A summer of student enrichment, from big ideas to bold beats

The Netter Center for Community Partnerships hosted its 40th year of University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) summer enrichment programs for West Philadelphia students. The six-week program serves K-8 and high school students to prevent summer learning loss and engage students in real-world, problem-solving learning, says Bianca del Rio, executive director of UACS.

“It’s also a time for students to build out projects started during the academic year, with our high school students learning across an array of different subject areas, including environmental science, public health, [and] antiviolence,” adds del Rio.

One program, Educational Pipeline, which also spans the academic year, is a partnership between the Netter Center and the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Veterinary Medicine, the Thermal Architecture Lab at the Weitzman School of Design, and the Life Sciences Management Program, encouraging high school students to explore careers in health care. That program’s summer edition, facilitated with the Center for Public Health, engaged graduate and undergraduate students at Penn, collaborating with high school students to identify health issues in their community, ranging from heat islands to student mental health. High school students then work with Penn students to develop solutions grounded in public health approaches.

Another program, in partnership with Philadelphia-based nonprofit Musicopia, works with approximately 50 students at West Philadelphia High School to explore in-depth expectations for joining a college marching band. They learn music, look at the history of HBCU marching bands, and prepare to apply for academic scholarships and music programs at local universities and HBCUs.

But also, del Rio notes, the Netter team and its partners set out to make sure students have one core experience: “We want the kids to have fun.”

Here, find scenes from this summer’s Educational Pipeline and music programs, held in July.