Tamara Penton Chester

Womens Service Club of Boston​

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It’s been said that all birds return home. Such is the case for Tamara Penton Chester, a mental health clinical supervisor with Bay Cove Human Services. “My first job was as an ABCD youth counselor. I was familiar with the organization’s good works when I began volunteering,” she said.

 

Family members with mental health challenges compelled her to offer her expertise and compassion professionally and as a volunteer. “I wanted to be a help and not a hindrance,  which led me to earn my master’s in mental health from Cambridge College.”

 

As an ABCD volunteer, Tamara works with people 1-1 to assess their needs – the bulk of which are around housing, food security and managing symptoms and meds to maintain a comfortable living environment. “It feels good to be a person of color in this field and to help bridge the gaps for the community. I like to help people feel seen.”

 

Tamara said feels honored to be named an ABCD Community Hero. “These are trying times. Just being kinder to one another makes all the difference.”

 

A Dorchester resident, when Tamara is not working or volunteering, she loves to walk in the Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods, and spend time with her family and dog.