Yale supports numerous neighborhood efforts throughout New Haven. A few examples include:

Dixwell

In the Dixwell neighborhood, at the request of neighborhood leaders, Yale University purchased a plot of land that an asbestos removal company was considering buying. The University developed the site into a much-needed new facility for the Yale University Police department.

The building also houses the Dixwell-Yale University Community Learning Center which has a community room that seats 50 people as well as a computer lab with 16 computer stations where New Haven youth can learn with Yale students. Additionally, the learning center has a storage room for sports equipment to be used in the nearby neighborhood park.

Yale University's Homebuyer Program facilitates $7.5 million of housing purchases in Dixwell. Additionally, students from the Yale School of Forestry helped neighborhood residents to clean vacant lots and improve the neighborhood with Greenspace projects.

Meanwhile, students from Wexler and Helene Grant Elementary Schools and other neighborhood youth participate in numerous on-campus education and recreation programs sponsored by Yale University.

To learn more about the Dixwell-Yale University Community Learning Center, visit their web page: www.yale.edu/dixwellyale

To watch a video about Yale University's partnerships in the Dixwell neighborhood, please click here:
Yale and Dixwell Partnerships video (RealMedia format)

Dwight

Working with Dwight neighborhood, Yale secured a $2.4 million HUD university partnership grant. These funds leveraged extensive matching funds and in-kind contributions from Yale and other partners. This collaboration aided in the creation of the Greater Dwight Development Corporation; the funding and design (done by the Yale School of Architecture) of expansion space for the Dwight Elementary School; and the development of Dwight Place, a shopping center that includes a Shaw's Supermarket.

In addition to financial and technical support provided by the University, the Yale Law School provided extensive pro bono services as counsel to the GDDC.

Hill

Yale works with the Hill Development Corporation (HDC) and other neighborhood partners by sponsoring homeownership seminars and other programs. HDC rehabilitates homes for sale to first-time homebuyers. This homeownership initiative builds off other HDC efforts that Yale has supported, including a 60-unit affordable rental project opened in 1999. Through the Yale Homebuyer Program, more than $4.5 million has been spent on home purchases in the Hill area. Additionally, Yale provides interns at community organizations such as Casa Otoñal, Christian Community Action, and the Hill Health Center. Students from the Yale School of Forestry have helped lead the neighborhood in dozens of Greenspace projects to clean vacant lots and improve the neighborhood such as the Arch Street project.