Elena's Light: Refugee Advocacy in Connecticut
2023-11-09 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | William L. Harkness Hall
The Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association (YULAA) is hosting a speaker event in WLH 113 with Fereshteh Ganjavi, the founder of Elena’s Light. Elena’s Light is a non-profit organization that focuses on empowering female refugees and immigrants by providing accessible ESL tutoring services, maternal and pediatric health education services, and CT DMV driver’s license exam preparation services. Come hear Fereshteh’s story and learn more!

Volunteer with Sunrise Cafe!
2023-11-14 06:00 - 09:00, 2024-01-23 06:00 - 09:00, 2024-01-30 06:00 - 09:00, 2024-02-06 06:00 - 09:00, 2024-02-13 06:00 - 09:00
Register Here!

Start your morning off on a great note! Join Dwight Hall Tuesday mornings to volunteer at Sunrise Cafe. Volunteers will meet in front of Dwight Hall at 6:00am, walk together to Sunrise Cafe, and will return to campus by 9:00am.

Volunteers are strongly encouraged to wear N95 masks during service.

Sunrise Cafe has been serving breakfast without charge to New Haven’s homeless and hungry since 2015. Each weekday morning, the Cafe welcomes guests to the undercroft of St. Paul and St. James, near Wooster Square and three blocks south of the New Haven Green with white tablecloths, flowers and a rotating menu of fresh, warm, nutritious home-cooked food. Your generosity opens our doors.

Cheerful volunteers take each order individually, deliver the breakfast to our guest and help our paid chef in the kitchen. Thelma Ragsdale, Operations Manager, and our volunteers ensure every guest is warmly welcomed.

Sunrise Cafe is uniquely welcoming and secure, based on trust and mutual respect, and the rapport built between the volunteer servers and our guests. With a warm welcome and just two rules – no drugs on the premises and no arguments – Sunrise has become a community center for the homeless, a place to come every weekday morning and gather with friends.

Hungry friends come for the home-cooked, nourishing breakfast and stay for simple medical services offered by the Cornell Scott Health Center and access to support from social services to find housing.

Sunrise provides a unique opportunity to bridge New Haven’s inequalities that separate us from one another. Volunteers come once and become regulars. Guests and volunteers become friends and greet one another on the street.

Innovator's Toolkit: Funding Your Nonprofit Startup
2023-11-14 18:30 - 20:00 | KNOWN Coworking, 139 Orange Street 4th Floor, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510
Register Here!

Whether you’re a budding social innovator or a seasoned nonprofit professional, fundraising is a critical activity for the sustainability of your organization. Join Tsai CITY, Dwight Hall, and KNOWNPRENEURS for an interactive workshop where you’ll explore funding models, tailor your pitch, and develop your donor network.

Every fundraising strategy, just like every organization, is unique. We will ensure that each participant knows how to tailor their approach based on their organization’s mission and objectives. We will also focus on funding models beyond traditional philanthropy and grant writing, including crowd-funding, social impact investments, and partnership support. The goal is for each participant to leave with a clear next step on how they can meet their fundraising goals and create a strategy that will work for them.

About the speaker, Etana

Etana Solomon is a social impact strategist who is dedicated to creating more equitable and sustainable social change. She leads her own firm focused on developing impact ecosystems that leverage donor networks, private and public sector assets, and mission-driven organizations to create lasting impact.

Before starting her own firm, Etana spent most of her career at Mastercard. She held multiple positions at the company, which included supporting Mastercard’s philanthropic arm – the Center for Inclusive Growth (CFIG). While at CFIG, Etana managed the Business Unit Charitable Support program that deployed millions of dollars in donations to organizations across the world. She also supported the North America Social Impact team through project management, grant support, and metric tracking for key initiatives related to small business, racial equity, and government engagement.

Etana is from New Haven, CT, where she currently resides. She got a B.S. in International Business and Marketing at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business and is passionate about the intersection of business and social good.

*Note: this event is hybrid, and if you are attending virtually, information will be shared in the registration email you receive.

YHHAP Fast Fall 2023 Fundraiser
2023-11-17 00:00 - 23:59
The YHHAP Fast is the largest student-run fundraiser on Yale’s campus. Once every semester over 25% of Yale’s student body donates their Yale Dining meal swipes for the day of the Fast. This year, the Fast will be held on November 17, 2023.

This semester, the YHHAP Fast is fundraising to support four New Haven organizations doing critical on-the-ground work to alleviate food and housing insecurity: New Reach, NICE Center, Project Access, and Sunrise Cafe.

