New Haven, Yale, jobs, and more

Mark Ostow

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Dear Friends,

I recently joined hundreds of students at Fair Haven School in New Haven for “Snowball,” the school’s annual winter assembly. This was my second time taking part in this celebration both of New Haven Promise, a college scholarship program funded by Yale, and of our city’s young people. Many of the students I met will be the first in their families to attend college, and I am proud that Yale can help them achieve their dreams.

New Haven is Yale’s home—and it is where my wife, Marta, and I have made our home for nearly four decades. Today, I am proud of the opportunities Yale is helping to create for young people and residents of all ages. Our partnerships—spanning education, employment, economic development, and more—strengthen the city and our university.

Working with community groups, like the United Way of Greater New Haven, has given Marta and me a greater appreciation for the needs New Haven residents face. Good jobs are not only essential for the urban economy, but also for people’s well-being. Yale is New Haven’s largest employer, with nearly 14,000 staff and faculty, over 4,000 of whom are New Haven residents.

In 2012, Yale cofounded New Haven Works, a skills and support program for unemployed and underemployed residents. The following year, we created the New Haven Hiring Initiative to connect New Haven residents to university jobs. In order to increase the number of city residents who can take advantage of great jobs at Yale, we have also launched new education and training efforts. For example, our apprenticeship programs prepare graduates for careers in the trades and assist them in finding positions in Yale’s facilities department.

Outreach to the local community is a university-wide effort. Yale has employed nearly 400 Promise Scholars in paid internships in dozens of departments over the past six summers. Our support continues through résumé workshops, mock interview sessions, financial literacy classes, and public-speaking seminars. We also provide on-the-job training programs that prepare local residents for campus jobs and sponsor community career fairs and networking events throughout the year.

 
New Haven has always been a city of vibrant neighborhoods. Marta and I have lived in several of these neighborhoods, and we have experienced firsthand how neighbors come together to help one another to strengthen the community. For the past 25 years, Yale’s Homebuyer program has encouraged nearly 1,300 employees to purchase homes and put down roots here in New Haven. We recently renewed the program, committing over $34 million toward the purchase of homes in the city. This initiative not only helps Yale employees and their families; it is also an investment in the people and the neighborhoods that make our city so distinctive.

Contributing to the local economy is part of being a good neighbor. Yale is one of the city’s top four taxpayers, and we make additional voluntary payments to the city, including $12 million last year alone. Our building permit fees average $5 million per year, and we provide up to $4 million per year in support of New Haven Promise scholarships. According to the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, Yale’s $16 billion in direct and induced spending helps drive the local economy. By working closely with local and state leaders, we can further invest in New Haven’s future. Last fall, I was honored to be asked to join the Governor’s Workforce Council. Our task is to develop statewide strategy for education and workforce training to meet the demands of the twenty-first-century economy.

Throughout our shared history, Yale and New Haven have changed and grown. From a small college in a colonial town, we have become a global center of higher learning within a diverse and welcoming city. As we embark upon a new decade, I look forward to strengthening Yale’s partnerships in New Haven, so our community and our university can continue to flourish together. The next time you visit campus, I hope you will take some time to explore our city and see all it has to offer.

With my warmest wishes,
Peter Salovey ’86PhD
President
Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology