Born out of history seminar, WEPIC helps community

When History Professor Ira Harkavy co-founded the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps more than a decade ago, he never imagined the lasting impact it would have in West Philadelphia's public schools and neighborhoods. "In my wildest, utopian imagination, I could not have foreseen what has developed over the last 13 years -- it was a long way to go," said Harkavy, who serves as director of the Center for Community Partnerships, which oversees WEPIC. WEPIC originated by chance in 1985 from an undergraduate History seminar taught jointly by then-University President Sheldon Hackney, Harkavy and former History Professor Lee Benson. The seminar focused on the relationships between urban universities and their surrounding communities. WEPIC has since blossomed into a multifaceted program involving thousands of West Philadelphia children, educators and residents and supported by an extensive network of Penn faculty, students and staff. The program works with 11 local elementary, middle and high schools and involves more than 4,500 children, parents and community members. Since 1989, WEPIC's mission has been to create "University-assisted community schools" which seek to revitalize the surrounding community and engage both public school students and older residents. Its programming range from basic tutoring to after-school sports and environmental education. "Right now, we're working in conjunction with teachers at Sayre Middle School to help students put their new computer lab to use," said Nursing senior Johanna Hinkel, co-coordinator of Penn's WEPIC volunteer effort. "They have these fabulous new resources, but as most of them haven't had much exposure to technology, they have no idea how to use them." WEPIC has not only benefited the West Philadelphia community. It has also provided invaluable experience for Penn students in real-world problem solving and service-learning. The University now offers more than 40 WEPIC-affiliated courses -- such as Urban Studies classes that include a community service component -- according to Cory Bowman, associate director of the Center for Community Partnerships. "Urban universities have a long history of extra-active relationships within their communities," Bowman explained. "We don't go in trying to take over. The principals and administrators tell us what they need -- we help to make it happen." WEPIC has made enormous strides this year, according to Harkavy. The number of Penn volunteers has risen dramatically, as has the amount of public school interest. "The level of trust within the community has increased," Harkavy said. "Penn has been a stalwart partner -- that's why WEPIC has been able to remain in place." Harkavy cited the increasing governmental and foundational support, as well as a significant increase in black student involvement, as two factors that have played important roles in WEPIC's success. "In a predominately black community like West Philadelphia, it's important to have a diverse group of volunteers," he said. Universities around the country have looked to Penn as a model for university-community partnerships. In April, the Partnering Initiative on Education and Civil Society named the Shaw-Penn Partnership -- a relationship between the University and West Philadelphia's Shaw Middle School -- as the national model for similar efforts. Penn is also currently working with three other urban colleges -- University of Miami (Ohio), the University of Kentucky at Lexington and the University of Alabama at Birmingham -- to implement WEPIC-type programs on their campuses.