Meet Some of Our LBFE Boston Community
Older adult & college student program participants, LBFE volunteers, staff, and board members....in their own words.
Mei, Northeastern University Service-Learning Student & CitySites Program Participant
‘My favorite memory from LBFE was learning how to play Cribbage with one of the program’s beneficiaries. I looked forward to starting a new game (even though I only won once the entire time)! Working with LBFE taught me the importance of building community for older adults.’
Lauren, Northeastern University Service-Learning Student & CitySites Program Participant
“I try to put lots of love into the work I do. I’m grateful that I got to meet so many good & kind people because I’m never gonna forget my time at LBFE. I’ve made memories that’ll last a lifetime. And each moment was joyful and I’m grateful for each moment that I had.”
Nick, Northeastern University Service-Learning Student & Digital Dividends Program Participant
"It's been nice because we work with the same person every week. It allows us to create a rapport, so when I go we get to have a nice little conversation before we start and we pick up right where we left off. It allows us to do a nice flow of learning for [Miss Annie]."
Ellie, Northeastern University Alliance of Civically Engaged Students (ACES) Student & CitySites Program Participant
“At college, I’m mostly around people my age….so it’s nice to be able to talk to people who have a different perspective on life and have lived through more.”
Junxin, Digital Dividends Older Program Participant
(Translated from a Mandarin-speaking older adult re: learning Google Translate on the Chromebook) “I can more precisely read and understand the English documents, mails, food labels, medicine drug labels. It increased my English level.”
Gwen, CitySites Older Program Participant
“It gives me an opportunity to learn about Zoom. This way I can sit in my own home and still learn and it keeps me connected to my church. Many of my ministries are still on Zoom so this really was a lifesaver for me and I’m thankful for your patience with seniors and everything.”
Hana, Northeastern University, Service-Learning Student & CitySites Program Participant
"Throughout my time working at LBFE, I was able to meet a lot of great people while also improving my interpersonal Chinese skills. When first starting out, I was nervous to meet all of the elderly and communicate with them, but I ended up looking forward to and loving my one-hour meetings with them."
Armand Marquiset, LBFE Founder
“Living is more than a roof over our heads and food on the table. In addition to offering material and physical support, we believe that living requires the presence of people who care about us and about whom we care. Living requires the little touches that bring joy, like flowers, music and shared laughter.”
Cynthia, LBFE Boston Program Director
“Older adults are often excluded from conversations about digital inclusion. They shouldn’t be—in a digital world, everyone needs access. Digital Dividends ensures that low-income and linguistically isolated older adults have access to the digital world and all that entails: telehealth, banking, shopping, communication, entertainment.”
Albertha, CitySites Older Program Participant
“Sometimes you walk into a room, and you know it’s a good place with good people. People who smile and listen. That’s exactly how I felt the day I walked in.”
Veronica, CitySites Older Program Participant
“I’ve been waiting for you all since last week! I would never forget you’re coming because it’s something fun and something to look forward to.”
Dana, Digital Dividends Older Program Participant
“I like to go to class and sit and listen. If I learn one thing, that’s great. Getting myself up, dressed, and out of my apartment into the community room is good for me. I am logging more hours on the Internet: how to cook chicken thighs, military history..I find YouTube endlessly interesting!”
LBFE Boston Community Profiles
Meet My Friend, Ellice
Ellice Patterson, Creative Connections Instructor Meet our friend and one of LBFE Boston’s Creative Connections instructor, Ellice…a disabled teacher, dancer, director, activist, and founder of Abilities Dance Boston whose mission is to disrupt antiquated ableist beliefs and disseminate the value of inclusion through dance. Originally from Mississippi, Ellice has been in Boston for the past […]
Meet My Friend, Aaron
Meet Aaron, one of LBFE Boston’s Creative Connections Instructors. Aaron facilitates music & movement for bilingual older adults at Franklin Field in Dorchester.
