People helping people.
That's what Haley House is all about. Fostering relationships. Connecting. Sharing. Backgrounds and hierarchy melt away. We are all one. Moving toward a common goal. Mutual respect for all.
Kathy Kim
What is your role at Haley House?
Chair of Finance Committee of Haley House Board and Friend
What brought you to Haley House?
Kathe McKenna brought Haley House to Dudley Square in the late 90's. We were at a Dudley Pride Community meeting where many of the attendees wanted to move our longtime homeless neighbors out of Dudley Square who have been here for "building development". As a longtime Dudley Square merchant's daughter, since the 70's, who has been waiting for "human development" to equal the "building development" conversations could not just standby. As I spoke and stood at these meetings on behalf of our neighbors there was also Kathe Mckenna standing and speaking with me. Starting in 1999, we worked with Area B-2 Boston Police C.S.O.(Community Service Office), Department of Mental H.O.T (Homeless Outreach Team), Department of Public Health B.S.A.S (Bureau of Substance Abuse Services), State Rep. Gloria Fox, Councilor Turner, Dudley Square Merchants...started the ball rolling with having an outdoor Dudley Square Community breakfast for a year. In 2000, we then coordinated, founded and spearheaded over $2 million in homeless outreach services from the city and state over the next 8 years that helped our Dudley Square neighbors into safe housing and programs through hundreds of meetings and working group sessions chaired by the Haley House and Councilor Turner. During this period in the mid 90's, the Haley House Bakery/ Cafe was also built in Dudley Square and continues it's positive presence alongside my family and friends in Dudley Square.
Favorite Dish at HHBC/Soup kitchen/Noonday?
Chicken Caesar Salad, Curry Chicken Salad, Sweet Potatoes...Chocolate Chip Cookies
Favorite Downtime Activity?
Family, Friends, Smiling, Laughing, Motorcycles, Surfboards, Cameras, Martial Arts...Peace.
Favorite/memorable HH Moment?
First Haley House Outdoor Dinner and Movie with Bing. It was my first inflatable outdoor movie in Dudley Square. It was the first time so there was a learning curve for the set up. I was jumping on top of cars, tying down the straps to cars of strangers to stabilize the inflatable movie unit, didi was cooking away in the kitchen peeking her head out the kitchen looking at us like we were crazy, bing was setting up/running around with wine bottles clinking away, volunteers were greeting and serving...stepping back for a moment and looking in from the edge of the parking lot, it was one of the most positive powerful unique outdoor memories I had ever seen in Dudley Square in over 30 years. Recently, everyone from Haley House screaming for "John!" at Dan and Maria's Wedding. The expressions captured in the picture are priceless, funny and awesome.
