25th Anniversary Overview

For 30th Anniversary events in 2022-2023, please click here.

The Netter Center hosted events throughout the 2017-2018 academic year to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. 

During Homecoming, November 4th, we hosted a program on ethnographic filmmaking with ABCS faculty and student partners, "From Hollywood to West Philly: Film & Community Storytelling."

Our 25th Anniversary International Conference, "Higher Education-Community Partnerships for Democracy and Social Change," took place November 16-17, 2017 on Penn's campus. View the conference program book; video recordings of the plenary sessions; speakers' bios, presentations, and other materials here.

University-Assisted Community Schools Arts Showcase took place February 28, 2018 at the Rotunda.

Our 25th Anniversary Partnership Festival took place at West Philadelphia High School on April 19, 2018. The Festival hosted approximately 500 youth and their families from seven university-assisted community schools in West Philadelphia and also included a Health and Wellness resource fair with partner organizations. The students participated in hands-on science, gardening, games and arts activities and performances. The evening culminated with an Awards program presented to the K-12, Penn students, and staff.

The 15th Annual Academically Based Community Service Summit took place April 27, 2018. In addition to poster presentations by students in ABCS courses, this year’s summit featured a student panel co-hosted by the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education (SCUE), which focused on how ABCS can help realize the purposes of a Penn education.

We also celebrated our anniversary with special events on Alumni Day (May 12, 2018) and with other alumni-sponsored activities throughout spring 2018.

Check out our 25th Anniversary video produced by Penn Communications below and a video of President Gutmann and Dr. Harkavy in conversation here