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Ben Hires (CASâ00, STHâ03, METâ08) is “Opening Doors” as the CEO at the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
The following article was originally published by Bostonia
on March 4, 2021, and was written by John O’Rourke. Photo by Cydney Scott. Click here to read the original article.
They are determined to use their experience, influence, and positions to help make their business, organization, and world a more inclusive place. They are breaking barriersâand then reaching back to help those behind them overcome the same hurdles. They are mentoring students or younger colleagues, hiring diverse candidates, offering opportunities, and ensuring that employees succeed and are promoted so that their workplace and their communities reflect the richness and talents of the countryâs increasingly diverse population. They are BU alumni, faculty, and staffâof every race, ethnicity, age, and genderâand they are
A year ago, Lunar New Year celebrations unfolded as COVID-19 began spreading globally, ushering in a new wave of anti-Asian bias stoked by then-President Trump and the xenophobic rhetoric he used in labeling the disease the âChina virus.â
Now, as festivities this weekend mark another Lunar New Year, coronavirus vaccines offer relief from the virus but not from the racism directed at people of Asian descent, who have seen the bias turn to violence, notably against the elderly. The cases include the murder in San Francisco of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai man; a subway attack in New York City during which a 61-year-old Flipino man was slashed across the face with a knife; and several assaults targeting older Asian Americans in the Chinatown section of Oakland, Calif.
Eater Boston
, and more:
“Twelve Hours in Brighton has been giving out more than 100 bagged meals on Wednesdays since May 4. They set up a makeshift curbside pickup in front of their business each week. The lemonade-style cardboard signs read ‘Free Food’ and ‘Helping Each Other.’ It is a beautiful reminder of the power of community. ”
Samer encourages readers to consider donating to
:
“Asia Mei at Moonshine 152 really came up to bat for the Boston restaurant community as a whole, when she advocated for rent relief, grants, and forgivable loans.”
Nathan encourages readers to consider donating to
:
“Pagu chef and owner Tracy Chang has been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic on several initiatives, including co-launching the Off Their Plate organization, a scalable model meant to mobilize restaurants to safely feed their communities and frontline workers throughout the pandemic, which in turn provides economic relief for the participating restaurants
Eater Boston
, and more:
“Bow Market’s Safe Supply. The Bow Market crew created a board game-like safe shopping experience to help customers support their favorite small businesses. The market’s place markers started with a hand-washing station and ended with the opportunity to donate to the Greater Somerville’s Homeless Coalition. The reimagined public market had offerings from the Biscuit, fresh produce from regional farms, and frozen grocery items from Bow Market’s restaurants, as well as food to go and beer and wine.”
Samer encourages readers to consider donating to
:
“I hit up Ba Le in Dorchester all the time and can eat one of their barbecue beef banh mi sandwiches every day. The Daily Market right by the Savin Hill T stop in Dorchester has been a life-saver for quick grocery runs and ‘I need to leave this house or I’m going crazy’ grab-and-go lunches. Pantry Pizza is also perfect for those nights when I just needed to turn off my brain and eat chicken