PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development will host a national conference Feb. 28-29 at the University of Pennsylvania to highlight the work of regional higher education networks and to celebrate 20 years of PHENND's service to local communities.
The conference, "The Power of Place: Regional Higher Education Networks for Community Transformation," will be highlighted by a gala dinner at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Inn at Penn, featuring Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Pennsylvania colleges and universities selected for the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll will be recognized.
Designed for those involved with campus-community partnership, service learning, community service, education reform and community development, the conference will explore the impacts, histories and methods of regional higher education networks focused on community transformation.
“We are particularly hoping to attract campus leaders who have considered forming such a network with one or more neighboring institutions, as well as anyone already in the process of doing so,” said Ira Harkavy, director of Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships, where PHENND is headquartered.
The conference will close with a panel of experts in the field who will discuss the future role and impacts these networks can have.
Additional information and registration details for the conference are available at www.phennd.org.