June News and Events

As June arrives, the Chapel Haven community is buzzing with momentum. This month brings meaningful updates, exciting graduation transitions, and special moments that reflect the heart and spirit of CHSC. We’re thrilled to share what’s ahead and celebrate everything that makes Chapel Haven shine! Have a news item to contribute? Send them to Denise Hawkins

Inside CHSC - Campus News, Program Highlights

CHSC Family Weekend 2026 Recap: A Heartwarming, High‑Energy Celebration of Community, Connection & Love

The 2026 Family Weekend was nothing short of extraordinary. As our first year featuring an expanded two‑day schedule, the entire weekend felt electric — filled with bonding, joy, and the unmistakable warmth of the Chapel Haven Schleifer Center community coming together.

We kicked off the festivities with informative breakout sessions at the JCC, led by Sunny Richards and Mike Storz. With over 100 family members in attendance, the room buzzed with engagement and appreciation. Families shared feedback about the clarity, depth, and heart behind the information presented — a truly meaningful way to begin the weekend.

From there, we launched our first‑ever CHSC Walkathon, and it was a huge success. More than 200 walkers joined us for a fun morning filled with music, community, classic New Haven pizza, and an award presentation to Michael Pepe for his hard work and dedication to CHSC. The event raised over $30,000, an amazing milestone that will directly support our programs. Families told us repeatedly that one of the best parts of the walkathon was the chance to meet other families and siblings in a relaxed, non‑structured environment — a beautiful reminder of how friendships and community grow naturally when we create space for connection.

We wrapped up the weekend with our beloved Annual Family Brunch at Anthony’s Ocean View — and this year’s gathering was our biggest and most memorable yet, with over 400 attendees. The morning overflowed with love and pride, from honoring our special community partners; enjoying a heartfelt performance by our very own Jamie H.; to celebrating the bonds that make CHSC feel like family.

This year, we proudly recognized three remarkable adults who have lived independently in our supported living community for more than 30 years: Diana Bilezikian, celebrating over 30 years, who came to CHSC in 1992 and went on to publish Dear Diana, a nationally known guide to independent living, while also serving as affiliate faculty at Montclair State University; Lisa Harris, honored for an extraordinary 40 years of independence and for being a steady, positive presence in our community; and Andrew Auerbach, marking an incredible 45 years since arriving in 1977, who has built a vibrant life through his work at the Yale Child Study Center, volunteer service with New Haven’s Office of Disability Services, and his love of performing in CHSC theater productions. Their achievements and longevity reflect the very heart of CHSC’s mission and the power of a truly supportive community.

The brunch concluded with a very special announcement of a generous gift from The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation and Len and Harriet Schleifer to the Campaign for Sustainability, which includes an extraordinary matching opportunity. The news sparked a standing ovation filled with gratitude, emotion, and admiration for our donors’ unwavering support!

Thank you so much for joining us for a truly unforgettable weekend and we look forward to CHSC Family Weekend 2027! See some highlight photos below.

CHSC Students Build & Install New Mini Library in Partnership with Eli Whitney

We are excited to share a wonderful new project that showcases both creativity and community partnership at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center.

Over the past several weeks, our ASAT students have been hard at work during their volunteer time at Eli Whitney, building and painting a brand‑new mini‑library. This hands‑on project has given our adults the chance to practice teamwork, craftsmanship, and artistic expression while contributing something meaningful to the CHSC and Westville community.

We are deeply grateful to our partners at Eli Whitney, especially Gabe Mahler‑Haug and Julian Carfora, who have been the two main staff working with the Chapel Haven team, and Ryan Paxton, Executive Director, whose leadership and support are deeply appreciated. Their collaboration has made this project possible and has offered our students a welcoming environment to learn, grow, and give back.

The completed mini‑library was installed on June 5th by our friends from Eli Whitney alongside ASAT adults. It is located in front of the SAIL building on the Emerson Street side, where it will serve as a shared resource for residents, staff, and neighbors to enjoy. Please consider donating a book to fill our library!

This project is a beautiful example of what can happen when creativity, community, and partnership come together. We look forward to seeing the mini‑library become a vibrant part of daily life at CHSC!

From Anaheim to Ensenada - CHSC Travel Club's Disney Adventure Delivers Unforgettable Memories

Last month, the Chapel Haven Travel Club headed west for an unforgettable adventure celebrating Disneyland’s spectacular 70th Anniversary in Anaheim, California, before setting sail on a luxurious four-day voyage from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic.

With six travelers and two chaperones, the small group enjoyed a blend of excitement, indulgence, and relaxation. Highlights included a magical day at Disneyland, a guided tour through iconic Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and world-class entertainment and amenities aboard the ship. By unanimous vote, the evening performances, character meet-and-greets, and endless soft-serve ice cream quickly became the favorites!

The excitement doesn’t stop there! Looking ahead, students and community members will soon cast their votes for the Travel Club’s next destination during an upcoming Campus Life Meeting. Early favorites include another Caribbean cruise, while others are dreaming even bigger — with London and Paris topping the wish list as Chapel Haven prepares to take future adventures across the pond.

Wherever the next journey leads, one thing is certain: the Chapel Haven Travel Club continues to create extraordinary experiences, unforgettable memories, and meaningful connections every step of the way. Stay tuned!

A New Weekly Fitness Challenge Launches in the Sail Fitness Room

To support students who want to exercise independently but aren’t always sure where to start, the Sail Fitness Room has introduced a new weekly workout challenge.

The goal is to give everyone simple, accessible ideas for what a workout can look like—no complicated equipment or advanced routines required. Each week, a fresh challenge will be posted on the whiteboard, offering a full‑body workout designed to get people moving with minimal setup.

The first routine, co‑created with Justin, targets multiple muscle groups and is designed so anyone can jump in and give it a try. With new challenges released weekly, students can build confidence, track their progress, and discover fun ways to stay active.

Stop by the Sail Fitness Room, check out the workout of the week, and see how far you can push yourself!

Join us for “Up with Books” at the Yale Center for British Art

Chapel Haven Schleifer Center is proud to continue our long‑standing Out to Art partnership with the Yale Center for British Art (YCBA). Through this collaboration, our adults explore the museum’s collections, build confidence, and create meaningful connections with art.

This year’s project,“Up with Books,” features a student‑curated display developed with YCBA’s Education and Rare Books & Manuscripts departments. CHSC adults selected rare books and manuscripts that connect with their favorite books from home, creating a unique dialogue between personal reading and historic materials.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Matt Capezzuto from the YCBA Education Department, Anna Szapiro and Tim Young from YCBA’s Rare Books, Prints, and Manuscripts team and Tina Menchetti, Art Director at CHSC, for making this exhibit possible. Their guidance, creativity, and support helped bring our students’ vision to life.

We invite families, community members, and art lovers to visit the display and celebrate the creativity and insight of our Chapel Haven adults.

Event Details

📍 Yale Center for British Art – Study Room

📅 Thursday, June 11 & Friday, June 12

⏰ 10:00 AM–4:30 PM (both days)

💙 Free and open to the public

Special Presentation & Reception

Meet the students and hear about their selections

📍 Yale Center for British Art - Library Court

📅 Thursday, June 11

⏰ 1:30 PM-3 PM

💙 Free and open to the public

CHSC adults and staff may sign up through the Rec. Department on Rec Desk and will receive complimentary transportation.

“Up with Books” is more than a display—it’s a celebration of curiosity, independence, and the power of our Out to Art partnership.

We hope you’ll join us to meet our students, explore their selections, and experience the remarkable work they’ve created!

Milestones and Moments

Celebrating Achievements

Celebrating Cheney's Success!

Huge congratulations to Cheney Ravitz, a proud member of the Chapel Haven community, on starting his new part‑time role at Home Depot in Hamden.

Cheney is absolutely thrilled to be part of the team. He has been looking forward to this opportunity and is already embracing the responsibility with enthusiasm.

This is a wonderful milestone that reflects his hard work, growth, and determination. We’re all cheering him on as he takes this exciting next step!

Celebrating Sam’s Success — 15 Years of Dedication at Beacon Communities

Long-time CHSC community member and resident of SAIL, Sam S. is celebrating nearly 15 years of employment with Beacon Communities LLC, where he works at two properties; one located in Waterbury and the other in downtown New Haven.

Sam is employed as an assistant to the property’s Directors of Community Engagement, Willy Quiles and Maria Paredes. Sam loves working in the community engagement sector as he enjoys socializing with the residents, assisting them with their needs, sharing notices and information, keeping the community room clean and tidy, calling Bingo and preparing coffee.

This year, Sam is even more proud to share that Willy Quiles, and his team in Waterbury, were voted the best community in the region for 2026, surpassing nearly 15 other communities in CT and surrounding areas! Congratulations Sam and Willy!

Staff Recognized for Embodying

CHSC Core Values

Celebrating Our Living Our Core Values Award Recipients

Please join us in congratulating Bettina Greene‑Thompson, Kenyatta Simms, Codie O'Donovan, and Geaner Parkes (pictured left to right)—recipients of Chapel Haven Schleifer Center’s Living Our Core Values Award for their outstanding dedication to our community.

Bettina was nominated for Caring Collaboration: “Bettina immediately demonstrated a commitment to Caring Collaboration by supporting team colleagues with expertise and resources outside of those required in her job duties. Her efforts to support a colleague with a dense time, sensitive project resulted in efficient and positive progress with the project. Bettina has consistently been eager to share her knowledge, time, and resource with a variety of colleagues and projects and we’re thankful to have her on the team and as a part of the CHSC community!”

Kenyatta was nominated for Caring Collaboration: “Kenyatta was unable to attend an office birthday celebration for two of the CH adults that work in the office. Instead, she took them both out for lunch to celebrate them, demonstrating her care and commitment to the adults and the CHSC community.”

Codie was nominated for Caring Collaboration: “Codie regularly demonstrates Caring Collaboration by bringing in homemade baked goods to share with her team and to celebrate birthdays and special events. Codie recently went above and beyond in her willingness to shift work priorities to accomplish a detailed heavy data complication project during an already high work volume timeframe. Codie assisted her colleague in completing the project in a timely, efficient manner, maintaining her characteristic warmth and humor throughout the formidable task.”

Geaner was nominated for Dynamic Diversity: “Geaner has been an active member of the Diversity Committee since joining CHSC, but has also gone above her committee duties to ensure the bulletin boards in the Welcome Center are updated each month with information relevant to diverse cultural awareness dates and activities – thus broadening opportunities for CHSC adults, staff, and visitors to broaden their understanding of other communities, cultures, and perspectives.”

Congratulations to all of our honorees—your dedication strengthens the heart of CHSC!

In the News – CHSC Features & Mentions

Catching Up with Chapel Haven – Episode 7 is available on spotify now!

In this new episode, Caitlyn O joins us to share stories about her legendary grandfather, Coach Jack Ramsay; Jordan talks Special Olympics, animals, and music; Gillian & Tina dive into the latest from Out to Art and don't miss Nate’s Entertainment Report and more!

Listen to Episode 7 Here!

Pay It Forward

Thank you to the parents and CHSC adults who have taken the time to share their positive experiences with Chapel Haven Schleifer Center by writing a Google review. You, too, can change a life. Testimonials from satisfied parents go a long way! Please click below and leave your review!

Click here to write your Google Review

At A Glance Tour Take an At a Glance Tour

Held on the first Thursday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. EST, interested families are invited to take an At A Glance tour with CHSC. These one‑hour, on‑campus tours offer an introduction to either the REACH or ASAT program. Led by our Admissions team, the tour includes the opportunity to meet student ambassadors and learn more about our approach to empowering adults to live independent and self‑determined lives.

Space is limited! Select a date and register below.