West Philadelphia

Connecting the West Philadelphia community to careers 

The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is a workforce development partnership between the University City District, Penn Medicine, and the University committed to develop career opportunities for local residents.

From Penn Medicine Service in Action

A shared passion for community engagement

The Graduate School of Education helps students put their knowledge into practice through community engagement. Three soon-to-be graduates speak with Penn Today about how their service enabled them to deepen their connection with West Philadelphia.

Amanda Mott

Penn students, staff work the polls on primary day

Penn’s campus played host to eight polling places where students and community members cast their ballots, with a team of trained poll workers keeping the action running smoothly.

Kristen de Groot



In the News


WHYY (Philadelphia)

Free West Philly community clinic, which provided care to hundreds, is closed

Penn Medicine resident Noor Shaik and Michael Rubenstein of the Perelman School of Medicine discuss a West Philadelphia clinic that became a model for collaborations between academic health systems and community organizations.

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6ABC.com

Penn nurse confronts diabetes epidemic, health inequities in West Philadelphia

Penn Medicine nurse Jasmine Hudson outlines her campaign to combat diabetes and health inequities in West Philadelphia.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

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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Philadelphia Tribune

Event recognizes legacy of Judge A. Leon Higginbotham

A West Philadelphia mural has been dedicated to the late Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, formerly of Penn Carey Law, with a quote from Osagie Imasogie.

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Metro (Philadelphia)

Education power players—Lauren Overton, Principal, Penn Alexander School

In a video interview, Lauren Overton, principal of the Penn Alexander School and a doctoral candidate in the Graduate School of Education, discusses how she and her staff at PAS have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Philadelphia Citizen

The West Philly housing crisis that was utterly avoidable

An in-depth examination looks at the solution that might have put a stop to the UC Townhomes housing crisis, with a glimpse at what President Liz Magill and her office are doing to help.

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