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Lessons from the Schuylkill River on community-engaged research
People kayak on the Schuylkill River.

Image: Bethany Wiggin

Lessons from the Schuylkill River on community-engaged research

A historian working on both sides of the Atlantic, Bethany Wiggin, a professor of German in the School of Arts & Sciences, is interested in how historic legacies—including pollution—shape modern landscapes and how changed landscapes impact human populations.

3 min. read

When partnership becomes practice
Academy at Penn students visiting a Penn Vet classroom.

Academy at Penn students visit Penn Vet during their summer session.

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When partnership becomes practice

Penn GSE and the School District of Philadelphia are co-creating solutions—in areas from algebra to AI—by listening first, aligning priorities, and turning research into real-time change across an urban school system.

From Penn GSE

2 min. read

Documenting architecture and memories of a changing neighborhood
"On Exactitude in Science (Watts)" showing on screen at the Barnes.

Image: Erica Moser

Documenting architecture and memories of a changing neighborhood

A film by Penn fine arts professor David Hartt about Watts, a historically Black neighborhood in Los Angeles, is one of five videos included in “Freedom Dreams,” an exhibition at the Barnes in Philadelphia that centers the “memories, dreams, and histories of Black Americans.”

3 min. read

Penn filmmaking class shares the stories of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods
Two students take video of archivist holding up newspaper clipping.

Student filmmakers Harper Prentice and Hosaena Tilahun interviewed Alisha Davis, a former history teacher who has served as the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Hyperlocal Heritage archivist since August 2025. As part of America 250, Davis has been surveying collections held at Parkway Central Library and identifying archival materials for digitization, use in programming, and preservation.

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Penn filmmaking class shares the stories of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods

Graduate and undergraduate students in Alissa Jordan’s course partnered with community organizations to create five short films that touch on education, archiving, and grassroots organizing in Germantown, Northeast Philadelphia, and West Philadelphia.

3 min. read

Empowering unhoused patients through comprehensive eye care
From left to right: Justin Wang, Janine Haros, and Eric Lee in a clinical room at the Scheie Eye Institute, holding documents and smiling together

Justin Wang (left), Janine Haros (center), and Eric Lee (right) in a clinical room at the Scheie Eye Institute, holding documents and smiling together.

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Empowering unhoused patients through comprehensive eye care

Penn fourth-years Eric Lee, Janine Haros, and Justin Wang will use a President’s Engagement Prize to elevate vision health in unhoused individuals across Philadelphia through free eye screenings, tailored care coordination, and interactive patient education.

4 min. read

Penn’s community engagement progress at the turn of the century
An elementary school student (left) and Penn affiliate (right) are interacting while the student writes in his booklet, in a classroom setting.

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Penn’s community engagement progress at the turn of the century

The third installment in the limited series “Chapters of Change” explores how Penn has led community engagement efforts in public education, economic development, and neighborhood prosperity during a time of widespread change in the nation’s cities.

5 min. read

Fueling local business growth

Fueling local business growth

Vendor Matt Nam, founder of ViaNexta and Win Win Coffee, counts on Penn support to help sustain and grow his local businesses.

Penn receives national distinction for community engagement
High school students in a science class.

Organizations like Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships foster collaborations between Penn and public schools in the West Philadelphia community.

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Penn receives national distinction for community engagement

The recognition by the American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching acknowledges Penn’s long-standing commitment to community-engaged scholarship and partnerships in West Philadelphia and beyond.

3 min. read

From calves to canines, Penn Vet shines at Pennsylvania Farm Show
Andrew Hoffman shaking hands with Gavi Burton alongside her dad at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Penn Vet Dean Andrew Hoffman chats with undergraduate Gavi Burton and her father Dan at the School’s booth at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Burton hopes to become a large animal veterinarian.

(Image: Ashley Hinton)

From calves to canines, Penn Vet shines at Pennsylvania Farm Show

At the nation’s biggest indoor agricultural exposition, Penn Vet faculty, staff and leadership met with young people interested in becoming veterinarians, staffed the “Calving Corner“ exhibit, and showed off the expertise of the animals at Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center.

2 min. read