We’re thrilled to welcome the CHV community to our new headquarters at the brand-new Southline building at 135 Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester.
The brand-new custom-built space, named the Connors Leadership Academy, is the home of our year-round teen leadership development program and the offices for all of CHV’s team.
Our move to the new space is possible thanks to the generous support of the Yawkey Foundation — and so many other CHV community members. We’ll miss our community center in the South End, but this new space will provide so many new opportunities for learning, collaboration, and celebration.
He’s the youngest of five, raised in Boston by two Trinidadian parents. He’s an uncle, a brother, a son, and a friend who does his best to take care of the people close to him. He’s a ninth grade English teacher. A Harvard Graduate School of Education student. A mentor.
And this year, he’s a Boston Marathon runner.
Long before Hopkinton and Heartbreak Hill, Chazz was a 12-year-old arriving at Camp Harbor View for the first time.
A Place to Be a Kid
Chazz first came to CHV in 2010. He remembers the nerves of getting there, and then the feeling that washed over him once he arrived.
“It was like a big ray of sunshine,” he said. “It became very clear, very fast, that this was a place that people were safe.”
For Chazz, that sense of safety meant freedom: to try something new, to be goofy and brave and uncertain, to make mistakes and keep moving.
“I was a kid,” he said. “And I was allowed to be a kid at CHV.”
He describes Camp Harbor View as a safe haven away from any troubles, and a place where his friendships deepened. Many of his closest relationships can be traced back to summers on the island.
“CHV is the single organization that has not only helped me build my character but also has connected me to some of my closest friends. At CHV the quality of my friendships increased in depth and I want to make sure other kids in Boston have the same opportunity.”
Over fourteen summers, Chazz grew with the organization. He moved from camper to LIT, to aquatics and maintenance, to group leader, lifeguard, team leader, and eventually assistant director.
Some campers remember him as the swim instructor who helped them feel steady in the water. Others remember him as the person leading songs and lighthouse spirit.
Finding His Stride
After graduating from the University of Miami in 2019, where he studied Film and Theater, Chazz stepped into an uncertain moment. The pandemic shaped his early post-graduation years, and he worked as a courier, driving long hours across the city.
In the stretches between deliveries, he ran. Running became an outlet, and it stayed with him well beyond those months.
By 2023, Chazz began working as a ninth grade English teacher, and that’s the work he continues today. In April 2025, he found out he was accepted to the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Now, he teaches during the day and takes classes after school.
Running has remained part of his life through each transition. He’s held a long-term goal of running both the Boston Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon, and when he was given the opportunity to run Boston in support of Camp Harbor View, the “why” clicked immediately.
“Camp gave me so much,” he shared. “And I want to give even more back to them.”
Lessons That Last
When asked what CHV taught him that still shows up in his everyday life, Chazz recalled the bravery he saw on display at camp – from new activities to talent shows.
“Camp teaches you to sign up and then step up.”
He talked about the courage it takes for kids to put themselves out there, and the care it takes for a community to meet that energy with encouragement.
Toward the Finish Line
Training through a New England winter while balancing teaching and graduate school takes real stamina. When Chazz describes what keeps him steady, it comes back to a word he repeats throughout his story: discipline.
“I know to achieve my dreams, I have to show up for myself and my goals – every single day.”
When he pictures the marathon finish line, he jokes about being showered with ice packs after collapsing into a waiting wheelchair. Under the humor is a clear intention for the day.
“I want to finish confident,” he said. “I don’t want to just be dragging across the finish line.”
Support Chazz’ Marathon Run
Chazz is running the Boston Marathon to help ensure more young people in Boston have the same opportunity he did: a place to grow, to belong, to build friendships that last, and to discover who they are becoming.
Every summer in Boston Harbor, Camp Harbor View becomes a place where Boston youth can breathe a little easier, try something new, and build friendships that last. During the school year, teens deepen their leadership and explore what’s next through Leadership Academy. All year long, CHV is in young people’s corners, alongside their families, with steady support that helps make life a little more manageable and a lot more hopeful.
That work takes a whole community. This spring, a dedicated group of runners is stepping up to run the 2026 Boston Marathon to raise funds for CHV’s summer camp and year-round programs. You’ll see first-time marathoners, longtime Boston Marathon dreamers, and runners chasing major milestones. They come to the starting line with different stories, and the same shared purpose: showing up for Boston’s young people and their families.
