PHILADELPHIA – The Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania will hold a joint conference of the Anchor Institutions Task Force and the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools on Thursday, Dec .15.   

The daylong meeting will be held in Houston Hall’s Bodek Lounge, 3417 Spruce St., and will feature addresses by Sjur Bergan of the Council of Europe, Larkin Tackett of the U.S. Department of Education and numerous college and university presidents.  Maureen Curley, president of Campus Compact, and Carol Schneider, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities will moderate panels.  

Attendees will address three major themes:

• Learning how civic mission can lead to comprehensive community development through strengthening schools and families
• Breaking down barriers between K-12 and higher education
• Promoting civic learning and community engagement

Ira Harkavy, associate vice president and founding director of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, chairs the AITF, which now has about 140 members.  

Through a grant from the Carnegie Corporation, the Netter Center has a partnership with the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, a national project to advance civic learning in K-12 schools, especially through its state and federal policy work.  

 For a complete agenda, visit

www.margainc.com/initiatives/aitf/anchor_insitutions_forum_agenda/.