The Wily Network

Wily celebrates Juneteenth, a holiday that honors freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity.

In honor of the day, Scholars joined Clinical Scholar Coach Melissa and Senior Director of Scholar Services Ine at the Roxbury International Film Festival, co-presented by Black Brown Boston and CineFest Latino Boston. The festival showcases powerful stories through film and highlights the voices and experiences of diverse communities.

Experiences like these reflect what makes the Pack so strong: a community enriched by different backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. Together, we continue learning from one another and celebrating the diversity that strengthens us all.

Happy Pride Month!

Wily is proud to celebrate Pride this June. Earlier this month, Scholars came together for two Pride-themed events that fostered connection, creativity, and community.

Scholars attended a drag brunch, celebrating self-expression and joy, and gathered on Boston Common for an outdoor Pride t-shirt decorating event. Through tie-dyeing, coloring, stamping, and bedazzling, Scholars created custom shirts to wear at Boston's Pride Parade!

At Wily, we believe that every Scholar deserves to feel seen, supported, and celebrated. We're grateful for opportunities like these that bring our community together and celebrate the pride that makes the Pack stronger.

A heartfelt thank you to the community at Opus Newton for their generous donation of 30 spring exam care packages for Wily Scholars.

Filled with snacks, toiletries, gift cards, and so many thoughtful touches, these packages offered encouragement and support to Scholars during finals and graduation season. From handwritten notes to handmade crafts, the care behind every detail was deeply felt.

We’re incredibly grateful to Opus Newton for helping remind Wily Scholars that they are supported by a community cheering them on every step of the way.

Interested in supporting Wily’s mission? Click the link in our bio to learn more.

What an incredible example of collective impact.

Thank you to 100 Women Who Care Boston for your generous support of Wily and for bringing together a community of women committed to making a difference. Through the power of collective giving, this group gave a generous gift in support of Wily Scholars.

Wily was honored to be included alongside such incredible organizations: Ovations ForThe Cure, The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum, and Women's Money Matters. Congratulations to Ovations for the Cure, recipient of 100 Women Who Care Boston’s second quarter collective donation.

Executive Director Kenn Elmore was grateful to join the group and share more about Wily’s work and the transformational impact this support will have on Scholars navigating college and beyond.

100 Women Who Care Boston continues to show how meaningful change happens when people come together with purpose, compassion, and a shared commitment to community. We’re deeply grateful to be part of that impact.

This week, we’re welcoming a new member of the Pack: Melissa Dagher, LICSW! Melissa is joining Wily as a Clinical Scholar Coach Supervisor.

A helper by nature, Melissa was drawn to Wily’s mission of supporting Scholars with dignity, respect and empathy. Melissa has a passion for building and nurturing community, supporting folks in identifying their strengths and contributions to society.

She graduated with a BS from Howard University and an MSW from Simmons College (now Simmons University). She has worked over a decade in community health, often having the honor of being someone’s first experience with therapy.

When not working you can find Melissa spending time with her family, tending to her community garden, traveling, and chit-chatting with neighbors near and far.

Welcome to the Pack, Melissa!

Last month, in celebration of Volunteer Appreciation Month, the Wily Pack came together for an evening that reflected what community is all about: connection, conversation, and showing up for one another. Thank you to everyone who continues to help make the Pack stronger.

From longtime volunteers to new supporters to Wily alums returning to give back, it was inspiring to see so many people gathered around a shared belief in Scholar success. Thanks to Erin Epker and Cindy Laughrea for speaking about their volunteering journeys. We were incredibly grateful to welcome four Wily alums, Daymé, Joel, Morgan, and Theresa to share the impact of volunteering on their college experience as Wily Scholars.

The energy in the room, the meaningful conversations, and the sense of belonging throughout the evening reflected the strength of this growing community. We’re excited to continue creating opportunities for our community to stay engaged through career conversations, mentorship, small-group discussions, and more.

Click to learn more about how you can walk with Scholars: https://thewilynetwork.org/support/volunteer/

Still reflecting on an incredible Grad Dinner celebrating the Class of 2026.

There is a unique period at the end of the college experience that feels different. It can feel effortless in the moment, but it’s not. It’s the result of everything that came before it, built through persistence, resilience, and the decision to keep going, even when it was hardest.

At Wily, we have the privilege of witnessing that shift. This class has done the work. They have stayed, pushed forward, and reached this milestone. Now, we celebrate their achievements – marking the largest graduation class in Wily’s eleven year history.

The room was full of pride, tenacity, and warmth. From navigating challenges to reaching this milestone, Scholars have put in the work and it shows. Hearing their stories and sharing in that moment together was a powerful reminder of what they’ve achieved and where they’re headed next.

We are grateful to celebrate their accomplishments and everything that lies ahead. Special thanks to our guest speakers: Massachusetts Poet Laureate, Regie Gibson, and Wily alum Angelina Gomes (Middlebury ‘24) for sharing their experiences with the Pack.

Head to our website to learn more about how you can celebrate and support Wily graduates: https://thewilynetwork.org/make-an-impact/

Held in the Spring and Fall, Community Day is a tradition that creates space for connection, rest, and community during one of the busiest stretches of the academic year.

Read Wily’s newest blog, Spring Community Day 2026, to catch up on how the Pack connected this month: https://thewilynetwork.org/2026-spring-community-day/

Volunteers have played a crucial role throughout The Wily Network’s history. Over the past decade, Wily has built increasingly expansive relationships with corporate partners that are committed to our mission and have made impactful contributions to our work.

Read how two corporate partners, Commonwealth Cares and The Baupost Group exemplify what it means to walk with Wily Scholars: https://thewilynetwork.org/thank-you-corporate-partners-2026/

From a chance radio moment to real impact

After hearing The Wily Network on Karson & Kennedy Good Vibe Tribe, Marianne Folino, a member of the Boston Chapter of 100 Women Who Care, felt a connection that stayed with her.

“We happened to catch an interview on the radio with Kenn Elmore, the Executive Director of The Wily Network. I remember turning to my friend Linda and saying, “If it weren’t for my grandmother, I could have been one of those students.” That moment really stayed with me. As we sat on the beach, Kenn’s interview and Wily’s mission began to resonate more deeply, and I knew I wanted to get involved in some way.” – Marianne Folino

Marianne’s journey from radio listener to Wily champion is a testament to the power of community, and to what happens when we choose to build our Pack.

Read more about her journey and how you can get involved: https://thewilynetwork.org/from-radio-listener-to-wily-champion/