Fostering Knowledge for Social Change ft. Ira Harkavy, Ph.D.

In order to solve the most significant complex problems of the world it requires that universities recognize that the answers do not reside in institutions but rather in working in a community of experts and listening to the voices of the people in the community. Ira Harkavy, Ph.D., Associate Vice President at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania, has helped to develop academic community-based courses and research projects that involve creating university and community partnerships as well as university assisted community schools in Penn's local community of West Philadelphia. The most effective kind of community and university relationship is one where there is a deep and genuine partnership, one built on mutual benefit, even mutual transformation, and it needs to be long-term.