MA’s Longest Nurse Strike Hits 9 Months
On December 8, the ongoing nurses strike at Saint Vincent Hospital hit the nine month mark. Beginning in March, this nurses strike has become the longest in Massachusetts history.
More Support Granted to Disabled Workers
The MRC notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected those with disabilities, raising more employment hurdles amongst the ones that were already there. Nicole Baumer, MD, MEd, a neurologist at the Boston Children’s Hospital, and instructor of neurology at Harvard, wrote about some of the struggles brought on by the pandemic for disabled individuals. “In times of crisis, weaknesses in our institutions and social systems, and marked health and economic disparities, become even more evident,” Baumer wrote.
Comcast RISE Expands its Reach
The Comcast RISE program has recently expanded its eligibility scope to include all women-owned businesses across the country, regardless of ethnicity. Comcast RISE, a program that provides small businesses support in the form of consulting, media production, technology and financial awards, will be kicking off 2022 with a broader view of inclusion.
Remembering Uncle Bill — a Community Leader
On November 27, 2021, Chinatown said goodbye to Bill Chin, widely known throughout the community as “Uncle Bill”. Born locally in 1929 during the Chinese Exclusion Act, Uncle Bill was always keenly aware of the village that raised him, and lived to improve the quality of life of Chinese immigrants.
Global Eyes on the Omicron Variant
The emergence of the Omicron variant, a new strain of COVID-19, has the world on edge as health care organizations monitor its spread. The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), gathered on Thanksgiving to assess variant B.1.1.529, otherwise known as Omicron. Omicron, which was first confirmed in South Africa on November 24, has increased its spread throughout the country and others, including Denmark, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Botswana, Israel, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, France, and […]
Scholarship Program for First-Gen Students
In 1917, Harry C. Bentley founded Bentley University, which would grow to be one of the top business colleges in the country. He was a first-generation student himself, and since then, the university has continued to support first-gen students throughout its history. The university has previously been recognized for this dedication, and has recently been named part of the 2021-2022 First-Gen Forward cohort, a group of schools with proven dedication to advancing the outcomes of first-generation students. It also offers […]
Pediatric Vaccines Approved
Last month, following FDA approval, the CDC officially endorsed the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11, expanding the eligible population and opening doors for families to become fully vaccinated. After the rise of the Delta variant over the summer, cases found in children surged, resulting in hospitalizations, deaths, and longer-term side effects in some patients, even after they were cleared. Various state-sponsored, pharmacy, and healthcare locations throughout the city have responded to the newly appointed eligibility, opening children’s vaccination […]
Michelle Wu’s First Cabinet Appointments
New mayor Michelle Wu announced her first cabinet appointments in early November, ahead of her swearing-in ceremony, along with the key players in her transition team as she settles into office. The appointment with the largest spotlight is that of her senior advisor regarding the Mass and Cass public health crisis, Dr. Monica Bharel. Bharel is the former commissioner of the Massachusetts Departments of Public Health (DPH), and will be leading the efforts to help alleviate the ongoing homelessness, substance […]
Artist Profile — Xiaowei Chen
Xiaowei Chen is an artist whose intricate drawings are intended to arouse curiosity in the viewer. Originally from China, she currently resides in Boston and seeks to create works that “explore the emotional states of human experience through two very different cultures,” according to a statement written by art critic Lingsui. Her art was recently displayed in the Pellas Gallery’s exhibition “Utopia X Dystopia.” In this particular show, she was highly influenced by Greek philosophers and ancient stories. “I love […]
Winter Utility Prices Set to Soar
This winter, natural gas prices will force a nationwide uptick in utility bills, and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has begun launching a large-scale campaign to keep residents of the Commonwealth informed.