Hurrah For The Red & The Blue
Thanks to CNY Ecoblog for linking to this Washington Post article that highlights the achievements of my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. Penn has invested millions of dollars in its West Philadelphia neighborhood, transforming a crime-ridden and poverty stricken area.
Penn has invested heavily in affordable residential housing and education. Hundreds of faculty and students work with community groups and volunteer to help improve West Philadelphia. The university seeks to work with the people of West Philadelphia, rather than dictate development.
Penn financed the building of a public elementary school with 500 students right on the outskirts of campus. Penn's education department works on curriculum and teacher development, and the school has committed $5 million over the next 10 years to fund the school. Penn Alexander school is a PUBLIC elementary school, open to the kids of West Philadelphia.
Penn has also invested millions of dollars to rehabilitate residential housing in the neighborhood, as well as enticing over 1,000 employee families to move into West Philadelphia by offering financial assistance for mortgages.
CNY Ecoblog is hoping that Syracuse U. takes a page out of Penn's handbook and works to bridge the divide between town and gown, as evidenced by its renovation of downtown buildings and promotion of the connective corridor project. I hope that Syracuse decides to focus on developing the low-income neighborhoods south and east of its campus, rather than focusing on financing yuppie enclaves and nightlife downtown.
Penn has invested heavily in affordable residential housing and education. Hundreds of faculty and students work with community groups and volunteer to help improve West Philadelphia. The university seeks to work with the people of West Philadelphia, rather than dictate development.
Penn financed the building of a public elementary school with 500 students right on the outskirts of campus. Penn's education department works on curriculum and teacher development, and the school has committed $5 million over the next 10 years to fund the school. Penn Alexander school is a PUBLIC elementary school, open to the kids of West Philadelphia.
Penn has also invested millions of dollars to rehabilitate residential housing in the neighborhood, as well as enticing over 1,000 employee families to move into West Philadelphia by offering financial assistance for mortgages.
CNY Ecoblog is hoping that Syracuse U. takes a page out of Penn's handbook and works to bridge the divide between town and gown, as evidenced by its renovation of downtown buildings and promotion of the connective corridor project. I hope that Syracuse decides to focus on developing the low-income neighborhoods south and east of its campus, rather than focusing on financing yuppie enclaves and nightlife downtown.
