Pauline Farley

A Mission Born from Personal Experience

Pauline Farley is the heart and driving force behind Upward and Onward Community Pantry. With more than twenty years of experience across a wide range of social services environments, she brings a depth of knowledge and a ground-level understanding of community need that few can match. Her journey to founding this organization was not born in a boardroom — it was born in the lived experience of struggle, resilience, and an unwavering belief that every person deserves a hand up.

Having witnessed firsthand the gaps in community support systems, Pauline made a decision: she would build something different. As Founder and CEO, her vision for Upward and Onward was not conceived in a boardroom or a strategic planning session — it was forged in real life, shaped by real people, and grounded in the belief that lasting change begins at the community level. In 2018, she founded Upward and Onward on the principles instilled by her grandparents, Pauline and Derrick Scott, who both came from humble beginnings on the island of Jamaica, W.I. Their resilience, work ethic, and quiet dignity in the face of hardship became the moral foundation upon which this organization stands.

Pauline holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and a Master's Degree in Counseling — an academic foundation that directly informs her approach to community care. She is currently pursuing licensure as both a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, deepening her ability to serve the whole person and the whole family.

Under her leadership, the organization has grown from a small community effort into a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering case management, fatherhood initiatives, youth programs, veteran services, and family resource support to hundreds of families each year.

Her Connection to the Mission

For Pauline, this work is deeply personal. She understands what it means to need support and not know where to turn. That understanding shapes every program, every partnership, and every interaction at Upward and Onward.

She leads with empathy, holds the organization to the highest standards of integrity, and remains committed to meeting people exactly where they are — without judgment, without barriers, and with genuine care.

What Guides Her Leadership