Tarita Henry: Moving forward with gratitude
When you pass Tarita Henry in the hallway at 2Life Communities, be prepared to receive a hearty “good morning” and a smile. “That’s just the type of person I am,” she says. Helping others is part of daily life for Tarita, who works part time as a school bus driver for children with special needs. “I love creating a sense of safety and stability for the students.”
As a long-time resident of the John J. Carroll apartment complex in Brighton, Tarita joined our community when the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) selected 2Life to redevelop the property. Tarita played an active role in the charette-style meetings that gave residents an opportunity to voice their priorities for the new community. She encouraged other residents to participate and passed along information to those who could not attend.
“I’m really excited about the new J.J. Carroll and about living here at 2Life,” Tarita says, noting the many improvements the new building will offer. When completed, this newest 2Life campus will replace 64 obsolete apartments with 142 modern apartments in a fully accessible building designed for healthy living in community.
Having quality, affordable housing is not something Tarita takes for granted. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Tarita explained that she spent many years without stable housing before moving into her apartment at the “old” John J. Carroll. Now, as the 2Life building takes shape, Tarita and her husband are living at our Brighton campus right next door, where they watch the construction process with anticipation.
“I am grateful every day to be here, to be surrounded by kind and welcoming people, and to know that we are in an apartment that allows my husband to move around with ease — especially in the kitchen,” she says. “I feel so lucky to be joining the new J.J. Carroll community with my 2Life friends who I adore seeing every day.”