We’re thrilled to introduce Team CHV 2026.
1. Lilly Chen
Lilly has called Boston home for three decades. She began running in 2020 and completed all six World Marathon Majors in 2025! In 2026, she’s back at the starting line for her favorite marathon, beginning a personal goal of running ten consecutive Boston Marathons.
A Boston native and current Georgetown sophomore, Kevin loves running and staying connected to the community that raised him. After completing the Marine Corps Marathon, he’s excited to take on Boston in support of CHV.
John was born and raised in Massachusetts before moving to Los Angeles, where he studies Business, Design, and Technology. John’s goal is to run all the World Marathon Majors, and he’s proud to run this year in support of the legacy of Jack Connors and all that CHV makes possible for Boston youth and families.
Olivia is a lifelong runner and first-time marathoner from Winchester, Massachusetts, who grew up watching the Boston Marathon. She now lives in Charlestown, where she works in financial services. After years of half marathons and steady training, she’s excited to take on the full 26.2 miles while raising funds for Camp Harbor View.
Daniel was born in Indiana, spent time in Chicago, and has lived most of his life in the Bay Area. He works as an investor focused on the technology sector and is a proud dad to a two-year-old son, with a daughter arriving this spring. Inspired by his wife’s marathon experiences and the chance to take on one of the world’s most iconic races, Daniel is excited to run Boston as part of Team CHV.
Caitlin grew up in Medfield and now lives in Needham with her husband, four kids, and their dog Drake. A Boston Marathon finisher from 10 years ago, she’s excited to return to the course as part of Team CHV. As a former teacher, Caitlin shared, “I know how critical it is for kids to be engaged all year round and CHV does just that—engages kids 365 days a year to keep them on track and to keep the joy flowing.”
Charlotte is from Needham, graduated from Boston College in 2024, and now lives in South Boston, working at Fidelity. She grew up going to the Boston Marathon and has dreamed of running it for as long as she can remember. Inspired by the resilience and dedication she sees on Marathon Monday each year, she’s ready to take on 26.2 miles and prove to herself that she can do hard things, all while raising funds for Camp Harbor View.
Tyler lives in Boston and brings big community energy to everything he does. He’s a fitness instructor and run coach at EverybodyFights, and he also works as a private aviation advisor at Magellan Jets. Running the Boston Marathon has been a dream of his since moving to the city, and he shared that running the 130th Boston Marathon in support of Camp Harbor View makes that dream even more meaningful after seeing CHV’s impact firsthand.
Chazz is a Boston native, the youngest of five, and the child of two Trinidadian parents. He studied Film and Theater at the University of Miami, graduated in 2019, and began running more seriously during the pandemic. Today, he teaches ninth-grade English and is taking classes at Harvard Graduate School of Education. A longtime member of the Camp Harbor View community, Chazz shared that CHV helped shape his character and connected him to some of his closest friends, and he’s proud to run in support of the organization that gave him so much.
Georg Olav is based in Oslo, Norway, where he lives with his wife, two sons, and their energetic dog. He works in the financial industry and has built strong ties to Boston through extended family and many visits over the years. Georg began running less than a decade ago with the goal of completing all six original World Marathon Majors, and Boston marks a major milestone on that journey. He’s proud to pair this personal goal with fundraising for Camp Harbor View.
Matheus is originally from Brazil and now calls Boston home. He brings a natural ease with people and a love of culture and music to the communities he’s part of, including creative work as a DJ. Running the Boston Marathon has been a long-held goal, and he still remembers watching the race when he first arrived in the city, feeling sure he wanted to be part of it someday. This year, he’s turning that dream into reality while raising funds for Camp Harbor View.
Steve grew up outside Philadelphia but has called Boston home for more than 25 years. A proud father and stepfather to five great kids, he considers his wife, Sonja, his biggest fan and motivator. Steve is midway through a personal goal of running the Boston Marathon in his 40s, 50s, and 60s. This year’s race is especially meaningful, as he and his stepson Kevin will take on the course together. CHV has long been part of their family’s mission, with Sonja serving on the advisory board for over a decade. Stephen is proud to run in support of an organization that means so much to his family and to Boston’s young people.
