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Only one more D-Holla left...

 Hey Dwight Hall!

With the advent of the last week of classes, finals are approaching far too soon. Distract yourself with an awesome public health event (dinner with a professor or a panel discussion), and come to the Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) Launch Conference this Saturday - it's free! CitySeed is hosting its long awaited Rock-to-Rock ride this Saturday, and INSPI(RED) is fundraising with a 3-on-3 soccer tournament this Sunday. Leave your books in the library and go explore the (hopefully) marvelous weather! 

Next Tuesday will be the last D-Holla for a while, so send any final events to me by then. You can continue to post events on the Dwight Hall website throughout the summer.

Yours,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator

The Prefrosh are Descending...

 Hey Dwight Hall!

Ready for prefrosh? 

We are!

If you're hosting a bunch of potential Yalies and don't know what to do with them all, here's a list of all the Dwight Hall group events over the next two days. Pass it on to them, or even attend some yourself! Those chocolate fountains only come out once a year...

Dwight Hall will have an open house from 2-4 this afternoon (4/13) in the Library, so stop by if you want a real-life version of Dwight Hall Match or just feel like chatting about social justice. I'll be passing out flyers to prefrosh in my brand new Dwight Hall t-shirt (click here to order one!). Our main Bulldog Days event will be a panel in the Common Room from 5-6 on Thursday. Definitely come by - the questions and conversation should be of general interest to all.

 Hopefully the rest of your week won't be entirely dominated by Bulldog Days - there are plenty of other great events lined up below! 

Yours,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator

Outdoor Service Day & Bulldog Days!

 Hey Dwight Hall! 

A few things to keep on your radar:

1. We have some exciting OUTDOOR service projects set up for this Saturday, April 9th, from 11am until 1-2pmTake a break from studying, and get outside to do some active service work! The projects we have lined up are:

 
a. Park cleanup at East Rock (with Friends of East Rock Park)
b. Community garden cleanup and potluck lunch (with Chatham Square Neighborhood Association)
c. Cleanup on the New Haven Green (with Town Green Special Services District)
 
 
 
2BULLDOG DAYS is coming up! Next week's D-Holla will come out on Tuesday with a list of Dwight Hall-themed events for prefrosh, which will also be distributed to prefrosh as they come into Dwight Hall for the first time to pick up their registration packets.  If your member group is hosting an event, please let me know so I can add it to this list by filling out this form.
 

Speaking of which, the D-Holla will be moving to a more consistent release day. Please get your submissions to me or post them on the website by Tuesday at noon, for a Tuesday afternoon release!

 

See you at the Japan Benefit Concert,

Yours,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator

Kickoff to Public Health Week!

 Hey Dwight Hall!

April 1 marks the beginning of Public Health week. Over the next 10 days, campus will be filled with talks, luncheons, films, service opportunities, and more to spread awareness of public health matters. Don't miss the kick-off concert this Friday at 7 in Dwight Hall!

Meanwhile, there are still other events going on. TODAY, there's a conversation in the Law School with John Prendergast about the future of Sudan, a conversation about sustainable seafood with Barton Seaver, and some awesome films & discussions as part of theEnvironmental Film Festival. There's a luncheon tomorrow on starting your own non-profitwith Pathways for Mutual Respect. Saturday marks the Human Rights in Academia Conference as well as the Powderpuff tournament. Don't forget to submit your "Impact: Global Poverty" proposals, or register to participate in FOCUS!

As a final note, if you haven't signed up for the YHHAP Fast, do so now! (Go to SIS and click on the Dining tab.)

Feel free to email me with your questions and events!

Yours,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator

Springing into Service

 Hey Dwight Hall! 

Welcome back! I hope you've returned from break feeling refreshed and ready to jump into the spring cycle of social justice at Yale!

This Saturday marks a big day for Dwight Hall: the Women's Day of Service. Women (and men, if you're interested) from all colleges, classes, and organizations on campus will spend an afternoon (10-2) supporting women, children, and families in the New Haven community by working with a variety of organizations whose services expressly benefit and empower women. Organizations range from women and children's shelters to AIDS clinics and book banks. Meals and transportation will be provided.  This event is presented by Dwight Hall, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gama, Pi Beta Phi, and the Yale Women's Center. If you haven't signed up yet, click here

In other news, sign ups for the YHHAP Fast are currently going on - the Fast itself will take place on April 8. There's a Harry Potter Trivia Night fundraiser sponsored by Nourish International and a fantastic seminar on how to write op-eds this Friday. Impact: Global Poverty is looking for proposals, and FOCUS wants both participants and leaders. And there are still a few summer opportunities floating around!

Hope you have a great end to March,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator 

 

Spring Break Edition: You May Be Departing but the Service Doesn't Stop

 Hey Dwight Hall!

 

Before you depart for your various reach out trips/a cappella tours/weeks of eating home-cooked food, be sure to check out the events coming up in the next few weeks. This week's D-Holla features a lot of ways to get involved with Dwight Hall as an institution, as well as some things to start thinking about that come up right after break (YHHAP Fast, anyone?).

