Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Nute.
Jenny, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was raised in Kingston, MA by the most amazing parents with a pretty awesome brother. I was lucky because my parents always inspired me to be true to myself and to follow my heart. Throughout high school, my dad and I took frequent trips to the city. He believed it was important for me be to be exposed to culture and diversity that couldn’t be found in the suburbs. From there, it was a wrap and my goal became to move to Boston as soon as I could.
Lost during most of my high school career and feeling very different from my classmates, I was fortunate enough to have a guidance counselor that introduced me to City Year as a post high school option. I applied and got in. City Year changed my life. Placed at the Blackstone School in the South End, I had my first taste of youth development and found my purpose. Upon completion of my first City Year, I worked at the Cambridge YMCA after-school program. In 1998, I was contacted by City Year, offering me the opportunity to lead the service team placed at the West End House. From there, the rest is history.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
In 2014, the West End House lost long time Club member and staff, Dawnn Jaffier. Dawnn was someone I considered to be like a sister and it was an honor to watch her grow up into such a remarkable woman. Losing Dawnn was one of the first times in my life I experience an unexpected tragedy and it was an incredible pain that was difficult to process. What compounded this tragedy was being in position to help the young people at the West End House process their grief while I didn’t know how to process my own. I am grateful to say that I have been surrounded by an amazing network of West End House alumni that taught me it was OK for us to process it together. They have also provided me the strength needed to support the younger members.
Annually, we now celebrate Dawnn’s life at an event called Biggest Fun Ever! This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and heal through dance, games, food, and family! We still miss her everyday but it has been beautiful to see how she has kept us so strongly connected, and inspire a new generation of leaders.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the West End House story. Tell us more about the business.
West End House is an innovative and vibrant youth development agency that provides outcomes-driven programs to youth residing in the most undeserved communities in the city of Boston. Our high-impact programs, delivered by a dynamic team of professional staff and volunteers, ensure that our young people are succeeding academically, exploring and mastering the arts, developing career readiness skills, and adopting healthy lifestyles.
I serve as the Chief Impact Officer. My role is remarkable. I am responsible for successfully creating, leading, and implementing an integrated strategy to ensure the West End House culture and operations reflects its core values. I would say that I specialize in relationships. Positive, long-lasting relationships are the core of everything that we do. What sets us apart from other others is the idea of when you are surrounded by love, you are at your best. It is this love that drive us to always do our best for each other and community.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Not sure if I would call it luck, but I would definitely say I am fortunate. I was fortunate to find my purpose in life at a young age. This good fortune has continued by being able serve at an organization that has fostered my professional development and provided the most transformative relationships of my life!
Contact Info:
- Address: 105 Allston Street
Allston, MA 02134 - Website: www.westendhouse.org
- Phone: 617 787 4044
- Email: jnute@westendhouse.org
- Instagram: westendhouse
- Facebook: westendhousebgc
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