Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tamara Dzialo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Tamara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Project PACK is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting survivors of sexual assault throughout Massachusetts with our Post-Assault Comfort Kits.

Back in 2006 I was working at the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and attended a Sexual Assault Response Team meeting with other service providers. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) mentioned she wished she could provider her patients with a toothbrush and toothpaste to use after she completed the oral swab portion of the evidence collection process. I asked her why she could not do that she said due to costs, it was not something her program had the funds for. So after leaving that meeting I called my mother to explain the need and we immediately began purchasing these items for this particular SANE nurse. Word spread to other nurses assisting patients in other hospitals and so we began to purchase those items for them as well. The nurses let us know how appreciative the patients were, and had some other suggestions for items that the patients would appreciate. And that is our the PACKs (Post-Assault Comfort Kits) were born.

From two items to a dozen, almost twenty years later and many expansions since. We continue to focus on trying to comfort survivors of sexual assault during those difficult first hours post assault. Our PACKs are there to help them distance themselves from the assault and begin to take control back over their bodies. A travel sized lotion might not seem like much but to be able to shift the scent to something completely new can have huge effects.

We began providing these items (then PACKs) to SANE nurses just in the Southeastern MA area back in 2006. Then we expanded to cover the entire state approximately five years later and then expanded again a couple years after that to assist the Pediatric SANE program.

We continue to hear from SANE nurses, and occasionally directly from survivors, that the biggest take away from our PACKs is that someone thought about providing them comfort during this extremely difficult time in their lives. That while they spend hours having evidence collection taken from them in a sterile hospital setting they have a little bag filled with items meant to make them feel cared for.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Tamara Dzialo, I am a mother of two amazing children ages 11 and 12 and wife to an incredible and supportive man. I began working in the field of domestic violence back in college in 2001 and have continued in that field since. Over those twenty four years, I have worked on this issues from many lens – in the nonprofit world, in the courts and through the law enforcement lens as well as with survivors going into shelter and in need of financial assistance. I find this work to be very rewarding although difficult and emotional as it may be. Being able to help others for a living is such a gift.

Project PACK might not be my full time job but it has been a huge part of me for the last twenty-ish years. Being able to support those in need and to support those incredible nurses treating those patients has been a blessing. I am so grateful that Massachusetts has the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, I know their treatment of these patients is top notch.

Along with being the founder and director of Project PACK and my full time work in the field of domestic violence, I have been lucky enough to be involved with other programs and initiatives that are attempting to help change the world and starting in our own community. I have been on the Board of Directors for ConfiKids – a local nonprofit providing opportunities for children of limited financial means to participate in enrichment activities so that they may pursue their interests and passions, develop new skills, establish new relationships and ultimately build confidence – since its inception in 2017 and have watched it grow to help hundreds of children in Southeastern Massachusetts and just hit its goal of a million dollars spent locally to help these kids find their passion and their people.

I am also a Commission on the Plymouth County Commission on the Status of Women. We are one of eleven county commissions under the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Our mission is to help advance rights, increase equity, and improve opportunities for all women and girls in the county. We are charged with developing recommendations for policy and legislation that would advance the rights and opportunities of all women and girls in our community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The journey of someone having a side hustle that is not for income purposes but impact purposes is different. My goal with Project PACK has never been about making money or having it turn into a full time job. It is purely meant to give back. With that being said, when life gets crazy (and crazy for me has been having two children, getting my Masters, having health issues, working full time, being on Boards, joining Commissions I believe in, and supporting my partner in his career that took him through schooling, promotional exams, and final to his dream job of chief) it can hard to not drop this ball. But I have been lucky enough to have support from so many amazing places and people, and I would say that is where my resilience and ability to keep going comes from.

My mother, who I referenced earlier as my first phone call after learning of the need from the SANE nurse, is my biggest supporter and always has been. She was a State Trooper who handled sexual assault cases, so she was my first call for many reasons. She will show up to count stock, run to the store to purchase items we need, be at every event and is just all around the person you call if you need anything. She has definitely picked up the pieces if any of them fall and has made sure that this side hustle for good keeps going.

My Board President, Rachel Calabrese (the founder and director of ConfiKids) has also been the push behind this project whenever one was needed. She is the kind of person you go to when you need inspiration or big ideas. Never one to back down from a challenge, I definitely turn towards her when we need to pivot or regroup.

All of my Board members play an important role, every one of them works in a different field that brings a different lens to every issue we encounter.

I think the most important thing anyone can do in life to be open to new people and experiences. To keep your circle wide, to find a nugget of inspiration wherever you can and to collect those people who inspire you. Those experiences and people are where you will find your strength and resilience when times get hard.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

My nonprofit is small so take my words here with whatever weight you feel appropriate. Approximately five or so years ago I consumed Brene Brown’s work with such intensity. I believe her body of work has changed the management style and leadership skills of so many and because of her we can see leadership not just through the lens of productivity and results but also through relationships and opportunities to be real and connect. Being a true leader to me is about being real and true to your values. It is about being vulnerable and through that being able to find your strengths and opportunity for growth. Her book ‘Dare to lead’ was a game changer for me. But it wasn’t just the book with lead in the title, I also believe that ‘Daring Greatly’ challenges readers to embrace courage over comfort which I believe to be very important for leaders to understand and live. ‘Braving The Wilderness’ also speaks to connecting our courage, authenticity and vulnerability – to me essentials to understand for those who want to be in positions of leadership.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.projectpack.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectpackinc/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectpackinc/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-dzialo-18b2631b6