The Dwight Hall Urban Fellows Program Fosters Lifelong Public Service and Community Engagement

In 1994, Dwight Hall launched the Dwight Hall Urban Fellows program whereby Yale University undergraduates gained exposure to today’s urban challenges by directly working with community professionals. The program aimed to uncover and encounter urban challenges as it encouraged economic growth, community-building, and neighborhood advancement.

Today, the Urban Fellows cohort has grown to twenty-eight students who engage with different organizations across New Haven, including Girls Learning Advanced Math and the New Haven Housing Authority. During the program, Fellows dedicate six to eight hours per week to working in either a community organization or government agency, where they receive professional mentorship and self-design a project.

From working directly with immigrants and refugees to restructuring an educational curriculum, twenty-eight Urban Fellows served for a total of 3,627 hours. For the 2024–2025 academic year, the Urban Fellows program was led by Co-Coordinators August Rios ’26 and Zaharaa Altwaij ’25.

August Rios ’26 served at Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven (NHS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to renovating distressed homes and undertaking new construction projects to provide housing for hundreds of families in New Haven. At NHS, August served in the Community Building and Organizing Department, directly engaging with residents and team members to counter the housing challenges in New Haven. On campus, August continues his commitment to public service by working at the Yale Housing and Health Equity Lab and leading the Yale Student Association for Small Claims Assistance (Y-SASCA), a Dwight Hall member group.

Zaharaa Altwaij ’25 started her engagement with public service and Dwight Hall through Dwight Hall’s Urban Fellows program. She eventually became a Co-Coordinator of the Urban Fellows program and served as the Health and Wellness Coordinator at Elena’s Light, where she organized culturally-competent health classes and other health programming for the refugee population in greater New Haven. Her interest in health equity has also led her to volunteer at Dwight Hall organizations like HAVEN Free Clinic, a student-run clinic assisting low-income communities.

When asked about the program, Zaharaa stated that “The Urban Fellows program has allowed me to pursue any area of interest through a self-designed project with a community partner. It has been such a great opportunity in helping me explore nonprofit careers and hone my leadership skills. I will carry along the mentorship and friendships I have been able to make within my community placement and the broader cohort of Urban Fellows.”

For her work in public service, Zaharaa was recognized with a 2025 Yale Alumni Association Public Service Award, an annual award that recognizes individuals dedicated to public service who are innovative, individual, impactful, and inspiring.

As Dwight Hall continues to nurture a lifelong commitment to public service through the Urban Fellows program, its mission remains rooted in community engagement and student development. Urban Fellows like Zaharaa and August serve New Haven, and they carry lessons of public service beyond their time at Yale.

The Urban Fellows program experience exemplifies the Grow pillar of Dwight Hall’s Engage, Grow, and Advance program delivery model, which develops Yale students’ intellectual, moral, civic, and creative capacities to the fullest through experiential learning, fellowships, mentorship, and training.

Learn more about the Urban Fellows program here.