The Cultural Institute of Health and Education (CIHE) is dedicated to transforming lives by providing accessible healthcare vocational training to underserved communities in Philadelphia. Through our phlebotomy and EKG technician certification programs, we equip individuals with the skills and credentials needed to enter the healthcare workforce and secure stable and rewarding careers. CIHE bridges workforce development and individual empowerment, ensuring that those facing financial or systemic barriers have opportunities to thrive.

With the support of this grant, CIHE will continue its mission by purchasing essential phlebotomy supplies, ensuring that students receive hands-on, high-quality training. These funds will directly contribute to our students' learning experience by providing materials such as needles, collection tubes, tourniquets, and gloves—critical tools for mastering phlebotomy skills. This investment strengthens our commitment to preparing future healthcare professionals and addressing the growing demand for skilled workers.

The Drexel Black Graduate Student Union (DBGSU) is launching Courageous Conversations, a new initiative designed to address the growing lack of belonging among Black graduate students on Drexel’s campus. Many students have reported facing microaggressions, intimidation, feelings of inadequacy, and a lack of support from faculty, leading to significant challenges in their academic journeys. For some, these issues have resulted in withdrawal from their programs, with a lasting impact on their lives. Courageous Conversations will serve as a fresh platform for open dialogue, bringing together Black students, faculty allies, and administrators to share experiences, foster understanding, and co-develop solutions. By building this community-focused initiative, DBGSU aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment that empowers Black graduate students, reduces feelings of isolation, and ensures they can thrive at Drexel.

Educators 4 Education (E4E) and Drexel University College of Medicine partnered to launch the inaugural Career Development and Health Awareness Program from June 24–28, 2024. Funded through The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, this initiative provided 12 young men from Philadelphia with early exposure to careers in healthcare while fostering resilience, mentorship, and personal growth.

Facilitated by Drexel medical students Doger Norceide and Vikki Rueda-Juarez, the program aimed to inspire underrepresented youth to explore careers in medicine through an engaging curriculum and immersive experiences. Throughout the week, participants engaged in dynamic sessions such as Barbershop Talk, which created a safe space for open discussions on personal challenges, and Journaling, where students reflected on daily lessons to encourage self-growth. The Health Career Fair introduced students to various medical specialties and hands-on experiences like suturing, sawbones, and intubation. Additionally, the Presentation Workshop guided students in developing community intervention plans addressing Social Determinants of Health, fostering critical thinking and advocacy.

Given the success of the 2024 program, we are excited to continue this initiative in the summer of 2025 and establish a structured curriculum for future years. Our goal is to provide long-term mentorship, resources, and exposure to empower young men in pursuing meaningful careers in healthcare while making a positive impact on their communities.

This multi-part event (keynote address, panel discussion, bread breaking) was in February at the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships. The event explored the role of seed keeping and seed saving as cultural reclamation and biodiversity preservation in the face of agribusiness, chemical inputs, biodiversity loss, and colonization across cultural contexts.

The event featured researcher, writer, seed conservationist, and farmer Vivian Sansour, creator of the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library. As Sansour writes, "Heirlooms, which have been carefully selected by our ancestors throughout thousands of years of research and imagination, form one of the last strongholds of resistance to the privatization of our life source: the seed. These seeds carry the DNA of our survival..." Sansour founded the PHSL and the "Traveling Kitchen" project—a mobile venue for public engagement—to preserve thousand-year-old seed varieties, traditional practices, and the stories, memories, and spirits that accompany them.

After her talk, Sansour was joined by two others for a panel discussion: Bonnetta Adeeb, educator and founder of Ujamaa Seeds, a collective of BIPOC farmers who preserve seeds of the African Diaspora and grow cultural meaningful crops, and Ubuntu Center/DSPH faculty Dr. Ashley Gripper, who has personally been involved in food and land justice movements in Philadelphia for over a decade and whose academic work focuses on Black people's reclamation of land-based living. Together, the three represent an intergenerational, transnational, cross-racial set of voices in land activism, seed-keeping, and food justice. The evening ended with a collective meal, conversation, and community building. 

The Sanitation Health Aid Relief Project (SHARP) is a student-led organization dedicated to raising awareness about water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues affecting marginalized communities both locally and globally. Over the past year, SHARP has collaborated with the Lindy Center and Toxic Free Philly (TFP) to host tabling events during the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships' monthly community dinners. As part of these efforts, SHARP developed educational pamphlets and magnets providing critical information on lead contamination in drinking water, including common signs, associated health risks, and actionable steps Philadelphia residents can take to protect themselves. To offer immediate support, SHARP and TFP also distributed Elite Brita Filters to community members. Through these engagements, SHARP not only provided essential resources but also built meaningful relationships and collected data to lay the groundwork for ongoing initiatives in West Philadelphia. With this year’s grant, SHARP plans to expand its tabling events at the Dornsife Center and partner with additional West Philadelphia community organizations, such as the West Belmont Civic Association. Additionally, SHARP will host an educational event at the Wellness Hub on Earth Day to further engage the community. This project seeks to mitigate the impacts of structural racism stemming from environmental hazards by building on existing efforts through accessible resources and educational outreach.

The DREAM Program connects local college students with underprivileged youth to foster a sense of consistent community, mentorship, and belonging. Through weekly activities, Drexel students focus on building meaningful relationships with these youth and creating opportunities for personal growth. Many of these youth face systemic barriers to accessing enriching educational experiences.

The funding will allow Drexel students, in partnership with the Spring Gardens chapter of DREAM, to create an educational and engaging experience centered around Black history, culture, and accomplishment. The initiative begins with a pre-visit workshop led by Drexel students designed to prepare the kids for themes they will encounter at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. The group also plans to collaborate with Drexel’s Center for Black Culture and local Black leaders to enrich this workshop with expert insights. The centerpiece of the project is a visit to the African American Museum, where the kids will participate in an interactive tour designed to engage their age group. The exhibits will give them a deeper understanding of Black history and inspire curiosity and reflection. To ensure the experience resonates beyond the visit, we’ll organize a post-visit activity that builds on what they learned. The ultimate goal of the project is to create an engaging, collaborative learning experience. We will empower youth with knowledge and a sense of pride in diversity while encouraging critical thinking about equity and justice. DREAM mentors, Drexel students, and staff will work together to design and implement this project.