Meet the Staff

Bernadette Kennedy brings over 40 years of experience in medical and educational fields, specializing in early childhood development. After moving to Medford, she built a supportive network through MFN, which became her extended family. Since joining MFN in 1993, Bernadette has contributed in numerous roles, including program development and facilitation, and has helped design the current MFN center. She enjoys transforming discarded items into treasures and believes in the continuous journey of learning and kindness.

Andrea Breen has dedicated over 20 years to the Medford Family Network (MFN), where she currently serves as the program manager for parent/child activities. In this role, she oversees a range of programs designed to support and engage families. Andrea has deep roots in South Medford, where she raised her three sons and is now delighted to spend time with her two grandchildren. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Andrea enjoys outdoor activities,
immerses herself in reading, and seizes opportunities to travel when her schedule permits. Her extensive experience and personal interests reflect her commitment to both her community and her personal well-being.

Chrystal Lavallee transitioned from a Higher Education Human Resources administrator to a stay-at-home mom before joining MFN as a Play and Learn Group Leader. In this role, she leads activities such as nature walks, park playdates, and indoor playgroups for various ages. Chrystal, who has lived in Medford for over 20 years, is enthusiastic about giving back to MFN and enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, two children, and large dog.

Angela Mercer serves as a Play and Learn Group Facilitator at MFN, bringing nearly a decade of experience teaching grades 5 and 6 and previous work as a preschool teacher. Active in the
community, she has been a Girl Scout leader for six years and is soon to become a Massachusetts Notary Public while pursuing certification as a Children’s Fitness Instructor. Outside of her professional roles, Angela enjoys knitting, crocheting, and reading, balancing her family life with her daughter and twin sons’ activities.

Saima Ahmad and her family moved to Medford 17 years ago from Pakistan, and MFN quickly became their extended family, offering support and friendships. Saima found MFN’s parenting
classes transformative, significantly improving their family life. Inspired by these benefits, she pursued extensive training in parent education and served on the MFN Advisory Board for five
years. With a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Saima now focuses on teaching parent education classes and finds parallels between gardening and parenting in her free time.

Alexis Davis is a social worker with over twenty years of experience supporting children and families in Massachusetts. Currently, she works part-time as an outpatient therapist at Tufts Medical Center and also runs a part-time parent guidance consultation practice. Alexis is applying her professional insights to her personal life as she navigates her relationship with her two young sons, ages 5 and 7. Her involvement with the Medford Family Network (MFN) began after she and her boys benefited from MFN's Play and Learn groups. She has been a member of the MFN Advisory Board for three years, serving as Chair of the Programming Committee.

Tia Wulansari, an ESL teacher and Indonesian language consultant, joined MFN as an ESOL teacher in Spring 2022 after participating in MFN's playgroups and parenting workshops. Originally from Indonesia, Tia moved to the U.S. for college, inspired by her bilingual upbringing
to teach English. She is passionate about helping adult students connect with and engage in their community through learning English and local culture. Outside of teaching, Tia enjoys reading thrillers and detective novels, as well as hiking and camping with her family.

Yamuna Gautam moved to the USA from Nepal six years ago and has spent the past five
years working as a babysitter before joining MFN as a child care worker. With a strong passion for working with children, she finds it highly rewarding to positively influence their lives and
support their development. In her role at MFN, Yamuna focuses on meeting the needs of children in their parents' absence, driven by her love for children and commitment to providing excellent care.