COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN CARE RECEIVES 2015 CCPH ANNUAL AWARD

COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN CARE RECEIVES 2015 CCPH ANNUAL AWARD

May 28, 2015 – Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) is delighted to announce Community Partners in Care as the recipient of its 2015 annual award. The award highlights the power and potential of partnerships between communities and academic institutions as a strategy for social justice and health equity. It honors community-campus partnerships that are striving to achieve the systems and policy changes needed to overcome the root causes of health, social, environmental and economic inequalities.

Community Partners in Care is a community-academic partnership that uses Community Partnered Participatory Research (CPPR) to build community capacity to improve the quality of life of clients with depression in under-resourced communities of color through rigorous partnered research. This collaboration occurs among many community-based agencies, social services, and healthcare organizations for communities of color, especially African Americans and Latinos in Los Angeles County (LAC).

Over ten years ago, academic leaders of the partnership completed a major national study called Partners in Care, which suggested that implementing a chronic disease management approach to collaborative care for depression in primary care sites improved the quality of care for both whites and minorities (African Americans and Latinos). However, this approach led to 4-5 times the outcome improvements for minorities than for whites, both initially and after 5-10 years of follow-up. A key question that emerged from this study was how to translate the promise of high quality care for depression into a public health reality in low-income communities of color.

In 2003, Dr. Kenneth Wells of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Research ANd Development Corporation (RAND), the Principal Investigator of the Partners in Care study, approachedLoretta Jones, CEO of Healthy African American Families II (HAAFII), a leading health advocacy organization in South Los Angeles, to determine how to apply the findings of that study to communities of color in Los Angeles. This initiated a remarkable partnership based on community-based participatory research (CBPR) and NIH-defined principles of community engagement, Community Partnered Participatory Research (CPPR).

As explained in the partnership’s application, “A council representing all stakeholder perspectives guides the initiative and supports workgroups to develop and implement components, reporting back to the larger community through once or twice a year, community conferences for feedback and to obtain support.” There is a signed memorandum between lead institutional partners which outlines CPPR principles, roles and responsibilities, partnership structure, shared data ownership, resource allocation, scientific manuscript authorship, and handling disagreements between partners.

The Center for Health Services and Society; Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; RAND Corporation; Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Services; Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry; Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute; and Healthy African American Families II are all integral members of Community Partners in Care.

Reviewers chose to honor Community Partners in Care for the 2015 CCPH Annual Award and overwhelmingly praised the breadth and depth of the partnership and the excellent modeling they used in joining of randomized clinical trial methodology and CBPR/CPPR. One reviewer remarked, “The decision making appears to be done equitably, including decisions regarding their fiscal allocations.” Another reviewer lauded the excellent, wide range of partnership strategies Community Partners in Care initiated working through conflict among partners. Finally, the clear and definable examples of capacity building appeared central to the partnership in developing their structure and through the process they used to generate evidence-based decision making, practices, and outcome impacts in mental health in communities.

CCPH Associate Director Faye Ziegeweid presented the award at C2U Expo in Ottawa, Canada on May 27th. Accepting the award on behalf of the partnership were Bowen Chung of UCLA and Loretta Jones of HAAF.

In her remarks presenting the award, Ms. Ziegeweid noted. “I am honored to introduce this year’s award recipient. Their partnership embodies the CCPH Principles of Partnership and has created change lasting well beyond a single process or event.”

Also announced at C2UExpo was the partnership that received an Honorable Mention: Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health (CAFEH) in Boston, MA. This partnership is working to integrate science, civic engagement, community empowerment for environmental health improvements and social justice. Tufts University is the lead partner with core community partners from the City of Somerville and Boston Chinatown organizations such as the Boston Chinatown Resident Association and the Chinese Progressive Association. The partnership's work addressing the high exposure of pollutants from Interstate-93 and local residents’ concern about air quality, specifically chronic exposure to ultrafine particles and its impact on health and the risk of cardiovascular disease was also worthy of recognition.

MassDOT SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCES FINES FOR TOBIN BRIDGE PAY-BY-PLATE CUSTOMERS

MassDOT SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCES FINES FOR TOBIN BRIDGE PAY-BY-PLATE CUSTOMERS

30-day toll amnesty for Tobin Bridge Pay-By-Plate to start Monday, June 1, 2015

BOSTON – Thursday, May 28, 2015 – Today, MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack announced changes to the fine structure to the all-electronic, Pay-By-Plate, toll collection system on the Tobin Bridge.  Additionally, Secretary Pollack also announced a 30-day amnesty program that starts Monday, June 1, where drivers can simply pay the amount of outstanding tolls and will have all late payment fines waived..  Both the new fine structure and the 30-day toll amnesty apply exclusively to the Tobin Bridge. 

