Chaya Harris

Executive Director

Chaya Harris, the new Executive Director of Boston’s Elevate Youth, is a leader, educator, and adventurer who is passionate about bringing equal access to nature and high-quality experiences in the outdoors to our underserved youth. 

Chaya, who grew up in Boston, most recently served as the National Program Director at Outdoor Afro, where she supported a team of 105 volunteers across the country in hosting monthly recreational events with a focus on wellness in the Black community, collaborated with partners on special projects, and assisted with communications and storytelling. 

Prior, as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Thompson Island Outward Bound, Chaya worked closely with Boston Public Schools to help facilitate exciting, hands-on adventures on the Boston Harbor Islands, including overnight programs that combined academic learning with social-emotional development through ropes courses.  

Previous to her work at nonprofits, Chaya was an educator in the Boston Public Schools for a decade. She taught Grade 5 at Dorchester’s Mather Elementary, working with students with disabilities and those learning English as a second language throughout her career. She later completed the Lynch Leadership Academy at Boston College and served as a Principal Fellow at the Mendell Elementary School under former Principal Julia Bott. 

Throughout the years, Chaya has worked and volunteered with community organizations to promote access to the often transformational and healing experiences of being outside – of being in and embracing nature. She especially enjoys hiking, kayaking, mountaineering and playing sports. Chaya is also a certified kayak instructor.