Skip to Content Skip to Content

West Philadelphia

‘The Illuminated Body’ fuses color, light, and sound
barbara earl thomas with seth parker woods

nocred

‘The Illuminated Body’ fuses color, light, and sound

A new Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of work by artist Barbara Earl Thomas features cut-paper portraits reminiscent of stained glass and an immersive installation constructed with intricately cut material lit from behind.
Who, What Why: Om Manghani
Wearing glasses and a blue sweater, Om Manghani stands with crossed arms on a staircase

With MathMates, an after-school tutoring program at Andrew Hamilton School, Om Manghani has started a program to help middle school students succeed.

nocred

Who, What Why: Om Manghani

With MathMates, an after-school tutoring program at Andrew Hamilton School, Om Manghani has started a program to help middle school students succeed. But it’s about more than fractions and decimals, he says.

Kristina García

A day of service to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s tenets, character, and sacrifice
Students sit at tables to eat breakfast in a large room with wooden panelling, chandeliers, and university flags.

Students listen to Charles “Chaz” Howard speak at the 2023 Day of Service kickoff breakfast in the Hall of Flags.

nocred

A day of service to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s tenets, character, and sacrifice

The 29th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and the Symposium on Social Change honors King’s legacy through educational and volunteer opportunities, along with events.

Kristina García

Netter Center holiday book parties
Two college students lean over a table to talk with elementary school students

Penn students and district staff with students at Lea Elementary.

nocred

Netter Center holiday book parties

At annual events hosted by the Netter Center’s Community School Student Partnerships, Penn students partner with K-12 West Philadelphia students.

Kristina García

The 2023 Provost/Netter Center Faculty-Community Partnership Award
Ira Harkavy, Paulette Branson, Andy Tan, and John L. Jackson Jr. pose together at an award ceremony. Branson and Tan both hold plaques.

From left to right: Ira Harkavy, Paulette Branson, Andy Tan, and John L. Jackson Jr. 

(Image: Tarah Paul)

The 2023 Provost/Netter Center Faculty-Community Partnership Award

Andy Tan, an associate professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, and community partners Cross-Grade Sports and OurSpace were honored for their work in the West Philadelphia community.

Kristina García

Holiday giving at Penn
Isabel Sampson-Mapp sits on a table piled with colorful knitwear

Around the holidays, “Penn folks, they really, stretch out, from giving gifts to feeding people,” says Isabel Sampson-Mapp of the Netter Center, who runs annual drives for food and clothing. “We have amazing volunteers. There’s no way I could do it without help.”

nocred

Holiday giving at Penn

From shoes and coats to Hot Wheels and Paw Patrol, the Netter Center’s Isabel Sampson-Mapp coordinates holiday giving.

Kristina García

Decentralizing cancer screenings
colorectal screening by penn medicine students

At a community event held at Irvine Auditorium, West Philadelphia residents were welcomed to receive FIT kits to screen for colon cancer, have their blood pressure taken, and more.

nocred

Decentralizing cancer screenings

A Projects for Progress team in the Abramson Cancer Center continues to work with the West Philadelphia community to bring cancer screenings out of clinical settings.
Penn’s urban forest in fall
autumn leaves at the quad

nocred

Penn’s urban forest in fall

Penn’s West Philadelphia campus is home to 240 different tree species, which put on a show during the fall season.

Kristina García