Publications and Reports
"Our Shared Community" Celebrates More than a Decade of Civic Partnership Milestones at Drexel
Oct. 15, 2024 — Drexel University’s Office of University and Community Partnerships presents a digital report cataloging over a decade of building mutually beneficial partnerships through community engagement in West Philadelphia and the city.
“Our Shared Community” brings together for the first time a comprehensive overview of initiatives led by Drexel’s faculty, professional staff, students, donors and alumni to foster positive social, economic and educational outcomes in the broader community.
Working alongside West Philadelphia residents and civic and nonprofit partners, Drexel has impacted critical challenges such as health equity, climate resilience, education access, the digital divide, workforce development and community safety. Through the University's special brand of experiential education, these projects have also connected students to valuable roles in socially meaningful research, impactful practices and true community partnership.
This report recognizes six core themes underlying Drexel’s approach to community engagement:
- Learning: Collaborations with public schools to improve instruction and learning, provide “near peer” mentorships, and deepen classroom teaching opportunities for Drexel students.
- Thriving: Health and wellness initiatives run by students across the University and particularly in the health sciences disciplines to support all aspects of community health.
- Inquiry: Research partnerships with community members to address local challenges, from climate change to social justice.
- Connection: Building cultural and social ties through arts, athletics and creative programming.
- Work: Workforce and economic development initiatives, including legal, technical, digital and employment support.
- Change: Efforts to create a cradle-to-career pipeline rich with opportunity for the residents of West Philadelphia.
This work underscores the importance of respectful and reciprocal relationships between the University and community organizations. Drexel is deeply grateful to West Philadelphia residents and its civic and nonprofit partners for their collaboration and commitment over the past decade. These partnerships have been integral to the University’s mission of driving positive change and fostering a more equitable future.
“Our Shared Community” is available online.