Well Said: 2025 Meaningful Change Stories

From left to right: Kate Andre, Eileen Bilodeau, Raymond Gaines, Gio Mercado, Tara Tonello, Kathryn Whittle

• Kate Andre 

  The BTS Center​​

  Kate André is an ordained minister with Mennonite Church USA, serving as Pastor of the Mennonite Congregation of Boston. She is also the Mennonite/Anabaptist Chaplain at Harvard and recently began doctoral studies in Religion and Education at Boston College, with a focus on spiritual formation and conflict transformation. In her free time, Kate enjoys exploring National Parks with her family and playing the role of disc jockey for her musically eclectic preschooler. And she loves a good story!

  
  

• Eileen Bilodeau 

  Northeast Passage

  Eileen Bilodeau is a lifelong Granite Stater who believes that everyone has a story worth telling—and that listening to those stories helps build stronger, more understanding communities. Her own story has been shaped by her service as a U.S. Army veteran, a former law enforcement officer and wildland firefighter, her lived experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and her deep love for the natural world.

  Guided by Buddhist spirituality, Eileen strives to meet the world with compassion, mindfulness, and a genuine curiosity about the people and places around her. She knows the power of being seen and heard, and she advocates for spaces where every person can live authentically and without fear.

  When she’s not working to protect New Hampshire’s natural resources or actively advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, you can usually find Eileen on a trail, in a kayak, or simply spending time in the landscapes that have shaped her life. Her path reflects a simple truth: when we share our stories, stand by our values, and care for the world and each other, we help create a more connected and hopeful future.

  
  

• Raymond Gaines 

  New England Innocence Project

  
  

• Gio Mercado 

  Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

  Gio Mercado was born in Puerto Rico and after moving to the U.S., Gio chased his dream of becoming a lawyer. He started his legal career at a New York City law firm, then served in the federal government, and now works in biotech. When not working, you’ll find Gio spending time with his family, enjoying basketball, and reading. From the Caribbean to the courtroom and now to science, Gio’s story is about resilience, integrity, and growth.

  
  

• Tara Tonello 

  Boston Children's Hospital

  Tara Tonello is the Associate Director of Special Events at Boston Children’s Hospital Trust. A Curry College grad, she began her nonprofit journey with St. Jude and the ALS Association before joining Boston Children’s in 2009. Tara leads the inspiring Fundraise Your Way program and is constantly energized by this particular fundraising community. When she’s not thinking of ways to raise more money for the hospital, she’s singing along to every country song ever made, spending time with her husband and two daughters, or tackling the 50-mile Challenge Walk for MS — all while being the proud caregiver to her heroic mother, who battles MS.

  
  

• Kathryn Whittle 

  Follow Your Arts

  Kathryn enjoys storytelling as a way to express her true voice and connect with others authentically. Her curiosity leads her on adventures into nature through travel, hiking and camping. It also inspires her to explore the inner frontiers of the mind and body. She gently invites you to remember what you already know

  you belong, you are whole, and sensitivity is not a flaw but a compass to guide you. Kathryn believes in the power of diverse community and hopes her stories spark conversation, connection, and a shared sense of humanity.