PBHA (Phillips Brooks House Association)

10/16/2026

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we celebrate the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of Latinx communities across Boston and beyond. Today, we want to highlight the community activism that has shaped Boston’s Villa Victoria for generations.

In 1969, Puerto Rican residents organized to protect their South End neighborhood from displacement, paving the way for Villa Victoria, completed in 1976. Their legacy of community-building lives on through programs like PBHA’s Summer Urban Program and Keylatch Summer, where young people build friendships, learn together, and connect with their community’s history and culture.

These photos capture Keylatch students attending Festival Betances, a cornerstone of Boston’s Latinx community for more than 50 years. Drawing thousands of attendees each summer from across New England and beyond, the festival celebrates the richness of Latin music, with a stage that has welcomed legendary artists including Larry Harlow of the Fania All Stars, Tony Vega, and Tito Rojas.

By creating opportunities for young people to experience these traditions firsthand, we help ensure that the culture, stories, and community pride that shaped Villa Victoria continue to inspire future generations.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the generations who fought for their community and celebrate the young people carrying that legacy forward. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from PBHA! 🧡💙

To learn more about the history of Villa Victoria, check out this article by our PBHA Executive Director, Maria Dominguez Gray! https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/the-creation-of-the-villa-victoria/

10/14/2026

PBHA is hiring! We are looking for mission aligned folks to fill two roles: Assistant Director of Operations and Development and Program Support Fellow. Both positions are posted on careers.harvard.edu (links below). We are accepting applications for the Assistant Director through 10/18 and for the Program Support Fellow through 10/25. We will be posting an Operations Coordinator position later this fall.

https://careers.harvard.edu/job/assistant-director-of-operations-and-development-in-cambridge-ma-united-states-jid-2206

https://careers.harvard.edu/job/pbha-program-support-fellow-in-cambridge-ma-united-states-jid-2290

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

09/29/2026

Thank you for joining PBHA’s 20th Annual Robert Coles “Call of Service” Lecture and Award!

This year, we were honored to welcome physician and former Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Vivek Murthy, who joined our celebrations of 122 years of standing for good. We also celebrated the legacy of Dr. Robert Coles.

May the stories we heard and lessons we learned inspire the actions we take tomorrow 🧡

09/22/2026

Come join us THIS FRIDAY for PBHA’s Annual Coles “Call of Service” Lecture and Award ceremony at 4:00pm in First Parish Church! This year’s awardee is Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. We’ll see you there! 🧡💙

Doors open at 3:30pm. The ceremony will be followed by Dr. Robert Coles’s Memorial Reception.

09/18/2026

Forever remembered, loved dearly, and deeply missed 🕊️

Robert Coles is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, child psychiatrist, and longtime PBHA advisor, the lecture lifts up voices that inspire civic engagement and moral leadership. Dr. Coles passed away in June 2026 at the age of 97. Through the Robert Coles “Call of Service” Lecture and Award, he helped bridge the gap between public service and students at Harvard University and beyond. We are deeply grateful for the opportunities, conversations, and connections that grew from his extraordinary work and lifelong dedication to service. His impact shaped generations of PBHA students, community partners, and award recipients, and his legacy will continue to inspire those committed to building a more compassionate and just world.

We look forward to honoring his life and legacy at this year’s 20th Annual Robert Coles “Call of Service” Lecture & Award. Dr. Coles Memorial Reception will be on September 25th from 5:30-7:30pm at PBHA.

09/14/2026

Thank you everyone for joining us at our Fall Open House & Plant Sale! 🧡💙 Don’t forget to submit your Volunteer Application by this Friday, 09/18!!

And, a special thank you to Brattle Square Florist for the amazing plants! 🪴

09/07/2026

Join us on a group tour this Friday in one of the communities we serve and learn about its history and our programs! Sign up for Through The Gates now!

09/03/2026

We are just three weeks away from PBHA's 2026 Robert Coles “Call of Service” Lecture and Award on Friday, September 25th at 3:30 PM, honoring Dr. Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States.

As we look forward to honoring Dr. Murthy, we also want to take the time to celebrate the incredible impact that Dr. Robert Coles, who passed away this summer, had on our Harvard and PBHA community. Dr. Coles was a beloved teacher whose course, "The Literature of Social Reflection," inspired generations of Harvard students to seek moral courage. He also sat on PBHA's Board of Trustees, ran reflections and provided mental health support for PBHA volunteers, and believed deeply in the mission of PBHA and the power of the students' service. His life's work is deeply intertwined with generations of PBHAers.

We will have a special celebration of Dr. Coles' life and legacy during the event, and will also host a memorial reception in the Phillips Brooks House Parlor afterwards to gather and share memories. Whether or not you can join us in person, please add your appreciation or memories of Dr. Coles by September 20th that we can share with our community and his family. https://forms.gle/48WqrnQEygCTLYVq5

09/03/2026

Join PBHA TODAY and stop by our Open House from 3-6PM to learn about our volunteer programs, meet fellow students and community members, and find your place in a tradition of student-led action that has shaped Harvard and our surrounding communities.

For generations, Harvard students have come together through PBHA to serve alongside Boston and Cambridge partners, build community, and work toward social justice. These photos are a glimpse into that history — and today, that legacy continues with you!

JOIN: pbha.org/apply

09/02/2026

HAPPY FDOC! Best way to celebrate? Come TODAY September 2nd until September 4th to PBHA’s Annual Plant Sale at PBHA Lawn 3-6pm. Buy a plant, make a difference! 🧡💙