pennGSE

The school children and teachers of Philadelphia welcome you into their classrooms so that you can get to know them and help them learn.

Penn’s Neighborhood

West Philadelphia (that part of the City of Philadelphia lying west of the Schuykill River) is a vibrant, dynamic and historic part of the city. Many Penn students, faculty and staff, including graduate students, staff and faculty from PennGSE, live and work in West Philadelphia and contribute to the area’s rich diversity. Three of the Penn Partnership Schools are located in West Philadelphia. Here is a link with more information on our neighborhood:
http://partners.upenn.edu/wp/plan/
http://www.gse.upenn.edu/pps/

City of Philadelphia

Our commitment to the children and young people of Philadelphia evolves out of our sense of community. Philadelphia is a historic city and vibrant cultural center that infuses Penn with the energy of urban life. Students, faculty and staff enjoy cultural offerings that include museums and galleries, theater, dance, music, historical landmarks and the cuisine of renowned chefs.

Penn is an incubator for emerging companies, especially in technology and biotechnology, and Philadelphia strives to provide a favorable environment for developing businesses. Penn itself is one of the largest employers in the area. Philadelphia's government and business community share a spirit of cooperation with Penn to keep the city strong and thriving.

To fulfill Penn's commitment to local engagement—an important part of President Amy Gutmann's Penn Compact—Penn is collaborating with local communities on many bold iniatives. Penn seeks to promote safe neighborhoods, attract and support area businesses, encourage homeownership, and improve public education. The Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships oversees a powerful array of projects and programs, with multiple initiatives to improve West Philadelphia education, including developing early-childhood reading and math skills, raising interest in science, and bridging the digital divide. Other programs include the Community Arts Partnership, which places an artist-in-residence in the West Philadelphia schools, supports after-school programs, and funds a Penn-West Philadelphia arts exchange called the Slought Foundation. Click here to learn more: http://www.slought.org/           

In the spirit of Penn's commitment to putting knowledge to use, many students, faculty, staff and alumni contribute time to these initiatives. A broad range of undergraduate and graduate academically based community service courses combine intellectual learning with active community involvement. Here are some links that demonstrate the thriving partnership between PennGSE and the City of Philadelphia:

http://www.upenn.edu/ccp/index.php
http://www.upenn.edu/campus/community_services.php