Women Making History

Christina Labossiere, Advocate

Before she arrived at Women's Lunch Place, Christina Labossiere was working as a behavioral counselor and technician at a local children's psychiatric ward.

A close friend and employee of Women's Lunch Place suggested that she apply for a position as a WLP Advocate––our do-it-all care managers who help guests navigate the many barriers to their well-being, stability, and self-sufficiency. She saw an opportunity to be involved in life-changing work, made the leap, and scored the role.

Immediately, Christina made an impact on our community, filling the language barrier with our Haitian guests (she's fluent in Creole). "Our Haitian ladies who stay at overnight shelters have no one to speak to––just to be able to meet their immediate needs for things like tampons and pads made me feel so useful right away," said Christina. "I have so many aunties now!"

"I was surprised at how helpful the staff is to one another at WLP," said Christina. "It is rare to have such a healthy environment where everyone works in harmony with one another. We can communicate clearly and bounce ideas off one another. This is a community––you can sense that. We rely on each other to make things happen even when it seems impossible."

In her off time, Christina enjoys exploring Boston's restaurant scene and spending time with her two-year-old nephew. She holds a bachelor’s in Holistic Psychology with a specialty in Expressive Arts Therapy.

Nicole Kosar, Events & Outreach Officer

After two years of experience in Development at National Braille Press, Nicole joined our team to lead the coordination of WLP’s plethora of annual events. Nicole has a degree from Ursinus College, where she studied Psychology, Media & Communications, and Creative Writing.

Nicole found WLP while searching for a hands-on job in the nonprofit sector where she could have a direct impact on the lives of those in need. As Events & Outreach Officer, she is responsible for managing a wide variety of vendor relationships and organizing the near-infinite amount of details that create a successful event.

“There is a stunning amount of teamwork that goes into every single thing that we do at the shelter and office… nothing is solely on one person,” said Nicole. “Everybody adds their expertise to make it happen."

“Working with all the different departments––in the kitchen, on the community floor, and in the Resource Center has been eye-opening. I get to see first-hand how Women’s Lunch Place operates. It gets me motivated to do my work!”

When she’s not working, Nicole enjoys painting, reading, and living in the North End, just a few blocks away from where her mother’s Italian family used to reside.

Inna Khitrik, Executive Chef

Inna brings experience, community, and enthusiasm to the Women’s Lunch Place Healthy Meals Program. She is committed to WLP's mission and always serves our community with a smile. In fact, she has already begun forming relationships with the women who now enjoy her recipes. In her first week, Inna stepped in to translate for a Russian guest who needed urgent help. 

Born in Belarus, Inna began cooking at an early age. "My stepfather was a patient man," she says. "He taught me how to cook. We made lots of soups. I remember one favorite––barley soup with pickles." 

At eighteen, Inna moved to St. Petersburg, Russia with her new husband. They had two children and eventually left for the states after experiencing discrimination because of their Jewish background. The immigration process was difficult. Once stateside, Inna quickly honed her English skills by working the register at a neighborhood store in Newton and in her limited spare time, watched cooking shows, read cookbooks, and began preparing meals to serve at the store. Eventually, she opened two delicatessens (Inna's Kitchen, now run by her son) before stepping away and joining us at WLP.

"I think everyone deserves good food," says Inna. "I'm trying to incorporate new things slowly." One of her changes has been a huge hit––hot, delicious soup, chock full of veggies, served every day with lunch.

Outside of work, Inna enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren, hosting parties, and traveling.

Paula White, Chief Development Officer

“The atmosphere, the congeniality, the community—Women’s Lunch Place is full of hope and support,” says Paula White, Chief Development Officer.

Having been exposed to the homelessness epidemic during her time at the Boys and Girls Club, Paula was looking for a way to focus on and impact individuals struggling with homelessness when she decided to join WLP as Chief Development Officer in August 2020.

“Once I walked into Women's Lunch Place, I knew immediately that it was different,” says Paula. “The unique thing about WLP is that everyone has the shared goal of meeting the needs of our guests.”

Between 67 Newbury and WLP’s administrative offices, Paula’s days are dedicated to building relationships with community members, writing multi-year grants, and communicating the impact of giving with our donors and corporate partners. With WLP’s 40th-anniversary year approaching, Paula and the development team are working on a variety of upcoming events, all of which are opportunities for interested individuals or organizations to engage with the critical work of Women’s Lunch Place.

Paula works tirelessly to introduce WLP’s work and dedicated staff to our generous donors and foundation partners.

Lianne O'Reilly, Behavioral Health & Stabilization Clinician

Lianne O'Reilly began working at Women's Lunch Place as a clinical intern in January 2021 as a part of her requirements for Boston University's School of Social Work.

As a social worker, Lianne is able to work with guests who have extremely severe mental health concerns, bridging the gap between treatment and case management. She has the ability to diagnose her clients and facilitate services from specific care providers across the city that partner with WLP. Her efforts are intimately tied to Housing Stabilization.

"It's extremely difficult to work on someone's trauma before they have stable housing," says Lianne. "I’ve already noticed that once women are housed they share more about their trauma histories. Their stability allows for more trust and patience during that process."

Lianne, who also holds a Master's in Public Health from BU, brings a wide skillset to her Advocacy caseload. She performs safety assessments related to suicide and overdoses and provides supervised Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is useful for guests who struggle with hoarding and other related disabilities. With her advanced training, Lianne is more likely to be able to identify guests who have not been taking their medicine and can parlay with care providers to ensure their safety.

"The hardest part about this job is when you see so much potential in someone but you still have to go at her own pace and meet her where she's at," says Lianne. "But on the other side of that coin, the best part is when those clients do move forward. I'll never forget the day when a guest finally called me after it took months just to get her signed up with a phone plan."

