Boston by Foot (BBF) is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1976 to celebrate Boston’s rich history and architectural heritage through guided wallking tours. While Jonathan has been part of BBF for the last 5 years, he is someone that does not typically fit the profile one might expect of a volunteer. After all, he was born and raised in the Philippines and was never taught American History in his formative years. He moved to the US to pursue an undergrad degree and eventually a career in Insurance, which didn’t really intersect much with history, architecture, or culture….
A simple desire to better connect with Boston after moving to the city led him to Boston by Foot and into a world that resembled very little of what he grew up with some ~8,400 miles away. What Jonathan had not realized then was that this impulsive decision to become a tour guide would eventually allow him to reframe his perspective on life and the world around him. Somehow by telling someone else’s history, he has been able to reflect upon his own Filipino upbringing and discern his cultural identity with a bit more nuance and understanding. Jonathan will be sharing with us his unconventional path to becoming a docent as well as some insights he has gained while walking along the Freedom Trail.
Jonathan Crisol is the Head of Operations & Business Planning for the International Personal Lines division of Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property & casualty insurance company. Jonathan graduated from St. John’s University in New York and earned an MBA from INSEAD in France. He is also on track to earn his ALM through Harvard Extension School in the field of International Relations this coming May (fingers crossed!).