New Haven

 

I want to go to a Yale where students feel connected to the pulse of their city, through partnerships, community engagement, and outreach. New Haven is an amazing city, and we’re lucky to study here. We should explore it, celebrate it, learn about it, and give back to it in meaningful, responsible ways. One of my favorite experiences at Yale has been mentoring New Haven high school students in civics education with the Citizen program, and I want to make sure YCC does its part to create a campus climate where we get involved, build real relationships with people in our city, and see ourselves as New Haveners, just as we see ourselves as Yalies.

Yale should:

-Host events during Camp Yale that showcase New Haven in a positive light, such as an art and food showcase or a speech from the mayor, rather than just the safety briefing, which reinforces negative stereotypes. Encourage representatives from Dwight Hall to attend to speak to opportunities for service in the city.

-Train all frocos to talk about New Haven in a positive way, emphasizing opportunities to explore, enjoy, and serve New Haven, rather than just safety.

-Increase funding for Dwight Hall, and, by extension, all the student service groups that receive Dwight Hall support and funding.

-Provide funds to Dwight Hall specifically to integrate its constituent parts, so that service groups are kept abreast of best practices in other organizations.

-Commit to providing funds to cover certain transportation costs that Dwight Hall is currently not able to cover, for lack of funds.

-Increase funding for term-time and summer fellowships that sponsor Yalies to work with nonprofits and city government, including the Dwight Hall Urban Fellows, Dwight Hall Summer Fellows, and the President’s Public Service Fellows.

-Expand the FOCUS on New Haven pre-orientation program to serve as many freshmen as possible. FOCUS should ultimately be on par in size with FOOT, Harvest, and CC.

-Offer, at the University Properties-owned Shops at Yale, retail and dining options that reflect student interests, are affordable for all Yalies, and are accessible and welcoming to all New Haveners, placing a priority on locally-owned small businesses. (Less Emporium DNA, and more Junzi Kitchen and Claire’s!)

-Expand the New Haven Green Innovation Fellowships, which are offered to students who pioneer innovations in sustainability and renewable energy and provide green services to the city of New Haven.

-Extend shuttle lines to parts of New Haven that are further from campus, outside of downtown and East Rock.

 

What YCC can do:

-Recommend to Yale administrators that they

  • Host positive, New Haven-focused events during Camp Yale.

  • Train Frocos to encourage freshmen to explore all New Haven has to offer.

  • Increase funding for New Haven-focused service fellowships.

  • Increase funding for Dwight Hall and related service organizations.

-Write a report on the nearby shopping and dining establishments offered by University Properties, exploring whether the shops in Yale-owned properties on Chapel and Broadway are (a) meeting Yalies’ shopping and dining needs and wants, (b) affordable for all Yalies, and (c) accessible and welcoming to all New Haveners.

-Collaborate with Dwight Hall to create a “Culture of Service Report” that analyzes the extent of student participation in service activities, identifies which students indicate an interest in service but do not participate, surveys service group leaders about their satisfaction with the support and services they receive from Dwight Hall and Yale, and recommends ways to engage more students in service and strengthen the work of student groups.

-Instruct the Events Committee to plan fun and exciting events that connect Yalies with New Haven and support small businesses, like a Food Truck Festival, community dining out nights, New Haven Green cleanups, arts showcases where Yalies and New Haveners perform together, etc.

-Call a biannual meeting between the President and the Co-Coordinators of Dwight Hall, and report back to YCC on what we can do to help more students engage with service and advocacy in New Haven.

-Change UOC funding policies to allow grants for events that bring Yalies and New Haveners together in celebration and conversation on and off campus, such as social and political discussions, arts showcases, and cookoffs.  

-Lead by example, with YCC members publicizing and attending Dwight Hall Days of Service.