Meredith Shaw brings a range of leadership experience in community-based prevention, positive youth development, and social-emotional learning (SEL) to her new role as Executive Director of Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV). 

 

Prior to joining MAAV, Meredith served as Executive Director of Tri-Town Council (TTC), where she led programs and initiatives that promoted youth mental health and substance use prevention; and offered resources and support to K – 12 youth and families residing in Boxford, Middleton, and Topsfield. During her tenure, TTC’s team created and sustained programs that emphasized prevention through connection — centering critical youth and community relationships, elevating youth voice, and engaging cross-sector community partners. Using strengths-based frameworks, TTC’s work focused on upstream prevention strategies that bolstered youth protective factors and prevented unhealthy risk behaviors, substance use and violence. TTC engaged with and empowered youth, families, and the Tri-Town community through enrichment & mentoring programs, youth leadership development, community outreach & education, positive community norms promotion, and coalition-building.

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MAAV’s mission to prevent relational violence, promote healthy relationships, support survivors, and educate the community resonates deeply with Meredith. She believes that creating a safer, more compassionate, and connected world begins by helping people — especially young people — as they develop crucial knowledge and skills to build healthy, respectful, trusted relationships. Meredith is honored to join the MAAV team and support MAAV’s mission. She looks forward to working collaboratively with Melrose’s schools, families, youth, city leaders, and community partners to build a future free from violence — one rooted in empathy, equity, safety, and meaningful connection.

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Outside of work, you can find Meredith walking with one of her three spunky terriers, reading a good book, listening to music, exploring a new recipe, or tending to her many house plants!

Ali Calnan joined MAAV in 2025 as the Survivor Advocate. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Keene State College in New Hampshire. 

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Prior to her current role, she served as an AmeriCorps member from 2022 to 2023 before working as an advocate at her local crisis center, providing direct support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She also worked as a prevention educator, meeting with students from pre-k through college to facilitate workshops on a variety of topics such as healthy relationships, how to support a friend, and understanding available resources. Ali believes community engagement is essential to raising awareness and preventing future acts of violence. Therefore, she was involved in a variety of local activities for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Some of these include Take Back the Night, Empower Walk, and Teen Night Out . 

 

Ali is especially dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence through empowerment, education, and compassionate care. She believes in the transformative power of advocacy and the importance of creating safe, informed communities. Aside from work, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, listening to music, cooking, and being outside.

Christine Shaw, MAAV’s Administrative Assistant, has worked in the profit and non-profit sector in the area of Violence Prevention. Her emphasis is in child welfare in both direct care and program development/management where she instrumental in the creation of a programs to address Truancy Prevention, Bullying Prevention and Domestic Violence.  Christine is creative and finds that the best work can be done by using a multidisciplinary approach to addressing issues and problem solving.

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Jenny Lecoq, MAAV’s Outreach & Development Specialist, has a background rooted in nonprofit development and community engagement, with a focus on building sustainable revenue, strengthening partnerships, and stewarding donors to advance mission-driven work that supports community well-being.

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Jenny has worked with organizations including the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Friday Night Supper Program — which addresses food insecurity by providing free, nutritious meals and community — and the Art Resource Collaborative for Kids, helping expand access to arts education and creative learning opportunities that equip young people with confidence and problem-solving skills for civic and professional life.

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She is committed to fostering safe, connected, and equitable communities, and her experience engaging diverse stakeholders aligns closely with MAAV’s mission to prevent domestic violence, support survivors, and promote healthy relationships through education and outreach.

Jenny is a long-time board member of the Stoneham Community Action Network, founder of Keep Stoneham Beautiful, and facilitator of the Stoneham Transportation Advisory Committee. She holds a B.A. in Biology and a Master’s Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising Management from Boston University, and lives in Stoneham, MA with her husband and two daughters.

Laura Gerson joined MAAV in 2021 as the facilitator of MAAV’s weekly support group for survivors of domestic abuse. She earned her MSW from Hunter College in New York.

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Laura has been a social worker for more than 30 years, serving a wide range of people seeking support in times of transition.  She currently coordinates a mentoring program at Jewish Family and Children’s Service for domestic abuse survivors who are working on economic security goals and has been a clinical supervisor for many years for early career social workers, graduate interns, and volunteer mentors. Laura strives to be a collaborative partner with those she serves and feels that the support and empowerment groups can provide is a uniquely enriching experience.

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Laura lives in Arlington with her husband and has two adult children in the area. She enjoys anything outdoors, cooking, and being among friends and family.