On November 20, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy would have turned 100. Born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1925, he became Attorney General of the United States, a U.S. Senator, and a national voice for civil rights, economic and social justice, and peace.

For us at RFK Community Alliance, he is more than a historic figure. His name is on our doors, yes; but even more importantly, his ideals live in our classrooms, residences, counseling rooms, Board room, and community programs every single day.

A Legacy of "Ripples of Hope"

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope...which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

In 1966, speaking to students in apartheid-era South Africa, Robert F. Kennedy described how change really happens. Those words were not abstract. As Attorney General and later as a Senator, RFK used his position to press for civil rights, voting rights, and protections for people whose voices were ignored. He believed in public policy, yes, but in compassion, courage, and everyday action making the world more just and humane.

From Ideals to Institutions: How Our Story Began

After his assassination in 1968, a small group of his friends and colleagues asked a simple question: How can we honor Robert F. Kennedy in a way that continues his work, not just his memory?

In 1969, they founded the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps as a living memorial, an organization dedicated to helping children who faced serious challenges and lacked support. Over time, the work grew to include residential homes, special education schools, foster care and adoption, and community-based programs across Massachusetts.

Today, following our merger and evolution into the RFK Community Alliance, that same spirit guides a much wider array of programs for children, teens, adults, and families. Our name is a reminder that we are not just in human services; we are part of a long, unfinished project to make our communities more just, compassionate, and fair.

How Robert F. Kennedy's Legacy Lives on in Our Work

On RFK’s 100th birthday, the most meaningful tribute we can offer is not a statue or a slogan. It is the quiet, persistent work of helping real people build connected, capable, and healthy lives.

Here’s where we see his legacy most clearly:

• Standing with people others might overlook and acting with hope and excitement for their future.

• Seeing people for their strengths, talents, and potential. We don’t define people by their diagnoses or their toughest moments.

• Choosing care and opportunity over punishment.

At RFK Community Alliance, we experience ripples of hope each day. They show up in the patience of a direct support professional teaching a daily living skill; in the perseverance of a student who learns differently advocating for their needs; in the courage of a person facing their trauma in therapy for the first time; and in the perseverance of families who love their children fiercely and refuse to give up.

Embracing the Legacy

Each year, our Embracing the Legacy event honors individuals and organizations who embody the values Robert F. Kennedy championed: justice, compassion, courage, and the unwavering belief in the potential of people facing adversity.

In this centennial year of his birth, Embracing the Legacy takes on special meaning. We celebrate Phil Johnston, a central figure in the founding of RFK Children’s Action Corps, who passed away this year, and we honor an extraordinary group of award winners who stand up for children, families, and adults. In doing so, we reaffirm the vision that gave us our name.

We Will Continue to Stand with Him

On Robert F. Kennedy’s 100th birthday, we’re grateful to carry his name—but even more grateful to carry forward his work.