳳梨為主題的商品，襯托「波音旺來」的音樂會名稱。

觀眾入場報到。 (周菊子攝)

支持者購買了鳳梨圖案地毯，開場前鋪在草地上，享受野外聽音樂會的樂趣。

波士頓台灣影展協會大批義工出動，宣傳9月23、24兩日放映6部影片。
(周菊子攝)

中華表演藝術基金會「青雲綠水集」音樂會訂9/23登場

          (Boston Orange) 中華表演藝術基金會訂9月23日(週六) 晚上8點，在紐英崙音樂學院喬登廳 (Jordan Hall) ，以水為主題，舉辦” 青雲綠水集” 音樂會，邀8位國際知名中國器樂音樂家演出。

中華表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵指出，這場音樂會的每首曲目都和水有關，其中5首是特地為這音樂會創作的，當晚將世界首演。

著名作曲家李濱揚也將遠道而來，親自參加他作品的世界首演。

曾任哈佛大學歷史系教授的陸惠風應邀為這音樂會寫序。他以 ” 水的隨想曲” 為題，寫下: "水在中西文化中，都是謎一般的課題。創世紀的第一句說: 「起初上帝創造天地，上帝的靈，運行在水面上。」， 沒有說，上帝創造了水，引起人們無限聯想。戰國時代簡牘說: 「太一生水」，指太一在創造萬物前，先創造了水! 可見水是所有生命的泉源。老子則把水與人性並提，說「上善若水」。孔子把水比做時間。莊子把水比做神靈。一般人，也都曾用水來比擬自己心情，如驚濤拍岸，捲起千堆雪，又從水深火熱到浪平水靜，水是那麼貼切地反映了無數人的心聲。

陸惠風說: "文字與語言永遠不能表達如水深情。請大家細細體會這場音樂會的深意。"

當晚將應邀演出的音樂家們有胡建兵、包鍵、陳濤、周懿、翁慧、流麗、劉笑瀅，蔡振起。

胡建兵是笙演奏家及作曲家，畢業於中央音樂學院，擔任北美中樂團團長，馬友友曾聘他為《絲綢之路》樂團音樂總監。波士頓環球報(The Boston Globe) 曾形容他的演奏，展現了他對笙的控制力，他的演奏可以上至古典、深入民間、遊走現代，曲目之廣泛，令人印象深刻。

包鍵是管子演奏家，畢業於中央音樂學院並留校任教。1995年他榮獲中國民族器樂獨奏國際大賽管子組第一名，1998年再獲美國專業音樂家(Pro Musicis)國際大賽第一名。包鍵是首位以同等標準和西洋管樂家競賽並獲勝之華人管樂家，他參加柏林Baoder Weltkulturen 藝術節演出時，《柏林日報》褒譽他的演奏，"猶如來自東方的神樂"。

陳濤是笛子演奏家。他曾任紐約中國民族樂團的藝術總監和指揮，也是美國神州中樂團團長及創始人。陳濤的音樂融匯了南，北笛子風格之精華。音色圓潤、醇厚，技藝嫻熟、輝煌魅力獨特。紐約時報 (The New York Times) 曾稱譽他為 "音樂詩人"，"神奇的東方魔笛"。紐約世界日報，星島日報稱其為 "笛王" 及 "笛子藝術大師" 。

周懿是琵琶演奏家，畢業於上海音樂學院。她的演出經歷包括紐約大學 "新視覺與聲音"音樂會-- 譚盾的"地圖"；舊金山歌劇院—盛宗亮歌劇 "紅樓夢"的世界首演，在聖達菲歌劇院-- 黃若 "孫中山" 劇的世界首演中擔任特邀琵琶演奏。華盛頓郵報(Washington Post) 形容她的演奏有著 "精緻的技巧與絕佳演奏風範,美得令⼈屏息凝神" 的佳譽。

