This Community Scholars symposium offers exposure to developing, pitching, and sustaining innovative project ideas that utilize community-academic partnerships.

Participants will:

1. Gain insights into the approaches of developing and sustaining successful community academic partnerships.

2. Learn from grantmakers, community organizations, and researchers effective strategies to advance ideas.

3. Observe a Shark Tank style pitch session where Community Scholars pitch ideas and receive feedback from a panel of funders and experts.

The symposium is part of the Community Scholar’s Training Program, a partnership initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar’s Program and the Center for Public Health Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania.

Keynote Speaker: Donald F. Schwarz

Vice President, Program

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Featured panelists include:

Philip Fitzgerald - Philadelphia Foundation

Ann Marie Healy - First Hospital Foundation

Heather Major - IBC Foundation Programs

Emily C. Riley - Connelly Foundation

2016-2017 Community Scholars:

Naida Elena Burgos - APM

Cheryl Burkett - theVillage

Denise Butcher - theVillage

Nora Elmarzouky - Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

Shadia Bel Hamdounia - Promise Zone Research Connection

Heather Haywood - Blessings Inc

Maurice Henderson - West Park Cultural Center

Dashaya Kilgore - Blessings Inc

Jennifer Litchman-Green - American Heart Association

Celia Morrison - ARTZ Philadelphia

Tk Rogers - American Heart Association

Susan Shifrin - ARTZ Philadelphia