The Chinatown Coalition

Download TCC 2010-09-09 Minutes

Thursday, September 9^th, 2010
9:30 AM, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, 4^th Floor

Attendance: Alex Zhang, Beverly Wing, Chutze Chou, Cindy Zhang, Dennis Lui, Enoch Liao, Janelle Chan, John Connolly, Kate Chang, Lisette Le, Nancy Eng, Pamela Lee, Sherry Dong, So Yee, Vicky Guo, Yan Zhong

I. Refreshments, Welcome, and Introductions

II. Bilingual Ballot Update, Lisette Le, Chinese Progressive Association

-Bilingual ballot is effective on January 1, 2011 in Vietnamese and Chinese in the City of Boston until 2013. This will not affect the September / November elections this year. Supporting organizations will examine if Quincy will be federally mandated for bilingual ballots as a result of 2010 Census.

III. City Councilor John Connolly

-Has been on the city council for 2 ½ years with a background of being a 6^th grade teacher. He is seeking to develop the city’s educational system to be a program that challenges every child from the full spectrum.

-Councilor Connolly is hosting a public hearing on the teachers’ union contract on September 28^th at the City Council Chambers at City Hall starting at 1:30 PM and hopes to run the forum for 7-8 hours in order to give access to anyone to voice their opinion on how to change the schools for the better. He is seeking people to testify at the hearing as an individual or as a member of an organization. He can be contacted at john.r.connolly@cityofboston.org or (617) 635-3115.

-Councilor Connolly is seeking support for an environmental sciences academy to prepare students for careers in green sectors. He is seeking for such a facility to be LEED certified with vocational/technical components for students to be ready for positions by learning practical skills. $20,000 has been budgeted in the coming year for examining such a proposal.

-Councilor Connolly has expressed that he is unhappy with the amount of funds from Race to the Top, but happy that it was rewarded and that the present question is how to allocate the funding.

-He stated in pertinence to bilingual students that their “language is a strength that we must nurture.” However, to do so, it would require the recruitment of teachers that are up to that task.

-He is a member of the Environment and Health Committee and the Weighs and Means committee. He is looking for ways to remove the stigma of technical and vocational education, for people to view it as a career path.

IV. Parcel 24 Update, Janelle Chan and Alex Zhang, Asian Community Development Corporation

-Parcel 24 has been revised, formerly 325 units and revised to 345 units. The affordable housing component has changed to an allocation of 95 units of affordable rental and 50 units of affordable home ownership. 20% of the rental units are to be at or under 30% area median income (AMI), the rest at or under 60% AMI. The units of affordable home ownership are to be ~80% AMI. $2.5M of funding for the home ownership component has already been locked in via linkage from the W Hotel. The affordable units are to average 2-bedrooms in size for both the condos and rental units.

-Parcel 24 is seeking support presently on its project, submitting to DHCD on September 16^th. Support letters can be sent to janelle.chan@asiancdc.org.

V. Announcements, Updates, and Kaffeeklatsch
Preview of next meeting’s topics

-Immigration forum to be held, presented by Samuel Tsoi from the MIRA Coalition

-The MIRA Coalition is holding the National Immigrant Integration Conference at the Westin Hotel on September 29^th to October 1^st. It features sessions throughout the Thursday and Friday. More information can be found at www.integrationconference.org. For questions, contact Sam Tsoi at stsoi@miracoalition.org.

-The Chinese Historical Society of New England is hosting their Eightieth Annual Meeting and Dinner on Friday, September 24^th at 6:00 PM at China Pearl Restaurant at 9 Tyler Street. For information and ticket reservations, contact CHSNE at (617) 338-4339 or email info@chsne.org. In addition, on Friday, October 1 at 11:00 AM at the Chinese Progressive Association (1 Nassau Street), CHSNE is hosting a book talk and slide show on the book Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America by Erika Lee and Judy Yung.

-The Chinatown Coalition has a position open for a Project Coordinator that submissions are due on September 24^th. Job description is available at the TCC web site.

Next Meeting: Thursday, October 14^th, 9:30 AM @ BCNC 4^th floor Conference Room

Download TCC 2010-07-08 Minutes

TCC Meeting Notes: Thursday, July 8, 2010

9:30 AM, meeting at BCNC, 4^th floor conference room.