 翁慧是古箏演奏家，畢業於中央音樂學院和美國新英格蘭音樂學院，並在新英格蘭音樂學院留校任教。她是中國首位將即興表演與中國傳統音樂完美結合，並把古箏藝術帶進美國音樂專業學校的演奏家。翁慧在國內外屢獲大獎，多次受邀參與CCTV音樂電視錄製工作。她首演的古箏獨奏作品《墨客》《西部主題暢想曲》等已成為現在最炙手可熱的古箏作品。她也曾多次參與馬友友絲綢之路演出，被評為"新興藝術家"。新英格蘭音樂學院特地為她在預科學校增設了古箏課和中國音樂樂隊等課程。

 劉麗是古琴演奏家，畢業於中央音樂學院。2011年她與舊金山灣區的漢聲樂團合作，演出了作曲家司徒剛特別為古琴創作的現代作品《古琴誦》。2002年，她更與世界小提琴大師伊薩克-帕爾曼(IsaacPerlman)合作錄制了由張藝謀執導，譚盾的《英雄》，以及《英雄》的音樂CD。2007年，她應美國著名電影公司Merchant Ivory 的邀請，為電影《伯爵夫人-The WhiteCountess》錄制電影配樂，是目前活躍在美國音樂界的古琴家。

   劉笑瀅是古箏演奏家，目前在伯克利音樂學院就讀電影配樂專業。她曾多次獲得古箏演奏獎項，包括朱雀杯一等獎及兩岸三地青樂杯銀獎第一名等。她師從秦箏派代表人物曲雲教授和孫卓教授。在波士頓師從翁慧教授。

             蔡振起是打擊樂及大阮演奏家，畢業於天津音樂學院。曾在紐約林肯中心和卡內基音樂廳等頂級場館演奏。

 9月23日晚的演奏曲目將包括，《春江花月夜》，一首江南絲竹的傳統樂曲；《行雲流水》，由古箏獨奏來為胡建兵所作曲的這曲目做世界首演；《流水》古琴獨奏的古曲；《天將晚》由管子與古箏來為許知俊所作曲的這曲目做美國首演；《九曲黃河》笙獨奏，並由胡建兵即興演奏來為這曲目做世界首演；《溪》琵琶獨奏，胡建兵作曲的這曲目也將世界首演；《秋雨》由笛子與小樂隊來為陳濤作曲的這曲目做世界首演；最後是李濱揚所作曲的《雲涧賦》做世界首演。

 音樂會票價$20 (7-13歲)，$40，$60。中華表演藝術基金會將為14歲以上學生，提供免費票http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/specials/20230923/index.html ，以及非學生贈送券http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/complimentary/20230923/index.html，需事前預訂。6歲以下兒童請勿入場。詳情請查中華表演藝術基金會官網: http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/season/20230506/index.html主辦單位表示，該慧深知音樂對大眾的重要性，也了解人們或有經濟壓力，所以每一場演出都提供免費票。但希望有心人能慷慨解囊，贊助音樂會的出場費和場租錄音等等費用，免稅捐款可上網http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/donation/index.htm

波士頓榮光會慶中秋 包餃子、吃月餅

波士頓榮光會慶中秋聚會，波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏(前左三)，
僑教中心主任潘昭榮(後右一)應榮光會理事長鄭增壽(前左二)之邀出席。
(僑教中心提供)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 波士頓榮光會9月10日在波士頓華僑文教中心包餃子，吃月餅，慶祝中秋節，為第18屆理事會的為會員服務拉開序幕。

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏(左一)和榮光會員們一起包餃子。
(僑教中心提供)

              波士頓榮光會本屆理事長鄭增壽為了讓久未見面的會員們，可以在更有早年家常聚會的那種氣氛中暢聚，特地安排包餃子環節，還邀請駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏，僑教中心主任潘昭榮一起來，邊包餃子，邊話家常，感覺更溫馨。

