November News & Updates

November 12, 2025

We Want to Hear From You!

How is The Price Center doing? What are we doing well? What could we improve on? We want to hear from you!

Every year, The Price Center conducts a Family Satisfaction Survey in an effort to better understand how we can strengthen our programs, services, and offerings to you and your loved one. Your answers help us learn what we're doing well, ways we can improve, and how we can continue to best serve our individuals and our families.

We ask you to please take 10 minutes of your time to answer our 2025 Family Satisfaction Survey. All responses are confidential; names will not be partnered with the published report, and you have the option to remain anonymous.

As an added bonus, any (non-anonymous) surveys submitted before Friday, November 28th will be entered into a raffle to receive an exclusive Price Center swag bag! Up to 3 winners will be notified by email on Monday, December 1st.

Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our programs and services. Thank you for partnering with us to support your loved ones and strengthen The Price Center community.

Take the Family Satisfaction Survey

-- Price Center News Launch!

-- Artist of the Month: Mauricio

-- We're #PriceCenterProud. Are you?

-- What's Cooking at The Price Center (and at my house)!

-- A Year of Growth & Success

-- Calendar of Events

-- What's Happening in the Community?

-- Thanks to our Fall Festival Sponsors!

Welcome to The Team!

Madina Mariea Namukwaya -- Direct Care Professional, Wiltshire

Shobana Saravanan -- Development Systems Manager, Dev Comms

Stephanie Smith -- Direct Support Specialist, Specialized Supports

Florence Walusimbi -- Direct Care Professional, Auburn

Check Out the Pilot Episode of Price Center News!

Price Center News is The Price Center's first news program, written and presented by our individuals! The first episode covers topics such as how to utilize public transportation, the history of The Price Center, and the importance of self-advocacy. Keep an eye out for more informative episodes to come!

Artist of The Month: Mauricio

Volcano (2025) by Mauricio A.

Acrylic on canvas

Mauricio, or "Moe", is one of our most invested artists, who never shies away from color. His goal with his paintings is "to scare my parents"!

We Are #PriceCenterProud. Are You?

What makes you proud to be part of The Price Center? How has your loved one benefitted or been impacted by our programs? Why are you #PriceCenterProud?

Tell us on social media! Use our new #PriceCenterProud hashtag on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn by tagging us in your own or sharing one of our posts, and you will be entered to win an exclusive Price Center Proud sweatshirt!

We'll see you on the socials!

What's Cooking at The Price Center (and at my house)

Building Bright Futures: Expanding Residential Opportunities for Our Community

Column by Mike Markowitz: Dad of Sarah and member of The Price Center's Board of Directors

The Price Center believes that a safe, supportive home is the foundation of a fulfilling life. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, a well-designed, inclusive residential environment is where growth, friendship, and independence begin. That’s why we’re focused important updates on our expanding residential portfolio and our plans to meet the growing demand for high-quality housing and support.

Today, The Price Center operates six residential homes, each designed to help residents live meaningful, self-directed lives in their communities. We staff these homes with caring professionals who provide personalized support, helping each resident pursue their goals, engage in daily activities, and stay connected to friends, families, and neighbors.

The needs of our communities are evolving, so our housing options must change, too. Some of our residents who first moved into our homes decades ago are now entering their senior years, and their homes are no longer ideal for aging adults with growing mobility challenges. In response, we’ve purchased two additional homes as part of our long-term commitment to safe, modern, and inclusive living.

One of these new homes will replace an aging multi-story residence that, while filled with years of memories, is no longer accessible or appropriate for its longtime residents - individuals who are now 40 to 50 years older than when they first moved in. The second home is an addition to our portfolio, created to meet the growing demand for residential opportunities for the "Turning 22" population: young adults transitioning out of school-based services and eager to take their first steps toward an independent adulthood in a supportive, community-centered setting.

Both new homes are being refurbished with “smart” systems; from adaptive lighting and safety sensors to accessible layouts and energy-efficient design, to enhance comfort, safety, and quality of life. These homes will set the new standard for future upgrades across our portfolio and serve as models for the next generation of residential supports.

Looking ahead, our goal is clear: to expand the number of homes and available beds in the coming years while continuing to strengthen our day programs, ensuring every individual we support can live, learn, and thrive to their fullest potential.

With the support of our families, staff, donors, and community partners, we are building more than just houses - we’re building futures filled with dignity, choice, and connection.

What's Cooking at My House

Sweet Almond Breakfast Quinoa with Dried Berries and Cacao Nibs

Serves 4

Prep/Cook Time: 30 min

Some people eat to live. I live to eat. Unfortunately, while my amazing Mom has an incredible range of skills, cooking has never been among them. In fact, when I was born, my Dad identified me in the hospital nursery by proclaiming: “That darker-skinned boy must mine. My wife burns everything.” So I learned to cook in self-defense -- or self preservation.

