NSCS Volunteer Recognized as Difference Maker by New England Patriots Foundation
FOXBOROUGH – The New England Patriots Foundation’s Celebrate Volunteerism initiative aims to share examples of dedicated volunteers, build awareness of the need for volunteering, identify and educate others about volunteer opportunities and inspire New Englanders to follow the Kraft family’s example of becoming lifelong volunteers.
Throughout the 2025-26 NFL season, the foundation presented a weekly “Patriots Difference Maker of the Week” award to recognize deserving volunteers who go above and beyond to help build stronger New England communities. Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and the New England Patriots Robert Kraft was on the field prior to the Patriots regular-season finale versus the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 4 at Gillette Stadium to congratulate all of this year’s winners.
“We are proud to honor volunteers across New England whose service reflects the values that strengthen our region,” said Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots. “Their dedication supports our communities and upholds the principles that have long defined New England. The individuals we recognize today show how acts of service and kindness can spark meaningful change and encourage others to get involved.”
Patti Hurley-Felt of Winthrop was selected as a 2025 Patriots Difference Maker of the Week for her commitment to North Suffolk Community Services. As part of this recognition, the Kraft family, the New England Patriots Foundation and Gillette have made a $10,000 donation to support NSCS.
“I am truly humbled and honored to be recognized as a Patriots Difference Maker. This acknowledgment means so much, not just to me, but to everyone who believes in the power of recovery and second chances,” said Patti. “My experiences having a teacher believe in me when I didn’t believe in myself taught me that one person can make a difference in transforming someone’s life. Now I have the privilege of witnessing people transform their lives through hope, compassion, and community support. To be celebrated for doing what I love—helping others find their path forward—is incredibly meaningful. I share this honor with all those people in the background who helped make my dream of Empowerment GED possible. It really is a group effort by all that walked beside me on this journey and continue to inspire me every single day.”
What sets Patti apart as a volunteer is the powerful combination of her lived experience, professional expertise, and unwavering commitment to opening doors for others. She shows them that recovery and education can create a pathway to stability, independence, and self-worth.
For 65 years, North Suffolk Community Services (NSCS) has provided community-based mental health, substance use, and recovery services to individuals and families in Chelsea, East Boston, Boston, Revere, Winthrop, and Charlestown. Patti is an exceptional volunteer at NSCS where she leads free GED preparation classes for those in recovery. Patti brings far more than academic instruction to her students – she brings hope, encouragement, and the belief that every individual is capable of success. With patience, compassion, and an infectious smile, she creates a safe, nonjudgmental space where individuals in recovery can rediscover their confidence and embrace education as a powerful tool for change.
For more information about the Celebrate Volunteerism initiative and the 2025 Patriots Difference Makers of the Week, visit www.patriots.com/community/pdm.
Youth Elemento Announces Release of Podcast Focused on Young Adult Mental Health
Youth Elemento, a program of North Suffolk Community Services (NSCS), celebrated the launch of “Chelsea Speaks!,” a podcast about mental health created by and for young adults on Wednesday, May 7.
Representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health joined NSCS leadership and staff for the release of the first of six episodes, which will be posted weekly to NSCS’ YouTube channel in May and June. The podcast includes frank discussion of mental health issues, interviews with mental health professionals, and a variety of resources specifically for youth and young adults.
“Youth Elemento and programs like it really do provide a safe space for young adults to – on their own – find themselves and a successful path in life,” said Charlene Zuffante, Deputy Commissioner of Child, Youth, and Family (CYF) for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH). “These programs are saving lives.”
“We have poured our hearts into bringing ‘Chelsea Speaks!’ to life, and the incredible response to our first episode has been truly inspiring,” said YouthElemento Program Director Wendy Mancia. “I am deeply impressed by the dedication and impact of my team. Their unwavering commitment to providing accessible and compassionate mental health support is truly inspiring, and I sincerely hope our work empowers other young people to prioritize their mental health and seek the help they deserve.”
Funded by a grant from GreenRoots, the podcast aims to fill a gap in resources for the 16-22 age group by breaking down stigma and connecting peers to resources. Local surveys regularly place mental health among the top health concerns in Chelsea.
