Signature Grants
We are funding the Imagine Signature Grant Program to amplify national non-profit organizations’ efforts that advance our mission to:

• support initiatives that foster the learning and well-being of youth and their families and educators at home and in the community
• study the impacts of social, physical, mental, and emotional well-being on accelerating student achievement across our nation’s communities
• support eligible organizations addressing and studying critical issues related to chronic absenteeism and student housing insecurity in K–12 learning environments

Signature Grants
The 2026 Imagine Signature Grant program is currently accepting applications!

Application Opens – February 9, 2026
Application Deadline – April 9, 2026
Award Decision, Notifications to Awarded Grantees – June 2026
Award Announcement – August or September 2026

Learn more and apply

Explore a variety of events, discussions, and curated book lists to highlight the diverse voices and powerful legacies of women.

Stay connected this month by visiting the events calendar for upcoming programs and resources.

Learn more here.

The briefs examine three key policy tools that can help strengthen household budgets while putting the Commonwealth on more stable fiscal footing: 

• Raising wages so every worker earns a living wage 
• Modernizing the tax code so the wealthiest households and large corporations pay their fair share  
• Investing in working families through targeted tax credits 

Together, the briefs form part of Pennsylvanians Together: For Our Common Wealth, a statewide campaign advancing tax fairness and economic security across Pennsylvania. 

“At a moment when families are facing rising costs and the Commonwealth is confronting serious fiscal pressures, policymakers need solutions that strengthen household budgets while building sustainable public revenue,” said Felicity A. Williams, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center. “These policy briefs show that Pennsylvania has the tools to do both.” 

Read more.

In order to fill this gap, we are collaborating on a research project entitled Assessment of Learning Outcomes in Nonpartisan Voter Engagement Programming. The essence of this project involves having students from a range of campuses complete a series of direct assessments connected to common components of campus action plans so we can measure student learning. The four assignments include a landscape analysis, writing a professional memo outlining the campaign plan and the role they expect to play, drafting a post-election analysis of the campaign’s results and recommendations for improvement, and a reflection on their experience.

We are currently recruiting campuses to participate in this research and particularly reaching out to individuals who serve as the coordinator of their campus’ voter engagement program to serve as their campus point person for this research. Briefly, campus coordinators will provide the research team with information about the structure of their school’s program, invite students to participate in the study, require students to complete four provided assessments into this fall, and collate and submit student work to the researchers. Participants will take part in an orientation and receive support and guidance from the PI team, if desired, regarding how to incorporate the assessments into their established action plan.

The first 25 individuals selected to serve as Campus Coordinators for this study will receive $500 for the work associated with this research once all requirements of participating in the study are complete. We are happy to incorporate more than 25 campuses into the study and will do our best to secure funding to support additional participants.

To register your interest in participating, please fill out this short form. To learn more about the project or to ask questions, please email Clarissa Unger at clarissa@slsvcoalition.org.

Through supervised experiments, participants will gain familiarity with common tools and experimental techniques used in molecular biology research, meet Penn researchers, and tour Penn laboratories. Techniques include DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, bacterial transformation, light microscopy, ELISA, and sterile cell culture.

Choose from two sessions:

• Monday, July 6, 2026 – Friday, July 10, 2026
• Monday, August 10, 2026 – Friday, August 14, 2026

This program is taught by Dr. Hanna Sherrill, the Associate Director of the Science Outreach Initiative. Class meets in Leidy Labs on Penn’s campus, and students will receive a lab coat to keep, eat lunch daily in a University dining hall, and earn a Certificate of Completion.

Application Deadline: June 1, 2026 (Apply by May 15 to save $300 off tuition.)

Ready to apply? Parents are required to complete the online application. We accept applications on a rolling basis until all seats are full; limited space is available.

For questions about this new program, please contact the Penn Arts and Sciences program team at middleschoolprograms@sas.upenn.edu or (215) 746-2309.

Learn more and apply.

Please note that Penn employee tuition benefits do not apply to this program.

MJCSL is an open-access, peer reviewed journal focusing on research, theory, pedagogy and other matters related to civic engagement, academic service-learning, campus-community partnerships, and engaged/public scholarship in higher education. Learn more about the goals of the journal on its website.

We invite submissions that center the voices of all partners in community-engaged work, and that reflect the complexities of our work together. Especially welcome are pieces that reflect the depth and breadth of connections that institutional and community partners, students, and neighbors build in aid of a more sustainable future for us all. Our hope is that with authentic community voices, we can illuminate how institutions, departments, and centers are co-creating visions for sustainable communities in collaboration with local community-based partners through projects, courses, and initiatives.

Given the breadth of sustainability work, the depth of our connections across communities, and the scope of the kinds of work we do together, the editors also encourage hopeful authors to incorporate their work in all the ways it shows up in our communities. We especially look forward to reviewing submissions where community voices lead that call our attention to the different kinds of knowing, expertise, and creativity which combine to make community-engaged sustainability work possible.

The guest editors welcome abstracts via email for informal feedback; please inquire before March 20th.

Full proposals for the special section are due April 1st. See full details, including guiding questions and corresponding co-editor information.

Participants will also learn about Bridging Blocks, a Philadelphia civic dialogue and engagement initiative made to prevent echo chambers and promote community dialogue across diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and topics.

Registration is free, and interested participants can register for one or both days of the summit.

Dates and Times: April 3 & 4, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: WHYY, 150 N. Sixth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Learn more about this event and register for April 3 and/or April 4.

