IVANA SERRET

      Born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised by her grandparents in Bani, Dominican Republic, Ivana Serret was inspired by her mother’s selflessness. Single and with little means, her mother worked three or more jobs to take care of her family. Even with those challenges, she was constantly doing what she could to help others, and still does. That motivated Ivana to pursue a career that would enable her to be of service to under-resourced families and communities. Ivana realized her educational goals, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a focus on Sociology and Social Work from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst as well as a Master's degree in Public Administration from Suffolk University. Ivana began as a volunteer at ABCD – Action for Boston Community Development – since high school and shortly after began working for them. She continued working seasonally through college and after graduation, she joined the Community Coordination Department, which manages ABCD’s 13 neighborhood service centers across Boston, Malden, Medford, and Everett. She has risen through the ranks to the senior management role of Deputy Director, ensuring that programs and services are delivered efficiently and effectively. When she’s not working, Ivana enjoys spending as much time as possible with her kids, listening to music, dancing, and unwinding with other family and friends.