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Outreach
Lighting the way for rare disease
After finding out about STAC3, a rare disease without a cure, biology major Magnolia Wang of the College of Arts and Sciences set out to raise awareness and advocate for those struggling with the illness.
A vigil in response to recent losses to gun violence
In the shadow of the LOVE sculpture, campus ministers and artists offered prayers, readings, and songs, supporting the community and imploring action in the wake of the lives lost in the mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, in Laguna Woods, California, and in Uvalde, Texas.
Reimagining the corner store to promote food justice
With a 2022 President’s Sustainability Prize, Eli Moraru and Alexandre Imbot will take raw ingredients payable with EBT and turn them into hot, heathy meals while providing nutritional education resources.
Nurse case manager supports her Ukrainian homeland from afar
As Russia continues its war on Ukraine, Alena Blain, a nurse case manager at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, collects and packages much needed medical supplies to send to hospitals in Ukraine for treating people injured in the war.
2022 Projects for Progress awardees continue working with community
The second cohort of awardees, a combination of faculty, staff, and students, continue the tradition of commitment to social justice and engagement in the community.
A matter of trust: Community health workers in West Philly
As part of the Penn Medicine at Home enterprise, community health workers are one element of Penn’s initiatives to deliver quality care and improve health outside hospital walls.
In the Galápagos, training community scientists to monitor water quality
Both dense human populations and a plethora of wildlife can pose a challenge to marine and public health in the Galápagos Islands. With portable, user-friendly PCR technology, Penn faculty and students are training local scientists and school children to perform water quality research.
Making a game of it: Contests help new moms increase their steps
A Penn Medicine study used wearable tech to foster activity in high-risk, diverse populations, specifically postpartum women to reduce their cardiovascular risk.
Lancaster General Health invests in healthy homes
Lancaster General’s Lead-Free Families initiative is the first of its kind in the U.S., as it is 100% funded and led by a community health system. It will identify and remediate lead hazards in Lancaster County homes and educate on the risk of lead exposure.
A mental health specialist is helping underserved moms find their way
Lissette “Mitzy” Liriano, Chester County Hospital’s maternal mental health specialist, leads a support group called Moms Supporting Moms, in addition to dividing her time between the hospital and the mental health clinic, where she monitors a largely Hispanic population for mental health needs.
In the News
Homeward bound: When a Penn Medicine nurse was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she turned to the service dogs she helped to train
A profile highlights Maria Wright of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, from her volunteer work connecting people with service dogs to her cancer diagnosis and her own journey applying for a service dog.
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Wharton created a free series for entrepreneurs to learn about gen AI
A free virtual discussion series from the Wharton School offers a space for the business community to learn about developments with generative AI, featuring remarks from Mary Purk.
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Here’s what these youth advocates have to say about Philly’s truancy problem, and how they would fix it
The Netter Center for Community Partnerships has more than 30 years of investment in connecting resources that address truancy, such as establishing after-school programming.
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Student organization at Penn giving free swim lessons to children with special needs
Penn students are providing free on-campus swim lessons to children with special needs through national nonprofit SNUGS.
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Penn alums changing grocery game for Philadelphians in food deserts with Community Grocer program
Penn alums Alex Imbot and Eli Moraru have co-founded the Community Grocer to supply grab-and-go meal kits and hot, fresh meals for Philadelphia residents.
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Philadelphia lawyer connects at risk youth to at risk animals, together they help each other
Penny Ellison of Penn Carey Law leads Hand2Paw, a Philadelphia nonprofit founded by Penn alum Rachel Cohen that connects youth experiencing homeless or in foster care to animals in need.
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