Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Carolyn Hagerty.
Kelly Carolyn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born the daughter of a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran, I recall as a child being introduced to our “soldiers” who where members in town, now the city of Framingham. I was taught the value and sacrifice our men and woman in the military make as well as their families. Understanding what sacrifice meant at such an early age was not something taught to me, it was part of my life and upbringing. You naturally grasp an understanding of what it means to be of service to others when you are raised by a United States Marine.
At the age of 9 years old my parents divorced both remarrying, going from an only child to the oldest of 8 siblings and later on, 2 more step sisters. This is where my journey in life began in being of service to others. Born and raised in Framingham between both households that had little resemblance to each other. The Southside of Framingham, otherwise known as fast paced and where the “tough kids” lived. I was raised with 3 siblings by my mother and stepfather, a Framingham Fireman.
A far distance separated by trains, traffic and just a few miles from the downtown heavily populated area, is the North side of Framingham. Sometimes referenced as where the “yuppies” are bred and a sought after countryside of rolling hills and open skies that offer a much different life.
Both sides of my family, blood or by marriage were of service to others and could be seen as humanitarians. Soldiers, Social Workers, Addiction Specialist, several Fireman, Teachers, Coaches and Motivational Speakers.
How could I have not been destined to be devoted to the service of others when it’s all that I have ever known and been taught.
Has it been a smooth road?
The most accurate metaphor describing my life as a road would be “The Road To Hana” in Maui. Twisting, Turning, Terrifying, Dangerous, Dramatic, and Rugged. For every unexpected turn there is a sense of excitement that can best be described as “the adventure is in the journey”. The road to Hana is often referred to as daring but magical, containing countless hidden treasures that most often, others never get the chance to see or experience – This has been my life.
I was to join the service upon graduating high school and began the ROTC Army program my senior year of high school. However, this was not to be the journey my life would take. After several significant events over the course of a few years, the dynamics of my family changed and it changed my perception of the world. At 18, I had gone into a teen parenting program, pregnant and alone about to be a mother. I was terrified but determined to do this on my own, not rely on my parents, or a system, despite their offer to have me remain in their home/s. I never lost sight of my goals and I was determined to give my daughter the life she was entitled to.
I left that shelter right before my daughter was born learning very valuable lessons. I promised myself to use these lessons and all that I had witnessed and been through as motivation to pursue my dreams no matter what challenges lay ahead of me. I eventually bought my own home where I raised my daughter as a single mother, while putting myself through college first earning an associate’s degree in Science. Helping others was instinctual and I pursued social work at Lesley University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Science, Social Services. With some pretty tough odds for us to beat, I never wavered and I went on to earn a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State University.
I spent the next 13 years working as a social worker for the state of Massachusetts with abused and neglected children. The 2nd half of my career with the State, was with at risk adolescents that had a CHINS/ Child in Need of Services, in the juvenile justice system.
The recent years presented additional challenges and losses as well. The loss of my mother, my father, several uncles and a failed marriage when my 2nd daughter was 11 months old proved to be the hardest time I had yet to face in my life. However, this time also proved to be the most revealing part of my story that gave me the insight and clarity about my life. For every loss and adversity I have faced, I have gained strength, determination and the experience to understand and relate to others in need. Tragedies, challenges and experiences have become valuable lessons and tools.
To create good out of bad, negative into positive and weakness into strength is my story of inspiration.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My position is very unique as my time is split assisting veterans out of the Framingham Veteran’s Office and working for the Framingham Health Department, on mental health related issues.
My focus with the Health Department has been with helping individuals with Hoarding Disorder, a growing issue just starting to be understood by the public. I have worked and dedicated myself to educate others that hoarding is a mental health issue, not a moral, economic or social class issue. Like any other disorder, the individuals suffering with this are in need of mental health services.
Educating the public the importance of having services in place and the importance of departments, and agencies working together has proven most successful and warranted.
