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West Philadelphia

A ‘Collective Climb’ to combat poverty
Three side-by-side portraits of Penn students

From left to right: Hyungtae Kim, Mckayla Warwick, and Kwaku Owusu.

A ‘Collective Climb’ to combat poverty

With the President’s Engagement Prize, seniors Hyungtae Kim, Kwaku Owusu, and Mckayla Warwick will work to combat poverty in West Philadelphia through education, shared resources, and community collaboration.

Kristina Linnea García

Walter Licht’s legacy of civic engagement
Person sits on corner of conference table with wall of books behind them, smiling at the camera. History professor Walter Licht in his office earlier this semester. He is stepping down from his duties at Civic House in June.

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.

Kristen de Groot

How to support University City restaurants during the coronavirus crisis
View of facade and awning for HipCityVeg on 40th St in daylight.

How to support University City restaurants during the coronavirus crisis

University City's rich and diverse restaurant scene is facing a unique challenge as we deal with the impact of the coronavirus. The University City District wants to help local restaurants by offering support through a limited time promotion.

Dee Patel

Fresh Grocer on campus has closed its doors
One of the buses in the fleet of Penn Buses on campus

Fresh Grocer on campus has closed its doors

Fresh Grocer at 40th and Walnut streets has closed its doors. Penn Transit is offering new services to accommodate the grocery needs of students, faculty, and staff.

Dee Patel

The inaugural Provost’s Graduate Academic Engagement fellowship cohort
Two men stand in front of the brick and stone stairway leading to the Penn Museum

Paul Wolff Mitchell (left) and Michael Vazquez (right) are the inaugural Provost’s Graduate Academic Engagement Fellows.

The inaugural Provost’s Graduate Academic Engagement fellowship cohort

The Provost’s Graduate Academic Engagement fellowship supports scholarship and civic engagement in West Philadelphia. Paul Wolff Mitchell, an anthropology doctoral student, and Michael Vazquez, a philosophy doctoral student, are the inaugural cohort.

Kristina Linnea García

SEPTA’s University City transit hub gets a new name
SEPTA Regional Rail construction University City

SEPTA’s University City transit hub gets a new name

The Regional Rail Station serving University City will become Penn Medicine Station, just in time for the final stage of construction on Penn Medicine’s newest hospital, the Pavilion.

Penn Today Staff

‘A specific struggle’: Makuu director Brian Peterson on Black student life
Man with crossed arms stands in front of a mural

Brian Peterson works at the ARCH building, where Makuu is housed along with other cultural resource centers.

‘A specific struggle’: Makuu director Brian Peterson on Black student life

Brian Peterson, three-time Penn graduate and director of Makuu: the Black Cultural Center, plays a central role in student life.

Kristina Linnea García

Side Gigs for Good, part three
Two people sitting on an L-shaped couch amidst four pillows. The one on the right is holding a clipboard.

Altagracia Felix (right) is a financial coordinator for the Annenberg School for Communication, but she also has a side gig as a money coach. Her aim is to help “disrupt the cycle of poverty and struggle,” she says. (Image: Courtesy of Altagracia Felix)

Side Gigs for Good, part three

The final 2019 installment in our series highlighting impactful work Penn faculty and staff do.

Katherine Unger Baillie , Michele W. Berger