“While the use of the new All-Electronic Tolling technology has certainly proved its worth, piloting the system first on the Tobin Bridge taught us some valuable lessons.  Too many of our customers were incurring hundreds or even thousands of dollars in late payment fines,” said Secretary Pollack.  “The goal of the program should be payment, not punishment.  We can ensure that our customers pay their tolls with much smaller late payment fines that are fair, reasonable, and will not result in substantial charges to people who may have missed the notifications.  And no one will ever incur more than $500 per year in late payment fees.”  

The Tobin Bridge’s All-Electronic Tolling system was activated on July 21, 2014, and eliminated the need to pay tolls in cash.  The system employs a dual technology that detects E-ZPass transponders, or for vehicles without transponders, captures an image of the registration plate and sends an invoice to the address listed on the vehicle registration.

Known as Pay-By-Plate, vehicles without transponders that cross the Tobin Bridge are mailed invoices and reminder notices based on a monthly billing cycle.  Subsequent reminder invoices and notices of non-payment are accompanied by a fine structure that was modeled after the structure that has been in place on the Turnpike since 2000.

“This new structure is the result of a thorough review that incorporated a substantial amount of public feedback into the final product,” said MassDOT Highway Administrator Thomas J. Tinlin.  “At the end of the day, our goal is to collect tolls, and we feel that this new structure is a way to ensure that continues without unduly burdening drivers with substantial fines.”

Under the new structure for the Tobin Bridge, fines will be assessed according to the following:

·        A $1 late fee will be added to every unpaid Pay-By-Plate toll after an invoice goes unpaid for 30 days;

·        An additional $1 will be added to each toll transaction after 60 days of non-payment, and another $1 after 90 days;

·        Under the maximum fines allowed, each unpaid Tobin Bridge toll transaction will be capped at $6; also at that time, the vehicle owner’s driver’s license and vehicle registration will be placed in a non-renew status, until the toll balance and fines are resolved.  Also at this stage, there is an additional $20 fee to remove the hold on driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. 

Additionally, beginning Monday, June 1, 2015, MassDOT is offering a 30-day toll amnesty program, whereby Tobin Bridge Pay-By-Plate customers with outstanding balances have the opportunity to pay tolls only in full, with all fines waived dating back to July 21, 2014.  The 30-day amnesty also includes the suspension of the $20 fee to remove the hold on registration and driver’s license renewals. 

Programming changes are under way to roll back Tobin Bridge fines and to allow for the amnesty program to begin on Monday, June 1, 2015.  To facilitate the programming and transition, the phone and online Pay-By-Plate payment options will be suspended for the weekend and will be available Monday morning. 

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $10 Million Energy Storage Initiative

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $10 Million Energy Storage Initiative

BOSTON – May 28, 2015 – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the launch of a new $10 million initiative aimed at making Massachusetts a national leader in energy storage.

The Energy Storage Initiative (ESI) includes a $10 million commitment from the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and a two-part study from DOER and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to analyze opportunities to support Commonwealth storage companies, as well as develop policy options to encourage energy storage deployment.

“The Commonwealth’s plans for energy storage will allow the state to move toward establishing a mature local market for these technologies that will, in turn, benefit ratepayers and the local economy,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts has an exciting opportunity to provide a comprehensive approach to support a growing energy storage industry with this initiative's analysis, policy and program development.”

“Massachusetts is nationally recognized for energy efficiency and clean energy job growth,” said EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton.  “This Energy Storage Initiative will ensure the Commonwealth continues to be on the forefront of advancing innovative clean technology. Through this initial $10 million announcement and the subsequent studies, Massachusetts is primed to leverage the expertise of the storage industry to reduce barriers to project implementation, and ultimately advancing a crucial component of modernizing our electric grid.”

DOER Commissioner Judith Judson, a nationally-recognized expert on energy storage, announced the new initiative today at the Energy Storage Association’s 25^th Annual Conference on “New Market Structures and Policy Enabling Storage.”

“Our Energy Storage Initiative will lay the ground work, through a holistic approach of analysis, assessment and demonstration projects, so that Massachusetts can confidently move forward with policies and regulations that will ensure Massachusetts becomes a national leader in the deployment and cost-effective use of energy storage” said DOER Commissioner Judith Judson.

