Trauma Response Team – Charlestown Coalition

My name is Shannon Lundin and I have been a Charlestown Resident my whole life. I joined the Trauma Response Team many years ago because I want to serve my community in good times and bad. Throughout my time with the Trauma Response Team, I've enjoyed the people and learned about healing and resiliency. My goals as a member of this team are to help the community. Things you should know about me are that I am a loyal, strong-willed, determined mother of 4, in recovery 19 years. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at 617-320-9058.

My name is Lori D’Alleva and I have been working in the Charlestown Community for over a decade. I joined the Trauma Response team years ago because I want to assist in the reduction of violence and trauma in Charlestown. Throughout my time with the Trauma Response team, I've enjoyed collaboration and learned about new resources and techniques. My goals as a member of this team are to continue to find ways to make Charlestown safe and help victims cope. Things you should know about me are that I am the Director of Adult Education in Charlestown and I’m eager to support my students and community in any way possible. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at 617-818-7158 (cell) or 617-635-5221.

My name is George Dighton and I have been a Charlestown Resident for 54 years. I joined the Trauma Response team years ago because I have good relationships and connections with youth in the community. When my son's friends were murdered, I provided them and their friends support and continue to offer support to youth in Charlestown. Throughout my time with the Trauma Response team, I've enjoyed everything and learned about trauma response and how to deal with my own trauma. My goal as a member of this team is to make a difference in the community. Things you should know about me are that I am a recovering addict with sixteen years of sobriety, I am a father to five boys and a grandfather to my lil Kennedy Grace and Charlie Bear. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at 857-919-7667.

My name is Susan Rawlinson and I have been working in the Charlestown Community for years. I joined the Trauma Response team years ago because I wanted to get more involved with the community. Throughout my time with the team, I've enjoyed engaging residents, volunteering and I learned about community resources and addiction. My goal as a member of this team is to enhance my skills sets with trainings to support my role as a trauma team member. Things you should know about me are that I was trained by the Trauma Team and I have experience helping people connect to resources. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at 857-237-5373.

My name is Michael Cain and I have been a Charlestown Resident for 56 years. I joined the Trauma Response team years ago because I love my community and know that it is about giving back. Throughout my time with the Trauma Response team, I've enjoyed the lives we've touched and learned about how to respond and offer support. My goal as a member of this team is to be there in the moment of need. Things you should know about me are that I am a certified recovery coach, a trauma specialist, a DJ, and heavily involved in the community. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at 857-318-2172.

My name is Tina Goodnow and I have been a Charlestown resident for 15 years. Also, I am the Vice President of the Charlestown Resident Alliance and I have been in this role for years. I joined the trauma response team because I wanted to help others and support the community through a trauma informed lens. Throughout my time with the Trauma Response team, I’ve enjoyed the team’s humor, our check ins and monthly meetings, team building activities and I’ve learned how to respond to trauma. My job is not to be a hero. My job is to listen and work collaboratively with Charlestown residents while providing them support and directing people to the appropriate services. My goals as a member of this team are to step up more and advocate for residents while also extending a warm hand to someone who maybe struggling in the community. Things you should know about me are that I am a good listener, easy to talk to, a warm person and I’m resourceful. Also, I truly care about this work and the Charlestown community. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at 857-326-2343.

My name is Sean Boyle and I have been a Charlestown Resident for my whole life. I joined the Trauma Response team because of Smokey (Michael Cain) and Shannon. Throughout my time with the Trauma Response team, I've enjoyed being able to respond to trauma, offer healing and learn about trauma responses. My goals as a member of this team are to help the community heal. Things you should know about me are that I am a florist and small business owner. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at 617-784-4519.

My name is Javon Robinson and I have been a Charlestown Resident my whole life. I joined the trauma response team a few years ago because I wanted to give back to the community. Throughout my time on the Trauma Response team, I’ve enjoyed participating in trainings and have learned about the long term effects of communal trauma. My goal as a member of this team is to provide the community with resources, whether that means helping people find jobs or providing a shoulder to lean on during a crisis. I am also the Teen Program Manager at the Charlestown Boys & Girls Club. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at jrobinson@bgcb.org.

Linda Forsythe, MD
Trauma Response Team Clinician and Child Psychiatrist — Linda Forsythe, MD Trauma Response Team Clinician and Child Psychiatrist

My name is Michael Cuevas and I have been working in the Charlestown community since 2022. I joined the trauma response team because I myself have dealt with a lot of trauma in my life, and I would like to help others overcome theirs. I enjoy helping people and learn about myself while helping others. My goal as a member of this team is to help anyone I can. Something you should know about me is that I am a passionate person when it comes to helping others, being formerly incarcerated and struggling with addiction. If you want to contact me directly, I can be reached at Michael.Cuevas@CharlestownAdultEd.com

The Charlestown Coalition’s Trauma Response Team was formed in July 2016 through a grant from the Boston Alliance for Community Health (BACH). The Trauma Response Team initially started as a group of residents who were looking to learn more about trauma, its impact on the community and how they could best serve residents during traumatic situations. Over the past several years, the Trauma Response Team has served as an important part of the Charlestown Coalition by supporting the community and connecting people to treatment concerning issues around loss, community violence and substance use disorders.

After the BACH granted concluded, the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) began supporting this initiative, in addition to our team seeking grant funding from multiple streams.

The group’s main goals are:

We believe by building trust, strong relationships and outreaching to residents, we can increase access to care and connect residents to services that can help them build resilience. This includes prevention based work prior to community trauma, and immediate response following trauma.
Developing relationships between individuals that represent and work with different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic populations within Charlestown to address the deep-rooted racism and race-based tension and violence that exists in Charlestown, as well as developing ways to change this pattern among the younger generations.
Offering an environment where, with the guidance of our clinical psychiatrist and clinical social workers, group members can unload some of the vicarious and personal trauma they’ve experienced, as well as gain basic skills to better deal with these situations and take care of themselves.
Developing a source of capable community responders to call upon when tragedies occur.

Trainings and Professional Development:

In addition to meeting monthly, the Trauma Response Team participates and facilitates trainings to ensure that they are prepared to respond and support the community during traumatic situations, in addition to training and empowering community members themselves. The team attends and facilitates the following trainings:

Psychological First Aid and Toxic Stress Trainings with world-renowned expert in Trauma Dr. Robert Macy from the International Trauma Center
Stop the Bleed Training
Mental Health First Aid Training
Community Narcan and Overdose Prevention Trainings, in conjunction with the Boston Public Health Commission
Motivational Interview workshops
Workshops on trauma and trauma-informed care
Self-care and mindfulness workshops

Adapting to Support the Charlestown Community

The Trauma Response Team is continually adapting and evolving to best serve the community members. Throughout the early 2020s, Community Violence Prevention and Overdose Prevention, in addition to fostering community connection, have become priority areas. Some of the ways in which we are supporting these areas of work include:

Regular Overdose Prevention Trainings and Resources, strategically located in different pockets of the community
Support for community members following a loss
Connection to services for those who are in need
Creating pro-social events and activities for community to foster connection