Art and the City
The role of the arts in a good life—and a great city.
Next Stop: City Hall?
Philadelphia’s (likely) next mayor Michael Nutter W’79.
Mr. Olin’s Neighborhood
One of the most acclaimed landscape architects of his generation, the School of Design’s Laurie Olin has helped remake Penn’s campus, reclaim New York’s Bryant Park, and resurrect Independence Mall. Now he has joined forces with architect Frank Gehry to boldly reinvent the heart of Brooklyn. No urban development project in American history compares to their $4 billion vision. No wonder the locals are restless.
Getting Fresh with Food
Alumni bring fresh food options to Philadelphia’s poor.
Smokeless Smoke’s?
Smokeless Joe’s
What’s Behind a New Wave of Crime?
Symposium analyzes Philadelphia’s rise in violence
Music Lessons
Carol Muller’s ethnomusicology class partners with a West Philadelphia Islamic school to explore the sounds of the Qur’an, and each other’s communities.
Measuring and Mentoring
Nursing School mentoring program a measurable success
“Heaven is a Mixed Neighborhood”
In this excerpt from his new book, Metropolitan Philadelphia, the author describes “the closest thing I have known to a peaceable kingdom.”
A Tree Grows in Kensington
Trees make good neighborhoods
A League of Her Own
Women’s Leaguer Narda Quigley
When Foul Became Fair
Walking man Roy Thomas
Building a Better Pipeline—and a Bigger Buzz
Learning about Penn “shouldn’t be an accident”
The Biggest Sister
Big Brothers Big Sisters President Judy Vredenburgh CW’70 is taking the basic formula behind the organization and expanding it to reach a million troubled children across the country.
Block Party
On Twelfth Street, you walked out your door and fell into community.
Building: An Online Bible
A new architectural website offers everything you ever wanted to know about Philadelphia architecture.
Birth of a House
Before Ronald McDonald, it was their house.
The Community’s Schoolhouse
Schoolhouse rock(s) with activity
Remembering the President’s House, Slaves and All
Edward Lawler Jr. C’80
Revitalize, Take the Prize
Revitalization projects recognized
The House That Joe Built
The new National Constitution Center is billed as a museum of ideas rather than artifacts—but it might have remained just an idea if not for alumnus Joe Torsella.
A Matter of Trust
Dr. Ira Harkavy saw long ago that the futures of Penn and West Philadelphia are connected. As director of the Center for Community Partnerships, he's led a persuasive campaign to link teaching and research to service and problem solving.
Author Earns City Honor
Lorene Cary honored with The Philadelphia Award for her work “to advance the best and largest interest of the community.”
Praxis Makes Perfect at Penn’s Landing
Crafting a plan for Penn’s Landing