 

For Dwight Hall groups and members, a few reminders:

First, the Loving Kindness Fund is up and running! As a reminder, the Loving Kindness Fund serves to enable Dwight Hall member groups and individual Dwight Hall volunteers to engage in small-scale outings with project participants and enhance existing Dwight Hall projects through small acts of kindness. Applications (available here) are accepted on a rolling basis through 4/1/11. Talk to our financial coordinator, Aaron Feuer, for details!

Second, Cabinet Meeting is coming up! The semesterly Student Cabinet Meeting, which will occur at 7pm on Tuesday, March 22 in the Dwight Hall Common Room, is one of two opportunities each year for the leaders of member groups to come together to exercise their power as voting members. Excomm will also use this opportunity to inform you about some recent developments in our efforts to better support member groups. This meeting is mandatory for all Dwight Hall Member Groups, so see you there!

Third, if you're a freshman or sophomore and want to get more involved in Dwight Hall, apply to be on the Board of Advisors! More information is available here

 

Have a wonderful, restful break, and I'll see you in the spring!

-Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator 

 

TONS of Events in the next few days - to further distract you from studying.

 Hey Dwight Hall,

 

I personally am counting down the days until Spring Break - but in the meantime, here are some cool events to watch out for within the next few days:

-- College Council for Care somehow booked Nicholas Kristoff for April 5. They're showing a screening of "Reporter," the documentary featuring him, tonight at 7:00.

--If you don't like Kristoff or prefer earthier stuff, there's a screening of Symphony of the Soil in WHC at the same time, with director Deborah Koons Garcia holding a Q&A.

--Habitat for Humanity is having another build this Saturday - and the weather is going to be (relatively) awesome.

--Hips for Hunger! Belly dancing for a good cause on Saturday night!

And finally - 

--This Friday, YHHAP is holding a benefit concert at 8:00 with Shades, OOTB, and TUIB, all for $5. I'll definitely be there.

 

Hope to see you around,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator

 

 

Advocacy, Harvest, and Public Health Events

 Hey Dwight Hall -

 

There's a couple of things to take note of this week. The Reblaw & Human Rights in Academia Conferences are coming up - sign up links are below. You have a couple of chances to do some quick advocacy work by discussing antiwar strategy at the People's Center or by picketing with the New Haven Worker's Association. Remember to submit your own advocacy actions toAdvocacy Minute! The Public Health Film Festival and Global Health Incubator Workshop are coming up soon in March. There are still a few summer & spring break options - check out Spring Break in New Haven, and applications for Harvest leaders are due by Friday.  If you're looking for a moment of service this week, be sure to join Habitat for Humanity in a build this Saturday! Finally, be sure to take the Magee Fellows up on their offer for lunch - they're wonderful folks who know a lot about Dwight Hall.

 

Have a great week,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator 

 

Valentine's Week Edition

  Hey Dwight Hall!

 

Summer opportunities are still making an appearance for a while, but this week is full of events in itself! Don't miss one of the many info sessions about volunteer opportunities in New Haven and abroad (see the ones for City Fellows & Breakthrough National Teaching Internship). If you're so inclined, the International Development & Gift Bazaar, Habitat for Humanity, and Yale Rotaract offer plenty of ways to prepare for Valentine's Day. And mark your calendar for the Rock to Rock Earth Day kick-off party at Koffee?, or the tea with the director of Seeds of Peace!

 

As always, email me with your questions, concerns, and events --

 

Yours,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator 

 

Don't Miss Out on Summer Deadlines or Awesome On-Campus Events!

 Hey Dwight Hall!

 

This week's D-Holla features a few more summer & spring break opportunites. Don't hold off on reading through them - the deadlines for most fall this weekend!

 

If you're looking for something a bit sooner, check out our Service Opportunities column! You can give blood for the Red Cross Harvard-Yale Blood Drive Challenge, volunteer with YHHAP for Abraham's Tent Week, or check out some very relevant panels, discussions, and films in youth activism and human rights. Both Dwight Hall member groups (see Starlabs & Yale Children's Theater) and community non-profits (see Neighborhood Housing Services or AIDS Project New Haven) are searching for Yale volunteers, so get yourselves out there!

 

Enjoy the wintry mix while it lasts!

Yours,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator 

Seeking Summer Plans? Look No Further.

  Hey Dwight Hall!

 

This week's newsletter brings you service opportunities galore - during the semester in New Haven, and over the summer around the world. This summer theme will continue next week - submit your event if you'd like it to be posted in the D-Holla next Wednesday!

 

As always, email me with your questions, concerns, and content--

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator

Seeking Summer Plans? Look No Further.

  Hey Dwight Hall!

 

This week's newsletter brings you service opportunities galore - during the semester in New Haven, and over the summer around the world. This summer theme will continue next week - submit your event if you'd like it to be posted in the D-Holla next Wednesday!