Attendees: Aaron Michlewitz, Barbara Rubel, Chien-Chi Huang, Chin-Wen Lee, Chutze Chou, David Sokoler, Debbie Ho, Elaine Ng, Enoch Liao, Fred Bennett, Howard (Sampan), Janice Wong, Kate Chang, Kenny Wong, Megan Cheung, Nancy Eng, Natalie Ornell, Pamela Lee, Samuel Tsoi, Shawn Ta, Sherry Dong, So Yee, Sunny Schwartz

I. Refreshments, Welcome, Introductions

II. A-WAY (Allies Working with Asian-American Youth), Shawn Ta, Vicky Yue

-          Currently in process of strategic planning. Organizations active in A-WAY include AACA, CPA, CSO, Capay, ATASK, PBHA, BCNC, and others mentioned at meeting.

-          Received a grant for technical assistance from Boston Capacity Tank to re-evaluate mission, goals, and values to better reach Asian Pacific Islanders youth in Chinatown & greater Boston.

-          Meets 3^rd Thursday of the month at BCNC

-          Hoping Executive Directors can support youth workers

-          Get list of groups for A-WAY and their list-serv for TCC

III. Organizational Update: Chinatown Main Street, Debbie Ho

-          Employ only 1 person (Executive Director), the rest are volunteers.

-          Reported on business growth in Chinatown. 300 businesses today compared to 170 businesses in 1998.

-          Programs

• Program to improve storefront by using federal funds to match $2500 for approved projects
• Programs to keep Chinatown streets clean
• Host Chinatown Main Street Festival on Sunday, July 11

Working with city & BRA to install Chinatown map kiosk in Philips Square area of Harrison Ave.

IV. State Representative Aaron Michlewitz

-          To inform Representative of events or issues, contact Blake Weber at (617) 722-2488.

-          District rep for 10 neighborhoods, including Boston & Chinatown.

-          Legislative highlights:

• Passed Education Reform bill, positioned ourselves for funds for Obama’s Race to the Top program
• Passed Green Ticket Bill which gives cities/towns abilities to collect fines for unpicked up trash on property by rolling unpaid fines onto property tax bill for following year.

-          Legislative goals:

• Passing bilingual ballots
• Proud we turned in a balanced budget, even though we had to cut so much
• Look at health care cost containment for small businesses now that SBs mandated to provide insurance for full time workers. Considering plan where SBs can apply for group insurance.

-          On Casinos: I voted in favor. Ran campaign on the phrase “Not automatic ‘no’” because sees we’re in a revenue crisis. Gambling in our culture is unavoidable. MA residents spend money gambling in other states then come back to MA and we bear social costs. Trying to recoup those costs.

-          Wants to be accessible to citizens, be a regular presence in neighborhoods

V. Announcements, Updates, and Kaffeeklatsch

A. Preview of next meeting’s topics: No August meeting for TCC.

B. Other Announcements

-          Chinese Historical Society of New England (CHSNE) 18^th Annual Meeting & Dinner on Friday, September 24, 6-9pm @ China Pearl.

-          USCIS National Children’s Art Project depicting theme “We Are America”. For more info see http://www.uscis.gov/childrensartproject.

-          Janice Wong, Tisch Scholar, announced this was her last meeting for her year as a Tisch Scholar, and another student may be joining TCC meetings in the future. She also made these announcements:

Request for Applications to be a Host Site for CPS Scholars

The CPS (Citizenship and Public Service) Scholars program is a leadership development program for undergraduate students at Tufts University. The program brings selected Tufts students into the community to work on projects at nonprofits, schools and government agencies. The CPS Scholars program is a flagship program of the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service. An ideal Scholar project addresses a community identified need, has a begin/end date, and is a learning opportunity about community work. Deadline for proposals has been extended to JULY 15, 2010. Please see attached documents and contact Melissa.Defreece@tufts.edu for more information.

The Asian American Resource Workshop is now accepting submissions for the 2010 Boston Asian American Film Festival!

The 2010 Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) is dedicated to supporting Asian American films, filmmakers and audiences through opportunities to educate, interact, and engage the Greater Boston community with content relevant to Asian American community and culture. We are seeking narratives, dramas, comedies, shorts, documentaries, animations, music videos and experimental films.

The 2010 Boston Asian American Film Festival will be held in late October/early November 2010.

Early bird Deadline –Friday, July 16, 2010 @ 5:00pm

Regular Deadline –Friday, August 14, 2010 @ 5:00pm

Next Meeting: Thursday, September 9, 2010 @ BCNC 4^th floor Conference Room.

