Penn’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design launched an initiative to combat economic hardship in Philadelphia this month.
The Public Service and Policy Initiative, created in partnership with the Penn Institute for Urban Research, is dedicated to tackling poverty in the city through research and community engagement. Founded by former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, the initiative will advance three connected programs — the ongoing Philadelphia Economic Equity Project, the Impact Scholars program, and the Public Service Pipeline.
“Design is fundamentally about improving the conditions of everyday life,” School of Design Dean and Paley Professor Frederick Steiner wrote in the announcement. “With PSPI, we are leveraging the Weitzman School’s strengths in urban planning and community engagement to better understand the realities of economic hardship in our city—and to translate that understanding into practical, scalable solutions.”
PEEP, which was first launched in 2022, will serve as the initiative’s research foundation. The project will reference data from various sources — including a neighborhood-level survey of Philadelphia — to gain insight into how residents experience issues with employment, housing, and access to public benefits.
“PEEP is specifically designed to focus on the experiences and insights of Philadelphians to understand the factors that contribute to financial hardship and social mobility,” a PSPI webpage read.
Research findings from the project, such as white papers and informational briefs, will be released throughout the year.
The Impact Scholars Program, intended for former local public executives, gives fellows “a platform to advance unfinished work from their time in office, share hard-won insights with current leaders, and bring tested strategies from cities across the country to Philadelphia.”
Scholars in the program will help mentor researchers and students who want to be future civic leaders.
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According to the website, “The interactions are designed to cultivate a pipeline of executives who are passionate, prepared, and deeply committed to local government, where public trust runs highest.”
The first Impact Scholars cohort will be announced ahead of the fall 2026 semester.
The Public Service Pipeline program will provide both Penn undergraduate and graduate students with extracurricular learning opportunities to expose them to career pathways in public service. The initiative aims to support students who intend to go into the service sector by “providing access to the real-world, practical experiences of former public executives.”
Students will be able to participate in the program through seminars and challenges.
“The future of local governance relies on us strengthening cities, listening and responding to community members experiencing hardship, and inspiring and preparing the next generation of local public servants,” Nutter wrote in the announcement.
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Staff reporter Ryan Rucker covers the University’s graduate schools and can be reached at rucker@thedp.com. At Penn, he studies political science.