Meet My Friend, Tran
Ngoc-Tran Vu (Tran), Creative Connections Instructor Artist, Educator, Consultant & Strategist Meet Ngoc-Tran Vu (Tran), LBFE Boston’s newest Creative Connections instructor. She was born in Vietnam, but grew up in Boston, settling with her family in the working-class neighborhoods of South Boston and Dorchester. Art always came naturally to Tran, and she says that art […]
Meet My Friend, Mimi
Myrlene (Mimi) Legendere Desir, Creative Connections Instructor Artist & Entrepreneur Born in 1962 in Haiti, Mimi grew up in what she describes as a solid background in art, culture, and natural landscapes. And while Mimi loved art from a very young age, it wasn’t encouraged as a career pursuit because you couldn’t make a living […]
Meet My Friend, Jack
Jack Kloster, Boston College PULSE Program Student Team Leader Hi! My name’s Jack Kloster, and I’m originally from Kansas City, Kansas. I am a third-year student attending Boston College, studying Biology and Philosophy on the pre-medical track. Some activities I’m involved with on campus include Club Baseball, an undergraduate research fellowship studying cellular agriculture, and […]
Meet My Friend, Andrew
Andrew Kolebuck, Boston College PULSE Program Student Team Leader Hello fellow volunteers, community members, board members, and other LBFE staff. I am Andrew Kolebuck, a current sophomore at Boston College studying Finance with a minor in Managing for Social Impact and the Public Good. I am originally from Leesburg, Virginia, about an hour or so […]
Meet My Friend, Alix
Alix Han, Boston College PULSE Program Student Team Leader Hello! My name is Alix and I’m a current sophomore at Boston College studying Biochemistry with hopes to enter the medical field. In addition to school, I also enjoy cooking, rock climbing, and drawing! The PULSE program at Boston College: which is a combination of theology, […]
Meet My Friend, Angelica
Angelica was born in Gamboa, Panama in 1930. She was raised by her loving grandparents since she was born. Her favorite childhood memories are around the church. She shared that her family did not celebrate birthdays, and she never had a Quinceanera. On her birthday she was told “you are another year older” and that […]
Meet My Friend, Mercedes
Mercedes, Older Adult Program Participant Mercedes is a 75 year old woman who was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. After many years living in the Dominican Republic, Mercedes moved to Boston where she has been living for more than 10 years. As a child, Mercedes loved to play games with other children such […]
Meet My Friend, Lillian
You may have met Lillian during our Friends on the Harbor gala in 2021 during our special video messages from the CitySites participants at Farnsworth House in Jamaica Plain. She has been joining our programs there for the past few years. Last winter she worked with our student volunteer, Gabi, to write her memoir […]
Meet My Friend, Barney
Barney is originally from Kenya and has been in Boston for 20 years. He retired from being an attendant in a parking garage where he enjoyed meeting many different people. Engaging and friendly, he’s excellent at greeting people. Barney lives on his own in Mission Hill, has a brother he sees from time to time […]
Meet My Friend, Beatrice
Beatrice believes in family, friends and fellowship. “How could I not? My parents had 13 kids.” She grew up in North Carolina, finished high school in the 1950’s and moved to Boston with one of her sisters. “There were fewer jobs and more prejudice down there, so we came up here for better opportunities. We […]
Meet My Friend, Victoria
Victoria Shea, Boston College PULSE CitySites Team Leader Hi everyone! My name is Victoria Shea. I am currently a sophomore at Boston College and am originally from Santiago, Chile. I serve as Team Leader at St. Cecilia’s Virtual CitySite and as a student participant at the 2Life Learn to Zoom Virtual CitySite. At St. Cecilia’s […]
Meet My Friend, Jenise
Jenise Chung, Boston College PULSE CitySites Team Leader Morville House My name is Jenise Chung and I’m currently a sophomore at Boston College studying finance, business analytics, and computer science. I’m affiliated with Little Brothers through our PULSE program and served at Morville House for the past year. Overall, it has been such a life-changing […]
Meet My Friend, Louise
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of attending an LBFE summer cookout or holiday party, chances are you have met our friend, Louise. A self proclaimed social butterfly and extrovert, Louise loves to meet new people. Her approach to life is to treat everyone with kindness. Always an entertainer, the past 14 months have been […]
Meet My Friend, Eric
Eric Zhou, Boston College PULSE CitySites Team Leader My name is Eric Zhou, a Junior at Boston College studying Computer Science. I serve at Grove Hall Bingo and am a Team Leader at the Grove Hall Tech Cafe, our goal is to solve technical problems that the Grove Hall members have and also to have […]
Meet My Friend, Albertha
Ms. A has always believed in the best. That was why at age 16 she came to the United States from the Caribbean island of Montserrat. Her commitment to the best worked. She was happily married at age 18, bought a house in Roxbury, raised three children and worked the night shift in a bank […]
Meet My Friends, Alex and Sofia
Alex Jarecki, Northeastern University Co-op I’m 20 years old and originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’m a third year at Northeastern University pursuing a combined degree in Biology and Political Science. I’m also a part of the PlusOne Master’s Program, so I will be graduating in 2023 with an MA in Political Science. In my […]
Meet My Friend, Kate
Kate Lietz, Forest Foundation Summer Intern, Boston College PULSE Alumna Hi! My name is Kate Lietz and I recently graduated from Boston College with a degree in Sociology. I am originally from New Hampshire, but have come to call Boston my home over the past four years. Since September, I have been volunteering with Little […]
Thao Trinh
Thao Trinh, Northeastern ACES Team Leader My name is Thao Trinh, I’m one of the team leaders for The Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly at Smith House in Roxbury. I am currently a freshman at Northeastern University majoring in Nursing. My hobbies outside of school includes hanging out with friends, families and trying […]