Thanks very much to the Newark Anchor Collaborative (NAC) for sharing their experiences in our recent webinar. Thanks to those of you who were able to listen to this informative and inspiring event. Here is the recording.

NAC’s experiences are reflective of an important trend in the anchor institutions movement. Multi-institutional cross sector partnerships, like NAC, are proliferating out of greater recognition that this level of collaboration is crucial to the future of localities. In this webinar, we were exposed to a dynamic degree of cross sector collaboration bringing higher education, health care, the arts, business, and local government into alignment to strengthen the city in which they reside and expand opportunities for Newark residents. We also heard how NAC intentionally stresses racial equity and has created systems and structures to continually enhance their nineteen member institutions’ programs and practices that demonstrate a commitment to racial equity. 

This intentionality provides an important lens that influences how anchor institutions engage in their communities and remain cognizant of the potential pitfalls in our work. Does an anchor institution’s engagement in the community lead to greater opportunities for historically underserved populations or does it increase disparities? Attention to values and how to partake in community partnerships has been central in AITF’s work. As we must continue to be reminded of this focus, AITF will build additional programming on our theme for this year – trusted democratic partnerships. 

Multi-institutional and multi-stakeholder community partnerships that are committed to values, prioritizing the needs of constituents that face the greatest challenges in localities, and appreciating and respecting the assets of these populations are long-term investments. These partnerships are poised to continually deliver for communities and develop strategies to solve a multitude of interrelated challenges.

We look forward to bringing you additional resources on anchor institution-community partnerships this year. Please let us know if you would like us to share any compelling work transpiring in your community. We are continually gathering examples of how multifaceted community partnerships are harnessing the collective power of anchor institutions and various constituents in their localities.

Reminders

We are seeking nominations for our 2024 cohort of anchor fellows:

Fellows Call for Applications for 2024 Cohort. Applications are due on May 12.

Request For Proposal: New UACS Training Centers

We are pleased to release the RFP for a new UACS Regional Training Center. Part of the Netter Center endowment is designated to fund regional training centers that advance University-Assisted Community Schools in a multi-state region, which is to be defined by the applicant. New centers are funded in three-year cycles.  This RFP is for the 2023-2026 cycle. The deadline is May 1st.



Job Opportunity:

University-Assisted Community Schools Fellow

Join the Netter Center as a University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) Fellow and be part of a team that is a national leader in university-community partnerships, the community schools movement, and University-Assisted Community Schools.



Learn more and apply here.

Historic Upstate Theaters Seek Dedicated Funding from New York State Lawmakers - from the Buffalo News

March 28 - Thirteen historic theaters in Upstate New York are seeking annual dedicated funding from the New York Legislature. It is believed that investing in each of these anchor institutions is gong to play huge dividends. Prior to the pandemic, the theaters employed 458 full-time workers in 2019 and brought more than 2.4 million patrons and school children through their doors.

Philadelphia Anchor Institutions Redirect Over $37M in Contracts to Minority-owned Firms - from Philadelphia Business Journal

March 27 - Philadelphia's anchor institutions are making progress toward fulfilling their commitments to local Black- and brown-owned businesses, and exploring new ways to increase their support of those companies. The PAGE program, which launched in 2018, is operated by the Economy League and the City of Philadelphia in partnership with more than a dozen anchor institutions. It encourages Philadelphia’s hospitals and universities to spend more money with local companies for goods and services.

Increasing Literacy and Connectivity: It All Begins With UHD’s Bilingual E-Library - from University of Houston Downtown

March 23 - “During the development of our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan: A New Paradigm, we set our sights on becoming an Anchor Institution for the region,” stated President Blanchard. “This two-year project to expand the UHD bilingual e-library epitomizes what it means for UHD to be an anchor for the city—not only through an accessible, online library specifically targeting Houston’s Latino community, but also as a resource and workforce development tool to grow the local economy significantly.”

Colleges Have Been a Small-Town Lifeline. What Happens as They Shrink? - from The New York Times

March 13 - For decades, institutions of higher education provided steady, well-paid jobs in small towns where the industrial base was waning. But the tide of young people finishing high school is now also starting to recede, creating a stark new reality for colleges and universities — and the communities that grew up around them.

BGE Provides $3M in Grants to Maryland Historically Black Universities - from Baltimore Fishbowl 



March 1 - Baltimore Gas and Electric is providing $3 million in grants to Maryland historically Black colleges and universities, including Coppin State, Bowie State, and Morgan State universities. “We recognize the role that HBCUs play as anchor institutions creating opportunity for economic equity and mobility, leading and supporting community development efforts, and supporting students experiencing systematic and generational marginalization,” BGE CEO Carim Khouzami said in a statement. 

Prudential Community Grants program to support Newark residents, nonprofits - from NJBIZ

March 1 - Prudential Financial announced the launch of the Prudential Community Grants Program to support local, community-based projects that foster stability and growth, with $500,000 in total funding. “We’re excited to launch a grant program that directly supports local Newark residents who are creating meaningful impact in their neighborhoods,” said Sarah Keh, vice president of inclusive solutions at Prudential Financial. “For over 145 years, Prudential has been an anchor institution in our hometown community of Newark, and over the past decade we’ve invested over $1 billion to drive inclusive, equitable growth for Newark and its residents.

Partnership Announces Plans for $2.5B Development in Detroit's New Center - from  Construction Equipment Guide

February 28 - A sweeping community development sponsored by Henry Ford Health, Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons and Michigan State University intends to invest $2.5 billion over the next decade to turn Detroit's New Center neighborhood into a vibrant, walkable community with residential, commercial, retail, recreational and health care components.