After more than a decade of dedicating herself to building empathy and connection within the community, Executive Director Meredith Shaw is stepping down from the Tri-Town Council, leaving behind a community forever shaped by her care.
If you ask anyone in the Tri-Town area who is behind the growth and success of youth wellbeing and community wellness, the name Meredith Shaw will inevitably come up. As Executive Director of the Tri-Town Council for the past 13 years, Shaw has spent tireless days focused on connection and purpose, creating a more supportive environment for local families.
It started with a flyer. When her son was in kindergarten at Cole School, she received a notice about the Horizons program, a Tri-Town Council initiative focused on bringing connection and enrichment to elementary school students.
“Because my background was in education and social-emotional learning, I was curious about the organization. The joke is that I started as a volunteer coalition member, and then I just didn’t go anywhere. I just kept getting more and more involved,” said Shaw.
Drawn in by a shared mission and genuine desire to make a difference, Shaw found herself more profoundly passionate in the Council’s mission. As her involvement grew, so did her understanding of what it means to create a community environment where young people can thrive.
“What inspired me to get involved with Tri-Town Council was knowing that I could support healthy kids, healthy families, and be part of our youth substance use prevention efforts, partnering with others who care about our community,” she said. “I wanted to take care of the community my kids were growing up in. I wanted to be part of that work.”
Shaw’s position soon shifted from a regular volunteer to a vital leadership role, one that would allow her to see firsthand how a community-based framework could help local youth, and she wanted to uphold that effort.
“Working with the team here over the past 13 years has been the most rewarding. We always say we stand on the shoulders of giants. I’ve worked with some really amazing people who live and work in this community, people who care deeply about kids. If I were to summarize, the people have been the most meaningful.”
Before pursuing her passion for community work, Shaw started in an entirely different field. She worked in a typical corporate setting, but felt that something was missing.
“I have a business degree and worked in accounting for a number of years, but my soul wasn’t nourished by the work I was doing. I realized I was privileged to be able to say, ‘This isn’t nourishing my soul,’ and make a change.”
After stepping away from her accounting job, Shaw went back to school to pursue a graduate degree in education. She became a classroom teacher and later worked with a social-emotional learning program focused on the healthy development of children, work that laid the foundation for a life concentrated on healing and human connection.
Her passion for community wellness is also extra personal. Shaw said that her father had a specific influence on her values. He struggled with addiction and alcoholism throughout her childhood, but eventually found recovery and dedicated himself to helping others on the same path.
“At his wake, people came up to me and shared what he meant to them, stories I had never heard because, of course, recovery is very private. That really stuck with me, how he loved and supported people through their darkest moments.”
This legacy continues to shape her work each day, serving as her motivation to meet others with the same empathy as her father and provide them with the resources needed to survive.
“That’s how I ended up in this work. His example inspired me to support people in being healthy and living their best lives. Our organization is blessed to work in prevention. While my dad supported people in recovery, we get to work on building skills and a community where kids can be empowered not to follow that path,” she said.
Coming from a family of public servants, Shaw is no stranger to the belief in giving back.
“Serving the community is just who I am. When I worked in accounting, I didn’t feel like I was serving the community, which is why the work felt unfulfilling. That said, my accounting background has come in handy as executive director for managing finances.”
Shaw attributed one of the most pivotal moments in her career to learning about the “Science of the Positive,” and the corresponding Positive Community Norms that emphasize strengths rather than flaws. She now centers the importance of balancing concern with hope, ultimately changing the way she lives and leads.
“We naturally focus on what’s not working, because that’s how we’ve survived as humans, but it’s also essential to amplify the good. Where is the good in our community, in our youth, and families? How do we build messaging around that? Since learning about that framework, hope and concern have been my lens. That was transformational for me personally and professionally.”
There is no typical day at the Tri-Town Council. For Shaw, her schedule was always shifting; whether it involved meeting at Masco, going to a town hall, answering emails, meeting with staff, or ordering pizza for a Youth Action Advisory Board (YAAB) meeting, she met every task with immense care and attention.
“As Executive Director, the role has always been dynamic, and that’s what I’ve loved about it. One of the things I really love about Tri-Town Council is that our entire prevention framework is built around asking, What do kids need in order to thrive? That lens shapes everything we do,” she said.
Shaw and the TTC staff have found that it’s a more effective approach to start with that question, instead of picking out the “flaws” of today’s youth, as it shifts the focus to nurturing relationships and forming environments that protect against risky decisions such as substance use.