“Massachusetts’ $10 billion clean energy industry already supports a promising energy storage cluster,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “By launching the Energy Storage Initiative and fostering this sector at home, Massachusetts will position itself to grab a disproportionate share of the economic opportunities arising out of the fast growing global markets for storage technology.”

The worldwide market for grid-scale energy storage alone is estimated to reach $114 billion by 2017, according to an analysis by Lux Research. Common methods of energy storage include batteries, flywheels, compressed air energy storage, pumped storage, hydrogen storage and thermal energy storage.

The two-part study will start by analyzing the industry landscape, economic development and market opportunities for energy storage, while also examining potential policies and programs that could be implemented to better support energy storage deployment in Massachusetts. The second part of the study will provide policy and regulatory recommendations along with cost-benefit analysis for state policy makers.

In parallel, DOER will leverage $10 million in Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) to establish and support the Commonwealth’s energy storage market. DOER will work to identify and evaluate the appropriate value of the services energy storage can provide to ratepayers and the grid through a market signals assessment, while funding demonstration projects from the utility to residential scales. DOER will work with MassCEC and key market players, in-state and across the country, to assist in the development of innovative projects in the Commonwealth.  Through this initiative, Energy and Environmental Affairs will hold several forums to engage experts and industry in storage policy opportunities in the coming months.

“Massachusetts continues to play a leading role in creating solutions for a more flexible and resilient grid,” said Matt Roberts, Executive Director of the Energy Storage Association. “These investments in studying the positive impact that energy storage will have and funding new projects will undoubtedly spur continued advancement in the industry.”

"Energy storage is an essential component of the Commonwealth's transition to a 21st century electricity system, which can provide customers more affordable, efficient, resilient and cleaner energy," said NECEC President Peter Rothstein. "With numerous Massachusetts-made energy storage companies already developing technologies, the energy storage sector has great potential to provide economic development opportunities here, while keeping the state competitive in the rapidly evolving global energy economy." 

The ESI will build upon existing state support for energy storage projects, including $13 million in projects featuring an energy storage component through DOER’s Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative.

麻州聯邦員工慶亞裔傳統月 范文南籲亞裔勇於發聲

左起，安豐貴，Stephen Griffin，周樹昂，范文南，柬埔寨裔林市議員，Elisa Choi，
Bora Chiemruom，Kajal Chattopadhyay，鄧春美等人合影。（周菊子攝）

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 聯邦政府特別強調項目聯盟，環境保護局，平等雇用機會局昨（廿七）日攜手舉辦慶祝亞美傳統月活動。麻州企業發展助理卿范文南（Nam Pham），以及麻州亞美局（AAC），應邀分論“許多文化，一個聲音：推廣平等及包容”。

            范文南指出，今年是越戰結束四十週年，週一又是國殤日，讓越戰中成長，被美國海軍救過的他，感觸尤深。

范文南是麻州州長內閣中唯二的亞裔閣員之一。（周菊子攝）

            范文南曾經擔任越助中心（Viet-Aid）行政主任，在查理貝克（Charlie Baker）當選為麻州州長後，獲指派為麻州企業發展助理卿（Assistant Secretary of Business Development）。他說，要談分享經驗的話，最重要的訊息是要有聲音（Be Vocal），看見什麼，感覺什麼，都要說出來。

            他坦言自己在過去一生中，遭遇許多出人意料之外的狀況，包括跳船離鄉，成為來美難民；包括當上非牟利社區發展機構越助中心的行政主任。他認為亞裔美人非牟利社區所面對的最大挑戰就是人才，尤其是雙語，雙文化人才。

            范文南以親身經歷感慨表示，所有的政治都是地方政治，卻又是全球性的政治。對移民來說，大家無法不想到自己所來自地方的人民，包括越南，香港，西藏，緬甸或中國。於是亞裔作為一個社區，在思考來自何方，現在何處，將往哪去，能走多遠時，就複雜了起來。

        他坦言自己幸運，在查理貝克上任後，獲指派進州政府工作。但是亞裔美人以麻州為家已逾百年，卻現在卻只有兩人在州政府內閣工作，包括2014年十二月獲指派的他自己，以及今年一月或指派為麻州健康（MassHealth）助理卿的Dan Tsai。

            范文南以亞裔美人和猶太裔美人做比較，直指亞裔處境若此，全因聲音不響（have not been vocal）。他說，有句流行語說“亞裔美人是新猶太“，但他認為還沒到那程度，亞裔該學習猶太人如何打造社區，保持文化。

