Connor Schoen AB ’20 

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Breaktime

Boston, Massachusetts

1. How do you contribute to public service in your community? 

When I was a first-year at Harvard in 2018, I cofounded an organization called Breaktime that works to break the cycle of young adult homelessness in Massachusetts. Since graduating in 2020, I have continued to lead that organization full-time, and we now have over 40 staff supporting more than 300 young adults annually out of the 34,000-square-foot building we just purchased in Downtown Boston. Our work is focused on equipping young adults (ages 18–24) with the job and financial security they need to ultimately attain housing security. In addition to Breaktime, I serve on the Mass LGBTQ+ Youth Commission and I support other nonprofits trying to scale up their work in the Boston area. 

2. How has your Harvard alumni network supported your efforts in community impact and public service? 

My connection to Harvard has opened so many doors to funding, partnerships, and mentorship. Some of the most incredible social entrepreneurs in the world, like Michael Brown AB ’83, JD ’88 from City Year and Dorothy Stoneman AB ’63 from YouthBuild, went to Harvard, and they continue to lean in to support students and alumni.

3. What does public service mean to you? 

To me, public service is the opportunity to live your values and become a better version of yourself.