“Our mentoring program supports substance use prevention by fostering strong, meaningful relationships. It’s about connection, purpose, and service. It’s all about listening to youth, centering their voices, and helping them become advocates for the kind of community they want to see. We aim to amplify their voices and trust in their ability to lead.”
Rather than using the scare tactics that she grew up with, Shaw is more focused on using strength-based frameworks, instead of spreading the message of “Just say no.” She believes in listening, involving youth, and helping them understand their power to make healthy choices, and that’s what works.
“The two biggest factors are involving youth and engaging community partners. Prevention is not something we do alone. It takes everyone, schools, families, and local organizations, working together to build youth assets and support healthy decision-making. And again, youth need to be at the table. They have to be part of the planning, the conversations, and the leadership. That’s where the real power lies.”
Junior Neva Partal, who worked closely with Shaw as part of the YAAB, said that Shaw provided her with countless opportunities, from attending and leading Masco events, analyzing data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and even bringing their work to the State House.
“Working with Meredith definitely taught me how to be a more confident leader and always take initiative. She’s the reason I have learned how to be a public speaker because she always shows the importance of advocacy and speaking up,” said Partal. “I know Meredith’s work will continue to inspire our community even when she isn’t here, because she’s taught all of us what it means to be a leader and show us the right path. Because of her help, we’ll be able to continue her legacy and make change in the Tri-Town.”
And for Shaw, the work is more than just a job; it’s thoroughly tied to who she is and how she wants to show up in the world.
“Honestly, the alignment between my personal values and the Council’s mission is what drew me here in the first place, and that alignment has only deepened over the years. That’s why I love this job. It doesn’t feel like work; it nourishes my soul.”
Over the years, Shaw has touched countless lives with warmth and the unwavering belief in the potential of every individual. But her work hasn’t just impacted the community; it has transformed her, too.
“Personally, I’ve grown a lot through this work. The strength-based frameworks we use, like the Science of the Positive and Positive Community Norms, have really shaped how I see the world. The kinds of questions we ask matter. They influence what we notice, what we value, and how we respond. And that’s helped me be less critical of myself, to find more joy and goodness, even during hard times.”
Through the Tower Foundation, Shaw has been engaged in a DEI Learning Network where nonprofit leaders share vulnerably and grow together, revolving around personal storytelling and reflection. It was through this involvement that she had the opportunity to reflect on her own biases and privilege in a way that exhibits honesty and accountability.
“That experience has helped me move beyond just intellectualizing topics like racism and equity. It’s allowed me to really listen, empathize, and better understand others’ lived experiences. It’s changed how I lead, how I show up in the world, and how I try to be an ally.”
Her impact is reflected in the experiences of those she’s mentored and uplifted, including young leaders who have found confidence through her guidance. Junior Belle DiCarlo, who joined YAAB as an uncertain freshman, credits Shaw with supporting her growth into a leader, shaped by the compassion and empowerment she brings into her work.
“I honestly don’t think I would be the person I am today without Meredith Shaw. She made even my craziest ideas––ones others would have dismissed––feel possible. Meredith’s constant positivity has given me hope and reminded me that there is still so much good in the world. Her presence creates a space where people feel safe to share their voices and be their true selves. Her energy is infectious and she inspires me daily to be a better version of myself. I feel unbelievably lucky to have gotten to know Meredith Shaw over the past three years and I know that wherever she goes, she will continue to make a difference because that’s just who she is: someone who leads with kindness, warmth, and unwavering positivity.”
Now, as she prepares to say goodbye to her role as TTC’s executive director, Shaw hopes that the next generation of leaders continues to guide with purpose and heart. She envisions a future where community care is the norm, where youth are trusted, uplifted, and celebrated every step of the way.
“We need more people who care deeply and want to help young people thrive. My biggest piece of advice is to spend time reflecting on your why. Why does this work matter to you? What fuels your passion? Understanding your why will ground you when things get hard, and they will. But the rewards are enormous. You’re helping build a stronger, healthier, more just community, and there’s nothing more fulfilling than that.”
As she turns the page on this chapter, Meredith Shaw carries with her much more than memories; she leaves knowing she has successfully built something far greater than herself. Her legacy will continue to spread through every student empowered to lead, every community member who feels seen, and every small moment of connection inspired by her work. And while her role, and hours, may be changing, Meredith’s impact on the Tri-Town community is anything but over.
