Interview with our Family Coordinator

Kelly Ferguson

Kelly is a nonprofit professional with a passion for female empowerment and experience working with Asian immigrant families as well as young girls around Greater Boston. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Simmons College in English, Philosophy and Women’s and Gender Studies. She is an avid reader and has performed in bands! Kelly is the Family Coordinator, and acts as SWOB’s liaison to enroll and serve clients, to set them up for academic and financial success.

1) Can you tell us 2 interesting facts about your self?

I was born and raised in Massachusetts, and I am multiracial or biracial. My father is Irish and from Flushing, NYC, and my mother is from Korea.

2) What is your favourite movie and your favourite book?

My favorite film is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carey and Kate Winslet, and directed by Michel Gondry. For novels it is IQ84 by Haruki Murakami. 

3) What has been the most rewarding part of being @ SWOB?

The most rewarding part of working for SWOB thus far has been interacting with clients. I consider it a privilege, to be able to converse with applicants, most of whom are single mothers. They share with me some of their struggles, successes and ambitions. I am consistently impressed by their ability to juggle competing demands in their lives, in order to better the future for themselves and their children. I’m extremely pleased to hear accounts that our services have prevented them from dropping out, and enabled them to continue their education.

4) Why did you join SWOB?

I was struck by the unique mission and relevancy of SWOB. In a city dense with students and Universities, the cost of childcare is astronomically high and inaccessible. Working women often do not have affordable childcare alternatives. SWOB offers an alternative. Through the work of caring volunteers, we show single moms enrolled in college, that they have support in the community that they can access, to help them reach their educational goals. .