UMass Boston

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month and GRACE Trail Month, UMass Boston’s campus community gathered for Walk with GRACE 2026 in May, an annual event focused on connection, reflection, and well-being.

The event brought together 17 on- and off-campus mental health and wellness partners for an interactive resource fair, offering students, faculty, and staff opportunities to learn about available supports, engage in wellness activities, and connect with one another.

Participants also took part in a guided walk along the Harborwalk GRACE Trail® with trail founder Anne Jolles. The experience encouraged reflection through the trail’s five elements of GRACE: Gratitude, Release, Acceptance, Challenge, and Embrace.

In addition to wellness resources and reflection activities, Walk with GRACE included lawn games, an inflatable activity, food, and other opportunities for play and community building. Organizers incorporated these elements to reinforce that mental health and well-being can also include joy, laughter, and bringing out the inner child in all of us.

“One of our biggest goals was to move beyond simply sharing information,” said event organizer Beatriz Louzado, a mental health educator in the Counseling Center. “We wanted participants to experience wellness, practice reflection, and build meaningful connections.”

This year, 107 students completed the Mapping More Good Days, Together digital experience. The initiative invited participants to document their engagement with the GRACE Trail and resource fair while learning about the many support systems available on campus. Moving the activity online also helped reduce paper and ink use, supporting a more sustainable event model.

The event was also made possible through the support of approximately eight dedicated volunteers who helped bring the experience to life by preparing the Harborwalk GRACE Trail, welcoming participants, assisting with activities, and supporting event setup and breakdown. As Walk with GRACE continues to grow, organizers are seeking additional volunteers and campus partners interested in supporting future events.

Walk with GRACE 2026 was supported by University Health Services, the Chancellor’s Office, the School for the Environment Dean’s Office, the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement (OSLCE), the Black Faculty Staff Association, the Dean of Students Office, Student Equity, Access, and Success (SEAS), and Student Multicultural Affairs. Their contributions helped expand this year’s event with additions such as a food truck and inflatable activities.

Raffle prize donors included Trader Joe’s, Stop & Shop, Urban Adventours, Beacon Bookstore, the Counseling Center, UMB Recreation, and the GRACE Trail®.

Through conversations at resource tables, reflective moments along the Harborwalk, shared meals, and opportunities for play, Walk with GRACE 2026 underscored a central message: mental health is not something people navigate alone.

“Walk with GRACE continues to show that small moments of connection can create a stronger, healthier, and more supportive campus community,” Louzado said.