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West Philadelphia

Update on Penn’s $100M pledge to Philadelphia public schools
Exterior of Roxborough High School in Philadelphia

The funding Penn is providing to Philadelphia Public Schools is being used to remediate environmental hazards in schools throughout the city, including the 100-year-old Roxborough High School in North Philadelphia.

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Update on Penn’s $100M pledge to Philadelphia public schools

Significant progress has been made in the four years since Penn pledged $100 million to the School District of Philadelphia to remediate environmental hazards, including asbestos and lead, in hundreds of school buildings.
With NSO preceptorials, a chance to be curious
A stairwell and mural next to a group of students sitting in chairs.

A scene from a fall 2023 preceptorial.

(Image: Courtesy of New Student Orientation)

With NSO preceptorials, a chance to be curious

Preceptorials, a New Student Orientation tradition for first-year undergraduates, run this Saturday, Aug. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Restoring the public purpose of America’s urban universities
Two college students lean over a table to talk with elementary school students

Penn students and district staff with students at Lea Elementary.

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Restoring the public purpose of America’s urban universities

A new Netter Center white paper written in collaboration with eight universities highlights mutually beneficial university-community partnerships.

Kristina García

Connecting the West Philadelphia community to careers 
west philly skills initiative med worker

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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
Vicky Swanson, Hongyang Zhao, and Toby Johnson.

(Left to right) Penn GSE’s Vicki Swanson, Hongyang Zhao, and Toby Johnson share how their how community engagements deepen their connection with West Philadelphia.

(Image: Scott Spitzer)

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.
The multifaceted Mya Gordon
Mya Gordon stands on the walkway near the Bio Pond with hands in her pockets

Mia Gordon at the Bio Pond.

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The multifaceted Mya Gordon

With a passion for community engagement, Mya Gordon balances her drive with hobbies, friends, and finding beauty in imperfection.

Kristina García

Educate to Empower aims to break down barriers to breast cancer screenings
Penn fourth-years Simran Rajpal on the left and Gauthami Moorkanatst on the right pose outside Fisher-Bennett Hall on Penn campus.

“In Philadelphia, in particular West Philly, there’s a lot of communities that don’t have the access to health care that they need, even though Penn is right here,” says Moorkanat (right). “Our thinking behind this was that if we can deliver the resources to them, instead of making them come to Penn, maybe we can start to bridge that gap.”

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Educate to Empower aims to break down barriers to breast cancer screenings

With the President’s Engagement Prize, fourth-years Simran Rajpal and Gauthami Moorkanat plan to deliver education and resources directly to community centers in Philadelphia, tackling medical mistrust, health literacy, and more.

Kristen de Groot

Who, What, Why: Ariana Jimenez and the High School Voter Project
high School and college students pour decant colorful bottles of shampoo and shower gel to make hygiene kits for students

To work on providing basic care for classmates, the Sayre students decided to provide easy access to hygiene products—deodorant, shampoo, bodywash, lip balm, tampons, and pads—to their peers.

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Who, What, Why: Ariana Jimenez and the High School Voter Project

As part of a student-run, nonpartisan, Netter Center initiative, Ariana Jimenez focuses on youth voter registration, civic engagement, and education in West Philadelphia.

Kristina García