A Night of Celebration and Advocacy with Elis for Rachael
2023-11-17 17:30 - 20:00 | 311 Temple Street
Please join Elis for Rachael to celebrate our landmark mental health policy success with Yale! Our advocacy has resulted in far more humane, student-centered policies for those with mental health disabilities and those needing to take time away for urgent health needs. Engage with a panel of students and alumni about their own lived experience, participate in a raffle of gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses, enjoy free pizza, and listen to a special performance from The New Blue of Yale! Register here.

Elis for Rachael runs a student fund which has directly helped students with therapy, medical co-pays, educational expenses, housing, transportation, and other basic needs that arise around taking a medical leave of absence.

Endeavor Global Information Session and Coffee Chat
2023-11-27 13:30 - 14:30
and 2:30 – 4:30pm @ Tsai CITY!

Interested in high impact work? Come to the Endeavor Global Information Session on Monday, November 27, 1:30-2:30 at Tsai CITY and sign up for an Endeavor Global Coffee Chat (group and 1:1’s available) on Monday, November 27, from 2:30 – 4:30 pm (20 minute spots each) to meet with this leading global community organization for high-impact entrepreneurs. These events are coordinated by Yale’s Office of Career Strategy.

Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association and Legal Aid Event
2023-11-27 18:30 - 19:30
Join the Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association (YULAA) in a speaker event in LC 211 with the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association. Learn from two attorneys who are members of the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association, an organization that promotes Hispanic representation in legal professions. Members include attorneys, law students, paralegals professors, and members of the judiciary.

Banquet & Symposium for Afghanistan
2023-12-02 11:00 - 15:00
Last month, seven deadly earthquakes over 6.3 magnitude affected Afghanistan. Over 100,000 people were directly affected, worsening a protracted humanitarian crisis caused by a lack of humanitarian aid that funnels into the country.

We invite you to join our fundraising lunch banquet and symposium this Saturday at 11 am in Dwight Hall as we amplify the voices of refugees as they reflect on their lived experiences and the state of Afghanistan today. We are fortunate to be joined by Musa Mahmoudi, the former Executive Director of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission; Zamzama Safi, who fled from Taliban capture when she was 15 and became a prominent advocate for women’s rights and universal education; and Zahra Motamedi, a strong proponent of women’s and children’s rights in Afghanistan. We look forward to seeing you there! Afghan food will be served.

Uyghur Poetry Exhibition
2023-12-02 15:00 - 17:00
Yale Amnesty International will be hosting a Uyghur Poetry Exhibition in observance of East Turkestan Day!

Want to join? This event will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the Watson Center in Room B74 from 3 – 5 PM.

Winter Knitting Donation Workshop
2023-12-05 17:00 - 20:00 | CEID Lecture Hall, 15 Prospect Street Becton Center 107, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511
Come to the CEID to knit hats with a knitting machine or knit by hand with donated wool! All items will be donated to help keep our vulnerable neighbors in New Haven warm.

New knitters or crocheters welcome! BYO needles (if you have them). Snacks provided.

Can’t make it? Consider donating old clothes at the YHHAP donation bin to the left of Dwight Chapel or wool yarn next to the Dwight Hall office.

Life After Yale: Connecting with Young Alumni in Social Impact Careers
2023-12-08 13:00 - 14:15 | Dwight Hall Library, 67 High St, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, United States
RSVP here!

Join recent Yale Alumni in the Northeast region as they share insights on navigating the early stages of their careers in public service, advocacy, and beyond. Our panelists will delve into questions such as what motivates them to pursue impactful careers, how they overcame challenges on their professional paths, and how they navigate the position of being a young person in the workplace. Discover firsthand strategies on turning passion into purpose as you enter the workforce after Yale.

This will be an in-person gathering with refreshments provided. There will be a brief panel discussion followed by mingling and networking. RSVP is optional but highly encouraged!

The panelists include:

Caterina Passoni ’18, Co-Founder and Director of Growth at Havenly

Ahmad Saleh ’22 M.Ph., Co-Founder of MakeDeathsCount

Sophie Cappello ’20, Campaign Associate at Regional Plan Association

FOCUS Study Break
2023-12-12 20:00 - 22:00 | Dwight Hall at Yale Common Room, 67 High Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511
Calling all FOCUS participants, leaders, and everyone in between — join us for an open evening of reflecting and refreshments! Come by the Dwight Hall Common Room anytime between 8-10pm on December 12 to see old friends, get free coffee, tea, or snacks, find opportunities with Dwight Hall, and just relax during a busy final season.

RSVP is helpful so we know how many refreshments to get, but please feel free to drop in.

All are welcome!

Dwight Hall Bluebooking
2024-01-19 14:00 - 16:00
Back on campus? Join us for a blue-booking event with Dwight Hall’s community on January 19th from 2 to 4 pm! We will be located in the Dwight Hall Library.

