Office Profile: Lee, MA

Walk into the Nonotuck offices at 14 Park Place in Lee, and you’re likely to be met with a wall of sound—unrestrained laughter, joyful chaos, and, ultimately, great work being done by passionate people. Program Director Jess Schram says the Lee crew—staffed by employees with as much as 26 years of experience—is really more like a family than an office.

“We’re really close-knit. In crisis moments, we all have each other’s backs. Everybody’s jumping in on something, even if it’s not from their caseload,” she says. “If someone needs something signed, somebody else will run into that person’s house and get a signature. If you know one staff member from our office, you know all of them because we’ve all done things for each other.”

Jess says that sense of connection extends to the people the Lee office serves. “We’re almost like family, and they really get to know us. I remember when I was pregnant—caregivers and members bought gifts for my baby. Moments like that show it’s truly about sharing a life together,” she says. “It’s not just the shared living provider and the member—it’s also the care manager, the clinician, the nurse. Everyone becomes part of the family. It’s so much more nurturing and warmer than I imagine it is at other agencies.”

It’s not just crises that unite the Lee office; they also come together for joy. The team frequently holds seasonal celebrations—pumpkin decorating in the fall, painting events, and holiday parties in the winter.

Like Nonotuck’s 10 other offices across Massachusetts, the Lee office helps facilitate Adult Family Care (also known as adult foster care) and Shared Living services, in this case serving Berkshire County, including Great Barrington, Pittsfield, and North Adams.

In September 2024, Nonotuck dedicated its Lee office to the memory of Kathleen “Kitty” Kelly-Curtin, honoring her 17 years of leadership and her role in founding the Adult Family Care program, as well as decades as a Shared Living caregiver. Surrounded by family, colleagues, and community members, the dedication celebrated Kitty’s lasting legacy of compassion and connection.

The Lee office is unique in the Nonotuck organization in that, in addition to Adult Family and Shared Living services, it also facilitates community-based day programs. These flexible services help people build confidence and independence through one-on-one coaching and opportunities to pursue their own interests—whether that means taking a class, volunteering, or enjoying community events.

Another distinction is the office’s support of the Brooklyn Street program in North Adams. Mark Patenaude, from the Lee office, is a crucial presence on Brooklyn Street—an “intentional community” where he helps foster the spirit of connection and cooperation that defines the neighborhood. Brooklyn Street is an inclusive community where neighbors share resources, garden, play music, care for one another, and work side by side to keep their surroundings vibrant and welcoming. Built on the values of sustainability, belonging, and multigenerational inclusion, the community strikes a balance between privacy and deep mutual support—an effort that Nonotuck proudly helps to sustain.

The Lee office is also home to the informally titled Nonotuck Social Group, co-led by Care Manager Tracy Bruno and Clinician Zoe Ayimbora. The group began as a way to rebuild connections after COVID-19 left many people Nonotuck supports feeling isolated and without regular activities. What started as an experiment has grown into a lively program featuring karaoke, miniature golf, fishing, community festivals, and picnic lunches—activities that spark joy while also helping people build friendships, social skills, and independence.

The goal is for the group to eventually grow beyond staff facilitation, with people and their providers taking the lead in organizing activities, making natural connections, and broadening their networks. Already, the group has sparked friendships, reignited old hobbies, and opened doors to experiences that participants might not have pursued without encouragement.

To President/CEO George H. Fleischner, the Lee office stands as a model of what Nonotuck strives to be across the state.

“The Lee team embodies the best of Nonotuck—people who show up for each other, for the people they serve, and for their community day after day,” he says. “Their longevity isn’t just about years of service; it’s about years of commitment, compassion, and deep human connection.”