City of Philadelphia

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Walter Licht’s legacy of civic engagement

For more than 40 years at Penn, Walter Licht has crafted a career of equal parts renowned historian, teacher, and community activist, including creating the Penn Civic Scholars Program. Licht recently announced he is stepping down from his positions at Civic House.

A watercolor painting depicts a three masted ship anchored near a port with a yellow flag aloft.

Pandemics, quarantines, and history

History professor Alex Chase-Levenson explores pandemics and quarantines in his upcoming book, and shares lessons that citizens and politicians can take from the past.

Lorene Cary stands in her office with a wall of bookshelves behind her

A time traveling Harriet Tubman, brought to life on stage

English faculty Lorene Cary’s first play features a time traveling Harriet Tubman who toggles between her 19th-century life and a present-day Philadelphia prison where she recruits soldiers to fight with her in the Civil War. Playing to sold-out audiences, “My General Tubman” is on stage through mid-March at Arden Theatre Company.

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Philadelphia looks to evidence-based insights to inform policy

A conference bringing academics and policy makers together looks at how behavioral science can benefit local government.

gse student mentoring at a table with college pennants behind

‘Possibility mentoring’ helps Philadelphia middle schoolers plan for their futures

Now in two Philadelphia public schools, master’s students at the Graduate School of Education are focused on helping the young teens imagine and take steps to realize their futures, while gaining real-world experience in education.

students gathered around a table looking at armor

A day in shining armor

Grad students get a close-up view of artwork and materials from museum collections—including a 500-year-old painting and two sets of armor from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Brendan Taliaferro outside of College Hall leaning against wall

Homeward Initiative takes on the challenge of supporting homeless LGBTQ youth

With his President’s Engagement Prize, May graduate Brendan Taliaferro is creating a nonprofit to provide housing and assistance for homeless LGBTQ youth in Philadelphia.

sphinx in the archway of the museum entrance

Penn Museum’s transformation revealed

The main level reopens after a historic renovation featuring the relocated sphinx and completely reimagined Africa and Mexico/Central America galleries.

Three students stand next to a poster entitled "Cleaning Up Philly's Streets" which describes their project

Helping Philadelphia tackle trash with technology

Last fall, a team of undergraduates developed a high-tech solution to help the city target one of its persistent problems: the illegal dumping of construction and trash debris.

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Closing the wealth gap in West Philadelphia

The City of Philadelphia and Actions Not Words have selected Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships to develop and implement a new entrepreneurial program, Project Elevate, offering financial literacy education at public high schools.

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