Dwight Hall Spring Bazaar
2024-01-20 12:00 - 14:00
Eager to get involved in the New Haven community? Meet representatives and leaders from community-based partner organizations and initiatives advancing social change in the New Haven community!

Building Bridges Breaking Barriers: The Ongoing Fight for Education Justice Featuring Ruby Bridges
2024-01-24 17:30 - 19:30
REGISTER HERE

Dwight Hall is a proud co-sponsor of this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Commemoration.

Yale University and the Greater New Haven communities are invited to attend this year’s MLK Commemoration that honors the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We are pleased to announce that the commemoration will feature Ruby Bridges.

Ruby Bridges is a Civil Rights icon, activist, author, and speaker who, at the age of six, was the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in Louisiana. She was born in Mississippi in 1954, the same year the United States Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision ordering the integration of public schools. Her family later moved to New Orleans, where on November 14, 1960, Bridges began attending William Frantz Elementary School, single-handedly initiating the desegregation of public education. Her walk to the front door of the school was immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s painting The Problem We All Live With, in Robert Coles’ book The Story of Ruby Bridges, and in the Disney movie Ruby Bridges.

This event is free and open to the public, but you must register to attend!

Volunteering and Internship Fair
2024-01-25 11:30 - 14:00
Looking to get involved in your New Haven community?

Come out and meet representatives from New Haven based organizations including:

IRIS: Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services

DESK: Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen

New Haven Reads

And many more!

Be inspired. Learn about volunteer possibilities. Open to all members of the Yale community. Divinity School students can learn about opportunities that meet the requirements for the Divinity School Internship Program.

Co-Sponsored by Yale Divinity School Office of Vocation and Leadership and Dwight Hall at Yale, Center for Public Service and Social Justice

The Divinity School Common Room may be found on the second floor of Yale Divinity School as shown here. The Yale Shuttle Blue Line stops directly in front of the Divinity School on Prospect Street.

MeshEd Virtual Info Session
2024-01-25 15:00 - 16:00
Ready to revolutionize education? Join MeshEd Collective’s internship, where creativity meets curriculum! Dive into innovative projects, from podcasts to fashion reinventions, and empower students to showcase their passions. Learn about MeshEd’s 2024 Summer Internship Program! A 6-8 week paid program in Brooklyn where you can work on designing enrichment curriculum and teach in MeshEd’s very own Action Labs. Hear from past intern and current employee: Libby Kern (YC’23), Sales Associate, Betsey Schmidt, CEO and Lili Davis, Director of Internships.

Women in Charge: A Conversation about Leadership
2024-01-25 19:00
A conversation between 6 prominent leaders from the New Haven business, arts and educational community will take place in front of a live audience. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees must register on Eventbrite.

January 25 at 7pm, Yale SOM Snyder Hall, ground floor. Free parking in Yale Lot 22 located at 260 Whitney Ave.

Panelists:

Julie Greenwood, Executive Director of Squash Haven

Arati Pandit, Director of Cold Spring School

Mercy Quaye, Founder and President of The Narrative Project

Randi Ruben Rodriguez Founder and Executive Director of ‘r kids

Ilona Samogyi Founder and Director of Ball & Socket Arts

Moderator:

Hope Chavez, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven

Producer:

Linda Lindroth with support from The American Rescue Program Act

Volunteering 101: Fundamentals
2024-01-26 15:00 - 16:30
Dwight Hall is launching a Volunteering 101 series to provide greater support for student exploration of volunteer opportunities and to equip students with tools for the effective practice of service.

Our first workshop – Fundamentals of Volunteering – will take place on Friday, 1/26 at 3pm. The first 45 minutes will feature an overview of Dwight Hall, discuss ways to find opportunities, tailor interests, plan for realistic commitments, and develop habits of reflective practice.

The second part of the workshop will entail a group service project assembling personal care kits for those experiencing homelessness and taking inventory of supplies for future kits. Register here!

Teach for America Student-Alumni Mixer
2024-01-30 10:00 - 16:00 | Common Grounds, 276 York St
Teach for America, a non-profit company focused on ending education inequity, is hosting a number of recruitment events on campus and has internship opportunities for all years/majors as well as post-graduate employment. Join Bernard Alexander, Recruitment Manager for:

Coffee Chats on Tues. 1/30, Wed. 1/31, or Thurs. 2/1 from 10-4 at Common Grounds

Teach for America Student-Alumni Mixer on Wed. 1/31 at 6pm at the Afro American Cultural Center

Startup Yale 2024 Orientation
2024-01-30 12:00 - 13:00
Ready to elevate your venture? With over $150K in prizes this year, this is your chance. Get started early; mentorship applications open on January 16th, 2024. Main prize applications open on February 1st, 2024. Positivity, growth, and opportunity await. Let’s dream big together!