 

As always, email me with your questions, concerns, and content--

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator

New Service, New PR Coordinator!

 Hi Dwight Hall!

First off, I'd like to introduce myself: I'm Jennifer Friedmann, Morse '13, and your new Dwight Hall PR Coordinator. For the next year, you'll be receiving the D-Holla from me. To that end, please send along any questions or events through the Dwight Hall website or to my personal email. I look forward to hearing from you!

The most direct way to gain access to the Dwight Hall member groups is by coming the Spring Bazaar this Wednesday, 1/19. Our 85+ groups will have representatives and information available for anyone seeking a service project.

For our member groups: the application to receive Dwight Hall funding for this semester is due onJanuary 31. Please email This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript with questions and see the article below. 

Finally, be on the lookout for summer opportunities as they pop up! The D-Holla will be publicizing service- or social justice-related opportunities. If you have one to submit, feel free to email me!

Thanks for your input, and see you all at the bazaar!

Yours,

Jennifer Friedmann

Dwight Hall PR Coordinator 

 

New Service, New PR Coordinator!

 Hi Dwight Hall! First off, I'd like to introduce myself: I'm Jennifer Friedmann, Morse '13, and your new Dwight Hall PR Coordinator. For the next year, you'll be receiving the D-Holla from me. To that end, please send along any questions or events through the Dwight Hall website or to ...

January 2011 Community Agency Newsletter

 

Dear Colleague:

 

Yale University students have arrived back in New Haven for the Spring 2011 semester.  Dwight Hall currently engages 3,500 undergraduates (or nearly 2/3 of Yale College) in service and justice activities each year.  Help us expand our participation - host a group of volunteers during the MLK Day of Service or recruit students at our Bazaar for Service and Advocacy.

As always, please feel free to utilize the Dwight Hall website to post announcements for events or for general volunteer opportunities throughout the semester.

Best wishes for a happy, peaceful, and successful 2011!

 

Holiday Service Cheer!

Hi Dwight Hall!


Hope that your reading weeks are going well! We have some phenomenal events in this last week, many of which are TODAY so please check them out!


Your checklist for holiday-related service:
1.    Habitat for Humanity Gingerbread House Decorating Fundraiser TODAY!
2.    Before you leave, donate your extra clothes to the No Freeze Clothing Drive!
3.    Dont throw away that textbook! Donate it to the Book Exchange!


But if youd rather think about warm weather and spring or summer breaks, we already have some spring/summer opportunities listed below. Peru! Bosnia! New Haven! I can personally vouch for the Spring Break in New Haven program its the best way to get to know your city!

This is the last D-Holla of the semester! Thank you to those of you who have submitted events, looked through this newsletter, and to those of you who replied every once in a while (looking at you Marina Keegan and Diana Saverin). I hope that it has been helpful! If you ever have a question about service or social justice at Yale or in New Haven, please dont hesitate to D-HOLLA AT YOUR BOY.


Dwight Hall Love,
Joe

Busy Week!

Hi Dwight Hall!


Hope you all had restful and productive Thanksgiving breaks, because weve got a lot for you to do this week!


Please see below for all the information about AIDS Week, the Alternative Gift Market, the Bone Marrow Dive and ongoing Clothing Drive.


There are also two very exciting new opportunities from the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project. 1. You can be a part of the first effort of Yale students to house the homeless. 2. You can help provide maximum tax refunds to low-income New Haven families. See below for more information about both opportunities!


Id also like to make a final pitch for the New Haven Tree Lighting Celebration which will be tomorrow, Thursday December 2, from 4:00 8:00PM on the New Haven Green. A jem of the city, this holiday event is always filled with cheer! This is not a service event, but a time to join in celebration with the community we serve. Santa will be there, and so will I!


There will be one more issue of the D-Holla before Winter Break so if you have any events occurring near the end of reading week or during finals week, please let me know!

 

Hope all is well,
Joe

Campaigns and Summer Opportunities

Hi Dwight Hall!

Just a quick note to encourage you to look at the events and opportunities below.

You can support the IVAWA and the DREAM Act by stopping by the women's center at some point from 1-4pm today to make a call to a legislator.

There's a clothing drive starting today, so instead of dumping your clothes before Thanksgiving, bring them to a blue bin placed in your college!

New Haven Community Services Agency is hosting a Tent City community event out on the Green tomorrow night from 6:00-10:00pm to raise money for women and children shelters. There will be Yale bands performing, check it out!

Finally, there are some good summer internship opportunities below - Peru?, Public Health? You choose!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hope all is well,

Joe

Your 2011 Executive Committee!

Hi Dwight Hall!

Thank you to those of you who came out to the Cabinet meeting last night! We voted in three new member groups: Bookmarks, Fierce Advocates and Musical Cure.

The 2010 Dwight Hall Excomm announced its plans to update the old by-laws, revise the member group inventory, redo the website and restructure ExComm-membership relations. 

