Press Release: Concord Resident Kristen Tyson Honored at 2025 Commonwealth Heroines Awards at the State House
Tyson nominated for honor by State Representative Simon Cataldo.
Rep. Cataldo presents Kristen Tyson with a House citation in recognition of her nomination as a 2025 Commonwealth Heroine at the State House on June 26, 2025.
Boston (June 30, 2025) Concord resident Kristen “Krissy” Varsames Tyson was honored as a Commonwealth Heroine for her outstanding contributions in the field of justice and for her extensive community contributions at the 2025 Commonwealth Heroines ceremony sponsored by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Tyson was nominated for the award by State Representative Simon Cataldo (D-Concord), who also presented her with a legislative citation from the House of Representatives.
“Krissy’s blend of leadership, advocacy, and collaboration makes her stand out among the many successful civic leaders in the 14th Middlesex District. Her dedicated and skillful commitment to the Concord-Carlisle community and the clients that she serves in her law practice make her the perfect addition to this year’s Commonwealth Heroines class,” said Representative Simon Cataldo. “Krissy is humble, team-oriented, and tireless in her efforts to help others. She is widely respected in both professional and philanthropic circles for her exceptional competence and results-oriented perspective.”
Tyson is a graduate of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and Boston College Law School. She began her legal career with clerkships for the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont and Chief Justice Amestoy of the Vermont Supreme Court.
She served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, managed the Chelsea District Court office and moved to the Superior Court Family Protection Unit, prosecuting child abuse and sexual assault. In 2017, she became a bar advocate, serving as a public defender to indigent clients. In 2022, Tyson joined the Board of the Middlesex Defense Attorneys Association in 2022, which is responsible for the training, hiring, and evaluation of bar advocates.
In Concord, Tyson served on the Board of the Alcott Elementary School Parent-Teacher Group (PTG), including as President in 2022-2023, and volunteered with her daughter as a member of the National Charity League. In 2019, she joined the Allocations Committee of the Concord Carlisle Foundation. She became a Board member in 2019 and has served as the Foundation’s President for the past two years. In that time, the Foundation successfully completed an endowment campaign, opened a Community Closet to support the temporary shelter, and annually raises and distributes over half a million dollars to individuals in need and the local organizations that meet those needs.
“Krissy's dedication to the Concord Carlisle Foundation is awe inspiring. She has a tireless commitment to those who might otherwise be overlooked and underserved,” said Allyson Bailey, Concord-Carlisle Community Chest Executive Committee. “Her drive inspires action in others, and makes us all want to be and do better. She has a seemingly unlimited supply of time, knowledge, passion and focus for our community and its members. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this accolade.”
When asked about the significance of receiving this recognition, Tyson responded, “I am so grateful to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for all that they do to lift the voices of women in our Commonwealth, so grateful for Representative Cataldo’s work for women in the Commonwealth and in our district in particular, and mostly grateful for the opportunity to spend a couple of hours celebrating with women in our Commonwealth who are doing the work every day to make our communities stronger and more inclusive.”
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is an independent state agency created by the Legislature in 1998. The purpose of the commission is to advance women of the Commonwealth to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their rights and opportunities. This Commission is comprised of 19 member who are appointed by the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Caucus of Women Legislators.
At the event at the State House, attendees heard remarks from Commissioners and were each individually introduced to the audience in the Gardner Auditorium. This year’s class comprises of more than 125 women from across the state, who are leaders in industry, business, nonprofit, advocacy, community and more. Tyson was joined at the event by her husband, Chad, their three children, and Tyson’s parents. After the ceremony, the attendees enjoyed a reception in the Great Hall.
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