Welcome to PennCORP 2008!

Through community service projects, rich discussion, and engaging activities, PennCORP exposes participants to broad social issues influencing student service and advocacy initiatives and also gives them the chance to learn about the many community involvement opportunities available to them as Penn students.  Organized by Civic House, Penn's hub for community service and advocacy, PennCORP is a fun and educational pre-orientation program that immerses approximately 30 incoming first year students in their new Philadelphia community.


More specifically, PennCORP desires to stimulate student interest in the three issues of Urban Health, Urban Poverty, and Urban Education.  To deepen their understanding of these three areas and the many connections between them, students will be divided up into groups, or tracks, and focus on one of these issues through both individual and joint-track projects and workshops.   By doing this, the program hopes to challenge participants' perceptions of the university and West Philadelphia and create a forum for stimulating exposure to and discussion about serious social issues.

Overall, PennCORP strives to introduce students to the historical, social and political perspectives on the Philadelphia area and highlight the vibrant, culturally rich aspects of the community.  We hope that participants' will develop a strong awareness and interest in their new neighborhood and view themselves as active members and residents not only of Penn, but also of the broader West Philadelphia community.