The most significant partnership I have is with the Fire Department. Most hoarding cases are found by Fire Service’s when responding to medical calls or required inspections. The crucial role fire departments play, can mean the difference of individuals that hoard accepting help and seeing treatment or never calling for help or assistance again. The Fire Department is often the 1st point of contact the individuals suffering from hoarding will encounter and it is why this interaction is so fragile. Additionally, the increased risk to the Fire Departments and first responder’s drastically increases and heightens additional barriers that compromise their ability when responding and rescue others in a home that is “of heavy content”.
Working with the Fire Department and implementing a system to become a policy is some of the important work our partnership has provided to begin to confront this issue and minimize injury. The different types of systems, alerts and services that we have implemented in this joint effort have proven to be a growing trend and need across the country. I proudly credit our Framingham Task Force for being ahead of this complex housing issue and mental health disorder. The forged partnership between the Fire Department and me, has grown to include many other departments and service providers in the community. This can only be accomplished with good communication, teamwork and the ability to advocate for change while being of service to the community. Helping those who suffer with this disorder and minimizing the risk to fire fighters is something that I care deeply about.
My younger brother being one of these Firefighters that I work next to, is an additional motivator in my continued advocating for the necessary services, proper equipment, financial support and education to ensure these everyday heroes can safely and effectively do their job. The ability to have a positive impact for the needs of my community’s is not only a gift but a calling that my life has prepared me for growing up in a family of Firefighters.
My other time with the city of Framingham allows me to be of service to the veteran community. A vulnerable group near and dear to my heart. It was in fact the death of my father that attracted me to the position I hold. From 1953 to 1987 The Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune reveled the drinking water was found to be contaminated well over 168 times the limit for cancer causing agents in drinking water.
Marines and their families who have dedicated themselves to our country are losing their lives to certain cancers and other life-threatening issues long after their time in the service has ended. In 2014 a study revealed an increased risk of death in Camp Lejeune Marine Veterans from cancers of the cervix, esophagus, kidney and liver; Hodgkin lymphoma. My father, one if these Marines was diagnosed in February 2015 with esophagus cancer and died August 23, 2015. A death that potentially could have been prevented had it been reported upon first knowledge of the contaminated water. Since cancer has symptoms that can present years before it manifests, one can confidently argue the moral obligation to inform these men, women and their children when the evidence of contaminants is discovered could save lives’.
To this day I encounter many Marines and doctors who have no knowledge of the water contamination that Marines and their families were exposed to from 1953-1987. Advocating, educating and informing the exposed population as well as the health professionals that treat the public, could assist in identifying early symptom and prevent a horrifying, debilitating disease that is fatal in many cases.
I will be relentless in advocating for changes that our veterans are owed. The lack of medical research and treatments available for hazard contaminates, such as depleted uranium or unidentified toxic substances at numerous military bases leaves our veterans and or their spouses and children with no available help or answers. The issues are unsurmountable that veterans face not only after returning from combat, but years and years later. A major change needs to occur in taking care of these selfless men and women who gave duty, honor and sacrifice that made.
The personal connections to the specific causes, disorders, identified groups of people and being a native to the community I serve is what sets me apart. Heartbreaking as some of these things have been, I see no other way to honor and embrace my upbringing and give back to the community I serve
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Framingham is growing and exciting changes, partnerships, and opportunities are available. However, the issues across our Country reveal troubling times that we all have witnessed and or have been directly affected from. We have lost a genuine care and compassion for our fellow man and it cannot be fixed with pharmaceuticals, alcohol, money or status.
The needed ingredients to repair the damage done begins with kindness, support, acceptance and caring about each other, especially those who are most vulnerable. Teamwork and striving for improvement in all our endeavors in the communities we live and work in. A compassionate heart that utilizes the lessons of disappointments to help others, can also help heal ourselves. One person that can be inspirational to another can influence that person to do the same and so on. I am fortunate to put this into practice as a career in the community I was born and raised in.
Contact Info:
Image Credit:
Wayne Dion – Wayne Dion Photography https://dion.com
Susan Petroni – Petroni Media Company http://ww.framinghamSource.com
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