              這天鄭增壽特地把一個鐵爐，瓦斯筒從自己家裏帶到僑教中心，事前請楊思聖採買了白菜，韭菜，絞肉等餃子餡，他在家裏洗菜、切菜的把餡料調好，再帶到現場，讓榮光會員們一起包餃子，現煮現吃，味道特別香。

              這個周末，麻州有暴風雨來襲。前一天郊區才下大雨，颳大風，還發生樹倒壓毀路邊車輛情況。10號這天也有風雨。榮光會中許多老先生、老太太，怕天雨路滑容易出狀況，以致出席人數較預定為少。           

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏(左一)和榮光會員楊嬰英(左一)等人一起包餃子。
(僑教中心提供)

                             不過到場的人都興致勃勃，都說好久沒「玩」過包餃子這「遊戲」。手邊有點活，講起話來好像都熱鬧些。煮餃子得在戶外，可是老天下雨的狀況，也由僑教中心借出一個大帳棚解決了，於是周仙梅和楊思聖、梁娜玲，陳新民、陳阿友、鄭增壽還是能夠順利的在僑教中心屋外停車場生火煮餃子。蘇麗萍也忙前忙後的招呼到會者。張明燦後來又再煮魚丸湯。會場還有楊麗雪帶來的涼拌滷味，配上月餅，也是別開生面的中秋慶祝。

波士頓榮光會理事長鄭增壽(左三)和陳阿友 (左一起)，周仙海，
大陳同鄉會會長梁娜玲，楊思聖，陳新友等人一起，在帳棚下煮餃子。
(周菊子攝)

              鄭增壽表示，雖然該會現在已無會址，但新冠病毒疫情已過，將恢復正常的會員服務，並加強聯繫。有意捐款支持該會活動者，可以支票抬頭寫R.O.C. Veterans Association in Boston, 郵寄給該會財務張明燦， Ming-Tsan Chang, 5 Beards Hill Road, Bedford, NH 03110。

     (僑務電子報:     https://ocacnews.net/article/350127?cid=2)

波士頓榮光會前任理事長袁建業(左)，波士頓國民黨前任常委江文玲(右)
也都來到會場和老朋友歡喜相聚。 (周菊子攝)

榮光會員們包餃子。(周菊子攝)

僑教中心借出大帳篷，經文處處長廖朝宏 (右三)也來幫波士頓榮光會理事長
鄭增壽(右四)等人一起把帳篷撐起來。(周菊子攝)

張明燦來嚐嚐剛煮好的餃子。桌上的涼拌滷味是他太太楊麗雪做的。(周菊子攝)

周仙海(左起)、鄭增壽、梁娜玲一起煮餃子。(周菊子攝)

右起，梁娜玲、鄭增壽、陳阿友，楊思聖等人圍桌吃餃子。(周菊子攝)

AAJC Applauds the Confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC Applauds the Confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission

Washington, DC — September 13, 2023 — The Senate recently confirmed Anna Gomez, former senior advisor in the State Department’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, as the fifth member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Commissioner Gomez becomes the first Latina to serve on the FCC since 2001. She fills a vacancy that has been open since January 2021.

John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, a civil and human rights organization whose telecommunications, technology, and media work focuses on ensuring that the principles of opportunity, fairness, and equity are protected online, issues the following statement in response to the confirmation:

“Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC celebrates the confirmation of Anna Gomez to the FCC. Gomez’s confirmation fills a two-and-a-half-year vacancy at the Commission and enables the FCC to act more swiftly on media and telecom matters that affect our communities. It is also the first time in over 20 years that a Latina has been confirmed to serve in the position, making her confirmation a step toward a more diverse and inclusive Commission. Gomez has a celebrated career in public service and impressive expertise in communications policies.

