March 21, 2025 | Vol. 54, Issue 6
Chinese Version 繁体 / 简体中文版 首頁

The only bilingual Chinese-English Newspaper in New England

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Killin’ It: Musician Nita Slay Talks About Cambodian Roots, Love of Language & Christian Influences Behind the Drum, Cymbal and Lion, There’s Adrenaline, and Then Hunger Snake Mural Lets Viewers Send Wishes, Artist Hold onto Chinese Heritage Order Said to ‘Criminalize’ Some Non-Citizen Students for Protest Don’t Miss Out on These Credits

Features

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Report: State Sorely Lacks English as Second Language Classes for Immigrants

by Esther Wang

The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center is among several nonprofits in Massachusetts offering free English classes aimed at preparing immigrant students for college and jobs. But as the influx of immigrants to Massachusetts – including undocumented migrants – has increased, so has the demand for English lessons. And now many nonprofit groups like BCNC say Massachusetts is in a state of crisis when it comes to providing English classes to the people who need them most. Case in point: BCNC is […]

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State’s Sudden Shelter Limits Anger Immigrant Advocates

by Ryan Lundgren

The consequences of the housing emergency in Massachusetts and the lack of Congressional action on immigration reform have collided to create a nightmare scenario that has Massachusett’s emergency shelter system apparently unable to cope. The state on Aug. 1 began to transition their “safety-net sites” to “temporary respite centers” and limit their usage to 5 days (with the possibility of an extension to 30 days) unless they are in a group prioritized for placement in an emergency assistance shelter, which […]

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Undocumented Immigrants Pay Billions in U.S. Taxes Annually

by Adam Smith

The nearly 11 million immigrants in the U.S. who lack the paperwork needed to stay here legally are often the target of politicians who decry the ills of “illegal” immigration. Yet, this group actually makes a massive contribution to the federal, state and local governments – paying billions to social programs they will never benefit from – according to a recent study. In fact, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in total taxes to all levels of government in 2022, through […]

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Hub Aims to Clean City of Rats With ‘BRAP’s

by Aurora Hao

Boston City officials have recently turned their attention toward the furry, unwanted guests occupying Boston neighborhoods — and it’s finally come up with a plan. Rats have been taking over streets, foraging through trash, and finding themselves taking comfort in residents’ homes. Mayor Michelle Wu has worked closely with the Boston Inspectional Services Division and Dr. Bobby Corrigan, a consulting Urban Rodentologist based in New York, to create the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP), which was published on June 17. […]

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The Boston FoundationAsian Fund Gives $90K to 7 Local Asian Amer. Nonprofits

by Sampan Editor

The Boston Foundation’s Asian Community Fund has awarded $90,000 in funding this summer to seven Chinese-serving nonprofits. The groups are:Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center: $25,000Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center: $25,000Chinese Association of Western Massachusetts: $15,000Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England: $10,000Andover Chinese Cultural Exchange, Inc.: $5,000Boston Chinese Photography Association, Inc.: $5,000Fan Chinatown, Inc.: $5,000 The grants are a part of The Asian Community Fund’s 2024 grant-making cycle, which brings $450,000 in total funding to 52 Asian American-serving nonprofits this […]

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Boston Festival Orchestra’s Wang Looks Back on Year That Hit All the Right Notes

by Christopher John Stephens

Boston Festival Orchestra co-founder and conductor Alyssa Wang is having a memorable summer. In her fourth season at the helm, Wang and the BFO continue to bring exactly what its promised: imagination, story-telling, and community-building. Born in the early days of the pandemic, the BFO has grown to continue its free out-of-the-box concerts, collaborations, and educational programs with groups like the New England Conservatory. Just in July, its Summer 2024 Stage orchestral concerts have featured Rossini’s Overture to “Semiramide,” and […]

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‘I Feel So Hopeless’ With No Severance and LimitedEnglish, Ex-East West WorkersFear for Their Financial Future

by Aurora Hao

The closure of East West Manufacturing in Boston in June has left 51 workers, many of whom are Chinese immigrants, uncertain about their financial and career prospects – and with no severance. “I feel so helpless and don’t know what to do right now,” one former employee, Mandy, told the Sampan. She asked not to use her last name. “Now I get unemployment benefits, but I don’t know so much English and I need someone to fill out some forms […]

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Survey Sheds Light on Asian American Voters’ Preferences, High Involvement

by Adam Smith

If there is one commonality among the nation’s Asian American voters it’s not a favored party or stance on any particular issue, it’s that the diverse group wants to participate in politics. And, that their key votes might be taken for granted by major political parties. Those are key takeaways from a survey of 2,479 registered Asian American voters presented by Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, just months away from a key presidential election. Ninety-percent of Asian American voters […]

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Biden Concludes a Chapter, but Our Future Has Yet to Be Written

by Sampan Staff

Fifty years ago, upon taking the oath of office after the resignation of his predecessor Richard Nixon, President Gerald Ford addressed the nation. Just as he had assumed the role of vice president after the resignation of Spiro Agnew, Ford took the reins of power for the remainder of Nixon’s term only to lose reelection in the 1976 campaign. Halfway through his Inaugural speech on Aug. 9, 1974, Ford uttered a line that seems too presumptuous in retrospect: “My fellow […]

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MBTA Now Offers No-Contact Pay System for Rides

by Sampan Staff

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has introduced a “Tap to Ride” system, allowing passengers to use no-contact payment methods such as credit and debit cards, smartphones, and smartwatches. Starting Aug. 1, these payments will be accepted on buses, Green Line and Mattapan Line trolleys, and at all gated subway stations. This initiative aims to streamline fare collection and enhance convenience for riders. More information at mbta.com/TapToRide.To use Tap to Pay: Step 1. ChooseCredit/debit card: Ensure your card has the contactless […]

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