Kip Tiernan

The civil rights, political, and social activist Mary Jane "Kip" Tiernan (1926–2011) is known for her work with organizations that aid the poor, homeless, and socially oppressed. She learned about caring for the less fortunate while being raised by her grandmother during the Great Depression. She moved to Boston in the 1950s and worked in a number of public relations positions until the late 1960s, when she left her successful public relations firm and became involved in civil rights activities. In 1974, Tiernan opened Rosie's Place, the first emergency drop-in shelter for women in the United States. In 1988–1990, she was a Bunting fellow at Radcliffe, where she and her colleague Fran Froehlich developed the Ethical Policy Project.