May 27, 2025

It’s official! We’ve cut the ribbon, and the new residential building construction is complete! During our Ribbon Cutting Weekend April 11-13, 2025, the Plummer team held tours of the building and explained our intentional planning of including privacy, dignity, and family at the forefront of our design. Our direct care staff enjoyed speaking with visitors and sharing stories about our day-to-day activities with the youth.

Despite the cold and pouring rain, our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was a powerful and joy-filled milestone — a true testament to the heart of this community. We loved sharing this moment with the community and hearing inspiring speeches from esteemed government officials: Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, Congressman Seth Moulton, The Honorable Amy Nechtem, Senator Joan Lovely, and Representative Manny Cruz.

Since then, youth residents have made the big move into the new residential building!

Our team is truly amazed by the positive effect that the new building has already made. “Although I have been immersed in this construction project for several years, somehow I wasn’t quite prepared for an experience that registered with me deeply now that residents live in the new building,” shared Executive Director Nicole McLaughlin. “As I was leaving for the evening one night, I stopped in the dining area and found only two staff members. Ordinarily, at this time of night, it would be filled with kids and noise. I asked the staff, ‘Where is everyone?’ They replied, ‘The kids are in their rooms. Unpacking and setting up their space—making it their own.’”

Moments like these have become visceral for our staff as we reflect on the real impact our new building has for the youth we serve. Imagine what it must mean to spend half or more of your childhood (literally) without a space of your own. To always be on alert for who your next roommate might be. To not have a space where you can truly let down your guard.

When we say that this move signifies our commitment to provide a trauma-informed facility where youth can heal, grow, and make lasting family connections—we truly mean it. There are real and positive changes that are happening in the lives of the youth we serve.

The kids now have ample space to store their cherished belongings. They have a single room. Their own space to decorate and a place to relax after a long day. They have a family visiting space, where relatives can come to play games or share a meal together. These are all important elements to provide the youth we serve, creating physical and psychological safety so kids can engage in the vulnerable work of permanency.

We are beyond grateful to have this dream become reality. This moment — and this momentum — wouldn’t have been possible without our supporters. Thank you to the Cummings Foundation, our construction partners Groom Construction, and the strong support of our community of donors. The commitment of our supporters helped bring this vision to life.