“As we honor Mental Health Awareness Month this May, I want to express our deep gratitude to our longstanding partners at the Department of Mental Health for their continued support in helping us bring Youth Elemento, our low barrier drop-in center for young people, to the Chelsea community,” said NSCS President and CEO Judi Lemoine. “I would also like to extend sincere thanks to our new partner, GreenRoots, whose generous grant funding has made this important project possible.”
Youth Elemento is a low-barrier drop-in access center in Chelsea designed to bridge the gap between youth needs and mental wellness for individuals ages 16-21. The center has a food pantry, resources and access to peer support and connections to clinical mental health and wellness resources.
North Suffolk Celebrates 65 years of growth, service, and community
Nearly 200 people joined North Suffolk Community Services its 65th Anniversary Celebration on Oct. 17th at Casa Lucia in Revere.
“For 65 years, we have been at the forefront of providing mental health services to individuals and families across the region,” said NSCS President and CEO Judi Lemoine. “This is only possible because of our talented team and the incredible contributions from our community. We look forward to continuing to grow our programs and outreach to support even more people in great need of our services.”
The organization honored retired CEO Jackie Moore with the inaugural Legacy Award for her 17 years of leadership of NSCS, and Maryanne Frangules, the Executive Director of MOAR – Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery – for her extensive career reducing stigma and promoting recovery. Read more about the event:
NSCS announces Judi Lemoine as President and CEO
The Board of Directors of North Suffolk Community Services, a nonprofit behavioral health and human services provider, today announced that Judi Lemoine has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization.
Lemoine, who has been interim CEO since January, has been at NSCS for more than 30 years, most recently serving as Senior Vice President for Clinical Operations and Systems Integration. In that role, she was responsible for all organizational operations, including the January 2023 launch of North Suffolk’s community behavioral health center in East Boston.
During her career with the organization, she has held multiple leadership positions, including Program Manager of Day Services, Director of Ambulatory Services and Director of Operations. In each of these positions, she developed and expanded programming based on the needs of the clients and the communities served. In 2012, Judi was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, responsible for the overall clinical and rehabilitative operations and related activities of the agency, including management of staff, fiscal, capital and community resources.
North Suffolk Community Services Cuts Ribbon on Community Behavioral Health Center
Governor Baker, Secretary Sudders and Local Officials Cut Ribbon at Accessible Clinic that Represents Future of Ambulatory Behavioral Health Care in Massachusetts
CHELSEA, Mass. (Dec. 15, 2022) – Governor Charlie Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders today joined North Suffolk Community Services, a nonprofit provider of services for individuals of all ages needing mental health and/or addiction treatment, recovery support and those with developmental disabilities, to cut the ribbon on a Community Behavioral Health Center that represents a new model of behavioral health care. The newly designated CBHC, set to open on January 3, located at 14 Porter Street in East Boston, expands local access to routine, urgent, and crisis treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
North Suffolk Community Services, formerly known as North Suffolk Mental Health Association, also marked the occasion by unveiling its new name and brand identity.
“Massachusetts has long been a visionary leader in health care and we are honored to have a key role in making mental health and addiction treatment more available, accessible, and equitable in our communities,” North Suffolk Community Services President & CEO Damien Cabezas said. “North Suffolk has been a trusted, responsive community partner for nearly 65 years, and it’s important to have a name that reflects that. The name ‘North Suffolk Community Services’ honors where we started, acknowledges where we are, and announces where we are going as we continue to build on the services we offer, such as opening a CBHC, to strengthen the safety net and improve access to a continuum of care for our community.”
Through its Community Behavioral Health Center, North Suffolk will be offering an accessible front door to mental health care and treatment for substance use disorders by further expanding same-day evaluations and referrals to treatment as well as 24/7 community-based mobile crisis intervention; adding more evening and weekend hours; enhancing timely follow-up appointments; and offering more peer support and evidence-based behavioral health treatment – including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – both in-person and via telehealth.
The 14 Porter Street site was once the East Boston Relief Station, an affiliate of what was then Boston City Hospital, and provided health care and hospital services to neighborhood residents until approximately 1970.