            范文南很坦白地指出，人們在慶祝亞美傳統月，或者拉丁裔傳統月，或慶祝黑人歷史日，其實都是在提醒人，族裔在現今社會中仍然有關係。再者，即使是亞裔美人，常常也並不認為自己是亞裔美人，反而是華裔美人，印裔美人或越裔美人。對哪些積極參政的人來說，該向猶太裔人學習，並致力為追求平等，包容而努力。

            麻州聯邦政府員工昨日的慶祝亞美傳統月活動，還邀請了麻州亞美局主席Kajal Chattopadhyay，副主席Elisa Choi，以及新到任的行政主任Bora Chiemruom出席，談說亞美局的組織結構，曾辦過的健康論壇，青少年領導力培訓會議等活動。

            該慶祝活動由勞工部的鄧春美（Christine Tang）做開幕致詞，環保局的Stephen Griffin做結語，平等機會就業局第一區主任安豐貴等人策劃。

僑立學校求租 中華董事要求釐清保險責任、證明未欠款

紐英崙中華公所開大會。董事梁添光（立者左），李奇舜（立者右）
一度對立。梁添光表示自己從不說“大話”，李奇舜表示，梁添光就是
在說“大話“。當晚梁添光一度語驚四座，指凡是在社區中走動的
，沒有一個“乾淨”。（周菊子攝）

 (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙中華公所（CCBA）五月廿六日晚召開本年度第三次董事大會。中華僑立學校申請租用教室一節，因牌照，欠租，保險等爭議，延至下次大會再議。中華公所職員選舉改為輪值制的議案，也待進一步研究。

中華公所董事謝中之要求拿出欠租已勾消的文件出來看。（周菊子攝）

            中華公所這次的董事大會，議程包括是否通過三月份會議紀錄，主席，財政，物業小組，選舉小組報告，社區活動預告，新提案，未列綱要，物業及選舉小組也未預發書面報告。出席董事只能做現場反映，完全無力就即將在會中提出的報告，事先做準備，再在會中列舉支持文件，提出看法，或論證。不過，37名出席董事，並無人就此點提議改善。

        物業小組召集人李嘉玲當晚表示，僑立學校申請租用中華公所一事，小組已開會討論，基本上一致不反對，但有董事憂慮相關保險問題。

她指出早年中華公所大樓要買保險，就曾出現過保險公司指中華公所大樓內太多小孩子及老人家出入，不願受保的狀況，但在中華公所主席阮鴻燦另找保險公司後，解決了這問題。

 中華公所董事開會。（周菊子攝）

董事們在發言時，為保險問題質疑起中華僑立學校，廣教學校是否持有牌照。都是中華公所董事的中華僑立學校董事長梁添光，中華廣教學校董事長蔡倩婷分別起立，都說當然有牌照。

董事謝中之表示，有沒牌照，不必空口說白話，把文件拿出來就是了。他還進一步表示，中華僑立學校當年積欠中華公所五萬九千多元租金未還，如果想再租用中華公所空間，應該先把欠款還清。

中華公所董事陳文浩也要求拿出文件，資料來查證。（周菊子攝）

梁添光表示，當年中華公所已在董事大會中通過，僑立學校所欠租金一筆勾銷，既往不咎。公所董事們不應翻舊帳的針對性反對。

謝中之在上次中華公所董事大會中已要求公所職員找出相關會議紀錄，以茲佐證並討論。他在開會前也公開發送電郵，要求中華公所前任財政，現任核數黃立輝把相關的財政報告，會議紀錄找出來供中華公所董事討論，但中華公所在發送這次董事大會材料時，相關資料再次付諸厥如。

董事陳家驊隨後也建議公所書記李嘉玲把中華公所當年討論廣教學校，僑立學校租約的特別會議紀錄印出來，發給公所董事們看之後再討論。

公所董事許揚威表示，關於保險問題，最重要的是查清楚，如果中華公所出租教室給僑立學校，是否會違反任何的法令規定。董事鄭慧民也同意許揚威的看法，並補充道，一般來說，做為屋主，會把曾欠租者列為拒絕往來戶。董事李奇舜以他管理李氏公所物業的經驗指出，如果租客是做生意，保險應該由租客自行承擔。李奇舜也指所謂翻舊帳，就如法院的要在事發後追問之前曾經有哪些細節，其實就是要追查歷史，釐清過去，辨別是非。