Rowena is originally from the Philippines and has spent nearly two decades working in Dubai. She grew up in a close-knit family and carries that strong sense of connection into everything she does. Boston marks a major milestone in her journey toward completing the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star, a goal she dedicates to her father, who passed away from cancer. She’s proud to pair that personal achievement with fundraising support for Camp Harbor View.
Caroline lives in Stoneham with her husband and their dog, Comet. With a background in college student development, leadership development, and family support services, she feels honored to run for Team CHV and raise funds for work that so closely aligns with her passions. Boston will be her first full marathon, a longtime dream, and she’s looking forward to every thrilling, challenging mile as a community accomplishment in a city she loves.
Training for the Boston Marathon takes consistency, courage, and a community that keeps showing up. That spirit is familiar at Camp Harbor View.
Every gift made through Team CHV helps power the full CHV experience: summer days on the island, year-round programming through Leadership Academy, and the steady support families count on, including parent roundtables, resources, and direct assistance. Your support helps ensure more young people can build friendships, discover what they’re capable of, and carry that joy and momentum beyond the island.
If one runner’s story speaks to you, donate to their fundraiser and share it with your community. If you’re cheering for the whole team, you can support Team CHV in one place.
We’re celebrating exciting news: a statue honoring our co-founder, Jack Connors, is planned for the base of 200 Clarendon Street. This tribute at the building formerly known as the John Hancock Tower marks the spot where Jack had his office for four decades, first as co-founder of Hill Holliday and then the Connors Family Office.
As The Boston Globe recently shared, the bronze statue will show Jack seated on a bench, arm outstretched as if in conversation — a perfect reflection of how he made everyone feel like the most important person in the room.
Eversource chief executive Joe Nolan, a longtime friend of Jack’s and supporter of CHV’s, is spearheading the effort, which has the support of the Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
“No matter who you were, when he was talking to you, you were the most important person in the world,” Nolan said.
Gloucester-based sculptor Pablo Eduardo has been tapped to create the sculpture, and has created a miniature model and prototype. Organizers hope to have the sculpture installed by fall 2025. The photo above is a minature model of the statue.
The Jack Connors statue will be a powerful reminder not only of the mark he left on Boston, but of the future he believed in — a future we are proud to keep building together.
We hope you’ll visit the statue this fall once it’s installed. It will be a beautiful place to pause, reflect, and remember Jack’s unwavering belief in the power of community, conversation, and possibility.
On a bright afternoon in CHV’s open-air arts pavilion, campers crouch over spray-painted banners, sculpt clay figurines, and swap ideas for their next STEM experiment. It’s all part of a bold summer vision led by Raylyn, CHV’s Director of Arts and Knowledge Is Power (KIP): “Art is Resistance.” “With everything happening in the world, kids can feel powerless,” Raylyn says. “Art is how we remind them: you have the power to shape your world.”
Arts and KIP are distinct programs — Arts focuses on creativity through painting, music, and performance, while KIP sparks curiosity with hands-on STEM and critical thinking. But under Raylyn’s leadership, they intersect in powerful ways. “Great leaders throughout history had to resist,” she explains. “Here, we teach kids to resist by leaning into their strengths—whether that’s performing a poem, experimenting in science, or spray-painting their vision onto a banner. At CHV, you’re celebrated for being exactly who you are.”
This integrated approach is already transforming the island. Campers are building confidence as they create, invent, and explore, while learning that their ideas matter. “In a world that moves fast and can feel overwhelming, art and learning are ways to push back,” Raylyn says. “When kids create something from their heart or figure out how something works, you see it click: they feel powerful. That’s what this summer is about—helping them realize they already are.”
As a tireless advocate for Boston’s future leaders, Jack brought together hundreds of supporters to ensure that the programs he helped to create will thrive long after he left us. Connors passed away in 2024 at age 82.
“These kids don’t have an endowment,” Jack’s son and CHV Board Member John Connors III says in the video. “And Camp Harbor View is creating that. That’s the opportunity.”
To help build Jack’s legacy, please consider supporting CHV’s Forever Fund, ensuring that our lifechanging family and teens partnerships continue to thrive for many, many years to come.
The 2024 Camp Harbor View 5K Road Race was a success, with a record turnout of more than 800 participants joining us on Boston Common.
