AITF is pleased and excited to share with you the second edition in our Leadership series.

This collection of essays from anchor leaders representing different fields and various types of institutions highlights some of the most pressing issues facing anchor institutions and their communities. Thanks very much to our authors for their compelling contributions.

The significance of leadership to the future role that anchor institutions play in strengthening their communities through democratic collaboration is substantial. This is why leadership has been a major strategic priority for AITF. Looking ahead, this field must continue to better understand what it takes to leverage leadership at multiple levels to deepen and elevate anchor institutions’ commitment to equitably transforming the localities in which they reside. It is also crucial to actively build from the experiences and learning of existing and former anchor leaders.

Additionally, AITF has made a commitment to intentionally grow and develop cadres of future leaders of anchor institutions committed to place, social justice and equity, collaboration, democracy, and racial justice and racial equity. A few years ago, AITF created the Anchor Fellows Program with support from the Teagle Foundation. The third cohort of Fellows recently wrapped up their year of immersion into the internal and external realities of anchor leaders that are deeply engaged in their communities. We recently announced our fourth cohort, who are just beginning to embark on their year of visiting anchor leaders and engaging in dialogue about essential considerations in collaborative anchor endeavors.

Here is our latest call for applications for our fifth cohort, which will begin their experience in 2025. Our Fellows have come to us through nominators, largely from our network. If you know of an emerging anchor leader who would benefit from participating in the Anchor Fellows Program, please let us know. We are looking forward to continuing to advance our programming on leadership and identifying new opportunities to strengthen the field.

Radical Roots: How One Professor Changed a University’s Legacy (Book)



Radical Roots: How One Professor Transformed a University” (Myers Education Press, 2023) tells the story of Augsburg University sociology professor Joel Torstenson. The compelling story of Torstenson’s legacy at Augsburg over the past 60 years offers lessons for colleges, universities, and other anchor institutions across the country committed to democratic engagement in their work at the intersections of vocation and location, mission and place. Learn more at augsburg.edu/radicalroots or contact farrisr@augsburg.edu for a complimentary copy. 



What Anchors Need to Know About Affordable Housing (Event Series)

In the spring of 2024, Campus Compact will offer a six-part series about the ways higher education anchor institutions can support and contribute to the supply of affordable housing in their communities. This series is an extension of the HUD + Higher Ed Engagement Network that Campus Compact operates along with partners at Anchor Institutions Task Force (AITF), Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), and University Economic Development Association (UEDA). Members from all four organizations are welcome to participate in this learning community.



State Anchor Economy Impacts (Datasheet)



Examining the economic impact of key sectors of the economy is vital to the Federal Reserve Bank’s mission to support a strong and stable economy. To better understand the economic impacts of hospitals and higher education institutions on state economies, state-level measures of anchor institution impacts are now available for 2019 and 2004, complementing regional-level data available on the Anchor Economy Dashboard.

2024 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting (Event)

June 5-7

The 2024 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting to be held in Detroit, MI will facilitate exchanges of knowledge and develop a sense of community around our shared civic learning and democratic engagement work. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities has issued a call for proposals due Monday, February 5.



Higher Education Leadership for Democracy, Sustainability and Social Justice (Book)



In this book, authors from Europe, the United States, Latin America, Australia and South Africa argue that democracy, sustainability and social justice are inextricably linked, and that we can impact none of them unless higher education plays an important role in identifying the issues and helping society devise a viable and robust response. The book was released in December as part of the Council of Europe's Higher Education Series.

The partners of the Global Cooperation for the Democratic Mission of Higher Education held a webinar on January 25 to officially mark the launch of the book.

New California legislation allows religious and educational institutions to bypass zoning rules - from NBC Los Angeles

January 2 - The so-called "Yes in God's Backyard" bill allows for anchor institutions to bypass local zoning regulations for new construction. Churches are taking advantage of the legislative win by advancing plans for affordable housing construction. While many welcome additional housing amidst rampant housing insecurity, there are also worries that the law could jeopardize decision-making power of constituents.

In a Brookings speech, National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard champions place-based policy - from Brookings Commentary

January 22 - Policy direction suggests anchor institutions playing an even greater role in implementation of federal policy. According to National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard, place-based policy should drive economic development moving forward. “Communities are where economic development happens—where people connect with jobs, develop their skills, start businesses, make their homes, and raise families.”

CIE Program Kicks Off Its Fifth and Final Year of Advancing Equitable Economic Development and Entrepreneurship - from National League of Cities

December 29, 2023 - Over the past five years, dozens of cities have participated in the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship program aimed at supporting entrepreneurs with backgrounds underrepresented in the business landscape. Participating cities have pledged to a fresh set of commitments for the 2023-2024 Grant Year including anchor procurement and Latinx entrepreneurship.

This is the novel path Frank Robinson took to nurturing healthier WMass communities - from MassLive

January 8 - In Western Massachusetts, the work of improving community health outcomes extends well beyond the walls of any healthcare facility. Driven leadership is proving to be a key factor in the collaboration between anchor institutions in the region, working together on various projects including workforce development.

UMSL exceeds St. Louis Anchor Action Network goals for increased hiring, purchasing in 2023 - from UMSL Daily

January 16 - The St. Louis Anchor Action Network was established to generate opportunity and steer more resources to areas that have experienced decades of disinvestment. University of Missouri-St. Louis, a leader in the anchor collaborative, reports to have eclipsed targets for local hiring and procurement set for the 2023 calendar year.