AITF Newsletter - November 2024
The November 2024 Edition of the AITF Newsletter is Here!
The latest edition of the Anchor Institutions Task Force (AITF) Newsletter is now available! This month, we are reflecting on the Local Solutions in Divided Times annual event, celebrating new members in our network, and sharing key resources and opportunities for engagement.
Recap: Local Solutions in Divided Times
On November 7, AITF welcomed representatives from more than 45 organizations to New York City for the third event in our thematic series. Local Solutions in Divided Times provided a stimulating forum for exploring how anchor institutions and community partners are working together to develop practical, values-driven solutions.
Key highlights from the event include:
Arts and Culture – Leaders from Georgia Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark discussed how the arts and higher education institutions can serve as bridges for community connection.
AITF Fellow Reflections – Members of the 2024 Anchor Fellows Cohort shared insights into how their work has evolved over the past year.
Education, Community, and Democracy – Experts from East Carolina University and Augsburg University explored the role of anchor institutions in sustaining democratic spaces, even in difficult political contexts.
History, Justice, and Opportunity – Representatives from College Unbound and Near West Side Partners discussed how multi-sector partnerships are integral to community-driven justice initiatives.
We are grateful to all of our speakers, participants, and attendees for making this event a success! If you missed it, you can watch the full recording of the event here:
*AITF Annual Event Recording (Passcode: i2x#Vet)
AITF Welcomes New Members!
Each year, following our annual event, we welcome new members to the AITF network. To all those joining us for the first time—welcome! We look forward to engaging with you in this action-oriented learning community where shared experiences strengthen both local initiatives and the broader anchor field.
A reminder that beyond our annual event, AITF offers multiple ways to stay engaged, including this newsletter, subgroup discussions, publications, and our Anchor Partnerships Database.
If your anchor partnership is not yet included in our database, let us know! We are always looking to highlight new multi-institutional collaborations.
Call for Submissions: AITF Leadership Series
We are currently seeking authors for the next volume of our AITF Leadership Series. We are particularly interested in teams of leaders at various levels within anchor institutions who can share strategies for embedding a lasting commitment to anchor work within their organizations.
If you are interested in contributing, please reach out to us!
Resources from the Field
This month’s newsletter features key reports and events shaping the anchor field:
Empowerment in Action – A report on how the Community Partnership Group is redefining anti-poverty policy through lived experience.
Drexel University’s Civic Engagement Report – Our Shared Community highlights Drexel’s long-term impact on housing, job training, adult education, and more.
Closing the Gender Wealth Gap (Webinar) – November 13, 2024, 4:00 PM ET via Zoom. A discussion on how incarceration serves as a tool of wealth extraction.
2025 PACE Conference (Event) – February 12, 2025 in Greensboro, NC. The Pathways to Achieving Civic Engagement Conference explores recommitting to place-based anchor strategies in higher education.
AITF in the News
This month’s newsletter also includes a roundup of news and academic publications related to anchor institutions:
How Cleveland is working to stabilize middle neighborhoods – Spectrum 1 News
Anchor Institution Strategies in Hospitals: Two Decades of Reflection – Nonprofit Quarterly
Big Dreams for the Future of the Olympia Armory Creative Campus – OLY ARTS
Hillsborough County Church & Partners Expand Affordable Housing for Seniors – WFTS Tampa Bay
For more articles and research, check out this month’s full newsletter!
Stay Connected & Get Involved!
We invite you to stay engaged with AITF by subscribing to our newsletter and sharing your work with us. Sign up here to receive the latest issues straight to your inbox and be part of a growing network of leaders, practitioners, and institutions committed to equitable, community-driven solutions.
As we continue building on the momentum of Local Solutions in Divided Times, we look forward to working together in the months ahead!