The event honored our founder, Jack Connors, Jr., whose spirit inspired camaraderie among participants. The turnout surpassed expectations, creating an electric atmosphere filled with laughter, community, and some friendly competition.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this day memorable; and to everyone who raised funds for the race, organized teams, sponsored, and brought friends and family to support CHV. Your support truly makes a difference. We’ll see you for the 2025 race!
Finally, we’d like to recognize and thank the sponsors and partners who made the race happen — the Sheehan Family Companies, Income Research + Management, G2 Capital Advisors, the TJX Companies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Optum Ventures, Biogen, Hill Holliday, KPMG, Martin Richard Foundation, Mass General Brigham, the Baupost Group, JetBlue, and DMSE Sports.
We’re grateful to all the participants and sponsors for making the race and the festivities so much fun.
In the Camp Harbor View (CHV) community, entrepreneurship isn’t just about a captivating pitch on Shark Tank or a stiff suit and a packed briefcase. Countless leaders walk through the teen center and go on to follow big dreams of business ventures.
Dom Breaux, Howard Breaux, and Jaylen Sanders are three of such leaders. Together, they founded Just Dreams Apparel, and their journey began right here at Camp Harbor View. After experiencing the magic of summer camp on Long Island, all three went on to join the Leadership Academy — CHV’s year-round program for Boston youth in grades 9-12 — and become Leaders in Training (LITs).
“Camp Harbor View was more than just a summer camp; it was a place for us to connect with other people our age and open up about things that we were all experiencing together.” said Howard.
Jaylen agreed, saying “I knew I wanted to stay at CHV and become an LIT because it was one of the few places I could spend quality time with others outside of school.”
Throughout high school, Howard, Dom, and Jaylen navigated the challenges of adolescence while learning the value of leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. Their time at CHV had instilled in them a sense of entrepreneurship and community. Workshops on entrepreneurship and resilience prepared them for the ups and downs that come with starting a business. Their experiences at camp taught them the importance of being comfortable with discomfort, a lesson that has been crucial in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
Their initial exploration into entrepreneurship was not without challenges. From finding inspiration to sticking to a theme, the trio faced numerous hurdles. Dom recalls the struggle of wanting to be original while ensuring their designs resonated with their target audience. There was also a learning curve with drop-shipping and other logistical aspects. Despite the setbacks, their determination, resilience, and the skills they acquired at CHV helped them push forward.
At CHV’s Summer Camp this year, Just Dreams Apparel was a hot topic. Howard recalls the constant demand for hoodies, with peers asking for more customized designs and unique colors. The support from their camp community fueled their ambition even more.
“This is a really supportive environment. No matter what, if you have doubts about something, they support you through.” said Dom.
Just Dreams Apparel aims to differentiate itself in the crowded fashion industry through originality and meaningful designs. The trio believes in pushing boundaries and embracing what drives them to work harder. They want their clothing line to promote values of perseverance and self-expression, resonating with a young audience that seeks more than just fashion.
For current participants of the LIT program who aspire to become entrepreneurs, Howard, Dom, and Jaylen have valuable advice. Stay motivated, even when faced with discouragement. Entrepreneurship is a viable path, and the skills and support from programs like CHV’s Leadership Academy can provide a solid foundation. They emphasize the importance of a supportive environment and the need for hands-on workshops that can dispel myths about entrepreneurship and post-secondary options.
Reflecting on their journey, Howard, Dom, and Jaylen are grateful for the experiences and support that CHV provided. They believe that the LIT program can continue to foster future leaders by encouraging multiple pathways to success and providing the right tools to get started.
For those interested in following their journey and supporting Just Dreams Apparel, you can find them on Instagram (justdreamsapparel) or visit their website https://justdreamsapparel.com/.
Each of these young men maintain their brand while pursuing various forms of postsecondary success: Howard, a Psychology major at Dartmouth; Dom, a Communications student at Emerson College; and Jaylen, a Radiology Technician from Massasoit.
This article first appeared in the Boston Globe and was co-authored by Camp Harbor View Chief Executive Officer Sharon McNally and chair of the board of the Yawkey Foundation John L. Harrington.
BOSTON (The Boston Globe) – Boston is a hub for excellence in education, innovation, creativity, sports, and connection. But every great city must evolve to thrive in changing times. Such change entails dedicated leadership and investments across many sectors — public, private, philanthropic — to close the gaps to opportunity. Since its inception in 2007, Camp Harbor View has been fulfilling its mission to provide Bostonians and their families one-of-a-kind summer camp for students in grades 6 through 8, year-round leadership development for students in grades 9 through 12, and comprehensive family services, including college and career planning, scholarships, clinical support, and resource coordination — all at no cost to families.
