News

Celebrating Kip Teirnan's Legacy

Wednesday Oct 10, 2018

By Sue O'Connell with information from Rosie's Place

More than 300 people attended the dedication of the Kip Tiernan Memorial on Saturday, October 6. To celebrate, a street fair was held by the site of the memorial, on Dartmouth Street, between Boylston and Newbury Streets. The block was closed to traffic to make way for a street fair, which included food trucks, WERS, music from the Aardvark Jazztet, and face painters, bubble makers, balloon twisting and other activities for kids.

Mayor Walsh was present with a proclamation declaring October 6, 2018 Kip Tiernan Day in the City of Boston.

On Saturday, October 6 a memorial was unveiled by Rosie's Place on Dartmouth Street in the Back Bay to honor Kip Tiernan (1926-2011)

Kip Tiernan (1926-2011) founded Rosie's Place, the first women's shelter in the United States, in 1974. She left an indelible mark on Boston, her adopted city, through her fearless vision and unyielding commitment to social justice. The memorial recognizes her contributions toward creating better lives for Boston's poor and forgotten.

The sculpture is comprised of three stainless steel arches that people can pass under as they walk on Dartmouth Street between Boylston and Newbury Streets. Passages from Kip's writings are engraved on the columns holding up the arches, making her voice still heard to all who pass by.

The memorial in Boston Back Bay recognizes her contributions toward creating better lives for Boston's poor and forgotten.

Rosie's Place not only provides meals and shelter but also creates answers for 12,000 women a year through wide-ranging support, housing and education services. Rosie's Place relies solely on the generous support of individuals, foundations and corporations and does not accept any city, state or federal funding. Thanks to these donations, 85 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to services for poor and homeless women. Learn more at http://www.rosiesplace.org