I made this easy, delicious, and healthy vegan breakfast dish for friend who was visiting.

Ingredients:

* 1 cup white quinoa, rinsed

* 2 cups unsweetened almond milk

* Pinch of kosher salt

* 1/2 teaspoons almond extract

* 1/4 cup agave syrup

* 1/2 cup dried berries

* 1/2 cup crushed or slivered almonds

* 1/4 cup cacao nibs

Directions:

Step 1: Combine quinoa, almond milk, salt, and almond extract in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Stir in the honey and cook for 5 more minutes.

Step 2: Divide between bowls, and top each with dried berries, almonds and cacao nibs. Serve immediately.

Make Ahead: The quinoa can be made up to three days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat with additional almond milk before serving, or serve cold. For best results, top with the berries, almonds, and cacao nibs directly before serving.

A Year of Successes: How We've Grown, Progressed, & Won Together

November Milestones

30 Years of Service

David Byrnes (28)

20 Years of Service

Christine Mazzocca (19)

10 Years of Service

Kessington Eyanohonre (8)

5 Years of Service

Islanne N. Pierre (4)

Tiffany Belfon (3)

1 Year of Service

Chedeline Compere

Alex Kato

Amanda Ante

The past year has been one of exponentional growth for The Price Center. From our new CEO, to buying new residential homes, to implementing new systems in our programs, the future has never been brighter!

Part of this growth has been the additions to our Senior Leadership Team: Kerin McGue, Lisa Weeks, and Tanya Duncan. As the three of them prepare to celebrate their one year anniversaries with The Price Center, they took a look back on the successes of their first year.

Kerin McGue: Chief Clinical Officer

Chief Clinical Officer Kerin McGue’s history with special education starts before she was even old enough to have a job, drive a car, or even read a chapter book.

“In elementary school, I was what was called a ‘peer mentor’. Starting in first grade, I was paired up with another child who had special needs, and I think that really shaped my trajectory and how I looked at the field,” Kerin shared. This early experience motivated her to become a special education teacher, and later to transition to adult disability services, where she’s been for almost a decade.

When asked why she decided to take on a role at The Price Center after nine years at the Arc of the South Shore, Kerin responded, “Abby Parilla’s leadership was profoundly impactful on my professional life, and I didn’t feel that I was done learning from her, so when an opportunity came up to continue working with Abby, but also make a difference at a different organization, I made a choice to follow her.”

As Chief Clinical Officer, Kerin works in several capacities to ensure that The Price Center’s clinical programs are as comprehensive and effective as they can be.

“I have a revolving door of people looking for support, leadership, guidance, answers to questions. I am at the executive level, so I meet to discuss strategic plans, organizational goals and how to achieve them.” Kerin said. “I also oversee the programs, so I attend residential meetings for all our day programs, and I oversee the clinical team, so I meet with the clinical team. We’re running internal audits, writing reports, and developing best practices. A big focus has been individual referrals, so managing those coming in, and tracking them, and making sure follow-up is happening.”

While there are many things to love about Kerin’s role, she shared that her favorite aspect of her role is being able to lead. “I am happy to be able to lead here, and the team is very receptive.”

When she’s not at work, Kerin enjoys spending time with her family, especially her 18-month-old son. “Me and the baby, we like getting outside, going on hikes. I love getting to explore things with him for the first time!”

Lisa Weeks: VP of Residential

When asked why Lisa Weeks made the transition from The Arc to The Price Center, she shared that, “Abby was my boss at The Arc, and when I heard she was leaving The Arc, I was crushed. I immediately started looking to see if they had any availability here, and they did.”

Lisa’s path to this field was, by some standards, unconventional. “Most people in this field have a family member that has disabilities. I do not,” she shared. “But when I was a little girl, I lived in Randolph, and there was a girl named Gail who lived behind me. I used to play with her all the time, and I thought she was just the nicest girl. I knew something was different about her, but that didn’t matter. Then when I was twelve, I left Randolph and moved to Kingston and lost all contact with people from Randolph for 30 years. Years later, I was working at the Arc, and I got a referral for a girl... that girl was Gail! I couldn’t believe it! I walked in and her mom was sitting there, and I said, ‘you don’t remember me,’ and I told her my maiden name, and who I was, and she broke down crying. So, we did end up getting Gail and supporting her, and she’s just as wonderful as when she was a little girl. That’s, I think, why I got into it, because of this little girl that lived behind me. She was my friend.”

This early friendship, as well as her relationships with our other individuals, motivates Lisa to keep prioritizing individuals’ well-being and quality of life in her department.

