Dwight Hall at Yale | Center for Public Service and Social Justice

05/29/2026

After a great first weekend, Dwight Hall is looking to welcome back more alumni to campus! Join Dwight Hall this Saturday to reconnect with classmates at the Hall, share reflections on public service, and put your story in a Dwight Hall time capsule.⁠
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Direct service more your vibe? Drop in Friday and Saturday for a reflective care kit building activity suitable for all ages. ⁠
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Enjoy the weekend! Dwight Hall can't wait to see you there!
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Open House @ Dwight Hall Library ⁠
Saturday (5/30): 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM⁠
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Care Kit Drop-In Project @ Dwight Hall Room 214
Friday (5/29) 10 AM - 4 PM⁠
Saturday (5/30) 9 AM - 2 PM

05/14/2026

On April 29th, 2026, Dwight Hall’s Alumni Mentorship and Career Development Task Force hosted the Hall’s final event of the semester, a Senior Toast, that celebrating graduating students.

The event offered students a space to reflect on the Hall and connect with one another as they continue their lifelong commitment to local action and public service. Each graduate was given a goodie bag for their work.

As commencement approaches, the Hall wants to congratulate the Class of 2026 for their accomplishments and as they move on in their careers, the Hall is lucky to have future leaders who are committed to empowering the world.

05/07/2026

Join Dwight Hall during the second day of The Great Give! As the 2026 Great Give comes to a close at 8 PM Thursday, your support helps sustain and expand opportunities for students to engage in meaningful public service and social justice work. Through fellowships and community-based activism, Dwight Hall students develop the skills and experiences that prepare them for lifelong leadership and civic engagement.

Thank you for investing in the next generation of civic leaders who are positively impacting New Haven and gaining professional skills through public service and social justice work.

Donate here:

I’m ready to support Dwight Hall at Yale on May 6, 2026 during The Great Give. Learn more about Dwight Hall at Yale and all the other organizations participating in The Great Give.

05/06/2026

Join Dwight Hall during The Great Give and help build a stronger, more inclusive Connecticut for everyone who calls it home. Community engagement, public service, and the pursuit of social justice are central to the Dwight Hall student experience—and remain more important than ever during profound challenges to higher education and public service.

As Dwight Hall celebrates 140 years, its mission continues through 80+ member groups and fellowship programs that connect students directly with New Haven communities. Student leaders are already making an impact, strengthening youth leadership and working alongside local partners to address community needs.

Your support fuels this work: expanding volunteer opportunities, growing fellowship programs, and opening pathways to careers in social impact. Join us in empowering the next generation of leaders committed to service and justice. Donate here: tinyurl.com/dhgreatgive2026

05/03/2026

By proclamation, the City of New Haven has designated May 3 as Herb Cahoon Day. For generations of Dwight Hall students, Herb was a mentor, counselor, and guiding light. Appointed Director of Volunteer Services at Yale in 1960, he grew student engagement in community service from 300 to over 1,000 by 1982 and remained a constant presence for students for decades after. Alongside him, Jean Cahoon was a beloved member of the Dwight Hall family and a trusted advisor to many.

Today, Dwight Hall engages more than 4,000 students in service and social justice across New Haven and beyond, building on the foundation Herb helped create. Have a favorite memory of Herb, Jean, or Dwight Hall’s impact on your journey? Share it with us here: https://tinyurl.com/herbcahoonday

04/21/2026

On April 8th, 2026, Dwight Hall’s Alumni Mentorship and Career Development Task Force hosted the Hall’s annual networking event that bridged students, alumni, and community partners for a festive gathering.

Welcoming over 60 individuals, the event offered students, alumni, and community partners the opportunity to learn from one another and deepen their understanding of social justice and what future careers in public service might look like.

The networking event gave individuals a chance to share their experiences with one another, connect across generations, and offer guidance and support to future leaders.

04/14/2026

When Yale College quietly cut summer storage funding for its lowest-income students, Dwight Hall's Student Executive Committee sprang into action.

Within a week, we announced an end-to-end summer storage initiative, negotiated a $50 flat rate for eligible students, and voluntarily redirected 100% of three separate budgets under our control into this emergency response.
Hundreds of students who self-identified as eligible ($0 parent share, full Pell Grant, home greater than 150 miles from New Haven, living on campus) have come forward. We are committed to not turning a single student away, but we are still short of the full projected budget.

We can’t close this gap alone.
📦 To donate and learn more: visit bit.ly/FGLI-summer-storage

Questions or want to help another way? Reach out to Topher Allen ‘27, Student Equity Coordinator on the Student Executive Committee: [email protected]

Best,
Allie Ruiz ‘28 & Carrie Lange ‘27
Dwight Hall Student Executive Committee Co-Coordinators

03/25/2026

Curious about careers in public service and social justice? Wondering how to turn your passion into meaningful work? Join Dwight Hall, Yale students, alumni, and local community partners for an engaging networking event designed to connect students with professionals in social impact careers.

This reception offers a unique opportunity to explore career paths, gain insights into internships, fellowships, and post-grad roles, and build relationships with alumni and mentors eager to share their experiences.

All alumni, community partners, undergraduate and graduate students, and friends are welcome.

RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/dhnetwork2026

02/04/2026

FOCUS on New Haven is a one-of-a-kind pre‑orientation program organized by Dwight Hall that involves first-year students volunteering with local New Haven non-profits, exploring New Haven local businesses and matched scenery, and investigating relationship between Yale and New Haven through meaningful discussions on social justice and systems of oppression in New Haven and globally.

02/04/2026

Learn about Startup Yale and the New Haven Civic Innovation Prize at the Tsai CITY Application Fest!

The New Haven Civic Innovation Prize awards up to $25,000 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 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 $25,000 in prizes and may elect to allocate the prize amount to a single winner, or between two teams.

Applications are due February 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

Apply here: https://airtable.com/appIpnNAYYxrT9WY5/pagA4aNQmueJX16EU/form