Netter Center for Community Partnerships

A celebration of creativity and innovation for social good

Nine graduating students were recognized at an annual reception for the President’s Engagement, Innovation, and Sustainability prizes.

4 min. read

Move-out: Tips for a cleaner, greener, easier experience

Penn offices and community partners have options for off-campus pickups, on-campus donations, and additional curbside trash pickup days aimed at keeping the neighborhood clean and limiting what ends up in the landfill.

3 min. read

Fourth-years Ejun Mary Hong and Jack Nicholas Roney were awarded a 2025 President's Engagement Prize to pursue their PIXEL project. The pair will collaborate to bring art mentorship, creative skill-building, and industry networking opportunities to under-resourced high school students in the greater Philadelphia area.

Empowering high school youth through immersive art mentorship

Penn fourth-years Ejun Mary Hong and Jack Nicholas Roney will use a President’s Engagement Prize to expand their existing initiative dedicated to connecting under-resourced high school students in Philadelphia with art mentorship, creative skill-building, and industry networking opportunities.

6 min. read

Trump’s drive against top universities could carry a big economic cost

Ira Harkavy of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships says that the big increase in federal support for education and scientific research after Sputnik was the moment when universities and government became joined towards society’s future.

Weitzman and Netter Center to tackle urban heat in West Philadelphia

A collaboration between the Thermal Architecture Lab at Penn’s Weitzman School of Design, the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, and the Annenberg School has been awarded an Environmental Protection Agency Thriving Communities Grant for $137,000 to work with William L. Sayre High School, a University-Assisted Community School, on measurement of urban heat and solution design.

More than a year in as Annenberg dean, Sarah Banet-Weiser focuses on care and collaboration

Drawing on her background as a scholar of gender in media and founder of the Center for Collaborative Communication, she is supporting community members as they drive communication research around democracy, climate, health, and more.

Mary Kinney dropping off knitwear for donation.

Penn staff make the Philadelphia area a better place through side gigs

The 12th piece in Penn Today’s Side Gigs for Good series highlights staff who mentor and empower Latino professionals, lead Girl Scout troops, donate hand-knitted items to people in need, and connect Philadelphia children with music opportunities.

Lisa Servon talks with students in her practicum course.

Lisa Servon wins award for community partnership

A professor in the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, Lisa Servon was recognized for her work with the Kensington Corridor Trust. The honor was presented by Provost John L. Jackson Jr. and Netter Center director Ira Harkavy on Dec. 16.

Penn students and Sayre high school students wading in a river in Cobbs Creek.

Rivers in a changing world

A new Academically Based Community Service class brings Penn and William L. Sayre High School students together to learn environmental science and engineering.

High school students listen to breathing sounds on mannequin.

Sharing a love of nursing with West Philadelphia high school students

The School of Nursing worked with the Educational Pipeline Program, facilitated by the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, to bring high school students to the nursing simulation lab for hands-on activities and education about health care careers.

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