Penn would not be the preeminent global university it is today without Philadelphia, so we know the critical role cities play – not only in fueling academic excellence but in helping determine the course of individual lives and families, communities, and societies. For two decades, the Penn Institute for Urban Research has led our understanding of this important dynamic from the vanguard, bringing together the field’s foremost thinkers and doers. We know Penn is better for being anchored in our home city. Penn IUR sheds important light on why as well as how cities can contribute to a brighter future for everyone."

Penn IUR exemplifies Penn’s historic missions of collaboration, interconnection, engagement, and innovation. It has, for more than 20 years, been at the heart of our most important goals: to deepen connections among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, here and abroad, and to lead on the great challenges of our time."