Welcome to this April issue of 2022 AITF News. As usual, feel free to share your thoughts on how AITF can be a useful resource.

The role of leadership in advancing effective anchor institution-community partnerships cannot be taken for granted. Particularly considering the values that AITF promotes (a commitment to place, social justice and equity, democracy and democratic practice, and collaboration), anchor institution leaders must consider numerous internal and external factors. In order for anchor institutions to engage in sustained collaboration with community partners designed to bring about inclusive growth and racial equity in a way that is mutually transformative, various intentional choices are required.

This work is not automatic. It requires a range of competencies that are developed and continually refined over time. This is certainly the case for chief executives, but also for other influential leaders at different levels within anchor institutions. Community-based leadership is also essential to the effectiveness of lasting collaboration. Many AITF members know these realities from experience. The Anchor Fellows Program was created in order to expose a cohort of mid-career professionals in anchor institutions to the wisdom and experiences of chief executives and other leaders among AITF’s members, especially those involved in subgroups and on AITF’s Advisory Council. 

Fellows’ in-person or online site visits to these leaders and their communities provide valuable training that will help expand the pool of future high-level anchor institution leaders sharing a deep commitment to AITF’s values. Current and future alumni of the Program are crucial to the future of anchor institutions’ commitment to their local communities and the overall ability to sustain this work into the future. While the anchor institutions field has grown significantly in recent years, there is no guarantee the level of interest in local engagement will continue to increase. It is important to continue to purposefully build leadership pathways.

With support from the Teagle Foundation, AITF has been able to continue the Anchor Fellows Program over the last few years. We are seeking applications for our third cohort of the program: please see Request for Applications for 2023 Cohort.

Note that the deadline to submit applications is now extended to the end of May. 

AITF would like to thank the first two cohorts of fellows, the hosts who have provided guidance and mentoring to fellows, and the Teagle Foundation for making this important program and the promise it provides looking forward a reality.

Registration Open: 2022 CUMU Annual Conference: The Essential Role of Urban and Metropolitan Universities – Oct 23-26

After two years, we’re excited to be back in person in San Diego, October 23-26, 2022, for the 2022 CUMU Annual Conference: The Essential Role of Urban and Metropolitan Universities. We invite you to join us to explore how the urban mission can be fully integrated into operations, structure, partnerships, and academic objectives.

Librarians and Misinformation: Curating the Information Needs of Communities - Virtual Webinar

While trust in political institutions rapidly deteriorates and the technology and media companies that we rely on repeatedly fail to meet our information needs, the public still overwhelmingly trusts libraries. That’s because librarians fulfill a service mission as community information stewards–long serving as the only place people can go for free internet access, computer instruction, books and access to critical government resources.



Harvard Kennedy School will host the virtual webinar on May 19, 2022

2:00 p.m. ET. Register here.

New Study Outlines Economic Impact arts and Entertainment Hubs - from the Soggros

April 21 - According to the research firm Tourism Economics, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Orchestra, Playhouse Square, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame combined to generate $822 million for Cuyahoga County’s economy in 2019 fiscal year, the most recent before the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the four locations supported 6,818 local jobs with an associated labor income of roughly $261 million.

How OSF HealthCare Added Locally Sourced Oatmeal and Granola to the Menu - from WCBU

April 14 - Basil’s Harvest, a nonprofit founded about four years ago, envisions a regional food system that connects the dots between food, farm and health. Its executive director is Erin Meyer. “Institutions are key to advancing and building a regional, regenerative food system. Hospitals are anchor institutions in the community,” Meyer said. Basil’s Harvest’s farm-to-institution initiative looks to build a small regional value chain, Meyer said. It recently approached OSF HealthCare about a potential partnership.

Anchors in the Storm—University Leaders Consider the Pandemic’s Lessons - from NPQ

April 13 - Can universities advance, rather than impede, economic justice? And, if so, how? Those questions were at the heart of a plenary conversation held at this year’s annual Campus Compact conference. Participating in the panel conversation were Richard Guarasci, former president of Wagner College; Nyeema Watson, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civic Engagement at Rutgers University-Camden; and Bobbie Laur, Campus Compact’s newly installed president.

Fair Share Spending - How much are hospitals giving back to their communities? - from the Lown Institute

April 12 - The Lown Institute Hospitals Index is the first ranking to examine meaningful community benefit spending for nonprofit hospital systems nationwide. (press release | methodology) The Institute calculated “fair share spending” for more than 1800 hospitals across 275 nonprofit hospital systems by comparing each system’s spending on charity care and community investment to the value of its tax exemption. 

£1.3bn Procurement Spend Committed to SMEs to Help London Recovery - from CIPS

April 1 - Key London public sector organizations have announced £1.3bn of procurement spend will go to small businesses to promote the capital's recovery from the pandemic. The organizations, including the Greater London Authority (GLA), NHS London and the Metropolitan Police, say they will implement changes to budgets and suppliers to increase spend with SMEs.