Tierney Center Director to Explore New Horizons
By Kevin Devlin
On Wednesday, August 17, the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center staff held a combination kickball-softball game, at Moakley Park with their youth members, before journeying across the street to the Center, to surprise outgoing Tierney Center director, Kristin Taylor, with a much-deserved farewell party. Kristin has been the director for the past three years and has touched the hearts of everyone she has come to known. She is truly a special person with a caring persona and SBOL wishes her the best in her new endeavors. Below are direct quotes from those she has worked with at the Tierney Center.
“Kristin has done a remarkable job creating community at The Tierney Center and at Old Colony. Her commitment to the youth and to the families has been outstanding.”
(Pamela Goodman, Executive Chief Officer, Beacon Communities, LLC)
“When I think of South Boston, I think of Kristin Taylor. Kristin gave her heart and soul to the youth and families of Southie while being a dependable partner and trusted teammate to numerous community organizations. Doc Wayne and South Boston will always think of Kristin as family.”
(Rebekah Roulier, LMHC Chief Operating Officer, Doc Wayne Youth Services, Inc.)
“It’s been a pleasure working with Kristin through our collaboration with the Tierney Learning Center and Family Scratch Nights. She has always made me and my team of students from MIT and Harvard welcome at the community center and supported us in many important ways such as helping us get to know staff and families in the community and connecting us to other people and organizations. Her support allowed Family Scratch Nights to be a success and we enjoyed every interaction with Kristin and her team. Personally, I’ve also learned a lot from Kristin seeing the ways she has applied her caring and compassionate energy and talents to support the kids, families, and community through the TLC.”
(Rica Rose, Scratch Program M I T)
“I am so incredibly lucky to have spent the past year co-directing the Boys & Girls Club after school program with Kristin at the Tierney Center. I could not have asked for a better counterpart to work with. Her knowledge of and care for the families in the community is so genuine and it was a great resource for me to get to know everyone better. Kristin’s energy alone is contagious and as sad as I am to see her go, I am also determined to keep that same spirit alive for our children and families in the community.”
(Alyse Faiella, Education Director/Volunteer Coordinator, Co-Director of Tierney-Boys & Girls Club)
“My quote or thought about Kristin is that she was always there to lend a helping hand, along with a smile, to everyone who came in contact with her. Intelligent, kind and beautiful (on the inside and out!), Kristin’s interaction with people from all walks of life inspired us to care for and support each other. Kristin has left a lasting impression on those of us who were lucky enough to know her!”
(Linda E. Doran, Community Organizer, South Boston Community Health Center, Youth Ambassadors Program & BNY Mellon Youth Leaders Coordinator)
“It has been an amazing experience working with Kristin. Her passion and dedication to the kids is contagious and inspiring. She is an incredibly strong leader and the Tierney will not be the same without her. She will be greatly missed.
(Jonathan Baum, LICSW, Vice President of Clinical Services, Doc Wayne Youth Services, Inc.)
“I have been working with Kristin for the last four years. Those four years have been awesome! I grew a lot thanks to Kristin. She encouraged me how to learn new things and pushed me to be better. On a personal level, I learned from her to be more compassionate, I learned how to deescalate after a hard day of work or anything else that may come up. Also, I find in her, a friend who was there for me when I needed her not just my boss. She always had confidence in me, trusted me, and valued me as a human being. I will miss seeing her every day with her sometimes goofy smile and creative leadership style. I will always be proud of what she brought to the Tierney. And, Kristin, I promise to start checking my emails. 😉 I made sure I have long distance on my phone because I’ll be calling you before I make any decisions! Love you girl. “Thank you for hiring me back in 2013! You have taught me how to remain professional despite challenges that arise. You have supported me by coming to my EMPath graduation and coming by my house when Ralphie and Frank died. I appreciate you bringing so many different programs, resources, and parties to our community. I remember when the Tierney Learning Center was desolate. I witnessed how you transformed it and made it great! I feel so proud to be a part of this team that you created. You have helped me develop professionally by getting me trained in CPR, and encouraging me to go to so many other trainings. I appreciate you believing in me. I will miss your upbeat attitude and your love for Taylor Swift. I wish you nothing but the best! You will always have a place here in Old Colony. OCP 4life <3.” (Lauretta Brennan, Tierney staff receptionist)
“Kristin has always been community-oriented, pushing herself to the limits to provide services to those who need it the most. She has a heart of gold and is one of the kindest people I have ever met. I am so grateful to have worked with her these past couple of years. She truly is one of a kind. I will always be grateful for what she taught me working alongside her.” (Jose Sotz, Tierney Program and Technology Coordinator)
“Kristin has a special talent for bringing people together. She has worked so hard to support the children and families in the community and it has really been inspiring to watch. As an Americorps volunteer, I feel so lucky to have been able to watch and learn from her this year. She will be missed!”
