The Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC) has been a longstanding beacon for those in need of free tax preparation in Boston. Continuing this tradition, the Coalition recently announced the appointment of a new Relationship Manager, Lia Valdez. Valdez, a Roxbury resident and a figure known for her community-based work, brings experience from her previous engagements with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and MIT’s Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center. Now, she is slated to take the reins of BTHC's partnerships and volunteer orchestration.
"I was really drawn to this role because I wanted to work directly with programs that are helping people in my own community," Valdez told the Boston Government website. Her aim is to buttress these connections across Boston, ensuring the volunteers, lauded for their commitment, have the necessary support for their service. Despite the dedication evident amongst the long-serving volunteers, a priority for Valdez is to raise awareness about the Coalition's programs, which she believes remain obscured from public knowledge.
Valdez's approach is holistic and pragmatic, eyeing immediate process optimizations for partner organizations as well as more inclusive and multilingual reach over the long term. "A big part of my job is relationship-building," Valdez explained, emphasizing her role in fortifying the support network for the Coalition's volunteers and expanding its footprint in diverse communities. Her ultimate goal remains to enhance BTHC's visibility to "help more residents build long-term financial capacity."
The recent efforts have highlighted some achievements and uncovered a surprising realization. "There’s so much commitment here. I’ve met volunteers who’ve been part of this for more than a decade and are still excited to come back," said Valdez, acknowledging the existing strength of the Coalition, yet she also discovered a gap in public awareness. "A lot of people still don’t know this program exists. We want to change that," she added, pointing to a disconnect between BTHC's resources and their utilization by the community.
In her downtime, Valdez indulges in hot yoga, explores solo travel with past trips including destinations such as Colombia, Portugal, and Canada, and enjoys a healthy affinity for all forms of caffeine. Her appointment is a strategic move for BTHC as they lean into a future of expanded services and a tighter bond with the Boston community. Additional information on the Boston Tax Help Coalition can be found at their official website.
