T
he Care Center proudly announces the appointment of Oona Cook as its new Executive Director, effective March 1, 2024.
With a distinguished background in advocacy, education, and nonprofit management, Oona Cook brings a wealth of experience and leadership to The Care Center. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the University of Connecticut School of Law, Oona spent many years working as a family law attorney and served as the Chief Operating Officer for a state-wide educational advocacy organization, the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association. A resident of the Pioneer Valley for the last 30 years, Oona has an extensive history of community engagement, including as a member of The Care Center Board of Directors and former Chair of the Tapestry Health Board of Directors.
At The Care Center, Oona Cook will lead the organization’s efforts to provide comprehensive educational and support services to young mothers, making possible for them to break the cycle of poverty, achieve academic success, and realize their full potential. Oona’s decades of visionary leadership, strategic acumen, and passion for social justice make her the ideal steward to guide The Care Center into its next chapter of growth and impact.
“We are thrilled to welcome Oona Cook as our new Executive Director,” said The Care Center Board President Sylvia Galván. “Oona’s deep-rooted commitment to educational excellence and social justice, coupled with her decades of leadership experience, make her the perfect fit to lead The Care Center into the future.” We look forward to working closely with Oona to build on the incredible legacy of empowerment and transformation that defines The Care Center.”
In assuming her new role, Oona Cook expressed her enthusiasm for joining The Care Center and advancing its mission of empowering young mothers and creating pathways for opportunity and success. “I am humbled and honored to join The Care Center as its next Executive Director,” said Oona Cook. “As a former teen parent and long-term board member, I am deeply committed to The Care Center’s mission and excited to collaborate with such a dedicated and talented team in providing the resources and support needed for young women to achieve their goals while navigating systemic barriers, parenthood and college.”
Oona succeeds Anne Teschner, who has led The Care Center for the past 25 years. Anne has been instrumental in building the many robust programs at The Care Center, bringing the power of education, arts and culture to the young people and their families in Holyoke, Massachusetts. “We are so grateful for Anne’s exceptional work at The Care Center and look forward to working with Oona to see the agency grow into the next 25 years,” said Board President Sylvia Galván.
The Care Center is a pioneering institution dedicated to supporting young mothers as they achieve academic success, personal growth, and economic independence. Through comprehensive educational programs, holistic support services, and a nurturing community environment, The Care Center equips young mothers with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to break the cycle of poverty, realize their full potential, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families. The Care Center is also home to the Bard Microcollege, the first college in the country specifically designed for young mothers and low-income women.