We also had a night of elections, and I'm excited to announce the 2011 Dwight Hall Executive Committee:

 

Co-Coordinators: Joseph Breen and Alexandra Brodsky

New Membership Coordinator: Nico Barawid

Finance Coordinator: Aaron Feuer

Public Relations Coordinator: Jennifer Friedmann

Education Network Liaison: Liane Membis

Social Justice Network Liaison: Alexis Mitchell

Development Coordinator At-Large: Aaron Podolny

Public Health Coalition Liaison: Willi Rechler

Institutional Service Coordinator: Jensen Reckhow

Membership Coordinator: Gabriel Zucker

 

Congratulations!

 

Until next semester the 2010 ExComm will still be working hard for you, so please continue to give us feedback.

Also, check out some of the opportunities below - especially some of the great social justice talks this week!

Hope all is well,

Joe

ExComm and Spring Break Applicaitons

Hi Dwight Hall!

Cabinet will vote to elect a new Executive Committee on Monday, November 9 at 7 pm, to serve for the 2011 calendar year. Any sophomore or junior who has been an active member of a Dwight Hall group for at least one semester may run for a position.

Executive Committee positions that will be elected at the cabinet meeting: Co-coordinators, Public Relations, Financial, Membership, New Membership, Institutional Service and At-large.

Applications should be submitted  to This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript  and This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript  by 11:59 PM by TOMORROW Thursday, November 4th.

Application here: http://www.dwighthall.org/14682/ExcommApplication2010

Elections will be held during our cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 9th at 7:00pm. Candidates must attend in order to give their speeches and be available for questions from Cabinet members. We hope you will email us and look forward to answering any questions you may have.

Please also check out the volunteer opportunities listed below!

Other applications for sping break trips with ReachOut and Habitiat for Humanity due November 5th. 

Hope all is well,

Joe

Want to be more involved with Dwight Hall?

Hi Dwight Hall!

You may have already seen this information, but I wanted to make sure you all were aware of our upcoming elections!

Cabinet will vote to elect a new ExComm on Monday, November 9 at 7 pm, to serve for the 2011 calendar year. Any sophomore or junior who has been an active member of a Dwight Hall group for at least one semester may run for a position.

We hope you will consider joining this team! The "Old" ExComm will be having an information session about our roles in running Dwight Hall on Wednesday, October 27th TODAY at 9:00pm. We encourage all students interested in applying to attend this session. We will discuss what it's like to run a non-profit (Dwight Hall is a student-run institution), as well as what each position entails.

From there, applicants have a week to meet with current ExCommers holding their positions of interest (mandatory, but we are very flexible in our meeting availability), fill out their applications, and submit them to This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript and This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript by 11:59 PM on Thursday, November 4th.

Elections will be held during our cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 9th at 7:00pm. Candidates must attend in order to give their speeches and be available for questions from Cabinet members. We hope you will email us and look forward to answering any questions you may have.

All best,
Dwight Hall Student Executive Committee 2010

Please also check out the volunteer opportunities listed below!

 

Hope all is well,

Joe

FAST, Funding App and Office Hours!

Hi Dwight Hall!


The YHHAP Shelter Now Campaign for the New Haven family shelters is in full swing with the YHHAP FAST on Thursday, October 21st and Family Weekend Professor Lunches! Today is the last day you can sign up for the FAST - please do so!


In other Dwight Hall news, the group funding application is out. If your group hasn't received an application, you can email Robin Tang ( This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript ) for one. You can find more information about it below.

Also, this Tuesday the Dwight Hall Program Director Johnny Scafidi will be holding office hours from 2:30 - 4:00 in the Dwight Hall office. If you have any questions about Dwight Hall resources, if you're looking for community contacts or if you want to be more involved in community service at Yale, but are not sure where to begin - Johnny Scafidi can help!

I'd also like to highlight the event happening today: "Freedom from Fear, Freedom from Want: What's Next for the Human Rights Movement?" A Master's Tea with Larry Cox, the Executive Director of Amnesty International. Today, 4pm in the Saybrook Master's House.

As always, if you have any questions about Dwight Hall - let me know!


Hope all is well,
Joe

 

Shelter Now! Help the Homeless

Hi Dwight Hall!


The YHHAP Shelter Now Campaign is kicking-off in 3 days at the Sleepout on Saturday and will continue with a series of events including the YHHAP FAST on Thursday, October 21st, Family Weekend Professor Lunches and more!


Shelter Now is a fundraising campaign of the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, supporting winter shelters in New Haven. The campaign began in October 2008, when the Cedar St. Overflow Shelter was almost entirely cut from the City budget. Its closure would have forced up to 125 men into freezing temperatures on the streets of our city. Over the next two months, Shelter Now worked with advocates and non-profits throughout the New Haven area, and successfully kept the shelter open. Because the budget crisis continues in New Haven, the Shelter Now campaign continues as well. This year, YHHAP hopes to raise $25,000 to alleviate severe cuts to women's and children's shelters: Life Haven and New Haven Home Recovery.