當晚的中華公所會議內容還包括公所主席阮鴻燦報告，大同村停車場已重新噴漆，今年的中秋節聯歡會訂八月九日舉行。選舉小組召集人雷景林報告中華公所職員選舉改為輪值制這議案，仍有許多細節待進一步討論。上一次的大會會議紀錄，雖有陳家驊抗議部分內容，約十人反對，仍在大多數人同意中通過存檔。財政報告則因錯漏，董事們要求訂正後，下次大會再通過。

當晚有出席董事指出，這次大會的開會時間之短，打破近年紀錄，不到兩小時。

原漾台灣舞動波士頓

東華大學原住民民族學院舞團在僑委會“台灣傳統週”安排下，為大波士頓帶來的“原漾台灣”演出，五月廿六日晚在昆士小學掀起高潮，謝幕後的帶動跳，更讓全場歡騰鼓舞起來。

僑務委員會與外交部、交通部觀光局等部會今年（2015）籌辦的“台灣傳統週”活動，由東華大學原住民民族學院舞團負責巡迴美加十三個城市，以「原漾台灣」為主題，藉原住民舞蹈讓世界看見台灣多元文化活力。
            由團長左恩平，藝術總監安梓濱率領，共廿名團員的東華大學原住民舞團，廿六日下午經波士頓華僑文教中心安排，先到昆士小學，為該校五年級學生示範，展演台灣的原住民文化，讓美國本地主流學校學生也有機會認識台灣文化，晚上再在昆士小學禮堂公演，由波士頓安良工商會梅偉文主持，大波士頓僑社有數百人出席欣賞，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，副處長陳銘俊都全程在座。

            這場“原漾台灣”演出，共有六個環節，分別為介紹台灣有十六個原住民族，以及其族群樂舞的“族群禮讚，原漾台灣”，表現原住民族民謠組曲的“山海歡唱”，描述泰雅，賽夏，太魯閣，賽德克等泛紋面族群創生神話傳說的“離散”，表達阿美族太巴塱部落年祭傳統樂舞海之濤篇的“我們在日昇之地傳唱”，展現台灣原住民創作樂舞選集的鄒族篇“舞躍阿里山”，以及在阿美族語中代表“美、帥、漂亮，讚嘆”的“馬卡巴嗨（Makapahay）”。

            包括潮州同鄉會會長楊克敬夫婦，麻州元極舞聯誼會歷任會長曾秀梅，鄭玉春，紐英崙客家鄉親會的邱西薔，劉悅慧，昭倫公所的譚榮熾，波士頓洪門致公堂的余麗媖，全美亞裔婦女會黎雯等等的出席者，全都在演出結束前，隨著年輕的原住民舞團團員們邊唱邊跳“馬卡巴嗨”，開心的不得了。

            東華大學原住民舞團表示，在原漾的世界裡，我們一起唱歌，跳舞，分享喜悅，訴說感動。唯有用力歡唱，齊舞的時候，原漾的傳奇才真正被流傳下來。那也是他們祖靈最好的禮物。

圖片說明：

            東華大學原住民民族學院舞團在“原漾台灣”演出結束後，與駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪（前中）合影。（菊子攝）

            東華大學原住民民族學院舞團穿著色彩豔麗的原住民服裝謝幕。（菊子攝）

            舞躍阿里山中的一幕。（菊子攝）

            與駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪（前）和出席者一起隨著原住民舞團跳“馬卡巴嗨”。（菊子攝）

            東華大學原住民民族學院舞團不但跳舞，還以各種樂器演奏。（菊子攝）

哈佛大學展陳澄波畫作 5/30-6/14

Paintings by famed Taiwanese artist Chen Cheng-po (陳澄波) are visiting Harvard from 5/30 to 6/14 this summer! Selected 19 works, including Sunset in Tamsui (淡水夕照) and Chiayi Street Scene (嘉義街景), will be on display in the concourse of CGIS South.

Chen’s works represent a colonial intellectual’s engagement and response to the hybrid, multifaceted modernity of his time, which involves the interplay of Taiwanese local colors and transnational techniques through the artist’s border-crossing experiences in the 1920s and 1930s.

Come join us at the Opening Ceremony on May 30th to have a taste of nostalgic Taiwan scenery!

Reception: 2:00 p.m., May 30 (hors d'oeuvre will be provided)

Venue: CGIS (Center for Government and International Studies) South Concourse, Harvard University

In collaboration with Cafe Philo@Boston: Exciting event will take place prior to the reception at room S050, CGIS South: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/650700838397270/

Sponsor: 財團法人陳澄波文化基金會 Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation; 北美臺灣研究學會 North America Taiwan Studies Association (NATSA); Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University; Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston; Harvard GSAS Taiwan (ROC) Student Club (HTROCSC)