“Residential’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so it never, ever stops,” she said. "We currently have five residential homes here, which all need to be staffed and managed. A lot of these homes have a lot of medical issues and a lot of behavioral issues, requiring a lot of staffing. We’re responsible for medications, appointments, activities, ADL’s, family involvement...it’s nonstop. Every member of the residential management team is on call 24 hours a day.”

“There’s a lot of crises in Residential,” she continued. “You could plan to do X, Y, and Z, but then A, B, and C pop up. There’s a lot of documentation required in this department - if you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen. I’ve been working really hard trying to implement all the things needed for state licensing.”

Lisa and her team work hard maintaining high standards of quality and care in The Price Center’s residential programs. Despite the sometimes stressful nature of this work, it’s evident that Lisa really adores her role.

“I have a lot of favorite things about this role,” Lisa shared. “The individuals, and making their lives better, is obviously number one. Also, the staff here are very joyful, so I really like the staff I’ve met here. It’s also just nice to see a program like this coming back and flourishing. I will be very happy come January and February when state licensing comes and we do well.”

Outside of work, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family. “I have a 40-year-old son, a 37-year-old daughter, and a 2-year-old grandson, who’s the light of our lives. I’ve been married for over 40 years. My husband’s a lobsterman, and I’m allergic!”

Tanya Duncan: Chief HR Officer

The HR Team is a tight-knit crew. Spearheaded by Chief HR Officer Tanya Duncan, these three tackle and solve problems before the rest of the organization even knows there’s a problem in the first place.

“In HR you can really plan your day, but then it can really go totally opposite,” Tanya shared. “You can have a to-do list and say, ‘this is what I’m going to do today’, but then things just pop up, because that’s how HR is.”

“It’s the unpredictability of working with humans," HR Generalist Sara Buys echoed. “It’s making sure people get paid, and that their benefits are happening, and that they’re recruiting, and the jobs are being posted, and that we’re making policies as laws are changing. Because you’re involved with humans, there’s a lot of unpredictability, and through the whole gamut, we’re involved in a lot of different aspects of the organization that people might not consider that HR touches.”

“We do a lot of things behind the scenes that employees don’t even know about,” continued Tanya. “We’re involved in a lot of audits, we do a lot of things that keep the agency in compliance with state & federal laws. We’re a big part of keeping the doors open.”

Tanya began leading The Price Center’s HR team after eight years with The Arc of the South Shore. “Abby decided that she was going to leave and take the position as CEO,” Tanya shared. “She was putting her team together, and I was one of the ones that was asked to come.”

Tanya joined the team with Sara, who has been with The Price Center for two years, and two months later the team was rounded out by HR Generalist DeAnn Sweeney. All three have a clear commitment to the organization and passion for what they do.

“I really like HR, because it always amazes me that I’ve never seen it all, even though I’ve been around a long time. Things will pop up and you’re like, ‘wow, that’s a new one for me,” Tanya said.

“I’d say my favorite part is the individuals,” Sara shared. “I really enjoy coming in and seeing them every day. Everything that we do is in support of them. They are a very integral part of everyone’s job, even though we don’t support them directly. What we do impacts them, so they’re always at the forefront of the decisions we’re making.”

The HR team also leads rich lives outside their work at The Price Center. Sara likes to read, go to museums, and travel. “My favorite place I’ve ever been is Paris, I absolutely loved it there. I love French food, pastries, bread, and cheese, and Paris is a great place for that.”

Outside of work, DeAnn loves nothing more than an outdoor adventure. “I have a Jeep and I love to take the top off and just go,” she said. She also does cyclocross, which is a version of mountain bicycle racing in which racers dismount and carry their bikes while clearing obstacles in their path.

Tanya enjoys spending time with friends and family and loves working out. Her favorite thing to do at the gym is use the Stairmaster.

Discover the Price Center: Join One of our Monthly Tours

The Price Center is offering regular tours of our programs and facilities. These tours give friends, parents, caregivers, and prospective families an in-depth look at our programs and the incredible impact they have on our community.

Our next tour is on January 13, 2026.

What to Expect:

Meet the Team: See our dedicated staff in action. Learn about our mission to empower individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism.
Explore the Programs: Discover our Community-Based Day Programs, the Charles Flynn Employment Program, our day habilitation, and community living support.
Get Inspired: Hear firsthand stories from the individuals we serve and see why we are #PriceCenterProud.

RSVP Today!

Whether you're a long-time supporter and friend of The Price Center or are checking us out for the first time, we invite you to join us!

To schedule a tour, please fill out the form below or at this link.

Don't miss an opportunity to learn more about The Price Center, the incredible work we do, the amazing people who do that work, and the even more amazing individuals we do it for. We're looking forward to welcoming you!