“I first met Commissioner Gomez in law school. Even back then, I knew her for her intellect, commitment to service, and belief in diversity. Anna Gomez is an important addition to a now complete FCC that must work to protect and advance the rights of American consumers and communities. Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC looks forward to working with her and the other Commissioners on the numerous telecom-related issues of importance to the Asian American community. We also look forward to the swift reconfirmation of current FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, to maintain a complete and robust Commission.”

麻州長Healey 為2023會計年申請21.5億元補充預算

Governor Healey Files $2.15 Billion Supplemental Budget to Close Fiscal Year 2023  

Bill also proposes funding to support emergency shelter system and schools 

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey filed a supplemental budget that will enable Massachusetts to close out Fiscal Year 2023 in balance, pay for new collective bargaining agreements and continue to provide safe shelter and support services for thousands of families experiencing homelessness. 

 

The budget allocates $2.15 billion gross / $833.3 million net to cover spending deficiencies and continue with a MassHealth payment strategy that has enabled Massachusetts to spread the impact of the loss of enhanced COVID-19 reimbursements across fiscal years. In total, $2.11 billion gross / $798.8 million net will be dedicated to MassHealth. 

 

“Massachusetts remains in a strong financial position to make these investments and continue to pursue priorities such as meaningful tax relief that will make Massachusetts more affordable, equitable and competitive,” said Governor Healey. “This bill will allow us to turn the page on Fiscal Year 2023, begin to implement the new fiscal year budget we secured in partnership with the Legislature, and continue to make critical investments in our people and institutions.” 

 

In addition to funds necessary to cover Fiscal Year 2023 spending, Governor Healey is proposing to use $250 million in one-time resources from the Transitional Escrow Fund to cover the ongoing cost of providing safe, temporary shelter to thousands of families in need. Governor Healey earlier this summer declared a state of emergency due to rapidly rising numbers of families arriving in Massachusetts in need of shelter and services and a severe lack of shelter availability in the state. The state’s Emergency Assistance program is for families with children or pregnant women who are experiencing homelessness, including newly arrived families and local families. The administration continues to work with its state and federal partners to find families permanent housing, expedite access to work permits, request federal funding and identify other potential solutions. However, the growing demand for shelter continues to put pressure on the system’s capacity to meet the needs of families seeking assistance, as well as municipalities that have welcomed students to their classrooms. 

 

“Our emergency shelter system has been rapidly expanding in recent months to ensure that families in need have a safe place to stay,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration remains committed to providing these families with safe and temporary shelter and the services they need to remain healthy and find a permanent home. This funding will enable us to meet that need as it stands today, as well as continue to support the municipalities that are sheltering families in their communities.”  

 

The supplemental budget also allocates: 

• $16 million for a reserve to cover costs accrued by sheriffs 

• $15 million to support Section 35 substance abuse treatment at sheriff facilities 

• $11 million for shared services at the Department of Unemployment Assistance 

• $8.8 million for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to extend for one year the contract for the administration of the MCAS exam 

• $500,000 for Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Youth operations. 

• $185,000 for military death benefits and early fiscal year National Guard activations 

• $27,564 for Group Insurance Commission dental and vision benefits for a unit within the  Trial Court 

 

In addition to the funding necessary for the Commonwealth to close the books for Fiscal Year 2023, the budget filed today would make a number of corrections to policies enacted in recent legislation, including the Fiscal Year 2024 budget signed last month. This includes a technical change to the universal free school meals policy made permanent as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget that would ensure all students at almost all public schools across Massachusetts have access to free breakfast and lunch, as intended by the Legislature and this administration. 

 

Additional sections would allow municipalities impacted in July by natural disasters like flooding to pay back the cost of those emergencies over multiple years; simplify the implementation of a tax credit for small businesses who hire members of the National Guard; and facilitate the elimination of copays for MassHealth members. The bill also updates the quorum requirements for the MBTA board of directors to reflect the addition of new members; corrects the transfer mechanism for the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund; expands eligibility for CHIPS matching funds; and sunset the daily COVID-19 reporting requirements put in place for the Department of Public Health during the pandemic. 

