History
Justin Abbasi and Sarah Pearl spent more than seven years in foster care before applying to college. In May 2018, they graduated from Yale University, becoming a part of the two percent of former foster youth who have obtained their bachelor’s degrees, as well as the much smaller cohort of those who receive their bachelor’s degrees from an Ivy League university. To improve the odds of success for and experiences of Yale students like themselves and to encourage current and former foster youth across the country to pursue postsecondary education, Abbasi and Pearl co-founded Harbor Fellows: A Dwight Hall Program at Yale Dwight Hall at Yale, to which the Yale College Dean’s Office has committed its full support. The name ’Harbor’ denotes a deep-seated feeling of safety, trust, and support that the program seeks to harbor for individuals who were not afforded such a setting previously, but also refers to a place where ships come to rest before they are sent off on their next adventure.
The organization started its inaugural term by serving this niche identity at Yale that is often overlooked given the prestige and legacy of many who walk the halls of such an elite institution. Initially reserved for former foster youth, Harbor Fellows expanded its focus identity in the Fall of 2018 to encompass those who face more nuanced forms of familial instability in realizing the greater prevalence of this population on campus. Internal programming now strives to support the continued success of those who have excelled in spite of lacking the personal and emotional support that many of their peers receive from family. This takes the form of financial assistance, academic mentorship, preprofessional development tools, and community support from peers of a common background or standing in solidarity with those dealt this less fortunate hand.
In the Spring of 2019, Harbor Fellows commenced a new service initiative that involves offering free college counseling and mentorship services to Connecticut youth in out-of-home care. This facet of the Harbor Fellows programming brought together all members—undergraduate and graduate students, those of the identity or supportive of it—to address the challenges faced by juniors and seniors at public high schools across Greater New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury and pass on the skills that were integral to their own success. With the support of our sponsors and benefactors, partners and volunteers, leadership team and advisory board, we hope to guide these individuals onto a path in which opportunity is more equated to that of their peers and their dreams and aspirations are not squandered by the barriers presented by their backgrounds that are too often overlooked by the public eye.
In response to the elevated needs of these students during the COVID-19 pandemic, Harbor Fellows started a volunteer network in March 2020 to provide housing and coordinate resources for students that were unable to retain their on-campus accommodations. Due to the success of this program, it has since expanded to serve students all across the country, now boasting 110+ units across 37 municipalities to ensure that students have a stable place to live and study that is closest to the existing peer and support networks that can optimize their success.
Get in touch
Interested in supporting the Harbor Fellows mission? Looking to get involved? Are there high school juniors and seniors of this identity at your school district who could benefit from the mentorship and college counselling services that Harbor Fellows has to offer?
We are happy to answer any questions or inquiries that you may have and are committed to responding within 2-3 business days!