Outside of work, Lianne enjoys hanging out with her cat, Lulu, as well as reading, drinking coffee, and riding her bike.

Gina Kizzie, Direct Care

“When I see a woman who’s been sleeping on the street, it hurts. That’s why I love opening my store. I want to give every guest the opportunity to shop and have a choice. Women, we love to have a choice.”

Gina Kizzie is a treasured member of the Direct Care team at Women’s Lunch Place. When we’re running out of storage for donated clothing or self-care items, Gina opens up her “store,” where guests can shop for the items they like best. With experience in clothing retail, Gina acts as a stylist, finding items that bring out the color in our guests’ eyes or fit them just right.

Gina began working with vulnerable populations after her son was diagnosed with autism. “I wanted to learn more about special needs, and the skills I would need to help my son,” said Gina.

After working in a group home for people with special needs and as a CNA, Gina came to WLP in 2020. She has since overhauled our mail system, creating a “post office” to ensure the timely delivery of critical documents such as housing waitlist information or benefits renewals.

Our most vulnerable guests gravitate toward Gina for her gentle and warm nature, and because she remembers details from their lives that make them feel seen. She builds trusting relationships, which allow her to both de-escalate guests in crisis and connect women to our Advocacy and Wellness programs.

Gina always wants to be able to say yes, be it to a peer, a volunteer, or to a guest. She lives in the spirit of generosity central to the mission of Women’s Lunch Place.

Mayowa Hassan, Direct Care Relief Staff

Mayowa Hassan has been connected to Women’s Lunch Place since she was a junior at Boston Latin School. As a Seevak Human Rights & Social Justice Fellow, she interviewed with WLP and fell in love with the positive environment, warm community, and outgoing staff.

“My parents worked with the homeless population,” said Mayowa (her mother is a nurse and her father works in mental health). “They emphasized the challenge, and I felt like I could bring kindness to the role.”

During her fellowship, Mayowa completed the grand tour––assisting in the Welcome Center, Resource Center, and with the Healthy Meals program in the kitchen. For nearly six years, she has been a core member of our relief staff––trusted workers who fill in when we’re shorthanded.

“Working at WLP has been the best customer service experience that I could have ever had,” said Mayowa. “It helped me know how to communicate and go above and beyond in my extracurriculars and internships.”

“Something I always tell people is that it doesn’t matter your background, you can still be vulnerable to homelessness. I’ve met ladies with college degrees and they can still end up in homelessness. Folks need to be empathetic. They should feel like the plight is more urgent––you don’t know if this could be your situation.”

Samantha Simons, Development Coordinator

Samantha likely holds the record for most internships completed prior to joining the WLP staff. She learned the ropes of donor database management and communications through three separate internship periods, beginning in May 2021. Whenever we needed someone to step up, Samantha was there.

The Simons’ connection to WLP is a family affair. Samantha’s brother, Max, also interned in our Development department, and now works as a Relationship Manager at Small Army, one of our amazing corporate volunteer groups. The siblings’ interest in our mission was fostered by their mother, Michelle Simons, who is the founder and current co-chair of REBA’s Women’s Networking Section, one of WLP's most consistent and impactful fundraising partners.

“Coming out of college, I knew I wanted to work in Public Relations or Development for a nonprofit,” says Samantha, who just finished up at UMass Amherst with a double major in Communications and Journalism (a semester early, no less). “I wanted to make an impact, and I was already familiar with WLP’s amazing work. It was a perfect fit.”

As Development Coordinator, Samantha is tasked with managing our list of donors, ensuring that gifts are processed and attributed correctly, and supporting administrative staff across a wide variety of tasks. “The donations are a big responsibility,” says Samantha. “I’m so grateful for the Development team’s trust in me. It also helps that everyone is so willing to lend a hand when needed.”

Yasenia Rodriguez, Human Resources Manager

Prior to WLP, Yasenia worked for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, which coordinates pro bono legal services for people in poverty. There, she assisted clients who were in the process of being evicted from their homes and was touched by their stories. When Yasenia began looking for a way to make a bigger impact, our shelter and advocacy center caught her eye.

“I was immediately attracted to WLP’s mission,” said Yasenia, who holds a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in HR from Southern New Hampshire University. “And even in my first few weeks, I could feel the level of dedication that everyone brings to their job. I have to almost force people to take their vacation here!”

Yasenia can be found rotating between our administrative offices and 67 Newbury. Beyond traditional HR duties and Board management, she is in the midst of helping us implement our Strategic Plan through talent acquisition, employee retention, and the further development of our workplace culture.

“The staff at Women’s Lunch Place makes my job easy,” said Yasenia. “ It’s been an incredibly welcoming environment, and everyone is self-sufficient. There is clearly an established culture of open communication that I hope to build on in this new role.”

Titania Kelly, Kitchen Staff

In 2018, Titania Kelly was working for local nonprofit Community Servings and decided to enter a training program to become a ServSafe certified food professional. Her instructor took note of Titania's perpetually calm attitude and recommended her to Women’s Lunch Place.

"There are so many things to do in the kitchen, you can't be worried about foolishness," says Titania, who was hired as an intern by WLP shortly after earning her certificate, and has since been promoted to a part-time position.

"My favorite thing about working here is the ladies. I know that many are homeless and don't know where else to go. I've been in that situation and I know how it is. To help them is my passion."

After returning to WLP from maternity leave, Titania says that many guests have remembered her and were happy to see her back in our kitchen. "Being here helps you realize that you need to focus in life to be where you want to be," says Titania, whose steady demeanor, work ethic, and professional cooking skills continue to benefit our staff and guests.