 

“We have worked hard over the past eight months with our partners in the House and Senate to carefully manage finances and put Massachusetts in the best position to continue to make impactful investments and reforms that will move our economy forward,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “We’re hopeful that the Legislature can take this supplemental budget up quickly to close the books on Fiscal Year 2023.” 

 

A separate $200 million reserve created by this bill would be used to fund new collective bargaining agreements reached between the administration and many of the state’s public employee unions. Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll remain committed to forging a strong partnership with labor organizations, whose members are on the front lines of delivering the services on which Massachusetts residents depend. 

百人會"下一代領袖培訓"即起接受報名

Committee of 100 Next Generation Leaders Program:2024 Application Now Open for Submission 

New York, NY (September 13, 2023) – Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans today announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Next Generation Leaders (NGL) class. The 2024 NGL class will be announced and spotlighted at Committee of 100’s 2022 Conference and Gala, which will take in April 2024. 

Launched in 2014, Committee of 100’s NGL program convenes an exceptional group of change-makers and rising leaders from diverse sectors, leveraging a collective sense of service and purpose to elevate the impact of each individual. Currently, there are over 180 NGL alumni across a multitude of sectors who make up a vibrant and diverse network.

Becoming a member of Committee of 100’s NGL program comes with the exclusive opportunity to join a vibrant community of like-minded NextGen leaders, motivated to work towards a more productive U.S.-China relationship and a more diverse and inclusive U.S. society. NextGen leaders will engage with Committee of 100 to develop customized programming and content tailored to the NextGen community and to collaborate with Committee of 100 Members, who are comprised of leaders across business, government, science, academia, and the arts. NextGen leaders also receive complimentary invitations to Committee of 100’s annual conference, with dedicated NextGen programming, and special access to additional Committee of 100 events. Additionally, NextGen leaders will engage in impactful service projects with both Committee of 100 and partner organizations as brand ambassadors and change-makers for positive social impact and community-building. 
 

Committee of 100 is now accepting applications from exceptional young professionals and rising leaders from all sectors who are passionate about Committee of 100’s dual missions to promote the inclusion of Chinese Americans and the larger AAPI community in all aspects of U.S. society and to advance constructive dialogue and relations between the U.S. and Greater China. Individuals who demonstrate a remarkable history of professional and personal excellence and aged forty-five and younger may apply. The full list of criteria and access to the application can be found here.

The deadline to submit applications is January 5, 2024 at 5:00pm Eastern Time.

波士頓計畫發展局公佈區域規劃分析報告 吳弭市長揚言將重整BPDA架構

BPDA Releases Analysis of City’s Out of Date Zoning Code, Announces Restructuring of Planning Department to Tackle Inequities Mayor Wu Announces Major Planning and Zoning Initiatives to Rezone Squares & Streets and Allow Childcare Across the City

