Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 16, 2026 Northern Essex Community College Dean’s List for fall 2025 N orthern Essex Community College (NECC) congratulated 1,783 students who were named to the fall 2025 Dean’s List. Everett’s Jonas Beauvoir, Sabrina Gaspar and Destiny Noelsaint made the Dean’s List. To be included, students must attain a grade point average of 3.3 or higher within the term, carry six or more credits within the term DIDOMENICO | FROM PAGE 3 2025 Annual Budget Budget priority funding wins for statewide programs thanks to Senator DiDomenico’s unrelenting advocacy: • $180 million (M) for Universal Free School Meals, ensuring all students in Massachusetts can receive free breakfast and lunch at school, regardless of their family’s income • Fully annualizes the Fiscal Year 2025 10% increase to Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) benefi t levels to help families move out of deep poverty. Additionally, the budget ensures that pregand be matriculated in a degree program. NECC, a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in New England, is an education leader for the Merrimack Valley. NECC embraces all identities and inspires initiative and excellence through top-notch affordable certificate and associate degree programs online and at camnant women can access TAFDC, regardless of where they are in their pregnancy • $50.5M for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program to ensure individuals and families across our Commonwealth have access to food when in need • Maintain the annual child’s clothing allowance, providing $500 per child to help eligible families buy clothes for the upcoming school year • $360M for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program, which is matched with $115M in funds from the Early Education and Care Operational Grant Fund, for a total investment of $475 million. Despite the loss of federal funds after the COVID pandemic, the Commonwealth has maintained this vital early education program, which has lowered costs for families and increased opportunities for teachers in the fi eld • $10.8M for pediatric palliaYOUR LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS IN SIX LANGUAGES. SUBSCRIBE TO THE ADVOCATE ONLINE BY SCANNING HERE! tive care services that provide invaluable comprehensive care for children living with life-limiting or end-of-life illnesses, as well as support for their families • $517.6M for income-eligible early education and child care • $20M for grants to Head Start programs to promote school readiness for young children in low-income households • $20.1M for the Healthy Incentives Program to support healthy food access for households in need • $35M for Family Resource Centers (FRCs) to maintain mental health resources availpuses in Haverhill and Lawrence. NECC off ers many bachelor’s degree transfer options, workforce development and community education classes, and is host to the NECC Police Academy, MassHire Merrimack Valley and Gallaudet University’s Regional Center for the deaf and hard of hearing. Visit Northern Essex online at www.necc.mass.edu. able to families • $3.1M for the Boston, Cambridge and Everett fi re departments’ hazardous material response teams • $20.6M for employment services programs to help people with lower incomes move toward economic security • $15.5M for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), matching $5M in general revenue for a total of $20.5M, to support a pathway to universal prekindergarten expansion, including in Gateway Cities and the Summer Step Up program • $15M for early literacy initiatives and programs • $1.25M for the Young Mothers Experiencing Acute Trauma Pilot Program, a behavioral intervention program that works to stabilize and support young women, most of whom are mothers, who are traumatized survivors of abuse and neglect • $1.25M for the Prostate Cancer Action Council Senator DiDomenico secured additional statewide amendments in this year’s budget totaling approximately $750,000 that will provide additional support to the ALS Association of Massachusetts, the Boston Housing Authority and the Pediatric Palliative Care program. Legislative Work • Senator DiDomenico fi led over 85 bills during this 20252026 Legislative Session. DiDomenico’s legislation focuses on a wide range of issues, from supporting working families, to providing the best education for our youngLasell University’s Dawens Germain receives Collaboration Recognition Award D awens Germain, of Everett, Massachusetts, was selected to receive the Collaboration Recognition Award at Newton’s Lasell University for the fall 2025 semester. This peer-nominated award recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in collaboration est generation, to protecting worker rights, to making our government work better for people regardless of their background or spoken language. • DiDomenico proudly cosponsored and played a key role in getting the Transit Worker Safety bill signed into law. This decisive action will protect essential employees by fi nally holding people accountable who assault them while they are on duty. • The Senator fi led a groundbreaking Anti-Poverty Omnibus Bill that will, if passed, lift up Massachusetts working families and individuals in the short- and long-term by putting cash in pockets, expanding employment rights and providing meaningful wealth-building opportunities. • In response to the fl agging literacy rates among young students across our Commonwealth, DiDomenico fi led an Early Literacy Bill, S.338, that ensures students are being taught with curriculums that are backed by science and are proven to be eff ective. Senator DiDomenico has been leading on this fight to ensure all children learn how to read and write, regardless of their zip code, alongside advocates, teachers and families from all over the Commonwealth. Top legislative highlights that Senator DiDomenico helped pass through the Senate: • A bill to make K-12 schools cell phone free, a move supthrough effective communication, idea-sharing and teamwork. The award reflects Lasell’s emphasis on collaboration as a core learning outcome and a key career readiness competency identifi ed by the National Association of Colleges & Employers. ported by two out of three parents with students, according to a recent poll • One of the nation’s strongest data privacy bills, giving consumers more control over their data and with a focus on protecting children • Continued the Commonwealth’s commitment to reproductive freedom, protecting health care providers and patients and preserving rights for transgender citizens through the Shield 2.0 Act— now law • Fought back against politically motivated book bans while protecting librarians and educators from personal attacks • Made it illegal for landlords to pass the cost of brokers’ fees on to renters—now law Local funding wins Annual budget: Senator DiDomenico’s local amendments in the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget totaling $625,000 supported local schools as well as trusted local organizations and programs. Fair Share dollars: DiDomenico secured $750,000 in key investments going directly into his community from a funding bill using this year’s Fair Share dollars. These resources will go towards local projects in the district, such as playground enhancements, athletic and theater programs, creating sensory classrooms, assisting with repairs in our schools, new bleachers in a high school gym, afterschool programming, traffi c calming measures on our streets, and new signalization to create a safer environment for drivers and pedestrians.
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