Much has been said about the loss earlier this year of Camp Harbor View cofounder Jack Connors. He was many things to many people, but there is an important common thread pulled across his many endeavors. Jack invested in youth, in families, in communities, and in the potential of every individual in Boston to have the resources and support to achieve their aspirations.
As two people who were privileged to be close to Connors, we know that he would want us to move ahead with what he had placed in motion, and that’s why our two organizations — Camp Harbor View and the Yawkey Foundation — are doubling down on the investments Connors made in the next generation of our city’s leaders.
In the months before his death, Connors was in discussions with the Yawkey Foundation about how to make sure that his investment in Boston’s youth continued to spin off dividends for generations to come. The foundation, perpetuating the philanthropic legacy of Jean and Tom Yawkey, who were owners of the Red Sox, was a natural partner in this goal — Camp Harbor View and the Yawkey Foundation share a mutual commitment to providing young adults with opportunities for out-of-school time and the Yawkey Foundation has provided more than $800,000 over 15 years in support of Camp Harbor View’s teen programs.
Connors and John Harrington, chair of the Yawkey Foundation, carried out their strategic planning over hot dogs at Sullivan’s Castle Island — yet Connors soon learned that he would have less time than he had expected to continue these conversations to map out the long-term plan for the camp.
While many people are aware of its iconic summer camp in the Harbor Islands, few are familiar with the fact that the camp operates after-school and weekend leadership and social-emotional development programs from a modest space in the South End, specifically for teens who are part of the camp community. These year-round programs have been making a difference in the lives of campers, and campers’ families, long after the youth have aged out of the traditional summer program. Yet there’s a wait-list of teens who want to get involved and countless opportunities to grow. It’s clear that the organization needs a new home base, and that was a priority project for Connors that, sadly, he was unable to accomplish. This is where the Yawkey Foundation has decided to step in.
With a $7.5 million grant announced Wednesday, the foundation is helping Camp Harbor View move all of its year-round operations to a space in the Southline Building in Dorchester. Convenient to various modes of public transit and bringing the totality of the camp’s programs and resources under one roof, it will be a game changer for thousands of Boston teens and families. This new space, this hub of year-round youth enrichment, will be named The Connors Leadership Academy. Fittingly, the academy will ensure that all the youth and family programming that Connors invested in when he created the camp will be sustained over generations to come.
Camp Harbor View is not just a camp. It’s a community of teens and families building a more inclusive, equitable, joyful, and connected next generation for our city. From summer camp to year-round leadership workshops and after-school programs, to college prep, college scholarships, and guaranteed monthly income for families — its mission is to be the holistic partner families need to achieve the kind of economic mobility and opportunity that propelled Connors from his humble beginnings to the privilege of being among the many community leaders determined to create a better Boston for all.
Here’s to delivering on Connors’s vision for investing in Boston’s children. And here’s to a new home — a welcoming, supportive, and resource-rich harbor — for Camp Harbor View and its programs so it may continue to provide opportunities for future generations of our great city.
We talk a lot about racial equity at CHV. And it’s a term we hear all the time—it shows up in the work we do, the media we consume, the news we watch, and sometimes even at the dinner table. But what does it truly mean? And how can we make real progress towards that goal?
We’re proud of the impact our programs have in Boston, but we know we don’t have all of the answers. Far from it.
So we recently posed a big question to the people of Boston — and we plastered it on billboards and across social media. “How can we make racial equity real?”
And you responded! Not only did you respond, but you embarked on deep, meaningful discussions with those around you. We appreciated seeing so many diverse perspectives from our community — here are a few of the thoughtful answers we got:
“Learn together about how to talk to each other about racism and the history of racism in Boston.” — Giselle F.
“Build and provide access to affordable, fresh nutrient filled food in EVERY Boston community.” — Sandra K.
“We need to make sure every civic and business investment we make has racial, social, and environmental equity at its core.” — Matt K.
This is a city (and a country) with a complicated, troubling racial history. We aren’t going to reach equity overnight. But if we take concrete steps together we can keep moving in the right direction. We’re here for it. Are you with us?