The ideal candidate will lead the development and implementation of programs that drive business development, economic growth, and stability. They will also create and support environmentally sustainable programs for businesses interested in getting involved with and learning more about environmental impact!

The right person is someone who:

• Understands what it takes to start, grow, and sustain a business.
• Builds genuine relationships with ease. Is ready to lead programs and make a real local and community impact.
• Understands the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet & Prosperity).
• Understands the functions and usage of Google suites, Canva, Neon, Basecamp and  Mailchimp
• Wants to be part of a mission-driven team that truly cares.

Application Deadline: March 20, 2026

Full job description and application information.

The Philadelphia Youth Network’s Professional Pathways Program is a multi-year workforce development initiative designed to connect Opportunity Youth—young adults ages 18–24 who are not in school or working—to meaningful career pathways, credentialing opportunities, and living-wage jobs. ​

Funded by a $1M+ WIOA investment from Philadelphia Works, this program provides individualized support and work-based learning to help youth transition confidently into the workforce and into their future.

Learn more and apply.

This is more than a summer job — it’s a launchpad into the world of work:

• The PYNtern Program is Philadelphia Youth Network’s flagship work-based learning program, designed to help young people gain confidence while exploring careers, building professional skills, and participating in paid internship experiences in supportive workplace environments.
• Serving primarily high school–aged youth (rising 9th – 12th grade), the PYNtern program is a year-round, career-connected learning model that combines paid internships with professional development training classes, mentoring, and individualized career coaching.
• Each year, the program supports approximately 400 paid internship and career exposure opportunities across multiple cohorts, with experiences lasting between 6 and 12 weeks.

Learn more and apply.

Join us for a deep dive into Governor Shapiro’s proposed 2026-2027 budget for education.

We will share details of his proposal and what it means for your school district.

Presented in Both English and Español.

Date and Time: Thursday, March 12, 6:00-7:00 PM

Register.

Do you have a business that is aligned with sustainability, local community and/or creating a positive impact on our planet? Join our EcoFair vendor market and connect with thousands of engaged attendees and shoppers. Green Philly has been a resource to Philadelphia for over 16 years.

Learn more and sign up.

In partnership with Green Philly, The Woodlands, Feminist Bird Club Philly, Skype A Scientist, Andrew the Arborist, the Philadelphia Mycology Club and City Nature Challenge participants will use the app iNaturalist to explore the biodiversity of The Woodlands (an incredible green space located in West Philadelphia) all while participating in community science! Community science data collected through iNaturalist observations is key to help monitor urban biodiversity health.

Learn more and register.

March is Women’s History Month, so it’s a great time to learn about some of the amazing women who helped shape our nation, challenge our ideals, and effect change in a city and country that’s often inclined to give all the credit to the men. Here, a multitude of ideas for inspiring the next generation of trailblazers, from tours and museum exhibits to events to women-owned businesses worth your visit, and more.

Learn more.

Interested in learning more about the theory that shapes Fair Trade Learning (FTL) and better understanding how to apply it? Join this half-day, in-person retreat to delve into examples of how FTL is being applied and how it can be adapted to your program(s), polices, practices and strategy. Open to all community-based global learning educators.

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 8, 1:00-5:00 PM

Location: Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus, Capitol Overlook at 111 Massachusetts Ave NW, Room 8404

Learn more and register.

Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where your leadership directly impacts youth, families, and communities?

Sunrise of Philadelphia is urgently hiring a Center Director to lead one of our community-based youth development programs.

This is a powerful opportunity for a mission-driven leader to manage programming, supervise staff, and build strong partnerships with schools and families while shaping meaningful experiences for young people every day.

Sunrise of Philadelphia provides high-quality out-of-school time (OST) and youth development programming for children and teens facing adversity across South and West Philadelphia and surrounding communities.

Through a trauma-informed approach, we deliver academic enrichment, workforce development, and college and career readiness programs grounded in our core values.

As Center Director, you will serve as the on-site leader responsible for ensuring a safe, engaging, and high-quality program experience for youth.

Learn more and apply here.

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (pcSFN) is proud to host Brain Awareness Day at The Franklin Institute in partnership with Temple University’s Psychology and Neuroscience Program and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Faculty and students will help guide attendees through engaging neuroscience activities.

Learn more.

This annual contest invites students from around the world to use poetry to respond to the global issues featured in Pulitzer Center-supported reporting.

This year, we are excited to expand this opportunity to welcome submissions from 18-24 year olds and share what issues young adults are passionate about and how creative writing can be utilized to process current events and illuminate underreported stories.

Entrants should first visit the Pulitzer Center website to select a news story, and then write a poem of any form and length that includes lines from the story and responds to its themes and central issue. After a rigorous judging process, winning entries will be selected in five focus areas: Climate and Environment, Global Health, Peace and Conflict, Human Rights, and Information and Artificial Intelligence. Young adult and K-12 student entries will be judged separately.

Winners and finalists will receive cash prizes and publication on the Pulitzer Center website.

Learn more and apply by May 10.

Your support in this endeavor will be of great assistance. The goal of the program is to expose students to various areas of STEAM and link them up to professionals in those areas. The Career Day is on Friday, April 10, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM for set up, and from 1:00-5:00 PM for the activity.

We expect between 150 to 200 of our youth to participate.

The event will take place at 2800 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120.

For more information, please contact Congreso’s STEM Coordinator Alisa Best.

Take the survey.

For more information, contact Jane E. Dmochowski, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Earth & Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania.