Penn’s community engagement progress at the turn of the century

Posted by University of Pennsylvania on May 12, 2026

By the late 20th century, cities across the country were changing as some universities looked to expand their roles beyond campus borders. Over the last several decades, Penn has elevated its local engagement, working to build a symbiotic relationship with the city of Philadelphia, invoking its core values of being continually “self-improving,” dedicated to “enhancing social good,” and “remaining anchored and committed” to its Philadelphia home.

Penn now enters a new moment of change through Penn Forward, a University-wide strategic initiative to plan for the next 10 years and beyond, proactively adapting to a rapidly changing world.

In this third edition of “Chapters of Change,” a limited series recalling key historical moments when Penn has responded to society’s needs, Penn Today explores major steps the University took from the 1980s to the early 2000s to work with and for its neighbors through mutually beneficial partnerships in West Philadelphia and beyond.

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