BOSTON – The City of Boston today released a report commissioned by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) to assess the Boston Zoning Code. The report, authored by Cornell University professor and Director of the National Zoning Atlas Sara Bronin, details issues such as extreme length and inconsistencies that make the code inaccessible to most Bostonians. The City and BPDA also announced a significant restructuring of the Planning Department, creating Zoning Reform and Zoning Compliance teams and replacing the previous neighborhood planning team with a new Comprehensive Planning team. These new teams will support the City’s ability to modernize and enforce the Code, which has not been comprehensively updated since 1964, and will lead the next major planning and zoning initiative: Squares & Streets. Mayor Wu announced the restructuring of the Planning Department during her keynote address at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Forum.  “One of the most impactful responsibilities of city government is to set the rules for how our neighborhoods grow,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “But for decades, our system in Boston has been built on a confusing and inconsistent process of handing out exceptions. Reforming our planning process and zoning code will be a sea change for our city, helping to fulfill a commitment for predictability and equity to meet the needs of our communities.” “We take seriously the recommendations in the report and will tailor our response to Boston’s needs - including exploring how to build design recommendations into the code that improve equitable access but protect the ability for neighborhoods to maintain their unique character,” said Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. “We need a solid policy foundation and a modern zoning code to enforce a structure of accountability for growth.” Having an antiquated Zoning Code limits the City’s ability to address the current housing crisis by creating steps and costs to the creation of new housing. The report released today shows that Boston’s code is abnormally long compared to cities of comparable size by geography and population. At nearly 4,000 pages, Boston’s code is nearly 40 percent longer than that of New York City, which has 13 times Boston’s population and six times its land area. By every form of comparison to comparable size cities, Boston’s code is significantly longer.  The analysis also shows that length does not result in a clearer or more effective code, but rather, a more complex, inconsistent, and inequitable Code. The report indicates that the length of the code and its many contradictions impede residents from making even small changes to their home or business without hiring a lawyer. This creates barriers that prevent Bostonians from being able to participate meaningfully in the planning process. The BPDA’s newly restructured Planning Department includes three new teams: Comprehensive Planning, Zoning Reform, and Zoning Compliance, in addition to the existing Transportation & Infrastructure Planning division. The Comprehensive Planning team will reform and expand the former neighborhood planning team’s capacity to focus exclusively on long term, Citywide visioning, in partnership with other City departments. The previous neighborhood planning team was also responsible for reviewing development proposals in their assigned neighborhoods, which consumed a significant portion of the planners' time and limited the team's capacity to complete proactive, Citywide planning. Zoning Compliance, a new division of the Planning Department, will work with the Development Review Department to support planning-led development. The Zoning Compliance team will root their approach to reviewing projects within a clear planning and zoning context from prefile through approval, ensuring that development projects comply with plans and new zoning recommendations, and facilitating fewer exceptions to the Code. Finally, the reorganization has doubled the capacity of the Regulatory Planning & Zoning team, renamed Zoning Reform, in order to allow planners to amend the code proactively. Many of the issues in Boston’s Zoning Code have been well-known and documented for decades, but the Planning Department lacked the capacity to take on large scale change. The Zoning Reform team will also provide recommendations to the Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA). With a dedicated focus on providing more clear context to the ZBA, and in concert with future changes to the code, this team will reduce the City’s reliance on the ZBA.  The BPDA’s guiding principles for zoning reform are climate-friendly zoning that legalizes new housing and supports smart growth, a mix of uses, and walkable neighborhoods. The Planning Department will create change by putting policies in place that seek to prevent displacement, reduce nonconformities, end the City’s over-reliance on the ZBA, create more opportunities for as-of-right development, prioritize more approachable language, and produce a Code that is accessible and equitable. The restructured Planning Department has already begun to clean up the code by consolidating definitions into a single section that will apply to the whole code. This will have the impact of creating a common means for interpreting language across the code.  The team has also moved to make Citywide updates such as approving childcare as an allowed primary or accessory use across commercial and residential areas. The Zoning Reform team’s immediate goal is to implement zoning that results from ongoing neighborhood planning initiatives and to work on a strategy for overhauling the code based on the results of the report and Mayor Wu’s vision for a functioning Zoning Code that serves the City and its residents. The restructured Planning Department’s first major planning and rezoning initiative, Squares & Streets kicks off this fall and will focus on neighborhood centers and main streets. Vibrant squares and streets include businesses and services, public spaces, cultural institutions, and reliable transportation options. As Boston’s population continues to grow, our squares and streets are important places for ensuring every Bostonian has access to affordable, sustainable, and equitable places to live, work, and play. This initiative will implement a framework for strategic growth and deliver new zoning for transit-oriented development in commercial and mixed-use areas. Over the course of the next two years, this process will be implemented through customized small area plans for selected squares and streets and provide a clear vision for growth.