Please consider showing your support at one of YHHAPs upcoming events. See below for more information!


Also, TONIGHT Blue State Coffee is hosting an event with a bunch of neat New Haven non-profits. You can stop by for free coffee, cupcakes and community service!


Hope all is well,
Joe

Advocacy Minute and Shelter Now!

Hi Dwight Hall!


First I'd like to call your attention to the new Dwight Hall newsletter: Advocacy Minute!


"Advocacy Minute is a biweekly email newsletter and blog with quick, easy action items generated by Yale students and student groups. Action options include, but are not limited to, writing a letter, signing a petition, attending a rally, and making a phone call. Advocacy Minute a way for Yale students who want to bring about social change to support each others work. It allows students to draw broad support for their issue of interest while, in turn, supporting issues of interest to others."


If you're interested in the Advocacy Minute, please look at the blog and signup here: http://advocacyminute.wordpress.com/

Please also be aware that the YHHAP Shelter Now Campaign is kicking-off in 10 days at the Sleepout and will continue with a series of events including the YHHAP FAST, Family Weekend Professor Lunches and more!

Shelter Now is a fundraising campaign of the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, supporting winter shelters in New Haven. The campaign began in October 2008, when the Cedar St. Overflow Shelter was almost entirely cut from the City budget. Its closure would have forced up to 125 men into freezing temperatures on the streets of our city. Over the next two months, Shelter Now worked with advocates and non-profits throughout the New Haven area, and successfully kept the shelter open. Because the budget crisis continues in New Haven, the Shelter Now campaign continues as well. This year, YHHAP hopes to raise $25,000 to alleviate severe cuts to women's and children's shelters: Life Haven and New Haven Home Recovery.


Please consider showing your support at one of YHHAPs upcoming events. See below for more information!


Hope all is well,
Joe

A Distinguished Week!

Hi Dwight Hall!

This week Dwight Hall is honored to present the The Fall 2010 Curran Distinguished Mentor: Kevin Salwen
Thursday, September 23rd,  Dwight Hall Chapel, 4:00-5:00pm
Kevin Salwen is the author of The Power of Half and will discuss his family's decision to sell their house and give half the sales price to charity.
Kevin was a reporter, columnist and editor at the Wall Street Journal from 1981 to 2000. At the nations largest newspaper, Kevin helped cover two presidential administrations, wrote two columns and launched two publications. Since leaving the paper in 2000, Kevin built several media ventures and works with such organizations as the U.S. Olympic Committee and Yahoo!
A graduate of Northwestern University, Kevin serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta and the East Africa Childrens Education Fund.
In 2006, at the urging of his then 14-year-old daughter Hannah, Kevin and his family embarked on a family philanthropic project to help villagers in Africa build a better future for themselves and their children.
Hope to see you there!
As always, if you have any questions about Dwight Hall, any one of our three networks, 85+ member groups or institutional programs, please ask me!
Also, Wednesday mornings are now a D-Holla tradition! So if you'd like to include your own content in the D-Holla, please get it to me by Tuesday night.
Hope all is well,
Joe

How Bazaar!

Hi Dwight Hall!

 

It was an exciting weekend at Dwight Hall as hundreds of freshmen participated in the Freshman Day of Service on Saturday. It was a beautiful day for cleaning up parks, gardening at the health clinic, building bikes and more!

 

This week, we have the Dwight Hall Bazaar!

Wednesday, September 15th. 7:00 - 9:00pm. Dwight Hall. Come to hear from and sign up for some of our 85+ member groups and institutional programs. There will be groups at the Dwight Hall Bazaar that were not at the Yale activities Bazaar, so don't miss out!

If you're coming to represent a member group, remember to arrive early to set-up!

 

Keep in mind that our Distinguished Mentor, Kevin Salwen event will be Thursday, September 23rd , 4:00pm. Dwight Hall Chapel. Talk with the author of The Power of Half about his familys decision to donate half of their wealth to charity.

 

A note about blurbs for the newsletter (since things for the first few days have been a bit irregular here at D-Holla headquarters): If you get a blurb to me by Wednesday morning, it will go out with the D-Holla that will always be sent on Wednesdays, starting the 22nd of this month.

 

As always, if you have any questions about Dwight Hall, any one of our three networks, 85+ member groups or institutional programs, please ask me!

 

Hope all is well,

Joe

Welcome Home Dwight Hall!

 

Hi Dwight Hall! 

Welcome back to Yale! I hope you all found a way to continue your passion for service and social justice this summer!

For those of you who are receiving this newsletter for the first time, my name is Joe Breen and I am the Public Relations Coordinator for Dwight Hall, the center for community service and social justice at Yale. Dwight Hall is the umbrella organization for 85+ member groups that fall into three boarder networks (Education, Social Justice and Public Health). As part of my job, I compile this weekly newsletter, the D-Holla, which includes all the community service and social justice announcements and events on campus, so you can know whats going on, and you can advertise for your own group. If you'd like to include something in an upcoming newsletter, you can add it yourself here: http://www.dwighthall.org/new/autouserevent, or e-mail me ( This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript ) with the event/announcement information and I will be sure to add it myself!

