“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

The Be The Change Award recognizes a Massachusetts woman who personifies compassion for her community and commitment to improving the everyday lives of those around her.

This year’s Be The Change Award recipient rises above and beyond in the realm of community service through her commitment to changing the lives of homeless women and their children. Since the founding of Brookview House in 1990, she has been providing this vulnerable population with a safe place to live and programs to build their self-esteem. She has been quietly succeeding in her quest to better the lives of these women and children so today, we would like to recognize our recipient in front of our entire community of women and shine a light on the work she has been doing over the past two decades.

The Massachusetts Conference for Women is pleased to present the 2014 Be the Change Award to Deborah Hughes, president and CEO, Brookview House

Deborah Hughes has served as the Executive Director at Brookview House since 1993. She began working with Brookview House, Inc. during its formative stages, beginning in January 1991 as a consultant on program development, financial management, and fundraising.

Prior to her position at Brookview, Ms. Hughes was instrumental in development of the Roxbury Community College Foundation, serving five years as the Co-Director. She also served as the Development Director for the MA Coalition of Battered Women’s Service Groups and co-founded the Jane Doe Safety Fund.

Ms. Hughes serves on the Community Services Advisory Board for MassHousing, Roxbury Community College Foundation Board of Directors, and Facilities Advisory Committee for the Children’s Investment Fund. She is a founding member of the Dorchester Women’s Safety Network, Transition to Work Collaborative and Child Resource Specialist Initiative. Ms. Hughes is a member of the Commonwealth Institute Nonprofit Forum, The Partnership, and Tedx Roxbury Women Planning Committee.

In 1990, Brookview had an innovative idea that offering housing coupled with support services for both moms and kids would get families out of the revolving door of homelessness. The innovative idea that started with sixteen moms and children has proven to be successful.

Brookview House provides services to more than 350 moms and children per year with 92% leaving the ranks of homelessness permanently. In 1996, Brookview created the first youth development program targeting homeless school-age children. This model transforms how we nurture, educate and engage homeless school-age youth. Brookview collaborates with local universities and the MA Department of Early Education & Care to serve more than 250 youth per year. These youth stay in school and thrive, and 88% graduate high school.

Thank you, Deborah, for your dedication to homeless women and their children through your work at Brookview House, and for giving them the opportunity to “Be The Change” in their own lives!

For more information, please contact Deborah Hughes at [email protected] or 617-265-2965, and visit the website at BrookviewHouse.org.

Many thanks to our panel of judges who participated in the review and selection of the 2014 Massachusetts Conference for Women Be The Change Award Recipient

Jessica Anderson, Director, Community Involvement, EMC Corporation; Brenda Andrade, Human Resources Officer, State Street Corporation;

Lisa Buffington, Vice President, US Communications, EMD Serono; and Jill Larsen, Vice President of Human Resources – Strategic Talent Acquisition, Cisco Systems.