TCC Minutes
Thursday, October 8, 2009
9:30 AM, Boston Chinatown Storefront Library, 640 Washington Street

In attendance: Pamela Lee, Janice Wong, Richard Goldberg, Norman Eng, Kun Chang, Lian Yu, Megan Cheung, Teresa Wong, Alex Zhang, Lisette Le, Sunny Schwartz, Sue Kim, Fiona Yu, Elaine Ng, Kye Liang, Sherry Dong, Dennis Lui, Samuel Tsoi, Steven Chin, Angela Sun, Chutze Chou, Chin-Wen Lee, Kenny Wong

I. Refreshments, Welcome, & Introductions
II. Boston Chinatown Storefront Library, Leslie Davol
-Opening Wednesday, October 14th, 4-6 PM
-Amy Cheung is the day-to-day program manager
-Opens on Thursday, October 15th for regular operations
-Hours of operation are presently Tuesday-Thursday, 11 AM to 6 PM and Friday-Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM.
-Interns from the Simmons Graduate School of Library Sciences will be active in the library.
-More information can be found at http://www.storefrontlibrary.org

III. TCC Discussion Topic Brainstorming
-Discussion led by Enoch Liao on the following subjects to be used for future TCC meetings in the next year. Discussion was in the format of speaking in smaller groups for several minutes and then presenting to the full meeting body.

-What are one or two issues you are facing in your work in Chinatown?
• Current economic conditions
• Heath education / outreach
• Being aware of grant opportunities / stimulus $
• Advocating for projects such as a library difficult, funding for such
• Difficulty in recruiting bilingual staff
• Outreaching to Boston residents due to funding considerations
• Customer service on the T
• Effective collaboration to avoid overlap/competition, pooling of resources
• Strategy forums / joint planning
• Going green: Saving energy and providing jobs/training in the sector
• Job training for English learners
• Organizations having a stronger presence in Chinatown

-How could another member of Chinatown or TCC really aid you in your work in Chinatown?
• TCC newsletter for hiring/outreach
• Providing collaboration platform for agencies
• Spreadsheet of training/ESL opportunities / Chinatown Educational Pathway
• Guest speakers from Chinatown
• Physical space
• Coming together and implementing vision
• Participation in each others’ events
• Bringing constituents to the table on issues
• Word of mouth information
• Twitter feed
• Coordinated website
• College access
• 2010 Census (for February, due to forms sent in March)

IV. BCEC and Parcel A Update, Pastor Steven Chin

-Overview of BCEC’s present state. In present building since 1979, which was designed for 250.
-Currently, church is using an Annex, Newton campus, Quincy Elementary School, and Quincy Upper School as additional locations to provide services to more than 1000 church members.
-Received tentative designation from the BRA for an equal land swap with the BRA on Parcel A
-$Current projected building to be a four-story construct, tentatively designed in 2007 with an estimate of $18M budget for overall project.
-$8.4 million in pledges over three years since spring 2009

V. Adult Education and Workforce Development, Richard Goldberg and Sunny Schwartz, AACA

-WIA Formula grants are provided to those in need, dislocated workers, and youth workers (including summer grants), comprising of $2.7B of the stimulus.
-For green jobs, City of Boston applied as a bloc, including AACA, the grant application serving a ‘puma’ district, specifically Blue Hill Avenue.
-AACA has secured grant funding for Boston residents in an English for Employment program that would run Monday – Friday from 1:00-5:00, a total of 540 hours of lessons. It starts November 16th and is SBL 4, for advanced beginner/starting intermediate level of English.
-There are specific trade programs for advanced beginner/starting intermediate English comprehension for office skills, building maintenance, and automotive repair.
-For more information on the training programs, contact Wendy Huang at (617) 426-9492, x251
-Funding was provided to AACA for an employment center that provides services including resume writing and critique and job search classes, which runs until at least October of 2010. For more information, call Elena Kuyun at (617) 426-9294, x218

VI. Announcements, Updates, and Kaffeeklatsch
A. Preview of next meeting’s topics

B. Safety Committee (via Barbara Rubel)

Barbara Rubel not present.

Other announcements:

Sue Kim announced that the Harrison-Albany Strategic Planning Study Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 28th at 6:15 PM @ East Newton Street, the Franklin Square House.

Elaine Ng announced that the 40th Anniversary celebration of BCNC will be held on Saturday, November 7th from 3:30 to 7:00

Kye Liang announced that the Chinatown Master Plan Phase I conclusion meeting will be on Thursday, October 29th at 6:00 PM, to be held at the Metropolitan Building’s Meeting Room.

Angela Sun is seeking community leaders as speakers for monthly training meetings for the directors of Phillips Brooks House Association’s Chinatown programs. Contact asun@fas.harvard.edu.