Lutheran Social Services of New England became Ascentria Care Alliance on September 1, 2014. Our new name represents the beginning of a new era for our organization!

What does “Ascentria” mean? They define it as “rising together.” In honor of their Christian heritage, it is a blend of “ascension” and “trinity.” Their faith-based legacy remains the heart and soul of their mission, vision and values.

With their new name and human-centered strategy, they are opening doors to new partnerships that will help us have a greater impact on the lives of their clients and the communities they serve. They’re engaging with the entire faith community, with businesses and nonprofits, to achieve in collaboration much more than they could achieve alone.

They are taking a more holistic, comprehensive approach to helping and empowering those they serve. Their new client center on Shattuck Street in Worcester houses many of their programs at one convenient location, so they can better coordinate vital services for their clients. Additional client centers are planned for gateway cities throughout New England.

Their goals are big: To break the cycle of poverty, and build thriving communities where everyone has the chance to achieve their full potential, regardless of background or disadvantages.

As they celebrate the beginning of a new era, they feel tremendous gratitude for everyone who helped make this possible. Because of your support, they have a bright future. But this future would not be possible without the strength and convictions of their past…

They are here today because of the foresight and generosity of a pious brewer by the name of Gottlieb F. Burkhardt, whose summer farm in West Roxbury would eventually become the Martin Luther Orphan’s Home at Brook Farm in 1872. A volunteer organization with a commitment to helping children as well as “aged, weak, and helpless persons,” Brook Farm would soon be followed by the establishment of a Lutheran agency to assist lonely seafarers on the busy docks of Boston. Their social ministry had begun!

Over the years, their pledge to provide help, healing and hope to those in need expanded throughout New England to include older adults, individuals with disabilities, teens and young families, and even those in search of a better life in a new land. By 1992, the agency had a new name, Lutheran Social Services of New England.

Today, Ascentria Care Alliance continues its legacy. They honor their Lutheran heritage as they move forward in a new direction. Ascentria is a member of Lutheran Services in America (LSA), the national umbrella network of Lutheran social ministries that together comprise one of the nation's largest charities. Ascentria also is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is a recognized human care agency of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).