I began this journey as the lone MACA staff person in a small office with a desk and a chair, no team, no roadmap. Our Founding Board and I had just our mission that we believed in deeply. Today, MACA is a growing organization with a dedicated staff and a strong statewide network, but what strikes me most is not just the growth in size, but the growth in impact. What once felt like a leap of faith has become a lasting, statewide commitment to children and families.
As I enter my twentieth year as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, I find myself reflecting not only on how far we have come, but on what it truly means to build something that lasts. It was not without some trepidation that I became MACA’s first and only full-time employee. With faith in the passionate Founding Board, I started an amazing journey with a single room office, a lone desk and a chair.
Sustainability and longevity are not just themes for this year’s annual report; they are the result of years of intentional work, deep partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to children and families across the Commonwealth. Since our founding, MACA has focused on strengthening and supporting the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) network, ensuring that every child who has experienced abuse has access to a coordinated, compassionate response and a clear path toward healing, hope, and justice.
This year, we are proud to highlight two individuals who embody the very essence of sustainability in action. Adine Latimore, a Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (Pedi SANE) at the CAC of Suffolk County, has dedicated twenty years to providing expert, trauma-informed care to children in their most vulnerable moments. Her work represents not only clinical excellence, but the kind of steady, enduring presence that builds trust in systems that must work flawlessly when children need them most.
We also celebrate Alicja Lemon, whose decade-plus journey with MACA reflects another critical dimension of sustainability, strong, thoughtful stewardship. From her early days as our outsourced accountant to her leadership as Board Treasurer, Alicja has helped ensure that our organization remains fiscally sound, strategically grounded, and positioned for the future.
Sustainability, however, is not something we inherit; it is something we actively build. As MACA continues to grow, we are expanding our reach into the philanthropic community with a clear goal: to diversify our revenue streams and strengthen our long-term organizational stability. By cultivating new partnerships and investing in innovative funding strategies, we are working to ensure that our network remains strong and responsive for generations to come.
Since those early days when MACA was a one-person show to now, with a staff of 11 and growing, our focus on helping children has remained steadfast. The longevity of our work is not measured in years alone; it is measured in impact. It is reflected in every child who is heard, every family who is supported, and every community that is strengthened through the CAC model.
The strength of MACA lies in its partnerships. From our earliest days to where we stand now, it has been the collective effort of passionate professionals, committed partners, steadfast supporters and generous donors that has shaped our path. I am sincerely grateful to all who have walked alongside us and helped build something that will endure well beyond any one individual.
Thank you for being part of this enduring mission. Together, we are not only sustaining this work but ensuring it continues to thrive.
With gratitude,
