Skip to main content

Public Service, Public Good

In Focus

Public Service,
Public Good

Every day, Harvard students, faculty, staff, and alumni all across the globe use their time and talents to serve the public good.

Helping hands

During the Global Day of Service, Harvard undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni volunteer in a wide range of fields in the local community and beyond.

Read more about the day

Difference makers

These Harvard alumni and fellows are advocating for others, building community, and creating opportunities to learn.

Serving locally


We are able to provide care to a patient population in need.”

Betty Ben Dor, Harvard School of Dental Medicine student

Betty and many other Dental School students volunteer and learn at ACTION, a student-run pediatric dental clinic at Harvard, which provides care to pediatric patients at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge and the Greater Boston area.

A group of dental students in a clinic
A singer holds out his arms wide while dancers smile behind him

Sharing the arts

The Ed Portal’s family-friendly Concerts in the Common bring music, dance, storytelling, and demonstrations to the community.

Read More

Health

The Family Van, a Harvard Medical School-affiliated community health program, now provides mental health support for clients.

Read More

Education

A Harvard Graduate School of Education alum created a play-based curriculum for toddlers in Boston.

Read More

Nutrition

The Harvard Divinity School Garden provides healthy food for the community.

Read More

Finance

Harvard Law’s Consumer Protection Clinic saves thousands of dollars for Boston residents every year.

Read More

Community

Staff at the Harvard Business School can be paired with local students in a pen pal program.

Read More

Working nationally


No one is less because they go to a food pantry. No one deserves to be hungry.”

Leah Gose, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alum

Leah is shedding light on how we can work together to provide nutritional assistance, address barriers to access, and create policies that eliminate food insecurity.

A woman stands outside, resting her arm on a brick wall

Thinking globally


Why are we just dreaming about it? Can we set a deadline for the end of poverty?”

Jim Yong Kim, Harvard Medical and Harvard Griffin GSAS alum

With his friend Paul Farmer, Jim Yong Kim co-founded Partners in Health, which now delivers care to millions in the world’s poorest places.

A man wearing a suit stands outside