Without a doubt, June has left its mark with an array of fun-filled family events throughout the city. The soaring temperatures confirm that summer is here to stay, so be sure to stay cool and enjoy some of the events noted below.

We attended several events last month. If you see me or any of the CHA team members, feel free to say hello and take a selfie to share on our social media platforms.



We are also super excited to share the great news about two recent hires! See below to meet Bwiza and Luc and learn about their new careers.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! We appreciate your continued support and continued engagement with CHA.

-Conan Harris

From L to R: Jason Arnold, Maureen Azor, Hilina Ajakaiye

On June 26, CHA had the pleasure of sponsoring the Meet Boston Foundation’s annual golf tournament. Our Director of Operations, Maureen Azor and her husband, Jason Arnold, had the honor of representing CHA on the golf course. 



Proceeds from the event will be used to benefit the Meet Boston Foundation, the Preston Settles Memorial Fund and Hospitality Homes. You can visit these organizations' websites to learn more about the amazing work they are doing.

From L to R: James Hills, Thaddeus Miles, Conan Harris

Conan had the pleasure of speaking at the Men's Mind, Body & Soul Summit: Fathers & Father Figures Panel alongside James Hills and Thaddeus Miles on June 28, 2024. This event, hosted by DeeDee’s Cry, took place at Encore Boston and focused on men’s wellness.

On June 27,2024 , Conan Harris shared his insights at the Restorative Justice Theory In Action Conference, held at Roxbury Community College and hosted by Responsibleparty. This organization seeks to bridge social divides through restorative practices, creating transformative experiences and promoting global change. By building a diverse network of individuals committed to justice and equity, Responsibleparty aims to address wrongs and foster a fairer world.

Our ongoing collaboration with Meet Boston continues to progress steadily, and we are delighted to announce several new hires! Below, you can learn about Bwiza and Luc and their exciting new careers.

We’re extremely proud to share that our very own, Bwiza Kironyo has secured a position as an Administrative Coordinator at the Rose Kennedy Conservancy. Bwiza has worked with CHA for the past several months and was seeking an opportunity that would expand her skillset. Although we will miss her dearly, we are happy for her and this exciting career opportunity. Congratulations, Bwiza!

"The P.A.T.H Program has opened doors to incredible opportunities, placing me in a role at Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy. I'm thrilled to join such an innovative organization and look forward to growing both professionally and personally in this exciting new chapter." - Bwiza

Our work on standing up the P.A.T.H. Workforce Development Initiative continues, and we’re pleased to share our progress to-date: 

• 51 candidates submitted applications through the portal
• 22 candidates are currently active
• 68 job applications submitted
• 40 interviews
• 9 job placements
• Over 280 contacts with CHA staff & applicants

In terms of partnerships, there are:

• 34 Host Site Partners
• 25 Community Organization Partners
• Over 300 contacts with Partner organizations
• 30 in-person meetings with stakeholders

With your engagement and support, we have made significant progress. If you’re interested in a new career, click here to apply for open positions. We have additional qualified candidates in the pipeline and several exciting career opportunities available. Please share the P.A.T.H. flyer with your networks or anyone you know is interested in a career in tourism and hospitality, or direct them to this page to apply.  

The information gathering phase is complete and we now have sufficient information to start the draft of the Request for Proposal for Meet Boston’s enhanced CRM. We want to extend a special thank you to the MB team, the destination services and other organizations that have graciously provided their time, expertise, and advice on how to best proceed in developing the RFP.



We have also compiled a list of ten CRM vendors specializing in diversity supplier management whom we will invite to submit responses to our RFP. If you know of any other CRM vendors that might be interested in submitting a proposal, please have them contact Jacqui@conanharrisassociates.com. 

This month, we’re happy to feature Task Force member Mayra Negrón-Roche, Chief Operating Officer of Inquilinos Boricuas En Accion (IBA). Mayra has a demonstrated history of excellence working in community development and the non-profit organization management industry. She is highly skilled in Real Estate development, Affordable Housing, Property and Asset Management, Human Resources, IT and Accounting Management.



IBA is a non-profit organization and a dynamic community development corporation that started in the South End neighborhood of Boston, to address displacement of low-income families due to urban development. IBA’s mission is to empower individuals and families to improve their lives and achieve socio-economic mobility through high-quality affordable housing, education, financial and resident empowerment and arts programs.

Visit IBA to learn more about its programs, events, and exciting Campaign to Build La CASA, a bold and visionary commitment to create a more equitable future to empower the future trajectory of the IBA community.

We’re happy to welcome LAZ Parking to our list of Community Partners. 

In the summer of 1981, Alan Lazowski was working on a plan to make some money before his senior year at the University of Connecticut. With a small loan from his grandfather, Alan began parking cars at a restaurant in downtown Hartford, CT. By summer’s end, he was managing five parking locations and 30 employees.

Today, with his original partners and lifelong friends, Jeff Karp and Michael Harth, LAZ operates over 1.2 million parking spaces in more than 3,000 thousand locations and 400+ cities across the country, including many of the original locations started back in 1981.



Over four decades later, the founders and their original values continue to guide the LAZ Parking of today. With a laser-focused mission to “Create Opportunities for Our Employees and Value for Our Clients”, the company are passionately committed to living up to “The LAZ Way."



To learn more about LAZ Parking, click here.

We are also happy to welcome a new Workforce Host Site partner to our list of partnerships!

The Boxer Hotel is a boutique hotel located between the historic North End and Beacon Hill’s cobblestone streets.  Voted as a top hotel in Boston in Condé Nast Traveler's 2023 Readers' Choice Awards, the hotel provides a comfortable place to stay, as well as easy access to the best of the city.

CHA is still looking for professionals with expertise and knowledge on any of the topics noted below. If you’re interested in hosting a session for our young professionals, contact path@conanharrisassociates.com to get involved. 

We will be hosting sessions on the following topics:

• Effective Communication
• Time & Project Management 
• Leadership 
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Stress Management
• DEIB / Cultural Competencies

Thank you for your continued interest in, and support of, the good work CHA continues to drive toward sustainable growth, equity, and power to our communities of color.

To see previous newsletters, click here. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay informed about the great things happening in our city!

Blessings!

Conan Harris,

Founder & Principal