REGISTER!

Dwight Hall at Yale sponsors the New Haven Civic Innovation Prize as part of Startup Yale.

The New Haven Civic Innovation Prize awards up to $15,000 to the best student- or community-led venture or project focused on benefiting the City of New Haven.

The Prize aims to catalyze student- and community-led innovations that address, and are informed by, community priorities. Community members, students, or teams of students and community members who are working on projects in key areas of community development, particularly related to recovery from the health and economic crises causes by the COVID-19 pandemic, are welcome to apply.

Please see this page for more information.

New Haven Civic Innovation Prize Technical Guidance Session
2024-02-06 17:30 - 18:30 | Dwight Hall at Yale Common Room, 67 High Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511
Join us for an Information and Technical Assistance session for the New Haven Civic Innovation Prize! This session will review the criteria for the Prize and we will answer any questions you have about the application due February 13.

This is a hybrid event that will be broadcast from the Dwight Hall Common Room. If you would like to participate via Zoom, please register here for a link.

The New Haven Civic Innovation Prize awards up to $15,000 to the best student- or community-led venture or project focused on benefiting the City of New Haven.

The Prize aims to catalyze student- and community-led innovations that address, and are informed by, community priorities. Community members, students, or teams of students and community members who are working on projects in key areas of community development, particularly related to recovery from the health and economic crises causes by the COVID-19 pandemic, are welcome to apply.

The competition provides participants with constructive feedback from experienced professionals, mentorship from relevant experts, and chances to meet social entrepreneurs and civic leaders. The judges will award a total of $15,000 in prizes and may elect to allocate the prize amount to a single winner, or between two teams.

Learn more:

Further information including Prize criteria and links to the application can be found at http://dwighthall.org/civicinnovationprize

Dwight Hall Socially Responsible Investment Fund: ESG Careers in the Real World
2024-02-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Dwight Hall at Yale Common Room, 67 High Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511
RSVP here!

The Dwight Hall Socially Responsible Investment Fund invites you to a panel discussion with Anna Blanding ’03, ’09 M.B.A. (CIO, ConnCORP); Drew D’Alelio ’22 M.A., ’22 M.B.A. (Senior Associate, Connecticut Innovations); and Georgia Keohane ’94 (CEO, Soros Economic Development Fund).

Join us to learn about Environmental, Social, and Governance investing in the real world, explore ESG career paths, and network with alumni working in socially responsible investing.

Refreshments will be served.

Government, Education & Non-Profit Career Fair
2024-02-09 10:00 - 15:00
Don’t miss registration for the annual Government, Education & Non-Profit Career Fair. The event brings top employers to students and alumni for internships and full-time jobs in the government, education, and non-profit sectors.

Save the date! Registration opens Friday, January 12th. We highly recommend being one of the first to register to make sure you secure spots for your target organizations.

New Haven Civic Innovation Prize Technical Guidance Session
2024-02-09 17:30 - 18:30
Zoom session. Register HERE.

Join us for an Information and Technical Assistance session for the New Haven Civic Innovation Prize! This session will review the criteria for the Prize and we will answer any questions you have about the application due February 13.

The New Haven Civic Innovation Prize awards up to $15,000 to the best student- or community-led venture or project focused on benefiting the City of New Haven.

The Prize aims to catalyze student- and community-led innovations that address, and are informed by, community priorities. Community members, students, or teams of students and community members who are working on projects in key areas of community development, particularly related to recovery from the health and economic crises causes by the COVID-19 pandemic, are welcome to apply.

The competition provides participants with constructive feedback from experienced professionals, mentorship from relevant experts, and chances to meet social entrepreneurs and civic leaders. The judges will award a total of $15,000 in prizes and may elect to allocate the prize amount to a single winner, or between two teams.

Learn more:

Further information including Prize criteria and links to the application can be found at http://dwighthall.org/civicinnovationprize

Summer 2024 Public Service & Social Sector Fellowships Information Session
2024-02-16 12:30
RSVP here!

On the hunt for a summer fellowship experience in New Haven or beyond? Join Dwight Hall for an information session in collaboration with the Office of Career Strategy and the Office of Fellowships and Funding. Our panelists will provide insights into the diverse fellowship opportunities available, offer tips for crafting compelling applications, and connect you with support networks and resources. Whether you’re an experienced applicant or new to exploring summer opportunities, this event is designed to provide you with the tools you need to pursue your aspirations in public service and social impact.

Lunch will be provided!

The panelists include:

Mark Fopeano, Director of Programming and Evaluation at Dwight Hall at Yale

Jorimel Zaldivar, Senior Associate Director for Common Good Careers at Yale’s Office of Career Strategy

Emma Rose, Director of Yale’s Office of Fellowship Programs
