Lucy Tsitlenko: Speaking the language of compassion

For residents at 2Life’s Brighton Campus, Resident Services Coordinator Lucy Tsitlenko is the go-to person when they need assistance or just a listening ear. Her compassion and tenacious problem-solving skills are particularly appreciated by the many Russian-speaking people living at 2Life. A native of Russia herself, Lucy serves as a crucial bridge between languages and cultures.

Residents have come to rely on Lucy for help with a wide range of needs — from understanding and responding to letters and notices to service provider referrals and applying for permanent resident status. As a notary public, Lucy also helps makes it convenient for residents to have documents notarized. 

When the war in Ukraine broke out last February, many Russian émigrés — including dozens of 2Life residents — stopped receiving their Russian pensions due to sanctions. Lucy swung into action, crafting letters to the Social Security Administration to explain the problem, and following up to advocate for raising existing Social Security benefits to help close the income gap. 2Life’s resident services team extended this effort, reaching out to assist impacted residents across 2Life campuses. Through their work, and with support from U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss, the benefits for most Russian immigrants were successfully increased, restoring a critical sense of financial security for impacted residents.

“I like to see the result of what I’m doing and know that I’m making a difference for people. When people come to me with a problem and then leave my office not upset anymore, that means so much to me.” - Lucy Tsitlenko