February 22, 2022 |News

Lynner named 2022 Massachusetts Mother of the Year

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Lynn mother honored for service to community, philanthropy and family

Dalene Basden of Lynn was selected as the 2022 Massachusetts Mother of the Year®. She is the 46th woman in Massachusetts history to hold this honor. Basden is a Family Support Specialist, who became the first nationally certified parent support provider in the state in 2012. An African-American parent of three, with two boys who have mental health challenges, Basden has experienced first-hand racial disparities in health care. She uses her personal experience and expertise as a platform to inform and enlighten others about social injustices by engaging her community, particularly those affected by bias and racism, in conversations of race, culture and intolerance. 

Basden, along with honorees from states across the United States, will be recognized during the 87th National Convention of American Mothers, Inc. this April. One honoree will be named the National Mother of the Year® during the convention.

Since 1935, American Mothers, Inc. has had the honor of searching for and selecting the Mother of the Year® in every state, district and territory in the country. “Now more than ever, people are seeing the work that goes into motherhood and truly recognizing the resiliency of mothers. It is an honor to be an organization that has built a legacy network of moms across the nation while sharing their stories of strength and inspiration,” said Joyce Stevens, President of American Mothers, Inc.

For a full list of Mother of the Year® honorees please visit AmericanMothers.org. Nominations for Mother of the Year® are accepted annually, Mothers Day – September 15. For general media inquiries or to set up an interview with the 2022 Massachusetts Mother of the Year®, contact Sabrina Wisher-DeWitt at news@americanmothers.org.

About Dalene Basden

Dalene Basden is a Family Support Specialist from Lynn, Massachusetts. In 2012, she became the first nationally certified parent support provider in Massachusetts. An African-American parent of three, with two boys who have mental health challenges, Basden has experienced first-hand racial disparities in health care. Her response to this inequality earned her the Rebeka Lee Award from the Harvard School of Public Health. In 2007, she earned her certification as a SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) leader with the Wellesley Centers for Women. She uses her personal experience and expertise as a platform to inform and enlighten others about social injustices by engaging her community, particularly those affected by bias and racism, in conversations of race, culture and intolerance. Basden and her family are avid Boston sports fans and, in their spare time, coordinate, coach and support Special Olympics MA, encouraging full inclusion of youth participation in sports. (Information provided by Dalene Basden)

About American Mothers

American Mothers, Inc. (AMI) is a national non-profit, nonpartisan organization given the responsibility of searching for and selecting the National Mother of the Year® from honorees representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Founded in 1931 as the Mothers Day Committee of the Golden Rule Foundation, AMI named the first Mother of the Year® on behalf of the nation in 1935. Many outstanding individuals throughout America have served as officers, leaders, members and supporters of this organization, such as Sarah Delano Roosevelt, J.C. Penney, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, Norman Vincent Peale, Congresswoman Lindy Boggs, Phyllis Marriott, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Jesse Ball duPont. Today, our mission is to harness the power of maternal energy to make a positive impact in the world.