Drexel and PECO Energy share the belief that improved educational options are essential to neighborhoods that work for families.
The Drexel-PECO Community Education Collaborative is a five-year program backed by a $1 million grant from PECO, Pennsylvania's largest electric and natural gas utility, to invest in public schools; create a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program for area students; and coordinate an inclusive planning process to create a blueprint for education in the neighborhood.
At the Samuel Powel School in West Philadelphia's Powelton Village neighborhood, Drexel experts advise the school on curriculum enhancement and help provide professional development for school staff. The Collaborative has also funded a teacher position.
Physical projects include library renovation, new school signage, and air conditioning.
At the Morton McMichael School in neighboring Mantua, Drexel volunteers helped reopen the library for the first time since the 1980s, teachers are receiving one-on-one mentoring and professional development workshops from Drexel faculty, and the school's second graders displayed work they did with a Drexel team on redesigning the playground.
The STEM program follows youth from Powelton Village and Mantua through a series of summer workshops that build on their interest in STEM fields, helping them choose an appropriate high school program and furthering their pursuit of a STEM career.
And Drexel and community stakeholders in Powelton Village and Mantua are developing a community education and enrichment plan to assess educational needs and resources and lay the groundwork for a coordinated network of strong schools in these neighborhoods.
Read more about Drexel's community collaborations and outreach on our Office of University and Community Partnerships page.