WHEREAS, Dr. Ira Harkavy is Associate Vice President and founding Director of the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, As Director of the Netter Center since 1992, Dr. Harkavy has helped to develop academically based community service courses as well as participatory action research projects that involve creating university-assisted community schools in Penn's local community of West Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships is Penn’s primary vehicle for organizing community service initiatives to solve complex social issues that impact the quality of lives of Philadelphia residents, particularly those residing in West Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The Netter Center, which is housed in the Office of Government and Community Affairs, works to improve the internal coordination and collaboration of all university-wide community service programs, develops partnerships between the University and the community, and strengthens networks of institutions of higher education committed to engagement with their local communities; and
WHEREAS, Through the Netter Center, the University currently engages in academically based community service, direct traditional service, and community development; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 200 courses from a wide range of disciplines and Penn schools have been developed to link Penn students to work in the community; and
WHEREAS, The Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships has won numerous awards, honors and distinctions during its tenure at the University of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Penn was among five higher-education institutions that received the Presidential Award, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to community service. Penn won in the category of Summer Learning; and
WHEREAS, The Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships will be celebrating their 23rd Anniversary in July 2015; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Honors and recognizes Dr. Ira Harkavy and the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships for their dedication to community service and their significant contributions in West Philadelphia communities.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Ira Harkavy and the Netter Center as a profound expression of this Council’s appreciation.
End