The Journal on Anchor Institutions and Communities, Third Edition

Posted by Anchor Institutions Task Force on December 15, 2020

This year has been challenging on many levels.  It has encouraged us to adapt and innovate in AITF (Anchor Institutions Task Force).  Over the last few months, while we did not hold a full annual conference, we were able to provide various platforms for learning exchange among members, highlight how anchor institutions have been engaging with their communities in the current context, and developing our policy strategy to advance the work of our field going forward.

In early November, all of our active subgroups – Higher Education Presidents, Economic Development Executives, Health Professionals, and Education – all held an online summit.   Our Advisory Council and Anchor Fellows were also able to meet virtually.  We established a number of tools for ongoing exchange within subgroups and throughout AITF through Microsoft Teams.

As you know, showcasing specific examples of how anchor institutions are engaging in their communities has been fundamental to AITF’s work.  This has been a hallmark of our Annual Conferences and our publications, including The Journal on Anchor Institutions and Communities.  This year, given the unique circumstances that have faced our neighborhoods, cities, and regions, we have been gathering specific examples of how anchor institutions have been responding to the pandemic, and releasing different editions capturing this multifaceted range of initiatives.  We are pleased to report that our Third Edition of these examples is now available.