Additionally, I am here if you have any PR needs. I can help design fliers or take photographs at your event.  Whatever you need, please feel free to ask!

Today's newsletter is a very exciting one. Below you will find the first meeting times for many of our member groups. If you are intrigued by a member group listed, but dont know much about it, or if you are just interested in exploring all of the options open to you through Dwight Hall, you can find all the information about our member groups here: http://www.match.dwighthall.org/search.php?seeall=yes.

Dwight Hall also has three important events coming up, so you'll want to mark your calendars for these:

1. Dwight Hall Bazaar Wednesday, September 15th. 7:00 - 9:00pm. Dwight Hall. Come to hear from and sign up for some of our 85+ member groups and institutional programs. There will be groups at the Dwight Hall Bazaar that were not at the Yale activities Bazaar, so don't miss out!

2. Freshmen Day of ServiceSaturday, September 11th, 10:15am 2:00pm. Dwight Hall. The Freshmen Day of Service is an introduction to service in New Haven. Groups of freshmen, led by upperclassmen with Dwight Hall experience, will volunteer at great New Haven non-profits, making a difference in just a few hours of hands-on work. Along the way, you'll learn about all the opportunities New Haven and Dwight Hall have to offer to serve your community throughout the year. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

To sign up, please visit click here http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFkzQjROMWNkUWRTVTZkZTZIcHVHRlE6MQ. Make sure to do it before the 8th to make sure you get breakfast and lunch! Feel free to direct all questions to Alexandra Brodsky: This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript Alexandra This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript .

3. Distinguished Mentor Kevin Salwen Thrusday, September 23rd, 4:00pm. Dwight Hall Chapel. Talk with the author of The Power of Half about his familys decision to donate half of their wealth to charity.

Finally if you have any questions about Dwight Hall, any one of our three networks, 85+ member groups, institutional programs, or the events above or below, please ask me!

This is going to be a great semester!

Joe

Dwight Hall Summer Update!

Hi Dwight Hall!

I hope you are all enjoying your vacations and continuing your work in service and social justice where ever you are, all over the world.

If you missed commencement, I'd like to direct your attention to an excelent speech made by a former Dwight Hall Co-coordinator, Bradford Williams: "Why We Serve".

When you are envisioning the upcoming year, if you think you might like to make more room for service in your life at Yale, and are looking to join a Dwight Hall group, find the group that best fits your interest here: Dwight Hall Match.

If you are like me, and like to plan ahead, please check out our "Save the Date" events below.

Hope all is well,

Joe

Welcome Back Dwight Hall!

Hi Dwight Hall!

Welcome back! I hope you all recharged your service and social justice batteries because we have some great events coming up in the next few days. Check 'em out!

It's a short, but sweet newsletter today - enjoy! (Don't you worry, your Yale Week of Service Special Edition Issue will arrive on Wednesday!)

Hope all is well,

Joe

January 2010 Community Agency Newsletter

 Dear Colleague:

 

Yale University students have arrived back in New Haven for the Spring 2010 semester.  Dwight Hall currently engages 3,500 undergraduates (or nearly 2/3 of Yale College) in service and justice activities each year.  Help us expand our participation - host a group of volunteers during the MLK Day of Service, recruit students at our Bazaar for Service and Advocacy, or offer a research opportunity to forge a link between theory and practice.

 

On a somber note Dwight Hall is partnering with students, organizations, and officials at the University to extend support to Haiti.  Please see the announcement below regarding a benefit concert on Monday, January 18.

Start of the Semester Opportunities, MLK Day and Bazaar

Hi Dwight Hall!


I'm Joe Breen, your new Public Relations coordinator. Please always feel free to e-mail me information about an event or opportunity you would like to advertise in the D-Holla or if you have any questions about Dwight Hall!


The semester has started and Dwight Hall has hit the ground running! This Monday (1/18) Alpha Phi Alpha is sponsoring the MLK Day of Service - a one-time service event and a great way to spend your free morning helping a community organization! Find more information and sign up here: MLK Day of Service.


Also, the Dwight Hall Bazaar will be this Tuesday (1/19) 7-9pm in Dwight Hall. If you are looking to learn more about or join one of our 85+ service and social justice student groups, this is your night to find them all in the same place!


See you there! Also please check out spring break and summer opportunities as well as upcoming events below!


And finally, most of you are aware of the tragic earthquake in Haiti. There is no easy way to say that hundreds of thousands have died and many more are in danger as the disaster has left many injured and homeless. Dwight Hall groups have already begun to come together to brainstorm an immediate relief response. Please contact former Dwight Hall Executive Committee member This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript for more information about how you can help.

Summer and Spring Break Opportunities

Merry Christmas and Happy (soon) New Year!

For those of you looking for summer and spring break opportunities, please check out the stuff below.  Moreover, for even more opportunities with nonprofits and other social justice/service related material, consider a perusal of the following websites at your leisure:

Yale AIESEC (Dwight Hall group)

Idealist

Yale Reach Out (Dwight Hall group)

For funding, take a look at Yale OFP - Yale has several fellowships expressly set aside for public service committments

Finally, this will be my last D-Holla of the year.  Joseph "Joe" Breen will be taking over starting next semester.  For future publicity information, please email Joe!

And remember, throw some d's on that holla.

Last week of classes edition

Hopefully, everyone got stuffed this past week.  Its the home stretch now...best of luck on the last exams and finals!

If you're looking to buy a gift for a friend or family member for Christmas, be sure to check out the Alternative Gift Market, occurring this Saturday afternoon on Old Campus.  The goods come from all over the world and are fair trade certified.

And if anyone has a hunkering to figure out what SOM does for philanthropy, be sure to check out this conference that's going on this Friday.

Fall events

Hello all,

The Social Justice Network will be hosting an event on social justice and democracy featuring two world fellows who have worked extensively on social justice in Latin America.  I assure you that this is a must-see talk.  Thai food will also be provided.

Additionally, please check out the conference on doing business in the Middle East, sponsored by the Arab Students Association, McKinsey and Co, and more.

Save the date: Cabinet meeting in which the new Dwight Hall Excomm will be elected will occur

Finally, if you remember getting third place at the county science fair from studying mold on toilets, you should check out how to get involved as a judge and mentor for the New Haven Science Fair.

Info sessions galore

As the school year isn't kidding around anymore, info sessions on various ways you can get involved with service and social justice will be held this week and the next.  Mentoring also begins very soon.  There's MEChA, an organization dealing with immigration rights.  There's TAG, a group that teaches seniors and the elderly how to use technology.  And for elderly seniors of an entirely different kind, there's a Teach for America info session this week that is just-can't-miss.

Also, a shout out to all the people who participated in the Freshmen Day of Service, organized by the Yale College Council and other individuals.  It wouldn't have been the same without the volunteers.  Well I guess that's obvious but seriously, way to go on waking up at 9 on a Saturday morning and braving gloomy New Haven weather.

Finally, the dissappearance of Annie Le is a tragedy and both frightening and worrisome.  A vigil will be held this week.

Welcome back to school

Hello all!

For those of you receiving this email for the first time, Dwight Hall is the center and umbrella for community service and social justice at Yale.  The D-Holla is the weekly newsletter for Dwight Hall and advertises events and service opportunities.  Pretty much everyone that passes through here has volunteered with us (80 percent) and that means you should too.  Hopefully, you will find it just as immensely rewarding as most of us.  

To learn more about Dwight Hall, come to the Dwight Hall Bazaar on Wednesday, September 9 from 7 PM to 9 PM.  There, you will see more than forty of our community service or social justice groups and get a chance to see some of the earthshaking, mindbending service and advocacy work that students are doing.  More importantly, you'll learn how to get involved.

And finally, if you've got the time and are still reading this note, take a peek at this editorial written by an active member of Dwight Hall.

That's all for now and remember to throw some d's on that holla.

Part-time volunteering opportunities

Congratulations to everyone for finishing another school year. I hope everything turned out well. Thanks, also, for the countless hours put towards community service and social justice.

For people looking to volunteer over the summer, please take a look at Volunteer Match which matches people with nonprofits no matter where you are.

For those staying in New Haven, please take a look at the OPA bulletin for a list of events.  Its by no means exhaustive though.  Remember to ride your bike (with a helmet) around the Have, go swimming at the beach, and attend the myriad music (Arts and Ideas, especially) and night festivals as well...

And of course, if you've got some spare time, consider volunteering or working with some of the organizations listed below (and with one opportunity for someone looking for something to do and will be in North Carolina)...

Have a great summer!

Spring fling auction

The end is near.  Be sure to check out the summer service projects if you are staying in New Haven this summer.
 
If you’ve ever wanted a signed poster or other memorabilia from Pharrell, Colin Meloy, Gregg Michael “Girl Talk” Gillis, or the rest of the Spring Fling lineup, this is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: YCC and Dwight Hall have teamed up to bring you a silent auction for a series of autographed items by the Spring Fling performers including Pharrell, The Decembrists, Girl Talk, and more!  Look for the auctioning table at Spring Fling, which will be out from 12:00 PM onwards.  Simply walk over and drop your bid in the box.
 
All proceeds will go to buying much-needed instruments for Co-Op high school, a new school designed for aspiring young artists in New Haven.
 
That is all.  Have a nice day.

 

The week, or month, of weeks

Months are usually composed of weeks but this month is especially composed of weeks.  National Public Health Week, Muslim Awareness Week, Week of Service...this week is Semana Chicana, which will be focusing on the theme of education for immmigrants and DREAM Act.  In addition, it is Earth Week.  Enjoy your natural surroundings most of all, but check out the hikes, demonstrations, movies (Wall-E on Old Campus!), and more if you can.

The head librarian is interested in working with Dwight Hall to promote an education/awareness center near the long table where student techs work next to the printers.  If anyone has any good posters, please email me...

There will also be a Dwight Hall Bulldog Days event tomorrow, featuring cookies and delicious food.  On Wednesday, please make sure to come to the Senior Recognition Ceremony in Dwight Hall at 8:00 PM...and seniors in general, please remember all the good times with Dwight Hall and consider donating to the Dwight Hall Senior Class Gift...

Many Dwight Hall programs can work in the community only because of your donations.  Finally, if you're over here this summer, you have absolutely no excuse to not volunteer...so check out some of the summer volunteering opportnities at DESK and Teen-Senior Connect.  Many of these programs are in severe need of volunteers when school goes out.

Election Season is upon us...

  ...and if you're anything like me, you'll be sort of (read: really) relieved when its all over. Elections for Ward 1 occurs on April 17th.  YCC elections open sometime in the next few hours...please scroll down to see why Dwight Hall has endorsed Ryan Beauchamp for YCC president. Be sure to stay civically and college-ly engaged and whatnot.

Meanwhile, many many good events coming up in the next few weeks: the Environmental Film Festival, two years in the making, will feature some of the best documentaries, shorts, and full-length features you will have seen in a while.  Check out the website at http://environment.yale.edu/film/Home.html 

for more information. 

AIDS Brigades, an initiative dedicated to bringing AIDS awareness to foriegn countries is looking for workers and anyone interested in public health to build a new chapter from the ground up. This is an exciting opportunity for being involved in an organization from start to finish.

National Student Partnerships, an organization dedicated to combatting homelessness through aiding people in finding employment and more is closing down due to lack of funding from the recent financial crisis.  I've admired everyone who has volunteered in this organization, and it has done some excellent work in combatting chronic homelessness from the roots.

Finally, please check out the articles below for some news on Dwight Hall organizations:

Yale Dems Fight Homelessness: http://yaledailynews.com/articles/view/28664

Recycled Fashion, Two Ways: http://yaledailynews.com/articles/view/28659

Obama Aids City Economy: http://yaledailynews.com/articles/view/28554

Nutman: Vote here now: http://yaledailynews.com/articles/view/28491

Nonprofit falls on hard times: http://yaledailynews.com/articles/view/28507

 

Thanks for making the Dwight Hall-YCC Week of Service a Success

Hello friends.  Thanks for making the week of service a success.  It was nice of you.

Meanwhile, as national weeks of something get more and more prevalent, please take the time to drop by...this week is National Public Health Week and the lovely people at PHC have worked hard to bring you a full slate of events.

For the graduate student population, we are hosting an grad student/Dwight Hall alumni reunion and recognition ceremony on April 13 from 5 to 6:30 PM in Dwight Hall.  Light refreshments will be served...please stop by if you get the chance. 

As always, any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.

Umbrellas are still on sale in Dwight Hall.  Please email Peter Lu.  Impress your friends.

Spring is pretty much here...

 

...so you know it’s also pretty much time to get out, put your tank tops on, breathe the fresh air, and do some good.  Dwight Hall and Yale College Council have partnered hard to bring you some pretty sweet events for a week of service including:

- Aldermanic candidate debate (tonight in SSS!)

- New Haven ID Card registration on Tuesday and Wednesday

- A film screening of the smash-super-blockbuster hit John Q

- Soup kitchen volunteering at DESK

...and much more.  Please check out the full list below!  Finally, check out Islamic Awareness Week below for a full list of events with both catered food and many learnings!

In other news, please note that all content can be put on dwighthall.org, including pictures, and more for the newsletter.  Also, if you have seen easels and tripods around in some colleges, these will soon be available for publicizing your events...just send an email...

Have a good day, friends.

Reinvigorated by Spring Break? So is Dwight Hall!

 Welcome, friends, to the new newsletter.  This newsletter was automatically generated by the website at dwighthall.org...even better, from now on, you can add your own content to the website by clicking on the link above.  If you are receiving this email, you have already registered. Simply click on log in, then "need password?", and create your own password, then click on add event or add article under add content...everything you publish will be published on the website and this newsletter as well under the editor's oversight.

This tool will eventually be open to all member groups, though we are still working on adjusting a few kinks (adding a table of contents, etc.).  If you are interested in using this tool, please email me.

In other news the Dwight Hall - YCC Week of Service will be occurring next week starting Saturday.  Be sure to check out all the events on the following website  http://yalestation.yale.edu/weekofservice/.  If you are planning to come to the Walk in the Park, a similar event will be held on Saturday, but the time and meeting place on Sunday will be 10:15 AM in front of the Yale bookstore.

Finally, the semesterly mandatory Dwight Hall cabinet meeting for group leaders will be occurring tomorrow at Dwight Hall from 7:00 to 8:30!