Celebrating Community Leadership
Introducing the 2024 Thomas J. Ruffen Fund Recipients
At the heart of every thriving community lie individuals dedicated to uplifting and empowering others. Their unwavering commitment, innovative ideas, and tireless efforts serve as beacons of inspiration, driving positive change and fostering growth.
Today, with the support of the Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund Committee, and generous support from The Boston Foundation, we are thrilled to introduce you to the remarkable individuals selected as the 2024 recipients of the Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund.
Alexa Saint-Fort
Mom| Maternal Health Advocate| Grant Recipient
Alexa Paris Saint-Fort was born in Milton but has birthed and raised her children in Boston, where she’s found her true community. Through her own experiences as a new mom and since then she has found a true passion in helping families get what they need. Her experiences range from Vital Village’s baby cafe and becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor, to the Jeremiah Program focusing on mission-based work for single mothers and their children, to First Teacher, a community-based program designed to build school and life readiness by building parent competence and capacity. She is committed to improving birth equity and maternal health through her work as a Doula and is thrilled to start her work with the Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund to offer prenatal workshops to expectant families around Boston.
You can follow Alex on @Manmansaj
“Becoming a Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership awardee has shown me what the power of intention, aligned action, faith and courage can yield. Last year I applied to the Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund and was not granted an award, but I refused to allow discouragement to settle in because I recognized that my ideas to support maternal health are important and necessary, in communities of color especially. The past 7 months have allowed me to reflect and revamp my project so that it would truly be of value to the community and being an awardee means that I can be a resource to expectant families during a beautiful yet vulnerable time in their lives. This funding will allow me to offer a curated experience that will provide information and access to doulas, such as myself, as well as other perinatal health professionals, and promote healthier birth outcomes for families of color.”
Chutney Owusu
Educator |Assistant Director of DEIB | Grant Recipient
Yaya Circle was founded by Chutney Owusu, a mom, a wife and educator in search of a village of like minded people. She has created a village for her son and as she has journeyed through parenthood it has been invaluable and truly life changing. The men and women she met along the way have played an instrumental role in her family's life. She realized along this journey there is a lack of resources, spaces, and support in her community and surrounding communities for those who may want similar support. It is her hope that together we can create a community, which will open doors for our children with all abilities and make a more just and inclusive city.
“I am so grateful to be a Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund awardee and truly excited for this opportunity. Words can't express what it means to be able to pour into our children and caregivers this year. This grant will help children and families attend several events for our members, to engage in the community with community support. To create access and inclusive experiences is a hope I’ve had since Yaya Circle’s inception. This grant is helping to make that a reality. It is an honor to be a part of Thomas J. Ruffen’s legacy and the community advocacy that comes with it.”
Cathy Loesch
Clinical social worker | Social Change Advocate | Grant Recipient
Cathy Loesch, a mental health therapist dedicated to fostering sustainable change, has been recognized for her exceptional contributions with the prestigious 2024 Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund. With this honor, she embarks on a mission to establish a holistic mental health practice that comprehensively addresses the diverse social determinants of health. Drawing from her experiences in business, advocacy, and mental health, Cathy brings a unique perspective to her work. Equipped with a Master's in Social Work and Mental Health Counseling, she combines clinical expertise with a holistic understanding of the human condition. Cathy envisions creating a practice that integrates mental health services with supportive services, empowering individuals to overcome challenges and improve their quality of life. Her unwavering dedication and innovative approach have garnered recognition and support, as her practice is becoming a reality. As an educator, Cathy shares her knowledge through workshops and seminars, inspiring the next generation of mental health providers to adopt a holistic approach. Cathy Loesch is not just a mental health therapist; she is an agent of change, creating a ripple effect that will positively impact countless lives.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement upon receiving this fund. This financial support serves as a catalyst for the realization of a long-held dream: the creation of a safe space where individuals can embark on a transformative journey of growth and improvement. With this fund I will be able to lay the groundwork for this safe space. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to embark on this transformative endeavor. With the support of this fund I am confident that this safe space will become a beacon of hope and growth for many people seeking a better future.”
You can connect with Cathy at Cathy Loesch | LinkedIn
Rosie Docanto
Holistic Health Coach | Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher | Grant Recipient
Rosie is a dedicated student and teacher of yoga and holistic health with a deep passion for sharing holistic wellness practices with her community. As the recipient of the 2024 Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund, she’s on a bold mission to plant seeds of wellness and excited to start a wellness initiative that empowers and inspires people of all ages to take a mind, body and spirit approach to their overall health and wellbeing. She believes that holistic practices, self-care routine, and rest can be the antidote to promote physical, mental and emotional health. Rosie is looking forward to curating a holistic health fair so she can make a positive impact on people's health and wellbeing.
Follow her journey on Instagram @shantiwithin33 and @wehealholistically Linkedin @Rosie Docanto
“I am humbled and filled with deep gratitude to be a Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund awardee. It is a great honor to have been chosen to lead in the legacy of a grassroot community leader who wholeheartedly invested in improving the lives of his people. This grant award gives me the opportunity to curate an inclusive and accessible community culture of wellness where we, as individuals and as a community, can come together to practice wellness and begin to heal on a cellular level. This funding means that I can use wellness as a catalyst to build a healthier, more conscious and compassionate community, where people put their health at the forefront so they can live a little healthier, with more ease and love for themselves and others. I can now turn my ideas into reality and step into my leadership role as a wellness expert in my community.”
Sonia Kinra-Chen
Music Educator | Fine Arts Advocate | Grant Recipient
Sonia Kinra-Chen is a composer, flutist, and music educator who fights for all students to have access to quality fine arts education. She believes that tools for expression, such as music and art, are a human right because these learned skills equip students with the necessary tools to acknowledge, participate in, and thrive in our often tumultuous world. As the recipient of the 2024 Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund Grant and the co-founder of the Music & Art Program (MAP) of Jackson Square, she is thrilled to offer affordable after-school and out-of-school care and fine arts classes to our local community. With her passion for teaching and her love of fine arts, Sonia is excited to partner with local artists and help to create a program that seeks to nourish and empower youth with music and arts education to foster creativity, ingenuity, self-discovery, and rootedness.
Follow her journey and the journey of MAP at facebook.com/mapofjs
“I am honored and thrilled to be a recipient of the Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund awardee. This project, the creation of an affordable after-school fine arts program that supports local artists, has been a personal dream of mine for many years. This grant funding allows for our program, the Music & Art Program (MAP) of Jackson Square, to launch with strength and quality and secures the program’s viability for the summer and fall semesters – a launch that will serve us for semesters to come. We are also deeply grateful to get to serve Thomas Ruffin’s own community with such a project and are honored to participate in that deep and rich legacy of community advocacy that he embodied.”
Saranya Sathananthan
Codman Square Resident | Community Organizer | Grant Recipient
Saranya is a Codman Square resident with a passion for bringing friends and neighbors together for mutual wellbeing, joy, and thriving. As a recipient of the 2024 Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Award, she is working in tandem with community residents to activate space within The Second Church Meeting House in Codman Square and transform it into an indoor green space with living plants and a cozy atmosphere for public community events. Saranya believes that her community deserves to have beautiful, welcoming spaces to gather that are affordable to access and available to us in every season. Reach out to @adventuresofsaranya and let her know what community-oriented events you might want to host in the space!
“I am grateful for the support of Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Award in believing this project will have a positive impact in our neighborhood and am excited to be partnering with the community to bring this new space to life in ways that are a blessing.”